The Running Thread - 2016

[Miranda]

EDIT: Maybe not... Actually, check your old medals and ribbons if they are handy. Are the only ones to have 'runDisney' on them the ribbons for the coast to coast medals? And I notice the medals switch between reading 'Walt Disney World' to just 'Disney'. Maybe it's a space thing.

Ohh, I like the new medal for W&D. I was a little disappointed with last year's, after having gotten a spinny one for my first one at Tink. It just seemed kind of boring and it's hard to see the detail in it.

Here is last year's medal. Both the medal and the ribbon only say "Disney", not Walt Disney World. It doesn't say runDisney or a presenting sponsor on it anywhere.

 

[ZellyB]

When I very first started running, I did C25K but then shortly after joined our local Galloway group and have used his plans ever since.

 

[JulieODC]

When I restarted running several weeks ago, I was using the C25K app. I didn't love it though, and decided to just move to an internal timer-- which I really like a lot better. I am running a 10K in October, and am not following an official plan (other than 3 d/wk, 3-4 miles during the week, and a longer run, 5-7 miles on the weekend). I am planning to use the Galloway plan for the 1/2, and want to check out Hal Higdon.

 

[Chaitali]

I started out with couch to 5k but it wasn't working that well for me so I joined the 5k training program with the local road runners group. They provided the training plan. I then trained for my first 10k using a Hal Higdon plan. I went from there to joining another training group for my first half marathon and went with the plan they provided. Since then, I've been using Hal Higdon training plans for the most part.

 

[whaler8]

QOTD: What training program did you use when you first started running if any? Why did you make that decision?

Maybe not a specific program but I used Map My Run when I started running to create and log my routes so I could train by distance and see my improvements. I still will create a route on there from time to time to see distances of routes I run when I travel and don't bring my GPS watch.

 

[gjramsey]

ATTQOTD: No plan at all. Started off doing weights at the Y. Then I added in some elliptical work. That went well, so moved on to the treadmill. After that, figured I would run on the streets some. Most of my early runs were between 3 and 5 miles in length and probably just once or twice a week. After about 6 months, I decided to run 10 miles, and did that surprisingly easy. Not long after that, I signed up for my first race, which was a half.

 

[ebradley23]

ATTQOTD: I used the Zenlabs C25K app to get me to the 5k point. I tried using the C210K app, but I didn't like their plan after the 5k point. Instead I just increased my mileage slowly until I could run 6 miles.

My husband was training for his first marathon when to decided to train for a half. I just followed the same plan MTT gave him up to 13 miles. I follow their plan for my marathon (last year as part of the team; this year on my own).

 

[Dis5150]

ATTQOTD: Funny story! I also used C25K but I really didn't understand/research it at all. I just did it every day. For 2 weeks. I decided I hated it, hated her voice, hated everything about it and was ready to quit running. Then my DD26 told me I was only supposed to be doing it 3 days a week! I was like, well, geez, no wonder I hate it! But I couldn't make myself listen to her anymore and started following JG plan and liked that MUCH better, lol!

 

[michigandergirl]

My two boys and I ran our "Superhero 2.5K" yesterday evening. It was a really cute race, but my 10 year old had a serious case of "tween attitude." I think part of the fact was that he was tired (we always stay up later during summer break) and had been playing with friends all day, but he had the worse attitude at the start of the race. He was not running, he was not walking fast, he was SAUNTERING! I decided to just let him and I ran with my 7 year old, but then we stopped and waited for him. Anyway, by the end he was excited to be there, but it just bugged me b/c I'm used to my kids being happy by whatever I'm excited about, and I am not ready for the jaded teen thing haha.

So, this was more of a parenting rant than a running one- sorry! I've just been so excited to share my love of running with my kids. This was the first time I felt like it didn't work out.

I totally get the tween boy attitude - my sons are 11 and 12 (almost 13), and I especially understand the summertime attitude! Mine have been rather lazy this summer as well. I tried to get them to run around the block with me & the dog the other day and you would think I was torturing them. They are in for a rude awakening next week when football practice starts. Glad your son changed his tune by the end!

ATTQOTD: I'm pretty sure I followed a couch to 5K program, but don't remember which one exactly.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

QOTD: What training program did you use when you first started running if any? Why did you make that decision?

LOL - US Army PT Training. That is to say, we ran every morning, in formation, while singing. We did a lot of interesting running - like a military version of an indian run - but it was all pretty straight forward. Running on my own, at my own pace, was easy after that.

Of course, this was 30 years ago. Modern running science didn't really exist at the time.

 

[jhorstma]

OK, y'all ...

Would you ever report someone you knew to a race director for a serious course-cutting infraction resulting in a a massive PoT improvement. This was only on the half (RnR Las Vegas), but I have a feeling she's going to try it again this year for the full in an attempt to BQ.

She "ran" RnR LV half in 1:58 last year. Her other half times are 3:58, 4:05 and 4:18. I mean, it's pretty obvious she course cut at LV because she has no timing mat segments and no on-course pictures.

WWYD?

She was planning to run Dopey in 2017, which is why I think she went for that PoT. But she also recently changed her tune and I believe it's because she may have been banned from RD after she got busted course-cutting during Princess in 2015 (she had a half result, but is now completely gone from the site).

To me running, like golf and taxes, is a very personal thing - I'll supply all the encouragement I can to everyone around me, but at the end of the day I only worry about my own results. So no I wouldn't report them, especially without actually seeing the course-cutting.

 

[jhorstma]

My two boys and I ran our "Superhero 2.5K" yesterday evening. It was a really cute race, but my 10 year old had a serious case of "tween attitude." I think part of the fact was that he was tired (we always stay up later during summer break) and had been playing with friends all day, but he had the worse attitude at the start of the race. He was not running, he was not walking fast, he was SAUNTERING! I decided to just let him and I ran with my 7 year old, but then we stopped and waited for him. Anyway, by the end he was excited to be there, but it just bugged me b/c I'm used to my kids being happy by whatever I'm excited about, and I am not ready for the jaded teen thing haha.

So, this was more of a parenting rant than a running one- sorry! I've just been so excited to share my love of running with my kids. This was the first time I felt like it didn't work out.

Maybe he wasn't into a "really cute" race? FWIW my 21 year old DD (pictured) refuses to race with me, so I taunt her mercilessly as I pass her early in races and cheer her on when she inevitably catches and passes me right before the finish (maybe I slow a bit to let her catch me - like riding Everest last January - oh wait, I still beat her). Sounds like he's ready for a "more serious" race with you.

 

[Chasing Dopey]

ATTQOTD: The first few runs with a purpose (other than the occasional short workout over the years) were with the idea I might run a 10k some day, but without any plan. They were brutal! I would come back to the house after a couple three miles completely spent. Not long after that I discovered both the runDisney events and Jeff Galloway. That first run with the walk intervals changed everything.

 

[CheapRunnerMike]

QOTD: What training program did you use when you first started running if any? Why did you make that decision?

Maybe not a specific program but I used Map My Run when I started running to create and log my routes so I could train by distance and see my improvements. I still will create a route on there from time to time to see distances of routes I run when I travel and don't bring my GPS watch.

This is almost exactly what I did as well...no formal plan, just go for a run and time it on my Timex watch (or just check the clock in the gym on my way in and out), then figure out how far I ran on Map My Run.

 

[jhorstma]

QOTD: What training program did you use when you first started running if any? Why did you make that decision?

ATTQOTD: I started out with couch to 5k. I did so, because I had ran in high school and knew I need a little structure to get me back into it.

I Believe this (C25K) will be a popular reply to todays question, but was just curious who has tried something different.

ATTQOTD: Jeff Galloway couch-to-marathon run/walk for beginners - FTW!!! Started in August 2015, ran a 5K that Oct and again on New Years Day, and then straight to the Disney marathon in January - kinda scary to think of doing 8+ 5Ks all at once, but the program got me back to Epcot in good time, so I'll happily recommend it to anyone.

 

[jhorstma]

ATTQOTD: I'd say "Your race - your pace" is probably the best piece of advice I've received. I'm naturally competitive but I'm also way past my prime:in the past it was hard for me to find the fun in distance racing. It's taken a few years, but I figured out what makes me happy isn't racing against the clock, but just getting out there and enjoying the experience.

I'm way past my prime, but I love starting out at a nice easy pace, getting passed a bunch, and then pick it up as the race progresses - and pass a bunch of youngsters who had passed me previously. Eat my dust, bunnies...

 

[jhorstma]

QOTD: A dear friend of mine who had gotten into distance running about a year before I did said, "stock up on body glide and put that s*** on everything, even your lady bits." Good advice indeed!

On a related note for those of us afflicted with the Y chromosome, we gotta worry about the ol' moobs - they don't make sports bras for us, and unfortunately glide seems to wear out after 10 miles or so (for me at least). Circular bandaids work, but then they'll peel off, so what's a guy to do?

 

[Slogger]

ATTQOTD from a few days ago.....The first run that I actually saved data from was on 3/31/2013......3.5 miles/34:41 time (9:55) pace. I'll remind everyone that I tried to run every practice run at the same pace.

ATTQOTD about training programs>I didn't really use a program until I found Jeff Galloway's Dopey plan and I used that religiously until January 2015.

 

[rteetz]

QOTD: What training program did you use when you first started running if any? Why did you make that decision?

Jeff Galloway, my first race was a Disney race so I just used what Disney had on the website. I was brand new to running.

 

[disneydaydreamer33]

I totally get the tween boy attitude - my sons are 11 and 12 (almost 13), and I especially understand the summertime attitude! Mine have been rather lazy this summer as well. I tried to get them to run around the block with me & the dog the other day and you would think I was torturing them. They are in for a rude awakening next week when football practice starts. Glad your son changed his tune by the end!

Thanks for the commiseration It's a switch for me to see this new attitude, but I know to a certain extent it comes with the age. Hopefully, I can help him navigate these teen years OK

Maybe he wasn't into a "really cute" race? FWIW my 21 year old DD (pictured) refuses to race with me, so I taunt her mercilessly as I pass her early in races and cheer her on when she inevitably catches and passes me right before the finish (maybe I slow a bit to let her catch me - like riding Everest last January - oh wait, I still beat her). Sounds like he's ready for a "more serious" race with you.

You may be right! I think he looked around and saw a lot of little kids running with their parents, and felt too old for it. I told him that I will only sign him up for another race if he will follow a training program consistently. A bigger race would be a good challenge for that. I am still hoping for mother/son (or daughter once DD turns 13) runDisney trips in the future!

ATTQOTD: I started with a c25k plan that I printed out on the computer (before smart phones). I ran with a stop watch and walked and ran according to the beeps I had programmed. For my first 10K later that year, I followed a Hal Higdon plan that I found after a google search