The Running Thread - 2016

[michigandergirl]

After long runs I drink water or Gatorade (especially if it's hot). I will sometimes have a beer after a race, but as much as I like beer, my stomach isn't always up for it. I've bought chocolate milk to try after runs but my kids always seem to drink it all before I get to it - I recently retaliated by finishing off their Cocoa Puffs after a long run, which I figured is kind of like chocolate milk, right?

 

[LSUlakes]

So the weather is supposed to get "bad" here around 1-4 PM today. Looks like at my current location we are in the TOR:CON index I am around a 8. All the schools are closed in my parish and even the universities are shutting down early. I enjoy weather and I am sad I don't have a window office. Anyone else along the gulf coast, stay safe as the storm heads east.

 

[PrincessV]

QOTD: What is your post run drink?

ATTQOTD: Short runs in our 2 months of winter: water. Short runs the rest of the year (i.e.: raging, scorching, infernal summer): Nuun. Long runs at any time of year: Nuun and marginally-chocolate milk (pre-mixed stuff is too chocolaty - I mix a small squirt of chocolate syrup into a glass of skim milk), followed by more water and Nuun.

 

[PrincessV]

So the weather is supposed to get "bad" here around 1-4 PM today. Looks like at my current location we are in the TOR:CON index I am around a 8. All the schools are closed in my parish and even the universities are shutting down early. I enjoy weather and I am sad I don't have a window office. Anyone else along the gulf coast, stay safe as the storm heads east.

Just got word to expect it to rip through here (Tampa Bay area) during... wait for it... rush hour tomorrow morning. Joy.

 

[Chaitali]

Off Topic but can anyone tell me how they fare on crushed gravel trails vs paved roads? I'm contemplating a local half marathon that has a very close cut off time to my usual pace. I should be able to do it but I just learned that it's on a crushed gravel trail, not a paved path. It's described as a "Flat crushed gravel rail trail" and I'm just wondering if that's going to make a substantial difference to my usual time. If anyone's from around Baltimore, It's the Oldfield Half Marathon on the NCR Trail. Another website describes the trail as "10 feet wide with a stone dust surface."

I'd welcome any input

 

[LSUlakes]

While I was home for lunch, a tornado hit a business ~3 miles down the road from me. The weather at my house was very windy and raining cats and dogs. Only ~3 more hours to go!

 

[PrincessV]

Off Topic but can anyone tell me how they fare on crushed gravel trails vs paved roads? I'm contemplating a local half marathon that has a very close cut off time to my usual pace. I should be able to do it but I just learned that it's on a crushed gravel trail, not a paved path. It's described as a "Flat crushed gravel rail trail" and I'm just wondering if that's going to make a substantial difference to my usual time. If anyone's from around Baltimore, It's the Oldfield Half Marathon on the NCR Trail. Another website describes the trail as "10 feet wide with a stone dust surface."

I'd welcome any input

I run crushed shell and gravel a lot here in FL... what I've found is that much depends on what's under the gravel/shell: packed dirt topped with gravel makes for a pretty level, even surface that's a bit more cushioned than asphalt or concrete, but not likely to turn a foot or twist an ankle. Sand topped with crushed gravel/shell is less forgiving and requires careful attention to one's footing and strong feet/ankles. The experience also varies with how much gravel/shell has been poured: when my local paths have been freshly re-graveled, the stones are deep and loose, making my feet sink more than when they've had a chance to get packed down by use. I suspect rail trail would be pretty uniform, condensed and settled, since it would formerly have held railroad ties, but maybe expect a bit more effort in your run compared to asphalt.

 

[opusone]

Off Topic but can anyone tell me how they fare on crushed gravel trails vs paved roads? I'm contemplating a local half marathon that has a very close cut off time to my usual pace. I should be able to do it but I just learned that it's on a crushed gravel trail, not a paved path. It's described as a "Flat crushed gravel rail trail" and I'm just wondering if that's going to make a substantial difference to my usual time. If anyone's from around Baltimore, It's the Oldfield Half Marathon on the NCR Trail. Another website describes the trail as "10 feet wide with a stone dust surface."

I'd welcome any input

This is a rails-to-trails path, and it appears that the portion of the trail that you will be on is flat and in good shape. The few pictures I found made the trail look pretty wide and hard-packed. I think you should be close to or at pavement pace with this race.

In my experience, the rails-to-trails paths are usually good for running a normal pace.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Off Topic but can anyone tell me how they fare on crushed gravel trails vs paved roads? I'm contemplating a local half marathon that has a very close cut off time to my usual pace. I should be able to do it but I just learned that it's on a crushed gravel trail, not a paved path. It's described as a "Flat crushed gravel rail trail" and I'm just wondering if that's going to make a substantial difference to my usual time. If anyone's from around Baltimore, It's the Oldfield Half Marathon on the NCR Trail. Another website describes the trail as "10 feet wide with a stone dust surface."

I'd welcome any input

If it is truly crushed , then it is like running on a dirt trail without the mud. I love these trails. And the impact on joints is significantly lower than pavement, but without the surface giving so much that you have to worry about extra strain on your calves.

If the gravel includes larger, un-crushed gravel - well, that is an injury hazard.

 

[Chaitali]

Thanks for the replies, BuckeyeBama, opusone, and PrincessV! I think I'll give it a try. Its a small race and if I'm dead last, I'm dead last. Not a big deal. I checked the official times from last year and there were definitely people who had finishing times after the official cut off time. Worse come to worse, I finish on my own and the finish line stuff is already packed up. I'll just make sure that there's water and snacks in the car

 

[IamTrike]

Off Topic but can anyone tell me how they fare on crushed gravel trails vs paved roads? I'm contemplating a local half marathon that has a very close cut off time to my usual pace. I should be able to do it but I just learned that it's on a crushed gravel trail, not a paved path. It's described as a "Flat crushed gravel rail trail" and I'm just wondering if that's going to make a substantial difference to my usual time. If anyone's from around Baltimore, It's the Oldfield Half Marathon on the NCR Trail. Another website describes the trail as "10 feet wide with a stone dust surface."

I'd welcome any input

I run on crushed gravel a fare bit. I think I'm slightly slower than on pavement but not much.

 

[Chaitali]

IamTrike, thanks! So I guess I shouldn't hold out hopes for this to necessarily be a PR race.

 

[PrincessV]

Ditto for me: I'm really no slower on gravel - I just feel like my muscles are working a teensy bit harder. And I'll add that I LOVE running dirt and gravel! I'll go out of my way to run that instead of concrete or asphalt. Definitely worth trying, I think!

 

[Chaitali]

I'm going to go for it! I was looking at options and it's either the flat rail trail or a hilly road race for me in April. I figure it's a wash either way and it will be good to try something new. I'm doing Rock and Roll DC in March but I'm doing that one with a friend, it's her first half, and my goal for that one is just to stay with her and make sure she has a good experience That's why I was looking for an April race where I could test myself for time. There is a crushed gravel trail not far from me so I'll go out there for a long run one weekend.

 

[cavepig]

@Chaitali I don't mind running on crushed fine gravel and don't think my pace suffers, it seems softer on the legs/knees which I like. If it's big chunky stuff than that's not fun.

What is your post run drink? - water and/or crystal light on easy cool days. On longer days Gatorade. I drink chocolate milk every day at lunch which is usually after my run, if it's a really long run then I'll drink the milk not too long after finishing. Sometimes I'll even mix sprite into my Gatorade for afterwards, the little bit of fizziness helps if my stomach is feeling a bit off after a hard or long run.

 

[Chaitali]

Thanks, you guys! This thread is amazing and I'm so grateful to have a place I can go to for answers like this

I also realized I didn't answer the QOTD. I drink water on short runs, nuun on long runs (and on short runs in the Summer). I am sadly not a fan of milk at all so I've never tried it as a post run drink. I generally stick to water or every once in a while treat myself to an chai (hot/iced depends on the weather) from Starbucks. I did have a post race beer at Wine and Dine and that really hit the spot.

 

[SunDial]

QOTD: Do you stretch either before or after your runs? Does your routine vary for a race?

I really do not stretch. I will do some pre run walking or some high knee steps.

I'll throw out a QOTD for you inspired by our current WDW racers this weekend.
What obscure Disney thing would you want want to see on a race medal...like you'd register immediately?

I will echo those that wanted a Sorcerer Mickey. That would be a nice medal. I also like @camaker idea of the pirate themed event.

QOTD: How do you feel about out and back courses or even sections of a course where you have to make a U-turn?

A small one is not bad as long as there are not a lot of them. I did a 5K in this past September and was all just an out and back minus a few feet in a shopping plaza parking lot.

QOTD: What is your post run drink?!

I will do water or Gatorade at the end of an event until I can get to my chocolate protein drink.

 

[clemsondisneygirl]

Ok running friends! Talk me down from the ledge because I'm freaking out a bit...in a moment of insanity I signed up for a St. Pats 17k on March 12th!!! I am currently in training for the Dark Side 1/2 but my training is feeling a little boring and I am generally more motivated by racing...however my recent long run was 6 miles...can I make it to 17k in 3 weeks?! I am thinking do 8 this weekend, 9 the next and then the race...talk me down!

 

[opusone]

Ok running friends! Talk me down from the ledge because I'm freaking out a bit...in a moment of insanity I signed up for a St. Pats 17k on March 12th!!! I am currently in training for the Dark Side 1/2 but my training is feeling a little boring and I am generally more motivated by racing...however my recent long run was 6 miles...can I make it to 17k in 3 weeks?! I am thinking do 8 this weekend, 9 the next and then the race...talk me down!

Depends. I know you stated that your long run so far is 6 miles, but how has the rest of your training been going? Have you been doing every training run, or have you skipped quite a few? Also, do you plan on racing the 17k or just use it as a training run (i.e. your normal training pace)?

If you have been completing most or all of your training runs AND you are running the race at your long run training pace (not your race pace), I think it would be fine and your ramp up should work. My only word of advice would be to generally follow the 10% mileage rule: do not increase weekly mileage by more than 10% each week. I would hate for the ramp up to this training race to cause you injury before the Dark Side half.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

QOTD: What is your post run drink

Ice cold Diet Coke is my fav.. Im usually not a cola fan (2nd choice of carb beverage) but it hits the spot.