The Running Thread - 2016

[Miranda]

A lot of great questions and answers for the past week. Been busy. There are no expectations for this weekend other than to have a great time running the GSC with my daughter who wanted to do it. I am themed as Ariel and my daughter (29) will be themed as King Triton. To share my costume with y'all



So you see this is all about having a great father/daughter weekend.

That's great!

We saw a lot of male Tinker Bells last year at Tink. They always got lots of cheers.

 

[LSUlakes]

Good morning folks. Todays QOTD is presented to you by another poster on the site. Another great question!

QOTD: Has anyone been a part of an organized running club? What was it like? How often do they meet and around what times? Do you have to pay or is it is a free service?

ATTQOTD: I occasionally run with a running group. It is a great way to meet people with similar interest and keep you motivated. The group meets twice during the work week and once on the weekends for the long run. It is also free. Its nearly impossible for me to meet with them during the week because the runs start at the same time I get off work. I try to run with them on the weekends but sometimes the route isn't stroller friendly and I have to take a different route or the goals for what I want to versus the group is to different to join in. When I first started training for my first half I did join a paid group, which help me get to the finish line, but after a while I disagreed with the coach on the methods of coaching and went my separate way.

 

[Miranda]

QOTD: I have never been a part of a running group. There is a large one near me that organizes all kinds of pub runs and at the local races there's always a million people in the club shirts, but I just don't know if I would fit in. I'm pretty introverted IRL, although I'll chat for days on a forum, and I'm just not really into the run and then drink beer and socialize thing. Plus there is the aforementioned running pace. As a slower/heavier interval runner, I would never really be with anyone on the group runs, even if they have 11:30-12:00 pace groups.

 

[roxymama]

ATTQOTD: I have not been in a running group yet. I've been researching and trying to find one near me but I might be in a dead-zone where everything is around 30+ minutes away. If I could find one that met in the morning on a weekend day that was a bit closer I would check it out (can't justify and extra hour of driving when I want to spend quality time with my kiddo.) Our local running stores have them, but they meet up in wooded areas even farther away from me than the store.
The funny thing is I'm not sure I'd even like it, I just have FOMO when I see the comraderie at local races I'm always thinking "where are these people meeting each other?" Maybe I need to just ask them next time (duh?)

 

[rteetz]

QOTD: Has anyone been a part of an organized running club? What was it like? How often do they meet and around what times? Do you have to pay or is it is a free service?

No I have never been part of one.

 

[RunDisneyDad]

I haven't been a part of one, but have run near them and they always seem like they are having fun and engaged.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

QOTD: Has anyone been a part of an organized running club? What was it like? How often do they meet and around what times? Do you have to pay or is it is a free service?

No - not interested. I am not a social runner.

 

[Slogger]

Multiple answers to the QOTD: I typically run around my neighborhood and don't drive somewhere unless I have a very long run scheduled and will go to the park. The park has a 1.1 mile loop.

Most of my training runs are alone as there aren't any organized running groups in my area and my family isn't motivated to get out and run on a regular basis.
But when I run an actual event, my DW typically runs with me (we go at her pace), and occasionally my kids will join in. Lots of great pictures when that happens. Part of my Dopey Challenge enjoyment came from having a family member GET UP and run with me each of the first 3 days.

Good luck everyone this week with your runs at Disney and elsewhere.

 

[Chaitali]

QOTD: Has anyone been a part of an organized running club? What was it like? How often do they meet and around what times? Do you have to pay or is it is a free service?

I'm a member of our county's road runner club. There's an annual membership fee (I think around $40?) but it's well worth it. They have multiple running meet up times during the week and an open track night at a local school. These are pretty unstructured. They also have low key races throughout the year that are free for members and $10 for non-members. Lastly, they have more formal training groups which are an extra fee. They go from beginning 5k training to experienced marathoner training. The more formal groups meet twice a week (long run and track work) and are more organized with pace groups, coaches for each pace group, etc. I really enjoy the group. Even when I was part of the training group, I often ended up running by myself anyway because I'm a weird pace and I do run/walk, but it's nice to have people around me for safety so I'm not out there alone. And it was nice to have people to meet with at the beginning and end as extra motivation

 

[FFigawi]

QOTD: Has anyone been a part of an organized running club? What was it like? How often do they meet and around what times? Do you have to pay or is it is a free service?

I was one of the main organizers of the Doha Bay Running Club when I lived in Qatar. We did not charge any money unless you wanted to buy a club running top. Our main run was our long run followed by socializing at the coffee shop every Friday morning, and people also got together for Sunday night tempo runs and Tuesday track workouts. We held an awards party once a year and a Friday brunch or boat cruise a few times a year as well. Many of my good friends when I lived there I met through the club, and we were always getting together for social activities outside the club too. I'm looking forward to seeing several of them at the Abu Dhabi triathlon in a few weeks.

 

[SunDial]

QOTD: Has anyone been a part of an organized running club? What was it like? How often do they meet and around what times? Do you have to pay or is it is a free service?

I am not part of a running group yet. A couple of drag racing friends were talking about their running group and with in that group are some that are doing triathlon training. So now when I get back from this Princess weekend I will be hooking up with them. I am sure the fee is minimal and I am not worrying about that. Can't put a real price on knowledge.

 

[Slogger]

It would depend on the kid. It is quite vulgar and violent. The language is foul, the humor is crude, and the violence is extreme, but it is an amazing and hilarious movie.

Thanks @surfde22. Sound like something he would probably like.
Now my wife wants to see it too!!! Maybe this weekend.

 

[SunDial]

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?

QOTD: Do you prefer to run alone so you can set your own pace or with others? If running with others do they have to be of the same pace or do you mind slowing down for them? If your pace varies to much for the person running with you, how to you go about letting that person know?

These can be answered together. I run strictly outdoors. Since I am down in South Florida there is no worry about the crazy cold y'all get. Just have to deal with the heat which can work to the benefit if a race is in warm weather. Also my work schedule leads me to go running around 8 to 9pm. So I would be going out solo. I am also in a pretty good area.

 

[Barca33Runner]

QOTD: Has anyone been a part of an organized running club? What was it like? How often do they meet and around what times? Do you have to pay or is it is a free service?

I kind of like the idea of meeting new people and running with a group...But I am super lazy and don't like the added effort and time involved with driving and meeting up with others for a run. I'm terrible.

 

[gjramsey]

ATTQOTD: I have been part of my running club for 3 years now. It was the best thing I did for my running. When I ran by myself, I did all my runs at about the same pace. No speed, no tempo, no easy. I didn't think I would like it, but has been worth it, to me.

The group used to have a speed work scheduled on Monday or Tuesday, but that has been scrubbed thanks to the school district. For Long runs, the club has 4 different groups that meet, based on pace/goals/distance, as well as twice a year starting a couch to 5 k group with a goal race in the fall, and one in the spring for that group. I believe next season they are going to have a 5k to 10k plan with goal races as well.

The club provides training plans for the different groups (with a trained coach to help design the plans), with the mileage being higher for the advanced group. There are many sub-groups that meet up during the week to run together, and plan runs in the private facebook group. There are also many cliques within the group, but overall, it is an amazing gorp

When I decided to join a club, I was amazed to find out how many different clubs there are in the Houston area, with about 5 withing 10 miles of where I live.


These continue to be great questions, and it is very interesting to see how much the same but different most of us are!

 

[roxymama]

This is gonna be totally random and off topic because I'm deep in random thought today.
I realized I have no idea how fast I could push myself if I only ran just one mile. I was looking at our local race calendar today to help my husband pick out his "march race" and there a quite a few St. Patrick one-milers. Some with beer, but most without. Don't really have the urge to sign up but I am feeling like I have this odd urge to go run only a mile sometime soon to see what I'd come up with...like empty the tank. Wondering how that would go.
Guess I've never just ran only a mile now that I think of it.

 

[Dopey Devon]

Would you like me to add this race to the list on the first page? Any goals for it? Anyone else need to add this race to the list?

Oooooh yes please although I don't know what to put for my target time and wanted your general thoughts. My half pb is from may last year and is 1.44 - since then I've been running pretty consistently (3-4 times a week) and running longer (in prep for Dopey) but not faster. Do you think I could maybe try for sub 1.40 this year if I incorporate speed work as well as medium-long runs throughout this year. I'll be doing some other races this year but this is the flattest of them all and best shout at a pb. Or is 1.40 too much of a leap?

 

[LSUlakes]

This is gonna be totally random and off topic because I'm deep in random thought today.
I realized I have no idea how fast I could push myself if I only ran just one mile. I was looking at our local race calendar today to help my husband pick out his "march race" and there a quite a few St. Patrick one-milers. Some with beer, but most without. Don't really have the urge to sign up but I am feeling like I have this odd urge to go run only a mile sometime soon to see what I'd come up with...like empty the tank. Wondering how that would go.
Guess I've never just ran only a mile now that I think of it.

I haven't done it either. The only time I have ran a mile is for a beer mile, and well that kinda slows you down. Running a single mile for time is a whole different animal compared to the other normal road race distances. I would like to run it once for time, but I would like to train for about 6-8 weeks before giving it a go.

Oooooh yes please although I don't know what to put for my target time and wanted your general thoughts. My half pb is from may last year and is 1.44 - since then I've been running pretty consistently (3-4 times a week) and running longer (in prep for Dopey) but not faster. Do you think I could maybe try for sub 1.40 this year if I incorporate speed work as well as medium-long runs throughout this year. I'll be doing some other races this year but this is the flattest of them all and best shout at a pb. Or is 1.40 too much of a leap?

I will add you to the list and for the time being we can put you down for 1:40:00. A week before the race I will tag you to ask about how training etc. is going and an opportunity to revise your goal time. I do believe if you stay with it a sub 1:40 time can be accomplished by November. Speed work will help a lot, not such much running 400m repeats, but tempo runs, fartlek's, 800m repeats should help you get there. Thanks for getting back to me!

 

[DopeyBadger]

This is gonna be totally random and off topic because I'm deep in random thought today.
I realized I have no idea how fast I could push myself if I only ran just one mile. I was looking at our local race calendar today to help my husband pick out his "march race" and there a quite a few St. Patrick one-milers. Some with beer, but most without. Don't really have the urge to sign up but I am feeling like I have this odd urge to go run only a mile sometime soon to see what I'd come up with...like empty the tank. Wondering how that would go.
Guess I've never just ran only a mile now that I think of it.

If I were to sign up for a race that were only a mile and was trying to really "empty the tank" (nice phrase, BTW) here are some things I would look for:

-How many finishers last year?
-How many finishers around where I would finish?
-Is there a staggered start?
-Is it chip timed or gun timed?
-What is the course like and how many turns are there?

I would definitely consider, as well, a serious warmup prior to this race with a few easy miles and some warmup sprints to get the blood flowing. I definitely think for me, I would do better in a non-race situation when it comes to the mile unless the number of people running in a race was low and of similar pace to me. Good Luck, if you choose to do it!

 

[LSUlakes]

If I were to sign up for a race that were only a mile and was trying to really "empty the tank" (nice phrase, BTW) here are some things I would look for:

-How many finishers last year?
-How many finishers around where I would finish?
-Is there a staggered start?
-Is it chip timed or gun timed?
-What is the course like and how many turns are there?

I would definitely consider, as well, a serious warmup prior to this race with a few easy miles and some warmup sprints to get the blood flowing. I definitely think for me, I would do better in a non-race situation when it comes to the mile unless the number of people running in a race was low and of similar pace to me. Good Luck, if you choose to do it!

This is solid advice!