The Running Thread - 2016

[Miranda]

ATTQOTD: I was not back into running yet, but I always watch the marathon on TV, living in New England, and working from home full time. I remember just being glued to the WCVB coverage all day. I remember the coverage from watching this more than the stuff from 9/11, maybe because it was closer to home.

 

[CheapRunnerMike]

QOTD: Today is the 3 year anniversary of the bombing of the the Boston Marathon. It's a day in history that I'll never forget. Tell us what you remember about that day and what impact it had/has on running for you.

I remember recording the WBZ feed on my DVR so that I could watch it when I got home from work around 3:30...I had avoided all mention of the race as best I could and just as I was sitting down to watch it my phone went crazy with people asking me if I saw what happened at Boston and me telling them to not tell me, I was just about to watch it. That made me really excited that the race was going to be something special, that even my non-running friends were eager to talk about what had happened. In a matter of minutes that excitement turned to horror as I found out what was happening. I was glued to the story from then on...needless to say I did not end up watching the race coverage. The despair of that moment was replaced a year later when Meb crossed the finish line...there couldn't have been a better moment or a better ambassador to help heal Boston and the running community. Keeping in mind that I am a Canadian, I couldn't help but feel overjoyed and feel the pride that America felt at that moment. It was perfect.

 

[Barca33Runner]

ATTQOTD:

I remember watching the whole race and thinking to myself, "oh my gosh, I just watched people run for 2 hours" and knowing i must really be getting interested in running if I was willing to watch it for that length of time. I was shocked when I heard about the bombing a couple hours later. It was awesome, but somewhat unsurprising, the way the community pulled together.

 

[roxymama]

It's actually a pretty tough challenge as the race is timed. To compete it successfully you need to run 2.5 miles, eat a dozen donuts then run an additional 2.5 miles in less than an hour.

I agree with @Slogger I honestly think I could run 5 miles faster than I could eat a dozen donuts. And I like donuts...and I'm not super fast.

ATTQOTD: I was not a runner yet that day. But there is one thing I always think of.
A few months after the bombing that year my Blackhawks faced the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup finals. And I remember being oddly conflicted in that I, of course, wanted the Hawks to win but I felt selfish because in my heart I knew the people of Boston could use a victory to lift them somehow. We have season tickets in a fairly "rowdy" area of the United Center and there are many hecklers (it gets super "colorful" especially during the playoffs)...But I've never seen two opposing fan bases be so considerate and friendly with each other. Hockey felt a little like small potatoes at that point. I saw guys buying bruins fans beers not even knowing if they were actually from Boston or not. A lot of backs being patted and "cheers to boston strong" and pledges that we'd root for Boston as our "east coast team" etc. The hawks did eventually win while in Boston. I'm not sure my story has a point...I just have a clear recollection of not knowing what to do to help so being nice to these people in the weird environment that is sports fandom was my weird way of "helping???"

 

[DVCFan1994]

ATTQOTD: I was on the Dream when the bombing happened. I knew very few details initially, and was worried about people I knew running and for friends and family running or spectating. I didn't know much until we got off and I could check Facebook, it wasn't working on the ship, and I wouldn't turn in tv in front of my kids. We were staying at Bay Lake DVC after the cruise and I can recall watching some of the manhunt on tv there. I also thought hard how to explain it to my kids, because it is school vacation week here that week, and I knew it would come up at school on Monday. They were young enough I would have preferred to shield them from it, but I knew my son in particular would find out from friends, and therefore I needed to talk to him about it.

What has stayed with me is all the stories of runners, families, first responders, community members etc., that came together to help one another and still do. It is One Boston Day here today, and to me it really celebrates how people came together to help one another just as much as it memorializes the tragic events of the day. In addition, there are returning runners stories each year, and the adversity many of these people overcame to get back to the race is so inspiring. That impacts my running in the sense it a reminder that the setbacks, frustrations or injuries I encounter are so small in the grand scheme of things.

 

[SunDial]

QOTD: Does your clothing choice differ for racing and training? i.e. Do you always race in shorts, yet dress more for the elements on training runs? Do you choose something less worn out because there are thousands of strangers in view?

I wear the same stuff for racing and training.

 

[SunDial]

Wow, big week indeed! Good luck everyone, hope the weather cooperates wherever you're racing!

Good luck in Boston!! When you get to the finish line, hold up a sign saying hi to this thread and wave.

 

[camaker]

Does anyone have any experience with or feedback on the Half Fanatics group? It looks intriguing and I'm qualified to join. Just wondering if there's anything I need to know before pulling the trigger.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

Does anyone have any experience with or feedback on the Half Fanatics group? It looks intriguing and I'm qualified to join. Just wondering if there's anything I need to know before pulling the trigger.

I looked into it as I'm "qualified" but decided against it as all I can tell for your annual dues you get to buy (a gawd awful imo) shirt and occasionally a race discount (no guarantees it'd be beneficial) and it screams to much 'for profit' than Id like.. I don't need another 'race community' to follow so I passed.. Your value may differ

 

[derekleigh]

QOTD: Today is the 3 year anniversary of the bombing of the the Boston Marathon. It's a day in history that I'll never forget. Tell us what you remember about that day and what impact it had/has on running for you.

ATTQOTD: What I remember most is seeing how great a community can come together and put aside their differences and treat their fellow man with such kindness. I am forever grateful to those kind strangers who helped my wife and I during that day. The smallest things meant the world to us. The impact of this day is it keeps me motivated and reminds me how lucky I am for the things in life I have.

http://www.npr.org/2013/04/16/177427305/deadly-blasts-punctuate-boston-marathons-finish-line

I remember watching a bit of the live feed around my lunch break, but after that I didn't know anything about the bombings until I got home. In that moment rushed to Facebook to check the status of various friends that were running it, volunteering, medical staff, etc. once I knew they were okay, I started watching the coverage. I also remember the following Friday when the area was on lockdown. We have friends that live in Watertown and they said it was scary silent.

 

[dis_or_dat]

ATTQOTD: I remember my friend excitedly telling me she was flying to Boston to root for a friend - knowing nothing about marathons, I thought it was crazy to do that. I was randomly on the internet when the news broke and I immediately tried to contact my friend. Luckily she and all her friends were fine. The horrors of the videos and the manhunt were intense, but the community rallying around and helping the victims was uplifting. I was especially touched by the Boston Strong movement showing the courage and humanity of the nation not allowing terror to win.

 

[Waiting2goback]

QOTD: Living in MA it was very intense around her the week following. I wasn't a runner yet. I didn't see the bombings lives, I think I was working. But I saw them over and over again all week between local and national media. What I remember most was the all out manhunt to catch the bombers. I remember the footage of the hundreds, if not thousands of law enforcement swarming the area until they caught bombers.

Sometimes this country has its flaws but when needed we pull together. First 9/11 and then this. Watching everyone come together to help and keep us safe was amazing.



As for my running, what I remember is this picture. I doubted myself when I first began running. I fought with myself many times about if I could do this or not. Then I came across this picture from the 2014 Marathon and I think I read that this guy was a bombing victim. I told myself if he could make it through all of that and still do the marathon on one leg then there is no reason I couldn't run any distance I decided to.

Now that I understand the running community I see just what this means. Its people like these, and stories like these, that make me want to run the Boston Marathon for my son and raise money for Boston Children's Hospital because of all they have done for my son over the years. (I don't think I ever shared his story on here yet). Now that I am no longer fat and unhealthy I want to do some good for others.

 

[keahgirl8]

I wouldn't consider that if you don't eat donuts on the course. It's not a fun run until you have to eat/drink before you've finished the race (unless it a beer run since that's a different category) because even if you're chip timed on a run like the Krispy Kreme Challenge or many of the ice cream runs it's probably not going to be at the pace it would be for a race where you don't eat until the end.

I would be so sick if I did that. Yeah...that doesn't sound like it would work for me at all. lol If I was eating afterwards maybe!

QOTD: Today is the 3 year anniversary of the bombing of the the Boston Marathon. It's a day in history that I'll never forget. Tell us what you remember about that day and what impact it had/has on running for you.

ATTQOTD: What I remember most is seeing how great a community can come together and put aside their differences and treat their fellow man with such kindness. I am forever grateful to those kind strangers who helped my wife and I during that day. The smallest things meant the world to us. The impact of this day is it keeps me motivated and reminds me how lucky I am for the things in life I have.

http://www.npr.org/2013/04/16/177427305/deadly-blasts-punctuate-boston-marathons-finish-line

God bless you and your family. I can't even imagine what that must have been like.

ATTQOTD: I was on the Dream when the bombing happened. I knew very few details initially, and was worried about people I knew running and for friends and family running or spectating. I didn't know much until we got off and I could check Facebook, it wasn't working on the ship, and I wouldn't turn in tv in front of my kids. We were staying at Bay Lake DVC after the cruise and I can recall watching some of the manhunt on tv there. I also thought hard how to explain it to my kids, because it is school vacation week here that week, and I knew it would come up at school on Monday. They were young enough I would have preferred to shield them from it, but I knew my son in particular would find out from friends, and therefore I needed to talk to him about it.

What has stayed with me is all the stories of runners, families, first responders, community members etc., that came together to help one another and still do. It is One Boston Day here today, and to me it really celebrates how people came together to help one another just as much as it memorializes the tragic events of the day. In addition, there are returning runners stories each year, and the adversity many of these people overcame to get back to the race is so inspiring. That impacts my running in the sense it a reminder that the setbacks, frustrations or injuries I encounter are so small in the grand scheme of things.

Exactly this. I was never more proud to be a runner than on that day and all the days after. Though there are millions of us, it feels like a very tight-knit community. There's a bad apple in every bunch, but for the most part, runners are so supportive of one another.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

QOTD: Today is the 3 year anniversary of the bombing of the the Boston Marathon. It's a day in history that I'll never forget. Tell us what you remember about that day and what impact it had/has on running for you.

I have served in the Army and worked in the WTC on the 97 floor on 9/11. I have seen some truly horrific things in my life. Boston neither shocked nor scared me. It was a terrible occurrence that changed the lives of many people, but it also created fear and an over-reaction which still resonates throughout the sport today.

 

[LSUlakes]

QOTD: Living in MA it was very intense around her the week following. I wasn't a runner yet. I didn't see the bombings lives, I think I was working. But I saw them over and over again all week between local and national media. What I remember most was the all out manhunt to catch the bombers. I remember the footage of the hundreds, if not thousands of law enforcement swarming the area until they caught bombers.

Sometimes this country has its flaws but when needed we pull together. First 9/11 and then this. Watching everyone come together to help and keep us safe was amazing.

View attachment 162410

As for my running, what I remember is this picture. I doubted myself when I first began running. I fought with myself many times about if I could do this or not. Then I came across this picture from the 2014 Marathon and I think I read that this guy was a bombing victim. I told myself if he could make it through all of that and still do the marathon on one leg then there is no reason I couldn't run any distance I decided to.

Now that I understand the running community I see just what this means. Its people like these, and stories like these, that make me want to run the Boston Marathon for my son and raise money for Boston Children's Hospital because of all they have done for my son over the years. (I don't think I ever shared his story on here yet). Now that I am no longer fat and unhealthy I want to do some good for others.

I ran 2013 for American Liver Foundation. Getting a charity bib is far more difficult than I thought it would be. It's like applying for a job. Extremely rewarding experience and was happy to be able to contribute. I am interested in your story if you'd like to share on here or a PM. Whenever you decide to run for charity and need ideas for fund raising I'd be more than happy to give you some ideas.

 

[Disney at Heart]

ATTQOD: I had started doing C25K in February that year and was watching the race on TV. Even in Georgia we were "Boston Strong" for a while. Our country is at its best when we all pull together!
On a personal note, I ran my best half marathon yesterday at the Georgia Peach Jam Half: 2:13:28. Beat my past best by 7:26. While that's not fast to some of you, I won my age-group award and was very happy. Soooo, I have decided to sign up for Dopey. I only wish Disney would offer a "senior citizen's discount"!

 

[preciouspups]

i got a new pair of brooks launch this week. I haven't run in them because I need to get lock laces. I wore them around yesterday and the laces drove me insane.

My kiddo did a splash and dash yesterday for the first time. It was a 50m swim and a 1k race. I'm so proud of him for trying something new. This kid was terrified to take swim lessons and I had to lie to him to get him there. Last year he refused swim team and I lied to him for the first week of practice. I told him it was lessons at a new pool. He is terrified of new things and he is terrified of losing so for him to do this is a big challenge.

 

[camaker]

Dark Side Challenge is in the books! Had an awesome time and I think this weekend will get better and better as runDisney (hopefully) learns from their mistakes and tweaks it.

Dark Side 10k - Had no goal and ran it at a pretty easy pace to keep things fresh for the 1/2 after also running the 5k with my wife. Props to her for completing her 1st ever 5k! Final time 1:07:41 (10:54/mile).

Dark Side 1/2 Marathon - Goal for the day was sub-2:15. Little bit of soreness in one Achilles so I kept the intervals at 3/1 to make sure it was going to hold up. Was a little behind pace at halfway and lost another 1:45 or so to an urgent call of nature (maybe the Ghirardelli sundae the night before not such a great idea). Once I hit the 10 mile marker, though, I knew everything was in one piece and I had reserves so I turned it on and burned through the last 5k to just squeak in under time at 2:14:58 (10:18/mile).

Also, not runDisney related, but for any Star Wars fans out there, the 501st Legion was out in force giving high fives and keeping runners motivated! They were definitely a highlight of the weekend for me!

 

[michigandergirl]

I PR'd my half this morning - official time 2:18:41. So glad I did because every mile felt absolutely awful. Every mile! I think it was the heat and sun. Temps were in the 60's, certainly felt like 80's, and not one darn cloud in the sky. Last Sunday I was running in SNOW and this weekend it feels like summer - too much too soon for me I guess. Crazy Michigan weather!

 

[gjramsey]

QOTD: Today is the 3 year anniversary of the bombing of the the Boston Marathon. It's a day in history that I'll never forget. Tell us what you remember about that day and what impact it had/has on running for you.

ATTQOTD: I had never planned to run a marathon until that day. I enjoy the half so much, and had seen the amount of work and effort it takes for a full. I have now run 4 and continue to work and improve and hope to qualify one day.