The Running Thread - 2016

[cavepig]

I just head out the door. I stay inside my neighborhood so that I don't have to cross either of the highways. I can get any distance run in by winding through the streets. I also have a 0.66 mile loop that is relatively flat that I can do speed work on (sharp turns though). There are also many hills with long slow grades and short steep grades depending on the challenge I'm looking for. Also, the streets are 4 cars wide (2 for driving and 2 for parking) so I have a lot of space to avoid obstacles (snow/ice) or oncoming traffic. Another benefit to my run is that I am never more than 2 miles away from home. I have a spreadsheet posted in our house that details distance and time of the workout so that my wife always knows when I should be arriving home. If I don't show up, she knows she doesn't have to search to hard to find me since I'm just somewhere in a 2 mile radius on one of a few streets. I don't really get bored with it and all the neighbors know me by now. A few times people have come up to me when I'm far away from home and just doing daily things and they're like "Hey, you're that guy in Cottage Grove always running by my house", or "Hey, you're the Arby's runner. I see you every time I go to Arby's." I've been stopped in races too, it's kinda funny. I think I've logged about 4,000 miles in a 2 mile radius of the house.

That's basically me too, nice to read I'm not the only who repeats a lot! I'll repeat the same stretch multiple times and see the same car go by a few times. That's funny on the Arby's comment, I'll get those too about seeing me always in the same area

 

[michigandergirl]

ATTQOTD: I almost never drive anywhere for training runs. Because it's so dark for my weekday morning 3 to 5 milers, I run in my neighborhood to stay safe - I usually don't see a single car except for the local policeman that frequently drives the same route (he waves and is probably thinking I'm nuts for doing this at 5:00am). For my long weekend runs I use the rail trail that is less than a mile from my house, which is very scenic and popular, I'm never alone out there.

 

[CheapRunnerMike]

Thanks! I was looking at the site for the marathon and it looks like I missed early registration, but the next round opens up early May. The May registration period seems to have some requirements to enter at that time, one of which is corral A placement. Looking at the time cutoffs for the different distances, I wont have a problem getting in. A friend of ours lives near Houston and said he would run it... not sure if it would try pacing me to a low 3:10's or a miracle BQ if I can make some major progress over the summer I may be able to convince him to pace me. A 3:05 marathon for him is a walk in the park.

Wow! Must be nice...

 

[surfde22]

QOTD: For your runs, do you tend to run out the door or do you drive somewhere? When you do drive, what motivates you to do that? Is it terrain?... a change??? meet people??... So what's your story?

I am an out the door type of runner, like many others on here. There are lots of long, straight, low traffic roads near me where I can run. A lot of it is done on the shoulder, which a times can be a bit nerve racking at time. I always run alone. I put in my yurbuds, crank up the music, start my Garmin, and run.

 

[ZellyB]

[ wish there was a magic way to make someone who doesn't like running enjoy it a. My wife has done two half's but she hate running.
I wish I could help her enjoy it, but I know she has tried.

You never know, she might change her mind one day. My husband tried for years to get me to run and I would do it here and there but never liked it and then one day I just decided I wanted to give it another try and discovered the Galloway method and it just clicked for me.

QOTD: For your runs, do you tend to run out the door or do you drive somewhere? When you do drive, what motivates you to do that? Is it terrain?... a change??? meet people??... So what's your story?

ATTQOTD: We always drive somewhere. Not a good place to run near us with back country roads and poor visibility for oncoming traffic. Just not safe. We drive 5 minutes to an area for our regular weekly route and then drive into another location about 15 minutes away that has a lot of options for longer routes. We also meet up with our Galloway group most of the time on weekends for our long routes as well.

 

[Diskidatheart]

QOTD: For your runs, do you tend to run out the door or do you drive somewhere? When you do drive, what motivates you to do that? Is it terrain?... a change??? meet people??... So what's your story?

The answer is both for me. On Wednesdays, I typically run with a group that meets at a local running store. On Saturdays, I drive about 30 minutes into town to meet with the running group for our long runs. The rest of my runs, I typically run from either home or the office. I like doing it this way because it really does mix up the scenery...and besides, I live in a VERY hilly area and to do all my runs from there would be torture.

 

[rteetz]

My teacher was back from the marathon trials today and talked a bit about the experience. He is 24 and was one of the youngest in the field. He said in all of the meetings they had leading up to the race Galen Rupp was never there. He did get a chance to meet the 40 year old guy who placed second (name is escaping me) and said that he is one of the nicest guys out there. He said he heat was brutal and over 50 runners dropped out from the 160 person mens field. He finished 65th and was happy just to finish because of the conditions. He started out running a 5:20 mile pace so he could save some energy for the end but by mile 5 that started to drop as the heat was getting to him. Overall he really enjoyed the experience and was pleased with is finish.

 

[Miranda]

He did get a chance to meet the 40 year old guy who placed second (name is escaping me) and said that he is one of the nicest guys out there.

Meb!

Meb Keflezhigi. He is amazing... I have enjoyed following his career.

 

[FFigawi]

QOTD: For your runs, do you tend to run out the door or do you drive somewhere? When you do drive, what motivates you to do that? Is it terrain?... a change??? meet people??... So what's your story

I head out the door, down the elevator, and go to the ground floor and exit into the parking lot. A few dozens loops around the lot & I've hit my mileage for the day.

 

[LSUlakes]

My teacher was back from the marathon trials today and talked a bit about the experience. He is 24 and was one of the youngest in the field. He said in all of the meetings they had leading up to the race Galen Rupp was never there. He did get a chance to meet the 40 year old guy who placed second (name is escaping me) and said that he is one of the nicest guys out there. He said he heat was brutal and over 50 runners dropped out from the 160 person mens field. He finished 65th and was happy just to finish because of the conditions. He started out running a 5:20 mile pace so he could save some energy for the end but by mile 5 that started to drop as the heat was getting to him. Overall he really enjoyed the experience and was pleased with is finish.

Meb. I don't think I have ever heard anyone say anything negative about him. The post marathon press conference was entertaining when they asked him about Rupp. If you haven't seen the clip check it out. It was a big deal when he won Boston in 2014, being the first American to do so in a very long time. It was a good day.

I head out the door, down the elevator, and go to the ground floor and exit into the parking lot. A few dozens loops around the lot & I've hit my mileage for the day.

How long is a loop in the parking lot? I think a treadmill may be a better experience if its less than 1/4 mile.

 

[Diskidatheart]

When you get a chance, can you please add 2 half marathons to the list for me?

April 16 - Little Boston Trail half marathon (Goal of 1:50)
May 1 - Pittsburgh Half Marathon (Under 2:00).

 

[roxymama]

That's basically me too, nice to read I'm not the only who repeats a lot! I'll repeat the same stretch multiple times and see the same car go by a few times. That's funny on the Arby's comment, I'll get those too about seeing me always in the same area

There's a guy I almost always pass a couple times a month...he is an older gentleman with a beard who often wears a red St. Xavier sweatshirt. (I think he might be Santa Claus)

 

[roxymama]

Meb!

Meb Keflezhigi. He is amazing... I have enjoyed following his career.

I received a high five from Meb after I ran the Rock N Roll Chicago race last year. All I knew was he was the one who spoke to the crowd before the start. At the time I thought he was a retired runner superstar...ooops on me when I started reading about him in a running magazine... "Oh, this guys is still really good...doh" Needless to say I've learned a bit more since then.

 

[SplashRider]

@rteetz I love Meb! I follow him on Twitter, and he just seems like an awesome guy. That's so cool that your teacher ran in the Olympic Trials and got to meet some of those famous runners.

I haven't been on in a while due to a combination of busy-ness and self-pity since I'm still not able to run much. But I did have PT for the second time today and was allowed to run/walk a whole mile! First time I've been allowed to go that far in three weeks. The whole knee injury that stopped me in the first place hasn't hurt in a while, but my physical therapist wants me to build super slowly as well as change some things about my form (which is causing some annoying hip flexor pain but will hopefully be good for me in the long run). Apparently, I've been heel-striking pretty severely and also don't pick my feet up far enough. I got some Topo Fli-Lytes with only 3mm drop, and I'm working on increasing my cadence and lifting my knees more to fix those issues. It's frustrating to go from running a marathon and then a month later have one mile of run/walk feel like a big deal, but I'm trying to take the long view in this. I want to run for as long as I live, and if I have to run less than I'd like for a while now in order to do that, so be it. Now I'm just hoping I can still run (or run/walk or walk) my spring races!

ATTQOTD: I drive about half the time and run from home about half the time. I run with a group twice during the week and on the weekends, but other days I just run from home. I like going to the group because I can run with a few people who are a little faster than me to get a couple fast days in (I haven't yet tried doing structured speedwork). The group also meets at a nice, 16-mile paved trail at 7am on Saturdays which gets me up to do my long run early. Otherwise, I can easily get 8-10 miles from home mostly along paved paths and up through the UF campus.

 

[LSUlakes]

This week we have the following folks running a race or races! @Keels @Disneyland_emily @Anisum @DVCFan1994 @Miranda and @SunDial . How is race weekend looking for yall? Training has gone well? Any adjustments you would like me to make to your goal time for the weekend? Good luck to each of you and safe travels as you head out. I look forward to reading about yalls experience.

Wow! Must be nice...

My thoughts exactly!

When you get a chance, can you please add 2 half marathons to the list for me?

Got them on the list. Good luck!

and was allowed to run/walk a whole mile! First time I've been allowed to go that far in three weeks.

Hope you recovery goes well.

 

[Miranda]

My training has been pretty mehhhh. I have been working hard at my spinning and getting that in 2x a week. My running has been inconsistent, though, and I need to fix that ASAP.

I would be hoping for a PR if I had been more consistent (33:08 5K PR) because it's a very flat course, but I think I'm going to say my goal is sub 35:00.

 

[camaker]

QOTD: For your runs, do you tend to run out the door or do you drive somewhere? When you do drive, what motivates you to do that? Is it terrain?... a change??? meet people??... So what's your story?

I walk out the door and run. My neighborhood is right next to a park which is connected by a shaded greenway to another park with a lake loop. I can customize runs anywhere from 2 to 12 miles in no more than two laps.

 

[gjramsey]

My running club claims Meb as a member! Our club president met him before Chevron a couple of years ago and gave him a club shirt. He sent back the following pic:

 

[Disneyland_emily]

Well considering I'll get to have my gallbladder out two days after race weekend I'm just looking to finish strong all 3 race days and enjoy it-

-em

 

[Baloo in MI]

QOTD: For your runs, do you tend to run out the door or do you drive somewhere? When you do drive, what motivates you to do that? Is it terrain?... a change??? meet people??... So what's your story?

For me it really varies. I do many of my runs right from my house. I am really lucky in that I am able to put together safe runs from my door to any distance I need while training up to a marathon. But I do like to mix in some other areas so I will drive to some trail heads to get in good trail work or out into the farm lands near my town that allow me to just zone out. I have several trail races this spring and summer so I will be driving to trails more to get in the needed trail miles.