The Running Thread - 2016

[cavepig]

ATTQOD - Most expensive - Dopey Bib! Otherwise shoes, always shoes!
Cheapest - simple little pair of gloves for a couple bucks.

Pretty amazing & rough stories many of you have for how running helped you through.

 

[gjramsey]

ATTQOTD: Most, Garmin 920XT. Least, probably running shirts from Target, before I started getting race shirts. Or the 13.1 and 26.2 magnets for the car!

 

[Barca33Runner]

QOTD: What is the most expensive item have you purchased for running? The least?

Most expensive: Everything associated with Dopey. Bibs, pictures, etc.

Least expensive: Not really sure. Probably a couple of clif bloks at an expo when I forgot fuel for a race.

 

[Mickey's sweetheart]

QOTTD: Most expensive: runDisney entry fees. Second place goes to shoes.
Least expensive: $.50 gloves from Target

 

[Miranda]

Yesterday QOTD: I don't really have any great stories like everyone else. Some amazing stories in this group! I guess the only thing for me is that last year was my first year back at running in about 20 years (since HS) and coincidentally, we found out our dog had cancer in March, right in the middle of my training for Tink. He had surgery and chemo and then kind of a slow decline until we had to put him to sleep in December. I had my last 2 months of training for Tink while we were doing the biopsy and surgery and recovery thing, and then I started training for W&D a few weeks after he started his chemo. It gave me something to focus on other than dwelling on my beloved doggy's health.

QOTD: Most expensive thing would be my Garmin 220, which I love. A close second would be my Jaybird BlueBuds X wireless headphones, which I also love. No regrets on either of those purchases! Well, maybe a tiny regret on the 220 because I bought it like one month before the 225 came out with the HRM (I didn't do my homework and when the price dropped $50 I jumped on it without researching why they would have dropped the price ). But I still do love the watch itself, and I don't really like the colors that are available in the newer HRM models, so I'm still 98% happy with my purple and white 220.

This is not necessarily the least expensive item because I obviously have a lot of clothes and misc things like a SPIbelt that are cheaper, but I am going to put here my Altra Olympus shoes. They retail around $130 or so, and last spring I was trying to find some new shoes that worked for me. I started building my base for Tink in the fall of 2014 in NB 1040's, and I didn't really like them. I started training for Tink in some discount Nimbus 15's but they were too small and as my runs got longer I quickly realized my toes were going to be destroyed. I finished out the last couple months of Tink training and did the race in some Nimbus 17's, but I did not like them at all. I should add that my shoe options tend to be a little limited because I have a wide (women's) foot and there are a lot of models of neutral shoes out there that would probably work for me but they don't come in D width, and I don't really want to get men's shoes. Somewhere in there I had also ordered a pair of Hokas, one of the models that said they had the most generous width fit, but they were way too narrow and I sent them back. So anyway, I did some research and found out that Altra has a really wide toe box even though they don't come in a specific D width, and I found a pair on super sale for like $45, and tried them out, and fell in love, and have since scooped up a few more pairs of older models online around $30. I love these shoes and have managed to get 4 pairs of older model ones for not much more than a single pair of current model.

 

[rteetz]

QOTD: What is the most expensive item have you purchased for running? The least?

Well I could say my Apple Watch but I didn't buy that specifically for running. So I would have to go with my shoes. My least expensive, probably one of the shirts I have or something I'm not entirely sure.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

QOTD: What is the most expensive item have you purchased for running? The least?

Most expensive - Garmin. For me, the best investments that I have ever made. I have been running with Garmins for many years. This was my first:

Least expensive? Probably some fueling product. I have bought many for less than $1 over the years.

 

[Chaitali]

Thanks everyone for sharing your wonderful stories yesterday. It was really inspiring to read. As far as today's QOTD, I think my Garmin 220 would be the most expensive and some cheap throw away gloves I bought would be the cheapest.

 

[DVCFan1994]

Wow, some amazing stories from everyone yesterday. Very inspiring to read.

As a someone born and raised just outside Boston and back living again in Central Mass, @LSUlakes your story brought tears to my eyes. So much tragedy and terror that day. I was fortunate no one I personally knew was injured, but it was a scary few days waiting to hear everyone was safe. I was on the Dream when the bombing happened without much internet access. I had several friends also running with the liver foundation and I wasn't able to be sure they and their families were safe until we were off the boat. I cannot begin to imagine the fear for you and your wife. So happy your okay, and I hope you get a redo someday!

Running has been my stress relief like others. I had a cancer scare in 2013, right when I started running coincidentally. My PCP basically said I had cancer, but follow-up showed she was wrong. It was a benign kidney cyst. Still being followed to be safe, but everything seems ok. It also has been a great stress relief with my dad's now 5+ year battle with stage 4 lung cancer.

ATTQOTD: I guess challenge race fees would be the most expensive cost wise, but item wise it would be my Garmin 225. Least expensive are the $2 gloves I bought at the 2015 PHM expo for the literally and figuratively Frozen 5k!

 

[roxymama]

I used running as a stress reliever during my boring and typical high school days. And then in college as well, but mainly I rowed (running was for Crew).

@bumbershoot Fellow crew person right here? What school did you row for? I was a member of the Tulane Green Wave Started as a 4 seat in women's open 8, then 2 seat in the women's 4, then by end of career was 6 seat in women's 8 and stroke in the 4. I also had a short lived sophomore career as 2 on the men's lightweight boat to replace an injured guy...(got a second place once as a "guy".) Weird fact: came in 1st place of overall women for a rowing marathon in Louisiana...26.2 miles but rowing (faster than running!) I love talking crew but I'll stop boring everyone else now.

 

[ZellyB]

ATTQOTD: Most expensive was Goofy race fees. Least expensive stretch knit gloves for running. 2 for $1.

 

[FFigawi]

QOTD: What is the most expensive item have you purchased for running? The least?

Most expensive: A safari in South Africa, my reward to myself for going back to back at Comrades last year. The least expensive is probably my gels. They're only a buck or so each.

 

[Miranda]

Most expensive - Garmin. For me, the best investments that I have ever made. I have been running with Garmins for many years. This was my first:

Wow that is huge! They sure have come a long way! One of my favorite features of the 220 is that it has a hinged band and fits just like a regular watch. I have a 410 that I should try and eBay or something. I wore it like twice and I couldn't stand the rigid plastic housing around the face... it's curved but my wrist doesn't fit in the curves right.

 

[PrincessV]

QOTD: What is the most expensive item have you purchased for running? The least?

ATTQOTD: Most expensive to date: treadmill, around $400 almost 20 years ago. It's still running! (But I'm guessing Dopey registration will take that top spot next month, lol!) Least expensive... YurBuds on sale for $9.99.

 

[Diskidatheart]

QOTD: What is the most expensive item have you purchased for running? The least?

Most expensive would be the Forerunner 620, but technically I didn't buy it...so that would then be my Brooks Transcends. The least would be a packet of Gu.

 

[roxymama]

QOTD: What is the most expensive item have you purchased for running? The least?
.

Most expensive: Does my hotel room at the Bay Lake Towers in WDW count? Because we would have stayed in an offsite condo if it wasn't for the early wake-ups for the races? Actual running item, probably my current Brooks Ghost 7's, since my garmin watch was a gift.
Least expensive: my pink underarmour running hat was on clearance and I had a coupon and sports authority bucks so it was like almost nothing.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Wow that is huge! They sure have come a long way!

It still works, almost 15 years later. I use it when I have problems with my newer Garmins. It is the only Garmin that I have ever owned that worked every single day.

 

[camaker]

QOTD: What is the most expensive item have you purchased for running? The least?

Most expensive: Garmin Forerunner 220. Also the best purchase for running I have made. Love, love, loved it until my wife gave me a 235 for Christmas. Now I love that one...

Least expensive: $1.59 Honey Stinger Cherry Cola gummies, my fuel of choice (along with the Limeade ones).
Least expensive non-food: $7.48 clearance C9 dry-fit shorts and shirts to run in.

 

[camaker]

Most expensive - Garmin. For me, the best investments that I have ever made. I have been running with Garmins for many years. This was my first:

Least expensive? Probably some fueling product. I have bought many for less than $1 over the years.

Wow! Is that a GPS watch or a PIP-Boy? You look like you're ready for the Fallout wasteland with that thing!

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Wow! Is that a GPS watch or a PIP-Boy? You look like you're ready for the Fallout wasteland with that thing!

LOL - It was state of the art at the time.