The Running Thread - 2016

[Slogger]

ATTQOTD-How long have I been running? No formal run experience in school. I ran a 5k for fun about 25 years ago right after I got out of college and did another one 6 years ago for a fundraiser. Didn't really start "organized" running until 2012.

ATTQOTD-Do I call myself a runner? No way! Those are the people that do the Olympic trials or qualify for Boston. I know that I "run" but I think of runners as someone that is more dedicated and experienced than I am. That is simply my opinion of myself.

ATTQOTD-Weekend pace? I typically try to do my long runs on the weekend and have been running them at or near marathon goal pace. Earlier in the week I would do a speedwork workout faster than my 5k pace. Mid length runs (5-8 miles) a couple of times a week at or near marathon pace with some faster intervals or a fast finish at the end. This has resulted in numerous nagging injuries and I need to slow down on the longer runs.

 

[Mimsy Borogove]

Did a slow and steady 10 miles this morning and at the very end happened across a family of otters in a mangrove fringe adjacent to the sidewalk I was using. Managed to get a few photos, so here's some cuteness for your Saturday morning!

 

[Dopey Devon]

Ahhhhh I'm away for two weeks and come back to 400+ messages. Fun Saturday night reading them all! I apologise for the wall of text you're about to receive but I missed quite a few questions.

My Dis name is just what my family called my when training for Dopey (Devon is my first name).

QOTD: What is your ultimate running goal?
I am hoping to go sub 1.40 in the half this year (woo under 100 minutes) but that attempt won't be until November (Space Coast) as I am running the rest of my halfs this year with other people. Ultimate goal - maybe an ultra, defs London marathon but otherwise just see how it all goes. I quite like going to a new place and running a race (whether abroad or in the UK) so I'm quite happy doing that for the moment and trying to get my times down. IT band still playing some tricks on me!

QOTD: Have you ever used a coach and how was your experience?
No coach but I do love following a training plan. I usually make my own based on online plans, however I change it to fit my needs/weekly schedule. Find it very satisfying to tick a good workout off the calendar!

QOTD: What are your go to vitamins......
I use High 5 gels (either orange, apple or citrus) in my little gel bottle mixed with a little water during races. Pre race I usually drink orange lucozade so my muscles are pumped full of glucose (this is a mental image I have in my head, not based on science at all, but it works for me!) I am also partial to a strawberry shot blok if times get tough.
Post race/tough training - can of ice cold coke. Every race I have this after I'm never sore the next day, even during Dopey. Don't know why it just works (maybe instant sugar to muscles?)

QOTD: For how many years have you been running?
I got a message from MapMyFitness last week saying I had been logging for a year! I ran my first half in 2014 with no training whatsoever (oh to be young and naive again) and then started running during the week last feb. Within the year I had done Dopey (I caught the bug very fast!)

QOTD: Did you (or do you) have a hard time calling yourself a runner at first?
Yeah still don't consider myself a runner....I get a bit embarrassed when people try and call me one. I don't know why, I just always consider the 'Mo-Farahs' of the world as runners.

There you go! Sorry for the unnecessary wall of text but thats what happens when I have busy few weeks at work! Lastly good luck to any runners racing tomorrow - I have a 5k in the morning but it is knee dependant whether I treat it as a training run or a race (fingers crossed its race time!)

 

[KathyTX]

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[BikeFan]

So I finished RnR DC yesterday and missed my goal time of 3:30 with a 3:31 (I blame having to take two potty breaks!), but I still had fun, the weather was 100% better than last year's cold, rainy disaster and I still enjoyed the experience. I'm calling that a successful day.
Some random thoughts:

Runners, please try to throw your empty gel packs, etc. into a trash can. It only takes a few seconds, and it makes our community look better when we're not leaving a garbage-strewn trail in our wake.

Costumed runners are the best. I saw Elvis, Chewbacca, and a stormtrooper out on the course yesterday, and I just had to smile at that. Costumed spectators are also the best. Mr. and Mrs. Incredible were passing out high-fives along the course, along with some Angry Birds and several other costumes I can't remember. Loved it.

Runners yet again proved how awesome they can be yesterday. There was a steep hill at ~Mile 22 on the course, and I was shot, so I took a little walk break going up it. A guy pulls up next to me and starts talking me up the hill, "C'mon buddy, we got this. Let's just ease up this hill and finish this thing up." And of course it totally helped. I heard a bunch of other runners talking to people who were walking the course or looked like they had hit the wall. I love the runner community.

Hope everyone else's weekend races and runs went well!

 

[clemsondisneygirl]

I also races yesterday in the Kiss Me I'm Irish 17k!

I agree with the previous poster about trash cans but I'd also like to put it out to race directors to think about where you put them. The ones on this race were so close to the station and many people like to at least walk and keep moving while they drink so that attributed to the ground mess!

Other than that the race went well. I started to struggle about mile 8 and I can't decide if it's lack of strength training or not quite hitting my nutrition right. It was more my legs were tired/heavy/numb than it was a cardio problem.

Oh well glad I did it! Hope everyone else had a good running weekend!

 

[camaker]

Ran the Tobacco Road Half Marathon in Cary, NC this morning. This was my first race since Marathon Weekend which seems like it was ages ago, at this point!

The race itself is an out and back from the USA Baseball complex, running along a mix of pavement and the hard pack of the tree-lined American Tobacco Trail. Weather was a very enjoyable low to mid60s with 70% or so humidity. Cloud cover and a light breeze kept things from heating up too quickly as the race went on.

My original goal for this race was 2:15-2:30, as I'm still doing run/walk intervals to protect my hamstring and recondition my legs. Apparently that goal was a bit conservative as I hit the turnaround on pace for a 2:00 finish! Alas, I couldn't hold the pace through the back half, clocking in with a 2:02:18 net finish. Still, that's my second fastest half time, and I'm pretty happy with it given the circumstances.

I look forward to hearing how @IamTrike did with his marathon on the same course today.

 

[Chaitali]

So I finished RnR DC yesterday and missed my goal time of 3:30 with a 3:31 (I blame having to take two potty breaks!), but I still had fun, the weather was 100% better than last year's cold, rainy disaster and I still enjoyed the experience. I'm calling that a successful day.
Some random thoughts:

Runners, please try to throw your empty gel packs, etc. into a trash can. It only takes a few seconds, and it makes our community look better when we're not leaving a garbage-strewn trail in our wake.

Costumed runners are the best. I saw Elvis, Chewbacca, and a stormtrooper out on the course yesterday, and I just had to smile at that. Costumed spectators are also the best. Mr. and Mrs. Incredible were passing out high-fives along the course, along with some Angry Birds and several other costumes I can't remember. Loved it.

Runners yet again proved how awesome they can be yesterday. There was a steep hill at ~Mile 22 on the course, and I was shot, so I took a little walk break going up it. A guy pulls up next to me and starts talking me up the hill, "C'mon buddy, we got this. Let's just ease up this hill and finish this thing up." And of course it totally helped. I heard a bunch of other runners talking to people who were walking the course or looked like they had hit the wall. I love the runner community.

Hope everyone else's weekend races and runs went well!

I had a great time at RnR DC too. I ran the half with a friend for her first half marathon. I didn't have a time goal but just wanted to make sure she had a fun time. We finished at around 3:03 and had a lot of fun. The runners and spectators were all awesome . Though I agree about the trash issue . We made the effort to always throw our trash away but it seems like many others didn't.

 

[MommaoffherRocker]

Hi all, I have been a lurker on this thread from the beginning and a new friend has given me the push into joining along. Everyone here seems so nice and helpful, I just always felt like a poser calling myself a runner. I have been running since last May at first just to run the Castaway Cay 5k but I have found that running is great therapy. With 5 kids (the reason for my name) it is my only true alone time! To answer some of the past questions: My ultimate goal is to finish a marathon, I have never used a formal coach but try to research on my own and ask lots of question to anyone that will answer. Vitamins- I don't even know where to begin I didn't think I needed anything during the runs until I just started hitting the higher miles. I tried gels on my last 10 mile run and they just aren't for me the texture drives me crazy. I am open to any suggestions. Right now I am training for the Darkside half (my first one) and Tinker Bell half.

 

[Chaitali]

Hi all, I have been a lurker on this thread from the beginning and a new friend has given me the push into joining along. Everyone here seems so nice and helpful, I just always felt like a poser calling myself a runner. I have been running since last May at first just to run the Castaway Cay 5k but I have found that running is great therapy. With 5 kids (the reason for my name) it is my only true alone time! To answer some of the past questions: My ultimate goal is to finish a marathon, I have never used a formal coach but try to research on my own and ask lots of question to anyone that will answer. Vitamins- I don't even know where to begin I didn't think I needed anything during the runs until I just started hitting the higher miles. I tried gels on my last 10 mile run and they just aren't for me the texture drives me crazy. I am open to any suggestions. Right now I am training for the Darkside half (my first one) and Tinker Bell half.

Welcome! You're right that you generally don't need fueling on the run until higher mileage. It also depends on your speed. The recommendation I've seen is if your run is longer thank an hour (though I generally go with 90 minutes or longer), you should do some fueling. I can't do the gels either but there are various gummy type products that I can handle the texture better. There's also honey stinger waffles which are kind of like cookies. When I started, I went to the running store because they sell a bunch of different things as singles. So I just grabbed a bunch to try to figure out worked best for me. You can also use more natural options like raising, dates, etc.

And have fun at the dark side! I'm hoping to do that one next year so I look forward to hearing how it is.

 

[MommaoffherRocker]

Welcome! You're right that you generally don't need fueling on the run until higher mileage. It also depends on your speed. The recommendation I've seen is if your run is longer thank an hour (though I generally go with 90 minutes or longer), you should do some fueling. I can't do the gels either but there are various gummy type products that I can handle the texture better. There's also honey stinger waffles which are kind of like cookies. When I started, I went to the running store because they sell a bunch of different things as singles. So I just grabbed a bunch to try to figure out worked best for me. You can also use more natural options like raising, dates, etc.

And have fun at the dark side! I'm hoping to do that one next year so I look forward to hearing how it is.

Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[dmross]

With 5 kids (the reason for my name) it is my only true alone time!

I took a job that eliminated a 65 minute commute several months ago, and didn't realize how much the time in the car fed my introvert tendencies... So now, yes, running is my ONLY alone time, too. Maybe this is why I'm enjoying the longer runs more than I used to?

 

[Waiting2goback]

I also races yesterday in the Kiss Me I'm Irish 17k!

I agree with the previous poster about trash cans but I'd also like to put it out to race directors to think about where you put them. The ones on this race were so close to the station and many people like to at least walk and keep moving while they drink so that attributed to the ground mess!

Other than that the race went well. I started to struggle about mile 8 and I can't decide if it's lack of strength training or not quite hitting my nutrition right. It was more my legs were tired/heavy/numb than it was a cardio problem.

Oh well glad I did it! Hope everyone else had a good running weekend!

Do your legs feel tired during your long runs in training too? Could it have just been a bad day? I know I had days where it feels like my legs weigh 200 lbs each and other days I run fast during training runs and it feels like I am hardly trying.

Hi all, I have been a lurker on this thread from the beginning and a new friend has given me the push into joining along. Everyone here seems so nice and helpful, I just always felt like a poser calling myself a runner. I have been running since last May at first just to run the Castaway Cay 5k but I have found that running is great therapy. With 5 kids (the reason for my name) it is my only true alone time! To answer some of the past questions: My ultimate goal is to finish a marathon, I have never used a formal coach but try to research on my own and ask lots of question to anyone that will answer. Vitamins- I don't even know where to begin I didn't think I needed anything during the runs until I just started hitting the higher miles. I tried gels on my last 10 mile run and they just aren't for me the texture drives me crazy. I am open to any suggestions. Right now I am training for the Darkside half (my first one) and Tinker Bell half.

Welcome. I have been missing for a while too but I am back and happy to just be talking about running. I have know some of these people as far back as the 2014 ToT thread. They are so helpful.

I personally don't love the gels either. On really long runs I actually bring a kashi trail mix bar. They have a lot of nuts in them to keep me full longer. Most people can't eat while they run but my stomach does better with real food than the gels. And before races I eat a HUGE breakfast. The point is, you need to find what works for you. I agree with Chaitali, go to a running store and try a few things. See what works best.

I am still working on my race schedule for the year. I will post it once I get it all finalized. I am glad to be back!

 

[disneydaydreamer33]

I just discovered this fun thread today. Hope I can join too! I usually just do a few official races a year. I ran PHM in February. I have an Earth Day 10K scheduled for April 23. Then I will run the Salt Lake City Haunted Half on October 22. Other than that, I'm not quite sure. I look forward to the advice and encouragement I'm sure I will find here!

 

[FFigawi]

Suggestions for people who don't like gels: bloks, chews, sport beans, honey stingers, honey packets from restaurants, fig newtons, dates, and even homemade bars. The key is to try a variety of things during your training so you can learn what works for you. We're all an experiment of one, and what works for me may or may not work for someone else.

 

[DVCFan1994]

In a horrible example of not trying out new nutrition things pre-race, I had a gel for the first time ever at mile 12 of the 15 mile bike portion of my first (and only) triathlon. By far the worst racing mistake I have made. Gagging and cycling uphill are not a good combination. It was a sprint tri, so I never felt in training like I needed fueling, because nothing ever added up to much more than an hour. But, friends convinced me for race day I would need the extra energy when putting all three components together. They may have been right, but I definitely should have tried it before race day. Never had a gel since! Shot bloks and honey stinger chews for me

 

[ZellyB]

I totally agree about trying a variety of things. Gu/Gel etc are no go for me too. The consistency just gags me, but I know lots of people like them. I like sport beans and cliff bars primarily. But, I can also do a variety of other things as well, but the gels (and that is typically what gets handed out in races) are not for me.

I ran our Shamrox 15K on Saturday. Great weather with overcast skies and around 50 degree temps. I've got a knee that's acting up a bit, so not my strongest run. I was hoping to be around 11 min/mile pace and ended up by my Garmin at 11:00 on the nose. A bit longer by the official results because I ran an extra .14 but all good. My knee held up pretty well, so that bodes well for continued training. It really was a fun race and the course was good (although whoever said it was flat was a liar!). Still lots of fun and free beer at the end made for a fun race day!

 

[LSUlakes]

Good morning folks! Hope everyone had a good weekend. I wasn't able to check in on the thread to much this weekend, but it appears we did not have much traffic and a little drama. Congrats to all that had a race this weekend!

QOTD: What is your favorite training route and why?

ATTQOTD: I enjoy running around the LSU lakes. Very little car traffic and always a lot of people on the route. Having a lot of options to increase mileage without repeating similar routes is nice as well.

Sunday was my Zydeco Half Marathon. I haven't had much time to train lately so I did not have high expectations for the race and figured anything below 2 hours would be a success. I started out and just ran at a somewhat comfortable pace, and decided to try to run as long as I could by feel. Things went well and I ended up with a finish time of 1:46:50 for an average pace of 8:09 officially. Overall I was 78th of 1127 runners. Things got interesting in the starting corrals when a lady fainted before the race. Medical personal came to attend to her and before the race started, she was sitting up and seemed like she would be ok.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

QOTD: What is your favorite training route and why?

We have an awesome trail where I live and I do most of my training on that trail. When I get within 6 weeks of a road race I switch to the streets to get my feet used to the pounding again, but street runs feel more like work and less like the running that I love.

I also love running along the Charles river when in Boston, and along the levees when in Louisiana, but I only get to do each a few times/year.

 

[DopeyBadger]

Good morning folks! Hope everyone had a good weekend. I wasn't able to check in on the thread to much this weekend, but it appears we did not have much traffic and a little drama. Congrats to all that had a race this weekend!

QOTD: What is your favorite training route and why?

ATTQOTD: I enjoy running around the LSU lakes. Very little car traffic and always a lot of people on the route. Having a lot of options to increase mileage without repeating similar routes is nice as well.

Sunday was my Zydeco Half Marathon. I haven't had much time to train lately so I did not have high expectations for the race and figured anything below 2 hours would be a success. I started out and just ran at a somewhat comfortable pace, and decided to try to run as long as I could by feel. Things went well and I ended up with a finish time of 1:46:50 for an average pace of 8:09 officially. Overall I was 78th of 1127 runners. Things got interesting in the starting corrals when a lady fainted before the race. Medical personal came to attend to her and before the race started, she was sitting up and seemed like she would be ok.

Congrats on the race. Pretty impressive given the cut down on training lately.

I only have one training route which is within a 2 mile radius of my house. I just keep doing loops onto different streets. I like it because it has steep hills, long hills, flat spots, 4 lanes (with 2 for traffic and 2 for parking), within neighborhood so car speed is low, a park nearby where I can place replacement water, and I'm never too far from home in case of trouble.