The Running Thread - 2016

[gjramsey]

ATYQOTD: I think everyone has covered my day before and pre-race activities! I am one that likes to get to a race site as early as possible and try to hit the cans before the line grows. For races where I am a little more nervous/excited, I end up hitting them once more. Or for this years Disney, 4 times before the half, and 3 times during the race, and a couple times before the full, and 3 or 4 stops during the full.

I may have been a little concerned about getting dehydrated over the weekend that I drank too much the days before. The guy from the running club that I ran with during the half still gives me grief about the pit stops during the half. I keep reminding him that we were trying to be conservative during our race and this helped keep us from running too fast of a time (he was Dopey while I was Goofy).

ATTQOTD: Most races I run, the family does not bother coming out. So I usually grab the race provided stuff and head home. The 10 mile race series gives out 10 $100 bills at the post race party, so I will stick around for to see if I win (has not happened). Occasionally, I will stick around for those occasions where I accidentally grab a podium spot. I am one that also has a hard time eating after a hard run/race.

 

[DVCFan1994]

ATTQOTD:

Race routine:

-Wake up
-Fight off the urge to go back to sleep
-Re-evaluate the life choices I've made that removed my option to go back to sleep
-Go to the bathroom approximately a zillion times
-Run
-Shower

This proves the need for a love button!

QOTD: To follow up on yesterdays question. You just finished your race and you experiencing that "runners high". What is your post race routine?

ATTQOTD: Walking out the finishers area I grab something to drink that is being distributed. I will find my family and drink I nice ice cold chocolate milk. While doing so I will try to stretch. I then locate the nearest "hydration station" (Beer!) and have a glass or two while discussing the days accomplishments and/or disappointments while also waiting to watch my friends cross the finish line. For bigger races we will stick around for the next hour or so and then head home. Once home or hotel, I nice shower and then a few minutes to relax, maybe 30 minutes of just laying on a flat surface to just give everything a rest. I will put on some compression socks, eat a snack if I am up to it and then try to stay active for the remainder of the day. Every big race is followed up by going out to eat somewhere. I look more at the beer options than the food options to determine that location. The great thing about the WDW marathon is post race I did a lot of walking, had some beers, cramped up on its a small world... ahh good times. Basically any ride that was cramped for a 6'-5" + leg cramps, it was the best and worse of times. I also enjoyed eating a entire cinnamon roll from Gaston's Tavern.

I had nothing exciting for my prerace routine, only follows the same is true for my post race routine! At Disney after the halves my husband has had a champagne waiting for me in the past. The first year I was like --- really, its not even 8:30? The next year he skipped it and I was not happy It has returned since then.

I usually start chugging my powerade as soon as I get it and eat my banana, on the walk back to the monorail or car or hotel depending on the year. But after that, I really have no appetite for hours. I barely eat lunch, everyone gives me trouble, but I am just not hungry. However, come dinner time, watch out. At WDW its always CA grill for dinner after the half to celebrate and I eat an obscene amount.

We do Magic Kingdom after the WDW halves, and that is always fun. I'll tell you being short on rides is no picnic post race either Climbing up out of some of the lower set rides feels like climbing a mountain. I look at the step up I have to take and start praying I don't make a fool of myself.

Post any non Disney race I am almost always alone, and I just get in my car and go, usually stopping for a coffee on the way home.

 

[Disney at Heart]

ATTQOTD: my biggest concern after a race is getting a shower - it's a big motivator for me to actually finish ("soon you get to be clean and dry!"). Also drink something immediately afterward - water, sports drink or an ice-cold Coke.*

*nothing with booze in it, sorry @Keels and @FFigawi

Count me in as one who wants to get clean and dry after a race. At Disney, I want to get to the resort to shower and change. If we drive an hour or so to an area race, I have learned to bring dry clothes and wiggle into them so that I can at least be dry on the drive home if I can't be clean. Any other ladies out there who are experts at modestly changing shorts in the car with a towel around your waist and changing the sports bra and shirt under the old soggy shirt before discarding it ? Only if there are no restrooms available and the "golden corrals" are all seriously defiled, of course.

 

[run.minnie.miles]

ATTQOTD: my biggest concern after a race is getting a shower - it's a big motivator for me to actually finish ("soon you get to be clean and dry!"). Also drink something immediately afterward - water, sports drink or an ice-cold Coke.*

*nothing with booze in it, sorry @Keels and @FFigawi

Maybe you want to come to the midwest and run the Coca Cola Classic with me then? Ice cold Coke and cake after the run!!

 

[MyFavEeyore]

I am SO taking notes with everyone's pre/post race routines for eating and whatnot, but what I have to ask is, does anyone ever get that awful stitch in their side while running after replenishing their bodies. I swear its enough to make me want to crawl sometimes and to that end I try not to eat or drink anything while on a run because I'm so afraid. However, I know that with the half marathon I'm going to have to refuel somehow. If only I knew that pain wouldn't be waiting. Anybody know what I mean and what do you do about it?

 

[Z-Knight]

Count me in as one who wants to get clean and dry after a race. At Disney, I want to get to the resort to shower and change. If we drive an hour or so to an area race, I have learned to bring dry clothes and wiggle into them so that I can at least be dry on the drive home if I can't be clean. Any other ladies out there who are experts at modestly changing shorts in the car with a towel around your waist and changing the sports bra and shirt under the old soggy shirt before discarding it ? Only if there are no restrooms available and the "golden corrals" are all seriously defiled, of course.

My story should serve as a warning for future disney races...i had the start of a fever before the Dark Side marathon. I didn't feel too bad at the start but was tired later in the run. When i finished i was sweating (obviously) and got on the bus to my resort. I was freezing in the bus because they had air conditioning to prevent fogging up the windows. We didn't get any blankets at the end of that race so I sat there shivering. When I got to my resort I took a shower and got into bed. After a couple of hours i was burning up and shivering...has temps of 104 degrees with spikes to 106. Finally at night I had s doctor visit me in the hotel room because I honestly didn't know if I was gonna make it to the morning. I basically had a bad flu and I believe being wet and freezing in the bus for over 30 minutes caused it to be so bad.

So, definitely a good idea to have some dry clothes to change into - or at least the thermal blankets.

 

[baxter24]

ATTQOTD: Post race I usually try and find something to drink (water, sports drink, etc) and walk around for a minute or two. If I am doing a race with my dad, I wait near the finish line to find him. If it's just me during the race, I head home. I like to stop and grab a cup of coffee to enjoy after the race. My appetite never kicks in until hours after a race.

 

[Chasing Dopey]

Take a week off, and it takes two weeks to get caught up!

Re:blister... So far I've knocked them out with injinji toe socks, and I think working on landing softly has also helped. Oh, and check the drying instructions on your socks. Hang drying may be recommending, and will help keep them softer, I think.

Re: pre-race... the only 'ritual' i think is pinning on the bib, and setting out the clothes the night before. On the day of, in addition to the usual hydrating, bathroom, fueling, etc... I kinda zone out and get my mind in a certain place while I'm getting dressed. This goes back to when I played tennis as a kid. I focus intently on each piece and just get... I dunno it's hard to describe. When I was playing tennis, it was very much like putting on armor and preparing for battle. I feel like it should be different with running... but it isn't. Hmm....

Re: post-race... AFter all the fun times, congrats, then shower, etc... I need the food. I'm not hungry from the gut, but I can feel all my cells begging for nutrients. It's weird. And it makes whatever I have DELICIOUS!

 

[Keels]

ATTQOTD: my biggest concern after a race is getting a shower - it's a big motivator for me to actually finish ("soon you get to be clean and dry!"). Also drink something immediately afterward - water, sports drink or an ice-cold Coke.*

*nothing with booze in it, sorry @Keels and @FFigawi

No worries - that just means more for MEEEEEEEEE. True story - my BRF here in town doesn't drink, so I get all her free drinks! Best running buddy ever!

I am SO taking notes with everyone's pre/post race routines for eating and whatnot, but what I have to ask is, does anyone ever get that awful stitch in their side while running after replenishing their bodies. I swear its enough to make me want to crawl sometimes and to that end I try not to eat or drink anything while on a run because I'm so afraid. However, I know that with the half marathon I'm going to have to refuel somehow. If only I knew that pain wouldn't be waiting. Anybody know what I mean and what do you do about it?

Hmmm ... what types of items have you used? And do you have any food allergies/restrictions during your normal day? Gatorade gives me stomach cramps, so I tend to avoid that at all costs if it's the electrolyte beverage of choice on the course. Sometimes, I like to mix it up with Nuun because my body appreciates the carbonation and slight amount of salt over plain water or sugary PowerAde. I don't do squishy gels of any kind because I think they're gross, but also because I felt almost sick to my stomach the first two times I used them. I'm better with chews/beans, and best with real foods - like peanut butter cracks.

 

[Ariel484]

Maybe you want to come to the midwest and run the Coca Cola Classic with me then? Ice cold Coke and cake after the run!!

WUT.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

I am SO taking notes with everyone's pre/post race routines for eating and whatnot, but what I have to ask is, does anyone ever get that awful stitch in their side while running after replenishing their bodies. I swear its enough to make me want to crawl sometimes and to that end I try not to eat or drink anything while on a run because I'm so afraid. However, I know that with the half marathon I'm going to have to refuel somehow. If only I knew that pain wouldn't be waiting. Anybody know what I mean and what do you do about it?

The stitch is from one thing - your breathing. You must be changing your breathing. Breath slow and deep and you will never get the stitch again. If/when you do, just remember to slow your breathing and it will go away. You don't even have to slow down or change your stride - just slow your breathing.

 

[*DisneyDreamer]

Today's run truly felt like fall and it was glorious.

 

[huggybuff]

I'm better with chews/beans, and best with real foods - like peanut butter cracks.

There's peanut butter crack? Suddenly reevaluating my life choices..

 

[keahgirl8]

My story should serve as a warning for future disney races...i had the start of a fever before the Dark Side marathon. I didn't feel too bad at the start but was tired later in the run. When i finished i was sweating (obviously) and got on the bus to my resort. I was freezing in the bus because they had air conditioning to prevent fogging up the windows. We didn't get any blankets at the end of that race so I sat there shivering. When I got to my resort I took a shower and got into bed. After a couple of hours i was burning up and shivering...has temps of 104 degrees with spikes to 106. Finally at night I had s doctor visit me in the hotel room because I honestly didn't know if I was gonna make it to the morning. I basically had a bad flu and I believe being wet and freezing in the bus for over 30 minutes caused it to be so bad.

So, definitely a good idea to have some dry clothes to change into - or at least the thermal blankets.

You can buy a load of those blankets cheap on Amazon. I put them in my gear check bag just in case they don't give me one. Even if it's not really cold, if there's a slight breeze and you're sweaty, it can seem cold.

 

[camaker]

There's peanut butter crack? Suddenly reevaluating my life choices..

Sounds like the WRONG way to prevent chafing!

 

[Miranda]

ATTQOTD: Most of the time I am at races all by my lonesome, so I will grab my water, wander over to where the finishing snacks are and grab some goodies, then make my way over to my car to drive home. If my husband is at the race, I go to find him and the dog, who thinks I am her personal salt rimmed margarita after a run. Then I grab my goodies and we make our way over to the car to drive home. I never use the beer tickets or anything. I like beer but the beer I like (stouts, porters) is not stuff that is served at races usually and also it's the last thing I want to drink after a run.

 

[CheapRunnerMike]

Good luck to everyone racing this weekend, the weather looks amazing for running! I'm fixing to get in 15 miles of trails later this morning and then a few days off as my wife and I head to WDW for an quick ADULT trip! Food & Wine, Ohana, and we're trying out Grog Grotto for the first time

 

[FFigawi]

we're trying out Grog Grotto for the first time

In that case, you need to make sure you order one of the drinks which comes with the audio special effects

 

[Keels]

Good luck to everyone racing this weekend, the weather looks amazing for running! I'm fixing to get in 15 miles of trails later this morning and then a few days off as my wife and I head to WDW for an quick ADULT trip! Food & Wine, Ohana, and we're trying out Grog Grotto for the first time

HippopotoMaiTai. Just trust me.

 

[Miranda]

I had such a terrible run this morning! I just had no energy the whole run, I definitely walked way more than I would have liked, etc, but I got my almost 9 miles done (my route planning was a little off, it only made it to 8.65).

Then I was sitting on the bed when I got back reflecting on the run and I realized... I forgot to eat anything before I left. So, I went out to run 9 miles on an empty stomach, and only ate 1 gel @ about 45 minutes in.