The Running Thread - 2016

[michigandergirl]

ATTQOTD: Sorry to simply repeat what others have said, but the only run I have ever regretted was trying to push through an injury and making things worse. Happened several years ago and the outcome was a layoff from running.

Excited to run a race this weekend. Good luck to Michigandergirl who is running the River Bank 25K; maybe I will see you there! I am going to back off my original goal of 2:10. I have not been running enough this winter/spring to achieve that, so as opposed to going out and trying to reach that time I am going to run by feel and simply see what happens. Good luck to all the runners this weekend; have great races.

Good luck to you too @Baloo in MI !! If I knew what I was wearing, I would tell you to look for me, but they keep changing the forecast! Grrrr! I'm not liking the rain and 15 to 25mph winds they're talking about now.

 

[preciouspups]

I usually run on base so I see a port a potty, some geese and a bunch of soldiers doing PT (and many with bad form that will net them problems later on.). On my last race I went past a strip joint. But I don't think anything in there is "man made" as it didn't look too profitable. LOL! We have a wonderful canal here that runs along the Savannah River, but it isn't safe for a woman to be alone down there.

 

[michigandergirl]

ATTQOTD: Not a lot of man made structures on my daily runs except for the dam by the river and old train tressels. Many of my races start and end in downtown Grand Rapids, so that's about as urban as it gets for me. I'm excited to run in Chicago this summer though and hope to add many more scenic races in the future.

 

[CheapRunnerMike]

QOTD: I'm wondering what person-made structures you see frequently... or what has been some of the most memorable? What do you simply like to see? I'm thinking about Bridges, houses, buildings, etc., but bring up anything.

I love when I get to run the Lakefront Trail in Chicago...so many amazing sights, too many to list really. Two of may favourites there are Soldier Field and the the bridge up at Diversey Harbor.

 

[Slogger]

I have never said I'm not running another marathon. I always promise myself I will train harder for the next one. But I'm realizing that no matter how hard I train the marathon will never feel easy.

So I guess when I repeat the phrase "Never Again" about 100 times during the last hour of a marathon I'm with you, but the part about training harder seems to come later that day or week for me. But I keep coming back and doing more.

I run around a parking lot. I don't see much of anything other than cars and walls.

Yay for Parking Lots. Sometimes it's my only option for a run. Usually well lit and reasonably flat, what's not to like?

 

[croach]

ATTQOTD: don't see anything terribly exciting on my training runs.

Memorable sights from races are all the monuments and what not in DC, all the Disney stuff, but one of the more interesting things was Seven Mile Bridge during the Florida Keys Ragnar. I didn't run the leg but still pretty crazy to think about being out there for that distance. Nothing but a long *** bridge and water.

 

[CheapRunnerMike]

ATTQOTD: don't see anything terribly exciting on my training runs.

Memorable sights from races are all the monuments and what not in DC, all the Disney stuff, but one of the more interesting things was Seven Mile Bridge during the Florida Keys Ragnar. I didn't run the leg but still pretty crazy to think about being out there for that distance. Nothing but a long *** bridge and water.

That's a long bridge when you're driving...I just hope the poor guy that ran that leg wasn't running it at night

 

[baxter24]

Not too late to join this thread is it? My runs mostly consist of either neighborhood (a bunch of hills and houses) or the treadmill while Paw Patrol is on so that my kids can be distracted while I run. I enjoy running on the American Tobacco Trail near my house when I can.

 

[croach]

That's a long bridge when you're driving...I just hope the poor guy that ran that leg wasn't running it at night

Fortunately it was daytime. But it was hot and not a cloud around that year so I think she might have taken a night run at the time.

 

[Kathymford]

AATTQOTD: Here's another for parking lot runs, although I'm trying to get out of that and my track runs. Going outside my complex though isn't any more exciting, basically an industrial park. On my long runs though, I go run on the strand at the beach. My favorite part is checking out all the homes that I will never afford. And if your curtains are open, I am definitely checking out your house! One even had a HARLEY parked inside right in front of the window like it was a museum piece instead of their home. I also like watching the ones that are being redone, as in total demolition and see how fast it goes back up. I guess things happen quickly when they are multi-million dollar homes.

Here's an example of "my" strand. This is not me or my image by the way.

 

[DVCFan1994]

QOTD: I'm wondering what person-made structures you see frequently... or what has been some of the most memorable? What do you simply like to see? I'm thinking about Bridges, houses, buildings, etc., but bring up anything.

ATTQOTD: On my "normal" weekend runs I usually see one or more of the following: The Mississippi River and the I-10 bridge that runs over it in Baton Rouge, The USS Kidd, Tiger Stadium / LSU campus, and the capital building in Baton Rouge. Some unique sites seen while running have been everything from the WDW marathon! My personal favorite is the Citgo sign / Fenway park at the Boston Marathon. The end is near when you see those icons.

My day to day runs are nothing special visually. Lots of houses, depending on my route I may go over some small bridges over streams an small rivers. I have just been planning a new route to add some different hills to my runs, and that will have me going by a prison.

I like running through the Disney Castles, but my favorite Disney sight has actually been Cars Land at sunrise. Maybe it is because that trip in November was my first to California Adventure, so it was new to me. The first time I saw CarsLand I was running the 5k with my kids (7 and 9 at the time) and husband, it was all lit up and the sun was rising. When my son was younger he LOVED Cars and it was just a special thing to see their faces light up with wonder as we ran through. Being a bit sappy I almost cried at the pure joy in their faces. The next two days for the 10k and half I was just as happy to see it

Most of my training runs are on local paved trails in more natural surroundings. But one of my regular routes is down by the C&O Canal and the canal is man made I live in the DC suburbs but occasionally I'll drive into the city for a training run around the Capitol Building and the Smithsonian museums.

One thing I think of often is how much I wish I had taken up running before I left DC. I lived 6 blocks from the White House and walked down to the mall often, but I often think I'd love to have taken up running there.

 

[Kathymford]

I almost forgot. So I have a question for you all. I have an Apple Watch. I love it. I am an Apple fan-girl all the way. However, I've been thinking I want a dedicated running watch. The Strava apple watch app, while better than others, doesn't have a lot of options — I think it shows overall mile pace and not current pace, although I'm really not sure about that as it doesn't say anywhere that I've found. And there is a definite lag when I raise my wrist to look at it. And also, the audio alerts on Strava only start at 1/2 mile intervals (I use these alerts to know my walk segments). I would still wear my apple watch on runs as I like the notifications and filling in all my activity circles.

So here's my question. I know some of you have mentioned that your Garmin syncs automatically with Strava. So does that mean I wouldn't have to also run Strava? I'm trying to decide if I NEED a running watch with heart rate since I will still run with my Apple Watch, but I still want the heart rate data in my Strava records. Can anyone provide some guidance? I was looking at the FR 230 or 235, but that's a little more than I wanted to pay considering I have already have the investment in the apple watch.

 

[opusone]

So here's my question. I know some of you have mentioned that your Garmin syncs automatically with Strava. So does that mean I wouldn't have to also run Strava? I'm trying to decide if I NEED a running watch with heart rate since I will still run with my Apple Watch, but I still want the heart rate data in my Strava records. Can anyone provide some guidance? I was looking at the FR 230 or 235, but that's a little more than I wanted to pay considering I have already have the investment in the apple watch.

If you get the 235 (optical heart rate monitor built-in), then you won't need your Apple Watch nor your iPhone/Strava app. On the Strava website, you just link your Strava account with your Garmin Connect account (via a one-time process of simply providing your Garmin Connect username and password), and then every activity going forward will automatically be posted to Strava immediately after it downloads to Garmin Connect.

Obviously, you could still wear your Apple Watch to get the activity credit if you wanted (although Garmin records your activity as well). You can also get notifications on the FR 235.

 

[LSUlakes]

Not too late to join this thread is it? My runs mostly consist of either neighborhood (a bunch of hills and houses) or the treadmill while Paw Patrol is on so that my kids can be distracted while I run. I enjoy running on the American Tobacco Trail near my house when I can.

Never to late to join this thread. Welcome aboard and hope you enjoy. If you have any races coming up, let me know and I will add them to the list on page 1.

I almost forgot. So I have a question for you all. I have an Apple Watch. I love it. I am an Apple fan-girl all the way. However, I've been thinking I want a dedicated running watch. The Strava apple watch app, while better than others, doesn't have a lot of options — I think it shows overall mile pace and not current pace, although I'm really not sure about that as it doesn't say anywhere that I've found. And there is a definite lag when I raise my wrist to look at it. And also, the audio alerts on Strava only start at 1/2 mile intervals (I use these alerts to know my walk segments). I would still wear my apple watch on runs as I like the notifications and filling in all my activity circles.

So here's my question. I know some of you have mentioned that your Garmin syncs automatically with Strava. So does that mean I wouldn't have to also run Strava? I'm trying to decide if I NEED a running watch with heart rate since I will still run with my Apple Watch, but I still want the heart rate data in my Strava records. Can anyone provide some guidance? I was looking at the FR 230 or 235, but that's a little more than I wanted to pay considering I have already have the investment in the apple watch.

The best thing you could probably do is read dcrainmaker reviews on the watches you are interested in. His reviews are very detailed on what the watch can do. I am not on Strava, so I am not sure how the uploads work. If you get a garmin with HR abilities, I would imagine it would also upload. I am not sure how well wearing two watched while out for a run will do though...

 

[baxter24]

Never to late to join this thread. Welcome aboard and hope you enjoy. If you have any races coming up, let me know and I will add them to the list on page 1.

Thanks! As of right now I am running the Bull City Race Fest half marathon on 10/16, the Richmond Half marathon on 11/12, and the Disney marathon on 1/7. Goal is to run 2:11:00 for either of the half marathons and just finish in the upright position for the full!

 

[Kathymford]

The best thing you could probably do is read dcrainmaker reviews on the watches you are interested in. His reviews are very detailed on what the watch can do. I am not on Strava, so I am not sure how the uploads work. If you get a garmin with HR abilities, I would imagine it would also upload. I am not sure how well wearing two watched while out for a run will do though...

I am on that site now, actually! What I really want doesn't exist. LOL. I want something like the 235, with the higher-end running features, but I don't need all the text and email notifications and all that since I get that on the Apple Watch. I'm not willing to switch completely. My Apple Fangirl card would be revoked.

 

[CheapRunnerMike]

I've finally gotten around to registering for a few more triathlons...

CheapRunnerMike - Woodstock Sprint Triathlon, 11/06/16, 1:10:00
CheapRunnerMike - Rose City Long Course Triathlon, 26/06/16, 3:20:00
CheapRunnerMike - K-Town Long Course Triathlon, 31/07/16, 3:20:00

 

[CheapRunnerMike]

AATTQOTD: Here's another for parking lot runs, although I'm trying to get out of that and my track runs. Going outside my complex though isn't any more exciting, basically an industrial park. On my long runs though, I go run on the strand at the beach. My favorite part is checking out all the homes that I will never afford. And if your curtains are open, I am definitely checking out your house! One even had a HARLEY parked inside right in front of the window like it was a museum piece instead of their home. I also like watching the ones that are being redone, as in total demolition and see how fast it goes back up. I guess things happen quickly when they are multi-million dollar homes.

Here's an example of "my" strand. This is not me or my image by the way.

This looks amazing! Where is it?

 

[Kathymford]

This looks amazing! Where is it?

Hermosa Beach, California. Actually, the running strand stretches from Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach. Not a bad place to go for my long runs, I'll admit. Way better than my parking lot.

 

[Chaitali]

One thing I think of often is how much I wish I had taken up running before I left DC. I lived 6 blocks from the White House and walked down to the mall often, but I often think I'd love to have taken up running there.

It is a great running city. Lots of fun races and scenic areas to run. You can always come back for a race

Thanks! As of right now I am running the Bull City Race Fest half marathon on 10/16, the Richmond Half marathon on 11/12, and the Disney marathon on 1/7. Goal is to run 2:11:00 for either of the half marathons and just finish in the upright position for the full!

Richmond was my first half marathon. It's such a great race!