The Running Thread - 2016

[keahgirl8]

Welcome! Running is such a great sport to start, because it's so individual (only you can decide what goals you want to try and achieve, and then you are the one to put those miles in and make that goal a realty!). And even though it's so individual, there is an awesome community you will find at every race, group run, or here on the boards!

That's one thing I love about it. It is an individual and team sport at the same time!

 

[jubjubrsx]

I love apple cider vinegar! I drink it every day. I knew it was good for digestion, but I didn't know it was good for cramps as well. I have had cramping issues in the past, so I throw the kitchen sink at prevention.

yes its very good for helping cramps, as its very high in potassium(K), should google apple cider vinegar and see all of the benefits its crazy, kind of taste like dirty gym clothes soaked in apple juice.

 

[Mickey Momma]

I basically do Galloway run/walk intervals but follow Higdon's schedule...Gallo-don plan. Higdo-way? Something.

I told a friend to do almost exactly this Saturday. Higdon's plan, Galloway's intervals.

ATTQOTD: Way back when I first started distance training, I was scared off of gels after hearing so many people say they made them sick. So I tried: Honey Stinger chews (too heavy!), Clif Shot Bloks (too chewy!), fig newtons (too crumbly!), Honey Stinger waffles (too dry!), pretzels (too few calories!)... and one day, I finally tried a gel out of desperation... JUST RIGHT!!! So it's been gels for me ever since. GU or Clif Shots, I don't really care. Raspberry, lemon lime, strawberry banana, peanut butter, chocolate, vanilla - I like variety over a long run. But PSA: don't get fooled by the "Plain" flavored GU! It most certainly is flavored - and I believe that flavor is called "BLECH"!

I must be the only one who started with Gu and has stuck with it. I like Sports Beans, but the chewing seems like to much work.

 

[Ariel484]

I told a friend to do almost exactly this Saturday. Higdon's plan, Galloway's intervals.

It works! (For me, anyway.)

 

[kristabelle13]

ATTQOTD: I use sports beans - but don't love the ripping open the package, and carrying them, etc. The bags are stiff. There's got to be a better way! I'd love a bean dispenser to attach to my running belt like a coin dispenser:

 

[FFigawi]

FWIW, Novice 1 has been perfect for me. It's not too much, but it has still prepared me really well. I had someone here on the DIS tell me it wouldn't be enough for Goofy, but it absolutely was.

This will be my main question post Marathon Weekend since I hope to do Dopey in 2018. What plan did past Dopey runners use? If they ran before did they use the same plan? Right now I've heard good things about Hanson's (Mmm... Bop) and Hidgon's plans.

Any decent marathon plan like one from Higdon or Galloway will get you through Goofy or Dopey if you stick with it and complete your training. Sure, having a back to back longer run or two is helpful to get you used to running multiple days in a row, but it's not required. I'm reluctant to recommend the Hanson plans for newer runners, not because they don't work (they really are excellent plans) but because they usually have more intensity and more mileage than the plans from Higdon and Galloway. Not everyone can handle a high workload, and it's easy to get worn down or injured if your body can't handle the load. In the end, as others have said, the best plan is the one which fits you, your body, your ability, and your schedule. Whichever plan you pick, you need to be able to stick with it to the end. Don't look only at the total weekly mileage or the length of the long runs. Look at the daily runs too and make sure you have the time to complete them as well.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

ATTQOTD: I use sports beans - but don't love the ripping open the package, and carrying them, etc. The bags are stiff. There's got to be a better way! I'd love a bean dispenser to attach to my running belt like a coin dispenser:

I transfer them to a ziplock bag before my runs.

 

[NJlauren]

Does anyone have a recommendation on reflective gear?

I am a morning runner (like it best and when I have the most time). But the sun is getting up later and later every day, I even pushed my run start time back and it's still so dark when I go out.

 

[camaker]

Does anyone have a recommendation on reflective gear?

I am a morning runner (like it best and when I have the most time). But the sun is getting up later and later every day, I even pushed my run start time back and it's still so dark when I go out.

I love the Tracer360. It's more noticeable than passive reflective gear and is very comfortable to wear.

 

[The Expert]

ATTQOTD: I use sports beans - but don't love the ripping open the package, and carrying them, etc. The bags are stiff. There's got to be a better way! I'd love a bean dispenser to attach to my running belt like a coin dispenser:

How about a dog treat dispenser like trainers use? They sell them at any pet supply place (Petsmart, etc), are small and have some kind of way to attach to your belt or a leash. Like this: http://www.petsmart.com/supplies-tr...36-catid-100133?var_id=36-19463&_t=pfm=search

 

[The Expert]

So I officially transferred my registration this morning for my run next month (Park City/Pink Series Half, October 8). It was supposed to be my first Half, but life got in the way of training and I'm definitely NOT ready. The race director let me switch to the 10K, which is probably smarter for me at this stage. And it still gives me another shot at bettering my POT from my first 10K in July.

I'm not totally disappointed, to be honest, because this means my first Half will probably be PHM, and I'd rather it be a Disney race. Just bummed at myself for not keeping up with my plan.

 

[gjramsey]

ATTQOTD: I usually take GU on the runs longer then 10 miles. Sometimes Sports beans as well. I have tried Clif Blocks and the Gatorade Endurance Chews. If I have those it is usually before a race where I can drink more since the chew factor is higher. I am going to use Salt tabs or something like that for longer training runs this season.

I have been carrying water for runs longer then 8 miles this summer, since the humidity this year has been off the charts.

 

[Anisum]

Higdon Novice 1: http://halhigdon.com/training/51137/Marathon-Novice-1-Training-Program

I made some of the mid-distance/long runs back-to-backs and did the peak week as 4 days in a row. Worked great! I've done Dopey once but I did use this for Goofy as well and also had a great result.

For my first marathon (WDW in 2012) I used the Novice Supreme plan, which is Novice 1 with some weeks tacked on in the beginning - it's a 30-week plan but it takes you from near-zero to marathon. Again, worked great.
http://halhigdon.com/training/51143/Marathon-Novice-Supreme-Training-Program

Sounds like great advice.

Honestly in it's most basic form any marathon plan should train you enough to complete the Dopey challenge. It's all about learning to run on tired legs and waking up early four days in a row.

2014 - I used Galloway's plan (minus the run/walk) and finished all four races comfortably. I didn't even have to take a single walk break (which was a mild victory for me) during what was my second marathon during Dopey (whereas my first marathon went much worse).
2015 - I used the FIRST marathon training plan and completed it comfortably.
2016 - I used a modified Hanson's plan and completed it comfortably.
2017 - I will use a hybrid marathon plan that I'm still ironing out the details and goals for.

I think the thing I learned the most during all of these Dopey events was trust how my body felt. Even before I followed the effort based model of running, I took every Dopey race as not necessarily goal times but moreso what felt comfortable to run on that day. This taught me that I should use this mindset on all my races because I have typically had the best experience racing doing the Dopey races.

I think @ZellyB put it best, when it comes down to it simplistically the best marathon/Dopey plan is the one you can stick with and fit into your life because honestly in an event that lasts 48.6 miles, that may very well be less than 5-10% of the time you actually spend training for it. Thus, the opposite is "like your training plan because 90-95% of the time running will be with it, not the race." *Or in the case of my current marathon plan roughly 99.987% of the time spent running was training and my 26.2 mile race is only 0.013%.

I absolutely agree the best plan is the one you can stick to. I have two concerns with Galloway. The first is the start date. That's the height of summer for us and while training in the heat is probably good for a Florida race it also makes it tough to complete long runs. The second concern is because I usually don't walk I'm not sure if it should be adjusted for length or if I would have to run/walk to be successful with it.

Any decent marathon plan like one from Higdon or Galloway will get you through Goofy or Dopey if you stick with it and complete your training. Sure, having a back to back longer run or two is helpful to get you used to running multiple days in a row, but it's not required. I'm reluctant to recommend the Hanson plans for newer runners, not because they don't work (they really are excellent plans) but because they usually have more intensity and more mileage than the plans from Higdon and Galloway. Not everyone can handle a high workload, and it's easy to get worn down or injured if your body can't handle the load. In the end, as others have said, the best plan is the one which fits you, your body, your ability, and your schedule. Whichever plan you pick, you need to be able to stick with it to the end. Don't look only at the total weekly mileage or the length of the long runs. Look at the daily runs too and make sure you have the time to complete them as well.

Good to know. I was initially considering Hansons because it was recommended to me because it doesn't go up as high in long runs but focuses on back to back which I would have thought might be beneficial for Dopey. I'd rather not risk injury though so I'll probably cross that off for my first Dopey.

 

[dis_or_dat]

Does anyone have a recommendation on reflective gear?

I am a morning runner (like it best and when I have the most time). But the sun is getting up later and later every day, I even pushed my run start time back and it's still so dark when I go out.

I just bought a high visibility reflective vest from Ikea ($5 with family discount). It's a kid's vest, so I bought it in L/XL and fits fine. http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70315737/

I also have amphipod vizlet LED wearable reflectors. I credit them for keeping me safe during 3am runs on a highway. http://www.amphipod.com/products/visibility/vizletvizlet-led-wearable-reflectors

 

[Anisum]

Does anyone have a recommendation on reflective gear?

I am a morning runner (like it best and when I have the most time). But the sun is getting up later and later every day, I even pushed my run start time back and it's still so dark when I go out.

I am a fan of the Nathan Clip On Strobe Lights paired with a reflective vest similar to this one and of course a headlamp.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Did a 7 mile run with long hill repeats today - gah!

 

[PrincessV]

i know elites sometimes have special water bottles labeled for them at the water stations that they have their specific fuel/electrolytes inside, but I wonder how does everyone else do it? Do you carry the powder with you? Carry a bottle with you? Or do you have someone at a designated part of the course give it to you?

I don't add fuel to my water, but I do use Nuun throughout races. I wrap individual tablets of Nuun in cling wrap to keep them dry until needed and pack them into my handheld water bottle's little pocket. I just refill at water tables and drop a tab in as needed. I've gotten pretty good at unwrapping them one-handed!

I must be the only one who started with Gu and has stuck with it. I like Sports Beans, but the chewing seems like to much work.

I wish I had started with gels in the first place - so much easier and more convenient than anything else I tried!

 

[LSUlakes]

QOTD: Do you do any weight-training and, if you do, when? Do you weight-train on easy run days or strictly cross-training days? If you do it on running days, do you lift before or after your run?"

ATTQOTD: I know I should but currently don't. I am struggling to just get my runs in at the moment.

Sorry for getting to todays QOTD a little late folks. Had some car issues this morning that have me running behind. Its just one of those days....

 

[Anisum]

QOTD: Do you do any weight-training and, if you do, when? Do you weight-train on easy run days or strictly cross-training days? If you do it on running days, do you lift before or after your run?"

Put me in the should but don't category. Part of why I run is because I don't need to go to the gym or have any equipment to do it. I currently do yoga and I'm going to start swimming (again) with a local tri club.

 

[cburnett11]

ATTQOTD: No weights...