The Running Thread - 2016

[Kathymford]

Busy weekend on the thread! Yeah.

I'm with most of you that started running on the C25K plans. I tapped out at 10 minutes straight running and that was after repeating weeks if I felt I didn't quite meet the goals. Then I found Galloway. Now that I've actually been training for about a year, I feel like my body got accustomed to the intervals. Like I think I can only run as far as the intervals, so I've been trying other things. I actually think someone on this thread mentioned that before (might have been on the marathon thread last year). It's a little hard for me to just run, as my OCD really likes having a specific plan (running 1:1 made the OCD very happy). But now my goal is to increase the actual running. My last PR half I did run .5 mile, walk .25 mile. But I mostly did that because that was an easy way for me to set up the announcements on my apps (using 2 apps; very complicated). Now as I train for Dumbo, I'm trying to shorten those walk breaks and maybe extend to 1 mile running.

Hmm ... is there a way to find monthly totals in Strava? I can't seem to find it. That's a bummer. Although I don't think I ran that much between the Hollywood Half and figuring out a new plan.

Loving the Strava group. I really get a kick out of seeing everyone else's maps!

I have nothing to add to the ATTQOTD. Although dealing with a big family on Mother's Day is no picnic. LOL.

 

[surfde22]

ATTQOTD: Having a kidney stone. Worst pain ever. I have a very high tolerance for pain too.

I think I can beat you on that pain one. I had an appendectomy several years ago, and the didn't seal it well after the cut off the appendix. Some blood and digestive tract bacteria seeped into my abdominal cavity and a massive hematoma developed which was the perfect breeding ground for those digestive bacteria. Even a constant morphine drip and the ability to boost it every 5 minutes did nothing to subside the pain. I'm pretty sure that will be worse than running a marathon as well.

 

[gjramsey]

ATTQOTD: My 12 night trek to Philmont Scout Ranch last summer was a challenge! 72 miles with temps from 100 early on, to a night at 11,000 ft with hard rain in the upper 30s. The 5 scouts and 3 adults we had enjoyed it, but all agreed it was a major challenge. 2 of the scouts are signed up to go again next summer, including mine.

And I am with @ebradley23 on the kidney stone. Never felt anything like that in my life, and hope to never experience it again.

 

[opusone]

Hmm ... is there a way to find monthly totals in Strava? I can't seem to find it.

Go to My Profile (top-right drop down list by your user image) and scroll down to the "Activities for..." graph. Under the graph, click on Monthly (instead of Weekly), then if you click on any month bar in the graph, the totals for that month will appear at the top of the graph.

 

[DVCFan1994]

Go to My Profile (top-right drop down list by your user image) and scroll down to the "Activities for..." graph. Under the graph, click on Monthly (instead of Weekly), then if you click on any month bar in the graph, the totals for that month will appear at the top of the graph.

Thanks, you learn something new everyday

 

[Diskidatheart]

Thanks everyone for answering my shoe question! I asked at the running store and they said go a 1/2 size to a full size up. The problem is I have big feet, if I go bigger I am going to have to order online. I wanted to see other opinions before ordering so I had a better chance of not having to return them.

I wear a size 12 non-running shoe. For running, I go up to a 13. I haven't lost a toe nail since I increased a size, but I have had some blackness underneath (just not a full all out loss of toe nail).

 

[camaker]

Thanks everyone for answering my shoe question! I asked at the running store and they said go a 1/2 size to a full size up. The problem is I have big feet, if I go bigger I am going to have to order online. I wanted to see other opinions before ordering so I had a better chance of not having to return them.

Is there anywhere locally that would carry the shoes, or at least the brand, that you are looking for in your size? I'd try to find a place where I could try them on before ordering online. I've found that shoe sizes can vary dramatically between manufacturers. For example, I've always worn a 10.5-11. When I started running, I found I needed an 11.5 in Brooks Glycerin. I also play Ultimate frisbee and found that I had to get 10.5s in the Adidas cleats that I like and then double sock to avoid blisters. Granted, two separate sports, but I know different shoe manufacturers run different size-wise.

 

[RunDisneyDad]

QOTD: What are some things that you have done or do, that you think are more difficult than running a marathon (or your longest race distance)?

I think I have to agree with you on moving...moving is tough.

 

[roxymama]

Attqotd: I rowed a marathon (and our boat won for female open) but the weeks following when I had to shampoo my hair with my elbows because of the skin damage to my hands...wooooof.

But worse was my first trimester of pregnancy when I lost a ton of weight. I won't go into details.

On a happier note: I am back from Flying Pig race weekend and it was amazing and I'm already going to sign up for multiple races next year. My official was 1:07:13 which my goal was to be consistent at an easy pace for me the whole time post a terrible upper respiratory cold that railroaded my training. I want to go back next year to race...and I'm working on getting together a 4-person marathon relay team from my family
Downside is my right foot is being sore and I'm holding my breath that it's gonna go away with some rest.

 

[SunDial]

ATTQOTD: Having a kidney stone. Worst pain ever. I have a very high tolerance for pain too.

Agree worst pain ever. Been there done that a couple of times. Largest stone was the size of a golf ball. Lithotripsy twice over 2 weeks to get that stone out.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

QOTD: What are some things that you have done or do, that you think are more difficult than running a marathon (or your longest race distance)?.

Surviving 7+ months with a 'broken' gallbladder.. Once I found out people tended to get theirs out after 2 attacks and I was having 5-8 a month..

But I'd second moving...

 

[alexksmith]

Loving the Strava group. I really get a kick out of seeing everyone else's maps!

Glad you're enjoying it! I definitely am too, everyone is so supportive and positive on there it's motivating.

 

[keahgirl8]

Thank you guys for the advice on running in the rain. I put aquaphor on my feet (I had it more readily available than Vaseline) and had no issues. I also found a hat to wear which worked wonderfully for the first 4.5 miles until the course direction changed and we began running into the rain at such an angle that my glasses were soaked. Overall I think I got a PR with about 2:05~2:06ish but I'm curious to see my official time which because it was manually recorded clock time hasn't been officially posted yet.

I only ran 30 miles in April which was good enough for me since I was away the first week and a half. My goal for May is to make it over 50 so between yesterday and Tink I should have a good start.

That's my problem with wearing my glasses! I can't decide which is worse...having rain in my eyes, or being unable to see because my glasses are covered in rain.

I lost your post, @MommaoffherRocker , but a good running store should be able to order them for you. Then you'd still be able to return them. I wear a 12 and my store often has my size. If they don't, they can get it for me.

 

[Waiting2goback]

I've had IT issues and that doesn't sound like the same thing but that doesn't mean it's not. I just remember it being more around knee. Pain was when I sat and went down steps. But if it's something that continues you may what to have it checked out. Pain is different then soreness so you might want to be careful and not try to run through it. And don't get discouraged - things happen and sometimes you just have to reset your goals.

From what I've read and heard from Doctors, it's only genuine ITB Syndrome if the pain is on the outside of the knee. Pain anywhere else is something else. Best to see a sports medicine doctor, everytime I go see my regular family doctor his advice is just to never run again, which doesn't do me any good.

For anyone who is interested, the lottery for the London Marathon opened this morning. Unlike New York, they don't charge you money to enter which is why I'll keep trying, futilely thus far, to get into this race.

Good luck!!!

Thanks everyone for answering my shoe question! I asked at the running store and they said go a 1/2 size to a full size up. The problem is I have big feet, if I go bigger I am going to have to order online. I wanted to see other opinions before ordering so I had a better chance of not having to return them.

Sorry I am late to the party with my response. I usually go a 1/2 up but I also normally wear a size bigger than I measure anyway because my feet are so wife I need a bigger size normally.

I'll echo @croach and say it does not quite sound like the It band issues that i have had. Mine have also been at the knee as well, although the band does attach at the knee and the hip, so it is possible. Sometimes we need to adjust our goals. What is worse, not making 1277 miles this year, but hitting a revised achievable number, or pushing through pain and injuring yourself bad enough that you have months with far lower mileage? I would seek out a good sports medicine doc, UMass has some. Just be clear that is what you are looking for, because some are within larger general ortho practices. Better yet, call the podiatrist you liked and see if they have a name of one they'd suggest. I have pushed through pain and forced far worse injury, and it is a crappy place to be. I had to take all of the summer of 2014 off and it stunk. It stinks to have to adjust mileage goals downwards, but its better than the alternative of no mileage at all.

You people are nuts!

Total Miles: 63.3
Average Pace: 10:15

That's actually not that bad. It includes the taper before Dark Side, the challenge, and a few days extra off before easing back into training. I just did a 10 miler today as part of a pre-Dopey training build, then I'll ease back off and start the actually Dopey training. I don't run on consecutive days (yet), so I'll never get the kind of numbers some of you freaks- I mean awesome people- have.

@Waiting2goback That's a total bummer, as all running injuries are. If you're feeling it at the hip, you want to check for knots in your glutes, and the muscles around your hip. I do want to say a few words about P90X, and strength training in general. That program has produced some outstanding results for a lot of people, and has the kind of following it does for good reasons.

However... You want to evaluate whether or not those exercises are what you should be doing for running. It also matters when you're doing them. I do my lower body strength training after my short runs. That way, I'm sure to get 48 hours of recovery (when you actually get stronger) before I run again. (I do upper body and core on the off days.)

I'm a BIG believer in getting strength training in, and not just for the legs, so I think you're doing the right thing by going after all of it. That hip is likely a weakness somewhere, and that shin can also be the result of weak hips. So I would check out some good running strength programs, give yourself plenty of rest after lower body work, and make sure you're attacking the right thing. Finding a good PT who wants you to keep running is also a good idea.

Don't push it, and don't lose heart! Through my own injury odyssey over the past year I have learned: Whatever it is, it can be fixed!

I agree on the P90X thing, that's why I rethought it and will try to do P90X3 as it is more core focused and the workouts are 1/2 as long. I would like to lose a little more weight and tone up. I am hoping this will help that.

I have chronic IT Band problems and this really doesn't sound like ITBS. ITBS nails the outside of the knee and the pain feels like a large knife is lodged into the knee joint. I've had a burning pain in my other hip and it was found to be bursitis, so that's a possibility. Unfortunately, another possibility is a stress fracture, so really - best to get checked out. Is the shin and hip pain on the same side? Could be one trying to compensate for the other. I understand the frustration; hang in there and heal!


Depends on the shoes, but in most brands and models I wear a 7 in running shoes, while I wear a 6 or 6.5 in street shoes, so 1/2 a size to a full size up, generally speaking.


Oh good, I'm not the only one who thinks this lol! FWIW my happy spot is a 45 sec walk interval, no matter how long I make my run intervals. I like to take my time slowing down from run to walk, so I'm probably only really walking 30 of those 45 seconds, whereas at a 30 sec interval I wind up only getting 15 secs of walking, which isn't enough recovery for my asthmatic lungs.


QOTD: What are some things that you have done or do, that you think are more difficult than running a marathon (or your longest race distance)?

ATTQOTD: Physically, childbirth was a 1000 times harder than a marathon! I swore I'd never give birth again, and I haven't... I was ready to run another marathon at mile 24 of the first one lol! Mentally/emotionally, a very difficult divorce was way harder than training for and running a marathon.

Thank you to all that responded. I am actually happy with the responses. From all my reading I didn't think it was IT Band related but I wanted to get everyone's opinion. I have no knee pain. My shin pain is not related even though the way I wrote it makes it sound like I thought it was. Each year that I have been running I have this shin pain as I increase the mileage. This will go away. I only mentioned it because it makes increasing the mileage harder with all these things hurting. The more I read about it I am thinking the hip pain my be a combination of 2 things, being on my feet all day at work on cement floors, and tight muscles. A lot of the reading pointed to tight hamstrings being a major factor in this issue and I certainly have those.

So, I will increase my yoga to twice a week to see if that helps stretch me out and keep up my running. BUT, if it doesn't get better I will be going to a doctor sooner rather than later this time for sure. @DVCFan1994- you are right. I shouldn't be that worried about the mileage goal. If I can remain healthy I may still reach it. As I increase the mileage I can increase the mileage over the summer and if I can have a couple good months I will be back on track for my goal.

QOTD: The marathon remains the hardest thing physically I have ever done in my life. Mentally it is up there with seeing my son go through his surgeries but it is a different kind of difficult. The marathon is a personal challenge that I battled with myself over 5 hours. Watching my son recover from his surgeries is difficult because I feel helpless. I can't fix him or take away his pain.

 

[MommaoffherRocker]

Is there anywhere locally that would carry the shoes, or at least the brand, that you are looking for in your size? I'd try to find a place where I could try them on before ordering online. I've found that shoe sizes can vary dramatically between manufacturers. For example, I've always worn a 10.5-11. When I started running, I found I needed an 11.5 in Brooks Glycerin. I also play Ultimate frisbee and found that I had to get 10.5s in the Adidas cleats that I like and then double sock to avoid blisters. Granted, two separate sports, but I know different shoe manufacturers run different size-wise.

I was able to try on the shoes I'm thinking of ordering in the size I wear normally, they felt a bit snug so I have a good idea of what I need. Based on everyone's answers I'm going to try a 1/2 size up either from Zappos so I can return them easily or see if I can do what @keahgirl8 suggested and see if my local running store can order them.

 

[Chasing Dopey]

The more I read about it I am thinking the hip pain my be a combination of 2 things, being on my feet all day at work on cement floors, and tight muscles. A lot of the reading pointed to tight hamstrings being a major factor in this issue and I certainly have those.

I thought of something else: could be hip bursitis. It occurred to me yesterday after my long run and my hip started hurting... Seriously? I didn't know you could catch things on the disboards!

Lots of info online about it. Painful and irritating, but minor. It just takes the usual strengthening of the hips and, get this, stretching the IT band.

 

[Waiting2goback]

I thought of something else: could be hip bursitis. It occurred to me yesterday after my long run and my hip started hurting... Seriously? I didn't know you could catch things on the disboards!

Lots of info online about it. Painful and irritating, but minor. It just takes the usual strengthening of the hips and, get this, stretching the IT band.

I am not ruling anything out and I did see that as an option. The reason I am leaning toward the tight muscles is because, well, I have tight muscles. I just bent over to pick something up and it felt like everything was going to snap from my butt to my knee. Second, the pain moved to my left hip yesterday at work and I haven't run in a couple days. So, I will work on my stretching/yoga and push through that 5 mile wall over the next couple weeks. Once I break through things usually feel better so I will try that. If it doesn't help then I will call the doctor. I have a goal race in October race to be ready for, I won't be stubborn this summer.

 

[LSUlakes]

QOTD: What is your 'gotta have it' nightly sleep regimen? How little sleep does it take before you know things are not going to go well the next day?

ATTQOTD: I must have 6 hours of sleep to make the following day productive. During marathon training or high mileage training periods I prefer 8 hours. Much less than that and my workouts suffer. I believe sleep is a very important part of the training process, so I was curious how everyone else felt about the subject.


Ran a few miles yesterday at the new house for the first time! I was making the block one last time and two little kids playing outside look at their mom and ask "Why does he keep running in circles?" I got a good laugh at that one. They will be surprised how many laps I have to run once I crank up training again. Also discovered that a member of a facebook group I belong to called 100 miles a month club, also lives in the neighborhood. From his post he is much faster than me. Challenge accepted!

 

[rteetz]

QOTD: What is your 'gotta have it' nightly sleep regimen? How little sleep does it take before you know things are not going to go well the next day?

I usually get about 7-7.5 hours of sleep during the week and probably 8 on weekends. During training my sleep doesn't change much.

 

[roxymama]

ATTQOTD: I'm a mom of a 3 year old. I will not know how much sleep I should be getting for another few years I believe. The best position I can put myself in is to go to bed by like 10pm on weeknights (I go to the gym sometimes at 9pm because that's all my schedule allows.) So before a race I try to be in bed by 9:30pm.
I wake up everyday sometime after 5am weekday & weekends. The few times I get to wake up at like 7am is a miracle. I'd say I wake up at least 4-8 times a night due to "momma wolf syndrome" or "momma-bladder syndrome" or just because the kiddo is restless in her room making noises. I do not sleep in...ever...I do not run in the mornings either. I am incapable of properly napping the few chances I get. Sleep does not know me and I do not know it.

Guess one day when I do get sleep I'll probably start setting world records for running times