The Running Thread - 2016

[ZellyB]

For those interested here is an article I wrote for the DIS.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/walt-disney-world/why-everyone-should-do-a-rundisney-event/

Great article!

 

[rteetz]

Great article!

Thanks!

 

[camaker]

QOTD: For how many years have you been running? Any long periods of time off and then have to start all over? Was the comeback just as hard as when you started or a little easier?

I've only been running seriously since last January. My PT asked me if I would run W&D with him. I thought I was crazy to be considering it! Then I went out and ran a 10k in April, my first 1/2 in June and, ultimately, Goofy + 10k at Marathon Weekend this year. Amusingly enough, the race that started it all was never run. Neither my PT nor I were able to get registered!

It has been an interesting journey to find out what I'm capable of running-wise. I have been a lifelong sports player. Soccer and tennis through high school and then Club-level Ultimate Frisbee from college through 2009 or so. Most of that was at an elevated weight until it finally caught up to my knees and I had surgery in 2009. That's when the weight got well and truly out of control until I started my return to fitness in 2013. I started walking for weight loss and got back to Ultimate. Now it's a challenge to find a balance between the frisbee and the training demands of running.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

QOTD: For how many years have you been running? Any long periods of time off and then have to start all over? Was the comeback just as hard as when you started or a little easier..

5 years last month.. No long periods off but a lot of laziness, weight gain, apathy, depression etc.. Started strong, then life took over and half times slid down to a disgusting 3:47. Finally got my head out of my **** and heading in the right direction...

 

[LSUlakes]

QOTD: Did you (or do you) have a hard time calling yourself a runner at first?

ATTQOTD: At first I felt like I needed to accomplish a certain goal (distance/time) before I felt like I could say I was a runner. Looking back, I think its a silly way to look at it, but its what I thought. I remember the first few times I ran the popular place in town I felt like I was out of place and it seemed everyone was just flying by me.

 

[LSUlakes]

This weekend we have the following folks with races @SFGamerBabe @SplashRider @Chaitali @BikeFan @camaker @IamTrike and myself. Some of yall are running the same race event but different distances. I wish yall the best of luck and safe travels to and from the event. If you would like to revise you goal time, let me know. Do you feel prepared for this weekends events?

I am very far behind on training and running my half this weekend will be very unpleasant. I am nor going for anything under 2 hours. Hope others have fared a little better in their preparations for race day.

 

[Barca33Runner]

QOTD: Did you (or do you) have a hard time calling yourself a runner at first?

I definitely had a hard time calling myself a runner and still do to a certain degree. I still use "finished" to describe my first few races because I feel like calling what I did running would be a stretch. At the same time, I needed those results to get myself motivated to continue to get better and get hooked on running; so when someone asks me how many Marathon's, Half Marathon's, etc. I've run I definitely count them, without caveat, in those numbers.

My mind has definitely changed over the years as to what constitutes a runner and can now say that anyone who takes the courageous step to put themselves out there in a race context, even one as friendly as Disney, is a runner in my book.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

QOTD: Did you (or do you) have a hard time calling yourself a runner at first?

Probably not the answer that you are looking for, but I didn't call myself a runner then, and I don't call myself a runner now. Running is something that I do and something that I love - it is not who or what I am. Some day I will have to stop running, and I will not be less for it.

 

[Anisum]

QOTD: Did you (or do you) have a hard time calling yourself a runner at first?

I usually shy away from it. I mean I run but am I a runner? I think everyone has their own idea of what makes someone a runner so when talking to other people I'll say I run. It gets the point across. Plus I think @BuckeyeBama has a point. I'm so many other things that running is just another hobby.

 

[rteetz]

QOTD: Did you (or do you) have a hard time calling yourself a runner at first?

I don't know, I guess yes. I still don't consider myself a major runner compared to some of you guys. I think I would classify myself as maybe an intermediate runner.

 

[FFigawi]

This weekend we have the following folks with races @SFGamerBabe @SplashRider @Chaitali @BikeFan @camaker @IamTrike and myself. Some of yall are running the same race event but different distances. I wish yall the best of luck and safe travels to and from the event.

Good luck everyone!

 

[FFigawi]

I usually shy away from it. I mean I run but am I a runner? I think everyone has their own idea of what makes someone a runner so when talking to other people I'll say I run. It gets the point across. Plus I think @BuckeyeBama has a point. I'm so many other things that running is just another hobby.

Just because you are lots of other things does not mean you are not a runner. Saying you're a runner does not mean you are only a runner and cannot also be a painter, diver, sailor, knitter, chef, gardener, reader, father, mother, or any other word you wish to associate yourself with. I don't believe that any one thing we do can or should define us, but all the things we do are what makes us who we are.

 

[PrincessV]

QOTD: Did you (or do you) have a hard time calling yourself a runner at first?

ATTQOTD: Not really - I have no issues with the term, but it's just rare that I have a need to call myself anything lol! It only seems to come up when discussing things with new doctors/chiropractors, who I'm probably only seeing because something's wrong. At which point it seems most prudent and efficient to say at the outset: "So, I'm a distance runner..."

This weekend we have the following folks with races @SFGamerBabe @SplashRider @Chaitali @BikeFan @camaker @IamTrike and myself.

Go get it, everybody!!!

 

[RunDisneyDad]

I can't say I've ever called myself a runner, but instead its been something others have labeled me with because its something I do often.

That being said, I consider everyone on this board a runner because that's what you do...you run. Doesn't matter if you are faster, slower, run shorter or longer distances, you are out there running and that makes you a runner.

 

[ZellyB]

QOTD: Did you (or do you) have a hard time calling yourself a runner at first?

I did and sometimes still do. Being an interval runner can lead to some of that problem.

 

[LindseyJo22]

New here, and catching up on this thread

My username just comes from my first and middle names - and a number that got used a lot in elementary school when all of the kids would get assigned a number Most of my usual things were taken already, and I wanted something that was a little more real life than my usual name of snarkypirate on the rest of the internet

QOTD: What is your ultimate running goal? (running a distance you've never tried before, to qualify for Boston, something else)

Right now my ultimate running goal in terms of races is to run the Princess Half in 2017. But in general, my goal is to enjoy the running, which is happening for the first time this go-around with it.

QOTD: For how many years have you been running? Any long periods of time off and then have to start all over? Was the comeback just as hard as when you started or a little easier?

I got into running the summer after my second year of college. I was living with some people and really didn't have much going on that summer, aside from two really easy classes. So I started running as a way to get healthier and see what I could do. I ran a 5k, tried to keep it up once we moved back into the dorms, but really slacked off senior year. I've given running a try a few times since then, but it hasn't really stuck. A few months ago, probably in October or November, I decided I would look into the Galloway running method. I completed his C25K program and I actually enjoyed it! This is the only way I've found where running doesn't seem to mess up my knees or my back (which is annoying, I'm only 26!). But the run/walk intervals are great. I'm enjoying it so much that I'm currently working toward 10k distance. If I'm still running and enjoying it by July, I'm planning to register and run the Princess Half (!). I figured if I was going to run a Disney race, for me it had to be a "big" one to spend all the money to get down there and such. So that's where I am currently, still very much a beginner!

QOTD: Did you (or do you) have a hard time calling yourself a runner at first?

I still don't think of myself as a "runner." Moreso than I did a few months ago, but I'm still very much in the beginning stages of the hobby. I don't have running shoes (on the list with my birthday money), I don't use any special stuff yet for running, and I do walking intervals, so sometimes it's hard to say that I'm a "runner." But I think I'm becoming more of a runner, and I'm trying to get out of the mindset that you have to run the whole race to really be a runner, because obviously I'm running - just not all the time!

 

[ZellyB]

Oh, also, @LSUlakes I also have a race this weekend. Must have forgotten to post it.

12 - Shamrox 15k no goals. Just a fun run.

 

[Anisum]

Just because you are lots of other things does not mean you are not a runner. Saying you're a runner does not mean you are only a runner and cannot also be a painter, diver, sailor, knitter, chef, gardener, reader, father, mother, or any other word you wish to associate yourself with. I don't believe that any one thing we do can or should define us, but all the things we do are what makes us who we are.

That's a valid point. I guess I'm a runner then.

 

[roxymama]

QOTD: Did you (or do you) have a hard time calling yourself a runner at first?

ATTQOTD: When I started going outside to run I would just say that "I'm going out running" even when I was doing intervals that including a lot of walking (a lot more than the run sections.) I wanted to be a runner so I just tried to get in that frame of mind even before my body had caught up to it. Did I feel like some kind of impostor at first? Oh you betcha. I was even apologetic for no reason about it. I blogged about that feeling about how wearing "fancy" running clothes and shoes made me feel like I was "faking it"...but I quickly got over it once I realized everyone in races around me was doing literally the exact same thing I was doing (one foot in front of the other and repeat) so I wasn't so different. I have no issue calling myself a runner now because I've started spending a whole lot of time running around. I'm cool with people calling themselves whatever they want to, so I realize and appreciate that it's personal.

Unrelated but related because that's my specialty:
I read a mean-spirited message board months ago that was making fun of "hobby joggers" and I've seen that term blogged about a couple times with a bad tone and my first thought was "so what...you can call me that...I'm ok with it...its' true...this is my hobby...I am not elite" But its funny how I see this same attitude in literally every other hobby/subculture I've been involved in from certain groups of people. I used to go to Blackhawk hockey games back when they had no fans, but the fans there were super die-hard. Then the team got good and really popular and everyone (not me) made fun of the new fans who knew nothing and weren't as die-hard as them. These were people being snobby about being a level of fan (shakes head.) When I was a dancer who spent a ton of time competing and practicing...I would hear all the time snobby complaints about the new students just doing it for fun and not improving or wanting to improve. People were harsh.
Why is this a thing?...human nature I am sure, but it bugs me. So I am happy not to contribute to that way of thinking!

 

[Chaitali]

This weekend we have the following folks with races @SFGamerBabe @SplashRider @Chaitali @BikeFan @camaker @IamTrike and myself. Some of yall are running the same race event but different distances. I wish yall the best of luck and safe travels to and from the event. If you would like to revise you goal time, let me know. Do you feel prepared for this weekends events?

I am very far behind on training and running my half this weekend will be very unpleasant. I am nor going for anything under 2 hours. Hope others have fared a little better in their preparations for race day.

Good luck to everyone with races, and LSUlakes, I hope it's not too unpleasant I feel prepared because I'm treating this half as a training run for my April 2nd half where I'm going to concentrate more on time. I'm doing this one with two friends and it's their first half marathon. My main goal is sticking with them and making sure they have a good time so I continue to have training partners

As far as the QOTD... I still don't call myself a runner. It just feels weird for some reason. I generally just say I like to run or I run too. But I thought about it and realize I don't call myself anything related to any of my hobbies. I just say I like to do X. The only time I say "I'm a __________" is related to my profession so maybe it's just about the amount of time I spend doing something?

I read a mean-spirited message board months ago that was making fun of "hobby joggers" and I've seen that term blogged about a couple times with a bad tone and my first thought was "so what...you can call me that...I'm ok with it...its' true...this is my hobby...I am not elite" But its funny how I see this same attitude in literally every other hobby/subculture I've been involved in from certain groups of people. I used to go to Blackhawk hockey games back when they had no fans, but the fans there were super die-hard. Then the team got good and really popular and everyone (not me) made fun of the new fans who knew nothing and weren't as die-hard as them. These were people being snobby about being a level of fan (shakes head.) When I was a dancer who spent a ton of time competing and practicing...I would hear all the time snobby complaints about the new students just doing it for fun and not improving or wanting to improve. People were harsh.
Why is this a thing?...human nature I am sure, but it bugs me. So I am happy not to contribute to that way of thinking!

This bugs me too I see it a lot but so what if some people are newer to something? I like to be welcoming to new people but I would guess some people feel it is taking away from them and their accomplishments somehow.