The Running Thread - 2016

[Chasing Dopey]

All I know is compression gear and some high end socks ask for line drying. Some of the fancier fabrics keep their shape, softness, etc better if you don't tumble them, so check the labels.

 

[CheapRunnerMike]

Can I ask a sub-QOTD? Mostly aimed at the women-folk. Favorite summer sandal that is comfy (both the strap area and the footbed area) but is not overtly sporty. Something I could wear with nice summer clothes but won't wreck my feet? I'm on a hunt. My current "dressy sandals" are flat target ones that are killing my feet.

My wife LOVES her new foam Birkenstocks...they are the same styles as regular cork ones but come in all kinds of different colours. They are made from EVA foam, the same foam as your running shoes. She got hers for around $30 from Nordstrom. My BIL got a pair as well and also thinks they are great...they both prefer them to the cork originals. I'm going to pick up a pair as well, great that you can get them wet (unlike cork Birks).

Here's a question I had for the rest of the group:

Summer weather with hot and humid temps has been the norm for me for a few weeks now. That means lots of laundry after running. I read the label on one of my shirts and it had very specific laundry instructions that I'm pretty sure I don't follow. I just use the "Active" cycle on the washing machine and don't give it much thought. Same for dryer.

Curious if anyone has any tips or suggestions for how to best care for our technical shirts, socks, and shoes to prolong their life or if you just do what I am doing.
Somebody posted earlier about the cushioning of their shoes and giving it time to recover from a run. Does that really work?

I always wash my gear together in cold water and hang to dry. Never use fabric softener if you do choose to use the dryer...it compromises the material's wicking ability (so they say).

 

[Slogger]

Great responses about laundry day!
I will have to check our liquid detergent as it might have fabric softener in it.

 

[Kathymford]

Can I ask a sub-QOTD? Mostly aimed at the women-folk. Favorite summer sandal that is comfy (both the strap area and the footbed area) but is not overtly sporty. Something I could wear with nice summer clothes but won't wreck my feet? I'm on a hunt. My current "dressy sandals" are flat target ones that are killing my feet.

They aren't exactly dressy, but I wanted to mention that the Olukai Flip Flops have great arch support (for flip flops)

Curious if anyone has any tips or suggestions for how to best care for our technical shirts, socks, and shoes to prolong their life or if you just do what I am doing.

I wash in cold on a hand wash/delicate cycle. I'm still trying to find a sport detergent I like. I actually like the smell of Tide Sport, but I feel like the smell is just covering, not really cleaning.

So, I've decided to take myself out of training for a couple of weeks to finish healing my leg. I guess better now than closer to Dumbo. It's funny that as soon as I can't run, all I want to do is run. It's a bummer.

 

[Waiting2goback]

Oh that video! It makes me want to do another Disney race right now. Such memories!!!

I agree. Whenever I watch it I just want to do the marathon again. And for me there are reminders in that video that just make me laugh. My friend Matt was so nervous before the race, it was his first marathon. It was so funny. And there were times during the race where he was talking to himself and just making up songs and stuff, like he was losing it. So seeing some of those spots in the video make me laugh every time.

No energy drinks for me. I drink copious amounts of coffee and periodically drink sweat tea ( which has enough sugar to count as an energy drink.)

Random question for the other old people like me. Do any of you have kids that run cross country? Did they go into it with a love of running or was there a period where they felt like they were gonna die after every run?

I am old but my kids aren't quite old enough for that yet. Sorry.

Here's a question I had for the rest of the group:

Summer weather with hot and humid temps has been the norm for me for a few weeks now. That means lots of laundry after running. I read the label on one of my shirts and it had very specific laundry instructions that I'm pretty sure I don't follow. I just use the "Active" cycle on the washing machine and don't give it much thought. Same for dryer.

Curious if anyone has any tips or suggestions for how to best care for our technical shirts, socks, and shoes to prolong their life or if you just do what I am doing.
Somebody posted earlier about the cushioning of their shoes and giving it time to recover from a run. Does that really work?

I just wash my clothes in their own load, I don't wash them with anything else. I use Tide detergent. Other than that I don't do anything different. I dry mine in the machine and everything. I have never had a problem.

I don't wash my sneakers. I am a little weird about my sneakers. The pair that I would use as my race pair, they aren't allowed out in the rain, unless it's for a race. I don't wear them for anything but training and racing. So, the usually look brand new. I was looking at one of my pairs that are no longer for running, they hit their mileage and they look like they just came out of the box, except for the sole. And, on a similar note, I looked at the soles and now I understand why my ankle is having issues. The outside edge of my left sneaker, on all my pairs, is worn out. The inside edge looks almost new. My right show wears evenly. Basically my shoe confirms what my doctor said, I run on the outside edge of my foot and that's why he is going to try and align it properly during the surgery. It may extend the recovery but I'm fine with that.


Just in case I didn't already wish everyone luck, I hope everyone with a race this weekend has a great time and achieves whatever goals they have set. I am personally so excited for my race. It is the first one this year and it's a good race.

 

[Waiting2goback]

This is hitting close to home lately. I have been taking it to easy since last September when I took 4 weeks off because of my foot. I am tired of floating by and being mediocre. I know I am capable of more. I have become more motivated since I began tracking my calories again. Now is the time to refocus and lose the weight so I can work really hard next year, once I am healed.

 

[keahgirl8]

Only energy drink I can think of is we usually always have some mini bottles of gatorade in our fridge and usually just drink those on days when we are extra active and needing them.
I have started a one La Croix habit at night when I'm jonesing for a pop. It's gotten me off needing something sweet.

Can I ask a sub-QOTD? Mostly aimed at the women-folk. Favorite summer sandal that is comfy (both the strap area and the footbed area) but is not overtly sporty. Something I could wear with nice summer clothes but won't wreck my feet? I'm on a hunt. My current "dressy sandals" are flat target ones that are killing my feet.

I really really wish I liked La Croix. I just can't deal with it.

If you don't care whether they are cute, Oofos, no question. Since you said "not overtly sporty," I'm guessing those won't work. They are essentially Croc-looking flip flops. Not the cutest. lol Vionic has some cute ones, but I haven't worn them since they were Orthaheels, so I can't say how comfy they are now.

Here's a question I had for the rest of the group:

Summer weather with hot and humid temps has been the norm for me for a few weeks now. That means lots of laundry after running. I read the label on one of my shirts and it had very specific laundry instructions that I'm pretty sure I don't follow. I just use the "Active" cycle on the washing machine and don't give it much thought. Same for dryer.

Curious if anyone has any tips or suggestions for how to best care for our technical shirts, socks, and shoes to prolong their life or if you just do what I am doing.
Somebody posted earlier about the cushioning of their shoes and giving it time to recover from a run. Does that really work?

I'm seeing people say they dry tech gear...that kind of makes me cringe. I never dry them, even though that means it takes me a while to get through a load of laundry. I wash them with Win Detergent on delicate and hang them to dry.

 

[Miranda]

Drying on the lowest temp and setting the sensor dry to not be completely dry is my compromise with preserving stuff vs. owning enough racks to hang all of it up to dry.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

I wash all my workout stuff (running and yoga) together with Tide and I HANG DRY all except socks.

Same here - hang dry everything except socks.

I rotate 3-4 pair of shoes. I do not wear the same pair 2 days in a row. I run trails so they often get pretty muddy - I just rinse with a hose upon my return home and let them dry before their next run.

 

[dmross]

Only energy drink I can think of is we usually always have some mini bottles of gatorade in our fridge and usually just drink those on days when we are extra active and needing them.
I have started a one La Croix habit at night when I'm jonesing for a pop. It's gotten me off needing something sweet.

Can I ask a sub-QOTD? Mostly aimed at the women-folk. Favorite summer sandal that is comfy (both the strap area and the footbed area) but is not overtly sporty. Something I could wear with nice summer clothes but won't wreck my feet? I'm on a hunt. My current "dressy sandals" are flat target ones that are killing my feet.

We love la Croix at my house! It's the black coffee of waters.

Sandals are hard. I too go for Burks or Chacos. Depending on the style they can go with a cute dress. That said, when it comes to shoes, I'll err on the side of comfort vs. Cute if I need to be in them for hours.

 

[disneydaydreamer33]

Can I ask a sub-QOTD? Mostly aimed at the women-folk. Favorite summer sandal that is comfy (both the strap area and the footbed area) but is not overtly sporty. Something I could wear with nice summer clothes but won't wreck my feet? I'm on a hunt. My current "dressy sandals" are flat target ones that are killing my feet.

I just bought my second pair of Burks. They are very sparkly silver and beautiful (at least I think they are!). I also have two pairs of Tevas (a white classic and pink multi-colored flip flop type). Anyway, after seeing a couple of fashion blogs I like feature Tevas and burks, that was all I needed to get justification for wearing "comfort sandals" all day every day

 

[roxymama]

Thanks for all the sandals tips. I'm now a googling machine for all your suggestions. my ma and I are going shopping tomorrow now for my sandals and a bath mat. So exciting right?

I survived my hottest race to date today with a 31:16 5k. Not my best performance but luckily they still give you frosty beers even if you don't win. I'll write a recap soon

My hubby PRd by 1 sec and grandpa came in 4th in 65-70 div!!

 

[ebradley23]

They aren't exactly dressy, but I wanted to mention that the Olukai Flip Flops have great arch support (for flip flops)

@roxymama - I am also a huge fan of Olukai flip flops. I can wear them all day walking around, because they have excellent arch support. We were at REI earlier today, and they are making some super cute sandals. They're pricy, but my flip flops are going on 7-8 years old and still just as good as day 1.

 

[roxymama]

Olympic diving trials are on nbc sportsnet and gymnastics and diving are one in an hour on main NBC. For anyone who loves that kind of thing Trials all week so keep an eye out!

 

[DopeyBadger]

Thanks for all the sandals tips. I'm now a googling machine for all your suggestions. my ma and I are going shopping tomorrow now for my sandals and a bath mat. So exciting right?

I survived my hottest race to date today with a 31:16 5k. Not my best performance but luckily they still give you frosty beers even if you don't win. I'll write a recap soon

My hubby PRd by 1 sec and grandpa came in 4th in 65-70 div!!
View attachment 177453

Congrats to you and your family for their results today!

 

[disneydaydreamer33]

Congrats on finishing a hot race @roxymama

 

[roxymama]

Thanks guys. I lost a mile 3 mental battle and am vaccilating between miffed at myself and telling myself it's not a big deal. It's been such a nice day that can't spend too long playing the "what if" game with myself.

 

[Waiting2goback]

Thanks for all the sandals tips. I'm now a googling machine for all your suggestions. my ma and I are going shopping tomorrow now for my sandals and a bath mat. So exciting right?

I survived my hottest race to date today with a 31:16 5k. Not my best performance but luckily they still give you frosty beers even if you don't win. I'll write a recap soon

My hubby PRd by 1 sec and grandpa came in 4th in 65-70 div!!
View attachment 177453

Great job on the race. I can't wait to hear what your mental battle was in your race recap. It was a hot day and you finished the race, try not to let it bother you. That's a nice picture of you and your husband in front of the stadium.


I just found out Shalane Flanagan, of the US Olympic Marathon team, will be at the BAA 10k tomorrow. She'll probably be finished before I hit mile 1 but it will be cool nonetheless.

 

[Waiting2goback]

 

[Slogger]

Thanks for all the sandals tips. I'm now a googling machine for all your suggestions. my ma and I are going shopping tomorrow now for my sandals and a bath mat. So exciting right?

I survived my hottest race to date today with a 31:16 5k. Not my best performance but luckily they still give you frosty beers even if you don't win. I'll write a recap soon

My hubby PRd by 1 sec and grandpa came in 4th in 65-70 div!!
View attachment 177453

Congrats @roxymama on the great finish for you and your family! Must be good running genes in your family tree.
Like the outfits too.