The Running Thread - 2016

[Chasing Dopey]

That generation, and probably all subsequent generations, hate to be labeled - and they don't label others.

Oooooooh, yes they do!

It's a shame the article lead with attitudes, because that's all a lot of people will get out of it. The competition from other fitness trends and (I think #1) financial resources are the real reasons. Plus it makes perfect sense that after a big boom there would be a correction. Now if we want to pile on those darned kids, I think the whole 'I don't want to be labeled as x so I'm not going to do y' is just plain sad, if it's remotely true.

Best advice my dad ever gave me: Don't let what other people are going to think about you stop you, because they are already thinking it.

 

[preciouspups]

Cinco de mayo: after a lecture from the nine year old about what the holiday actually means, we stopped at moes for dinner. I had the personal trainer...in a deep fried bowl...with guacamole. Plus wine and chocolate covered strawberries. Good thing my barre class yesterday was 100% fat burn!

My mantra while running: one foot in front of the other.

 

[ZellyB]

Those damn millennials

http://www.wsj.com/articles/how-millennials-ended-the-running-boom-1462473195?mod=djem10point

Interesting read. I don't mind so much if some of the boom dies off. Might halt some of the ever increasing entry fees and difficulty in getting into some races. And, good for millennials to be looking at a variety of things to remain fit. I should branch out more myself.

QOTD: Do you have frequent mantras or motivational phrases that you say each race, training run, periodically? This may be a philosophical piece or just "go go go". I've heard of many that use this kind of thing to keep them going. Do you imagine a race, a condition or a person? What mental images, words or other habits motivate you?

ATTQOTD: Years ago on here, Coach Charles said to think, "Relentless pursuit of forward momentum". I use that a lot in long races when I just want to give up and slow down. I just keep thinking about that relentless pursuit. Sometimes also toward the end of a race where I might have 4,5 or 6 miles or so left and I'm fatigued, I'll visualize doing one of my training routes that is that distance. So, I'll think in my head, "Okay, so this would be like running around the square at this point in my training run" and I know then how short the remainder of the run really is and that I can obviously finish that much of a run.

 

[ebradley23]

ATTQOTD: When I first started running, I used to tell myself "It's just 30 minutes. You can do anything for 30 minutes." to get myself out the door. Obviously my runs last longer now. I still tell myself this when I get within the last 30 minutes of any run though.

During really long runs, I have been known to say "Just __ (currently 3) years ago, you couldn't run 60 seconds." It's empowering to remember just how far I've come. I'm sill in awe over what my body can do.

Oh, and I'm an only child. All only children talk to themselves, so I really do say these things to myself . . . Out loud. It makes me look crazy during a race, but who cares.

 

[Diskidatheart]

QOTD: Do you have frequent mantras or motivational phrases that you say each race, training run, periodically? This may be a philosophical piece or just "go go go". I've heard of many that use this kind of thing to keep them going. Do you imagine a race, a condition or a person? What mental images, words or other habits motivate you?

I don't really have a "go to" mantra or anything like that. When I am training for a marathon, on my 18 - 20 mile long runs, I do try and vision what it's going to be like finishing the race and put that vision in my head.

On a side note, good luck to everyone racing this weekend!

 

[Dis5150]

So, I'll think in my head, "Okay, so this would be like running around the square at this point in my training run" and I know then how short the remainder of the run really is and that I can obviously finish that much of a run.

That's what I do on the treadmill! I hate my treadmill runs - they seem like they take forever. So I will visualize a run of that distance, thinking, "okay, I'm at the end of the road, turning right", or "I'm halfway through the mile loop", etc. It really does help.

 

[croach]

Those damn millennials

http://www.wsj.com/articles/how-millennials-ended-the-running-boom-1462473195?mod=djem10point

Ruining it for us old folks. Lol. Actually like someone else said, I don't mind the growth leveling off. Maybe slow down the price increases and reduce the fields. I do think though that "millennials" may prefer the more social aspect of the classes but I don't know.

ATTQOTD: don't really have any mantras but I recently read How Bad Do You Want It by Matt Fitzgerald and it had some interesting things about how the brain works in relation to running. I try to remember some of those while I'm running. Good book though if anyone is looking for a read.

 

[Barca33Runner]

Those damn millennials

http://www.wsj.com/articles/how-millennials-ended-the-running-boom-1462473195?mod=djem10point

I think it is a rather simplistic view that millennials have ended the running boom, but if they have it's fine by me. I think it was very popular in the last few years for a race of some distance to be a bucket list goal and people would train for and run that race, cross it off the bucket list, and move on to the next thing. I think this was common across all age groups and not unique to millennials. Everything has ebbs and flows.

QOTD: Do you have frequent mantras or motivational phrases that you say each race, training run, periodically? This may be a philosophical piece or just "go go go". I've heard of many that use this kind of thing to keep them going. Do you imagine a race, a condition or a person? What mental images, words or other habits motivate you?

I don't really have a mantra. I count a lot when I am running. Sometimes in different languages, rarely in any type of rhythm. I think it just helps keeps my mind occupied with a meaningless task while I am running.

 

[roxymama]

QOTD: It was an epic struggle to get out of bed this morning, so I only got in a slow 3 miles, which isn't going to put much of a dent in any Mexican food I may consume today.

@LSUlakes I have a few races to add:

July 16 - michigandergirl - Rock N Roll Remix Challenge 5K - NG
July 17 - michigandergirl - Rock N Roll Remix Challenge 10K - NG
Aug 20 - michigandergirl - Mitchell's Run 5K - sub 28:00
Sept 18 - michigandergirl - Lake MI Credit Union Bridge Run 10 Miler - sub 1:48

Is that the Chicago Rock N Roll? I am doing the remix challenge too!

 

[LSUlakes]

So I was a little behind on updating the race list on page 1. If you could, please review it to make sure your races are listed. If I missed one by accident, please let me know and I will make those changes. January 2017 is still a bit of a mess, but I will get to it sooner than later. Thanks for the help everyone!

 

[Mickey's sweetheart]

QOTD: I hear Dory from "Finding Nemo" in my head but instead of saying, "Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming." I hear "Just keep running, running, running". Sometimes it's an old Rich Mullins song "Step by step you lead me and I will follow you all of my days". It's encouraging and light and by the time I've sung all that in my head, I'm a little farther down the trail.

 

[Miranda]

Ouch, my recent 10 mile race finally showed up in Athlinks. I guess 10 miles is not a very common distance and probably fewer slow people attempt it.

I am glad it is pushed off to the second slider view of my PRs at the top. I mean, I'm pretty slow but at least my other ones show 5K (Top 74.7%), 1/2 Mara (Top 88.2%), 10K (Top 92.6%), 5Mi Run (Top 81.8%).

Second slide... 10Mi Run (Top 100%).

 

[camaker]

QOTD: Do you have frequent mantras or motivational phrases that you say each race, training run, periodically? This may be a philosophical piece or just "go go go". I've heard of many that use this kind of thing to keep them going. Do you imagine a race, a condition or a person? What mental images, words or other habits motivate you?

No real mantra here, either. As training runs get tougher, I try to lose myself in my audiobook. I guess it's a variation of "if you read, the trip will go faster" that I grew up with during family vacations. In a race, I don't use headphones, so it's just me and the other weirdos I share my mind with. I try to focus on enjoying the surroundings and how much I want that medal at the end. I have been guilty of channelling my inner Dory at times to "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming".

I'd like to throw out my own question, too. It's a two parter. I use the Higdon plans to prepare for race day. However, there is usually a gap between race day and the start of the next training plan. What I've never been clear on is:

1. How do you train between plans? How do you select mileage goals to maintain fitness and avoid injury while getting ready for the next plan? I've generally just kept things within my 18-25 mpw comfort zone with 2-3 x 3-5 milers during the week and a 6-11 miler on the weekend depending on how I feel that week.

2. When it comes time to start a plan, I am usually running in excess of the mileage called for in the early plan weeks. Do you drop to the plan mileage and essentially start over or do you keep your baseline/interim training going and then pick up with the new plan when it starts to exceed that level? I've been a "keep doing what you're doing until called on to do more" runner thus far.

Thanks for any advice you can give!

 

[roxymama]

ATTQOTD: A lot of "you're doing it" , "you're crushing this", "you're doing so awesome" and a lot of "let's go pass that person." I basically am internally talking to myself the whole time. When I don't want to think about running while I'm running during a race I like to window shop for clothes I like....on other people. I can specifically list many things I liked during my last 10k. Some gray and pink flower capris, a black tank with neon yellow small dots, a pair of aqua and pink brooks, a big coral buff headband with wavy lines on it, etc etc. If I stay around the same people too much I don't get to see all the new clothes, haha

About the millenials article...does anyone else feel like they don't belong to an age category? I was born the last year in the final months of Gen X but many lists don't include me. And many don't include me in the first year of Gen Y. I've never read a list that describes me at all.
But what I do know is that people (co-workers, friends, etc) will refer to millenials having financial issues and then they will say that running would be an easy hobby because all it costs is shoes. BUT I think sometimes people forget that the real cost of running is TIME! If companies are working their young people to death into late hours because they do not have families yet (this happens a lot per many of my younger friends) well now when do they have time to run. And then they do start a family and the time just re-focuses to the family instead of extra work. And if people are having kids later (waves at myself) then you are looking at 40's before your kids are of an ok age to stay in the house by themselves while you run.
So yeah, I think it is easy to be a 5k runner at my age...but takes a ton of extra dedication and schedule juggling and a good support system of babysitters to be able to train for halfs or marathons etc.
I am not PRO or CON to that article, just adding some extra insights from my rambling brain
Also the competition thing in the article makes no sense. I literally run races that give me medals whether I finish first or last. You can be super duper competitive or take the race super easy breezy...that's up to you and it can change race to race.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

I think the whole 'I don't want to be labeled as x so I'm not going to do y' is just plain sad, if it's remotely true.

That is not what they are saying - they are saying that if they run, that doesn't mean that they think of themselves as runners, and (more importantly) they don't want others to think of them as runners. They want to be who they are, not what they do - no labels. It doesn't keep them from doing everything that they want to do, which is a lot more than my generation did at their age.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

For mantras - I have used many. Right now, as I fight to regain my running strength, I find myself saying "Relax and let the run come to you", "Stand tall and breathe" - things like that which help me stay relaxed during a run. When I start pushing myself, I will use more imagery - picturing myself finishing a run in a certain time, or seeing myself cresting a big hill while still strong, smiling after crushing that hill.

This stuff works for me, and it keeps negative thoughts from creeping in. Thoughts about feeling tired or sore are not allowed until after the run is over. When they creep in, I start the mantras.

 

[DopeyBadger]

No real mantra here, either. As training runs get tougher, I try to lose myself in my audiobook. I guess it's a variation of "if you read, the trip will go faster" that I grew up with during family vacations. In a race, I don't use headphones, so it's just me and the other weirdos I share my mind with. I try to focus on enjoying the surroundings and how much I want that medal at the end. I have been guilty of channelling my inner Dory at times to "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming".

I'd like to throw out my own question, too. It's a two parter. I use the Higdon plans to prepare for race day. However, there is usually a gap between race day and the start of the next training plan. What I've never been clear on is:

1. How do you train between plans? How do you select mileage goals to maintain fitness and avoid injury while getting ready for the next plan? I've generally just kept things within my 18-25 mpw comfort zone with 2-3 x 3-5 milers during the week and a 6-11 miler on the weekend depending on how I feel that week.

2. When it comes time to start a plan, I am usually running in excess of the mileage called for in the early plan weeks. Do you drop to the plan mileage and essentially start over or do you keep your baseline/interim training going and then pick up with the new plan when it starts to exceed that level? I've been a "keep doing what you're doing until called on to do more" runner thus far.

Thanks for any advice you can give!

My advice:

1) Choosing what to do between training plans depends on what you just completed. For me, if it's an "A" half marathon then I take one week off. If it's an "A" marathon then I take two weeks off. During those weeks off I focus on life and a little bit of very light strength training. You will lose some fitness during the time off, but this recovery time will pay dividends towards the end of the next training plan. After the time off, I usually do 45-60 minutes per day but at an extremely easy pace (like MP + 2:20) for another two weeks. This means it's about 4 weeks after the marathon (or 3 weeks after the half) before I start to add back any workouts that could be considered hard. I've read it takes about 4-6 weeks to recover from a marathon (I would imagine a half would be more like 2-3 weeks).

2) I would suggest that you don't drop down the mileage. Stay where you are. Any miles you add to the plan you're using (to get where you are now) should all be kept at an easy variety and this will help reduce your chances for causing an injury.

 

[rteetz]

Those damn millennials

http://www.wsj.com/articles/how-millennials-ended-the-running-boom-1462473195?mod=djem10point

Not all millennials!

 

[opusone]

QOTD: Do you have frequent mantras or motivational phrases that you say each race, training run, periodically? This may be a philosophical piece or just "go go go". I've heard of many that use this kind of thing to keep them going. Do you imagine a race, a condition or a person? What mental images, words or other habits motivate you?

Not really motivational nor really a mantra, but during races I keep reminding myself to "be smart." To me, this means a few things throughout the race:

- "Be smart" at the start - don't go out too fast (this is the only time I tell myself to ignore how I feel because I always feel great at the start even if I'm going too fast)
- "Be smart" throughout the race... always run at the correct pace for the conditions (by feel, not time)
- "Be smart" with course management - run the shortest possible route (i.e. run the tangents)
- "Be smart" with fuel - keep to the hydration plan - do not skip a planned drink or gel even if you feel good

This weekend we have the following folks toeing the line:

06 - @Anisum - Disney Neverland 5k (NG / N/A)
06 - @Keels - Disney Neverland 5k (NG / N/A)
07 - @Anisum - Disney Tinkerbell 10k (NG / N/A)
07 - @Keels - Disney Tinkerbell 10k (NG / N/A)
07 - @Mimsy Borogove - Tinker Bell 10K (NG / N/A)
07 - @croach - Trail Nut Half Marathon (NG / N/A)
07 - @bellrae - La Genevoise 6km in Geneva (Sub 40:00 / N/A)
07 - @DopeyBadger - Wisconsin Marathon (3:26:14 / N/A)
07 - @derekleigh - Big Lake Half Marathon (Sub 1:55:00 / N/A)
07 - @Berniemgr - Color Run 5K (NG / N/A)
07 - @Disney at Heart - Lake Hartwell Dam Run 10k (1:00:00 / N/A)
08 - @bellrae - Geneva Half Marathon 13.1 (Sub 2:30:00 / N/A)
08 - @flvy - Disney Tinkerbell Half Marathon (NG / N/A)
08 - @Anisum - Disney Tinkerbell Half Marathon (NG / N/A)
08 - @Keels - Disney Tinkerbell Half Marathon (NG / N/A)
08 - @Mimsy Borogove - Tinker Bell Half Marathon (NG / N/A)
08 - @MommaoffherRocker - The Tinkerbell Half Marathon (NG / N/A)

Let me know if you would like to revise your goal or of any other changes. Good luck to all of you and enjoy the day! We look forward to hearing how the race went!

Looks like a lot of fun races this weekend. Good luck everyone!

 

[rteetz]

Do you have frequent mantras or motivational phrases that you say each race, training run, periodically? This may be a philosophical piece or just "go go go". I've heard of many that use this kind of thing to keep them going. Do you imagine a race, a condition or a person? What mental images, words or other habits motivate you?

I don't really have any special motivation that I do during races or training runs. My motivation is really just finishing and getting that medal. During training runs I would say I do a lot of thinking and sometimes I'll think about people I know and almost run for them.