The Running Thread - 2016

[LSUlakes]

If you're running a fall marathon, take a look:

http://blog.strava.com/back-half-ch...campaign=2016_09_26_Strava_Backhalf_Challenge

It's worth trying to do it, right?

That's a cool find. My marathon doesn't fall within the dates though. It's definitely worth trying to do, but easier said than done. Those who can do it have really good races though.

 

[Ariel484]

ATTQOTD: The only virtual race I've done is the Orlando One 5K. I just really felt helpless in my desire but inability to help out after those shootings; it was definitely worth it for me! I actually kind of forgot about it after signing up and running the 3.1, until the medal and shirt showed up in the mail (like a month or so later?). It felt like a fun bonus to get those things!

I agree with what has been said, that if this motivates you to run then more power to you!

I forgot about the medal and shirt too...then I got the mystery envelope in the mail. It was nice to get but I thought the same as you - they were just bonuses after donating to the charity and getting the word out.

 

[ebradley23]

Totally my plan, but I'm October 2nd.... Great incentive though for others if they can pull it off. Thanks for sharing!

That date is so close to their start date. If you do it, it won't hurt to submit the info. Worst case scenario they tell you it doesn't count.

 

[DopeyBadger]

That date is so close to their start date. If you do it, it won't hurt to submit the info. Worst case scenario they tell you it doesn't count.

Good thought. If I pull off the negative split, then I'll at least try. The worst they can do is nothing.

 

[gjramsey]

ATTQOTD: I see why people like virtuals. I don't think I will ever do one, though. In Houston, there is a 5k/10k series and a Half series, where you get a plaque (5k/10k and all the medals fit on the plaque) or medal hanger for the Half's. They have a virtual option if you can not make one or some of the races. This past weekend, they had 2700 run the actual race, and about 200 run virtual.

This is the plaque

 

[baxter24]

ATTQOTD: I have never done a virtual race and don't plan on it. It doesn't appeal to me but I can see why it might to others. The race day atmosphere for me is much more enjoyable. I guess it's a cool thing if it gets people out running though.

 

[Slogger]

If you're running a fall marathon, take a look:

http://blog.strava.com/back-half-ch...campaign=2016_09_26_Strava_Backhalf_Challenge

It's worth trying to do it, right?

That's an awesome promotion. Any pair of NB shoes??
Think I see a loophole that I can exploit!
Slogger needs a new pair of shoes.

 

[Slogger]

ATTQOTD-Virtual races

Have not done one but not totally against it if the right set of circumstances all came together.
A charity option would have to be a part of it.
As long as the beer at the finish is not virtual, I won't rule out the possibility.

 

[keahgirl8]

ATTQOTD: I participate in the Hogwarts Running Club races. I also use the Charity Miles app regularly as a member of Ravenclaw house. I do it partly because of the charity and partly because of the camaraderie that comes from the social media groups. I haven't done every race since I've joined the club, but the medals are cool. It does feel kind of pointless to get a medal for a training run, but I feel like the charity work more than justifies it.

This was a step-down week for me, so my long run was just under 8 miles. (It was supposed to be 6, oops.) I did learn an important lesson about blisters, though. Apparently, if something doesn't feel right at the start of the run, you should definitely check it there instead of dealing with the consequences at the end.

Hello, fellow Ravenclaw!

ATTQOTD: I've never done a virtual run, but think it's a great option for those who want to participate. I've been very tempted by the Hogwarts Running races though, and if the right race/medal came along I might do it.

Like others @Keels run would be one I'd consider for sure!

That's kind of what I do. If I like the medal and/or shirt, I'll do it. I have the Platform 9 3/4 medal (because...well I had to), the Patronus 5K, because it is beautiful, and the Galloway half and 5K (it was the inaugural one and I couldn't get there). That's probably all for me for a while, unless I fall in love with another medal or it's a charity that really speaks to me. I will say that HRC virtuals are pretty reasonably priced.

 

[LSUlakes]

QOTD: Lets discuss "official race photos". Do you buy them or plan to at any point? Do you look at them to check on your running form? If so, did you see something in them to where you got a video taken on you running to see your form in more detail to try to change it up any? Or do you just look at them and wonder why in the heck am I making such a strange face? Any other type of info you try to gather from them?

Todays QOTD, is also a suggestion from a fellow poster. Yall have been great with these questions! Thanks for the ideas!!!

ATTQOTD: I was going to buy some from the time I ran the 2014 Boston Marathon, because it was a big moment for myself. The problem was they did not have a single picture of me crossing the finish line. I spent hours trying to find people who I was around to see if I was in there photo, to no luck at all. Never found a single one I do have plans to buy some for two occasions. The first will be at whichever race I one day earn a BQ, the second will be at Boston. I do enjoy looking at the photos to see how my stride is looking and usually a good laugh at how my face looks during some of them. I haven't taken any video analysis, just because I don't think I could really change my actual stride, but from race photos I noticed I move my arms across my chest to much, which is causing me to burn to much energy. So they have shown me ways I can be more efficient as a runner.

 

[Chaitali]

@LSUlakes that sucks they didn't have any photos of you at the 2014 Boston Marathon I bought photos from my first half because it was my first. I found a good deal on photos for RnR DC 2016 and bought some because it was a first half for the 2 friends that I ran it with. I bought three photos that had all three of us in it. Several of the local races I run have free photos which is awesome! I have at times seen things about my form, especially from photos that are later in the race, that I comment on and try to work on.

 

[ZellyB]

ATTQOTD: I have purchased race photos for all our Disney races. I just love them - plus I use them to do trip reports here. I've never used them to check my running form. I have certainly looked at them and thought, "what the heck am I doing there???"

 

[camaker]

QOTD: Lets discuss "official race photos". Do you buy them or plan to at any point? Do you look at them to check on your running form? If so, did you see something in them to where you got a video taken on you running to see your form in more detail to try to change it up any? Or do you just look at them and wonder why in the heck am I making such a strange face? Any other type of info you try to gather from them?

As a general rule, I don't care for pictures of myself. That includes running pictures. The one exception has been the 2016 Disney Marathon. I got one of the Fond Memories Graphics medal shadowboxes to commemorate my first marathon and it had a slot for a picture in the frame. I ended up getting a Marathon Foto picture of me in the AK during the marathon to put in there.

 

[gjramsey]

ATTQOTD: I have only bought Race Photos from Disney. For the Goofy I ended up with over 110 pictures, so cost per pic was worth it. Otherwise, it is too expensive.

I always look through the pictures, just to see how many really bad faces I have during a race. I have seen some where my form is either out of whack, or I just look strange in the shot.....

 

[Slogger]

QOTD: Lets discuss "official race photos". Do you buy them or plan to at any point? Do you look at them to check on your running form? If so, did you see something in them to where you got a video taken on you running to see your form in more detail to try to change it up any? Or do you just look at them and wonder why in the heck am I making such a strange face? Any other type of info you try to gather from them?

Todays QOTD, is also a suggestion from a fellow poster. Yall have been great with these questions! Thanks for the ideas!!!

: I was going to buy some from the time I ran the 2014 Boston Marathon, because it was a big moment for myself. The problem was they did not have a single picture of me crossing the finish line.

@LSUlakes ......that's too bad you haven't found any pictures from Boston yet. Great reason to run Boston again, right?

ATTQOTD: Purchased "official race photos" on two occasions. First time-the entire Slogger family participated in the event and the pictures turned out great. Guess we are extremely photogenic!!

Second time-MCM in 2013. I loved this event but had a very painful and difficult day. One of the photographers took a picture of me at probably my lowest point.....limping/walking, head down, "defeated" look of misery, but not willing to give up and determined to finish. Every time I look at the picture it reminds me of the running struggles I've experienced and use it as motivation to never feel that way again. Is that weird?

To me, each photo captured a high and low point in my running career and were worth the $$$ to preserve those memories.

 

[FFigawi]

QOTD: Lets discuss "official race photos". Do you buy them or plan to at any point? Do you look at them to check on your running form? If so, did you see something in them to where you got a video taken on you running to see your form in more detail to try to change it up any? Or do you just look at them and wonder why in the heck am I making such a strange face? Any other type of info you try to gather from them?

I usually buy them for my big races. Even though I don't buy them for the purpose of checking on my form, being able to do so is a nice side benefit. I have some old photos in which you can clearly see my overpronation and heel striking all at once. I winced when I first saw it (I'll post it if I can dig it out tonight) and made some effort to change my footfall. Other older pictures show me with my torso rotated to the right for some reason, and I've worked pretty hard to try to fix that. Really, though, I buy them to have a lasting record of the special events and shared memories with my running friends. Like this, for example. One of my favorite pictures ever.

 

[baxter24]

ATTQOTD: I have only bought race photos once. Normally I don't because they aren't flattering at all and/or they are so expensive! After having done a few Disney races, I have learned to look for the photographers and try not to look like I am dying but that still doesn't work most of the time. I did buy two pictures of my dad and I crossing the finish line of the princess half back in February. The photographer took our picture right as we were about to high five and we both had big smiles on our faces.

 

[Barca33Runner]

QOTD: Lets discuss "official race photos". Do you buy them or plan to at any point? Do you look at them to check on your running form? If so, did you see something in them to where you got a video taken on you running to see your form in more detail to try to change it up any? Or do you just look at them and wonder why in the heck am I making such a strange face? Any other type of info you try to gather from them?

I bought the photos from my first two Dopey's and put them into albums and planned to this past year but still haven't gotten around to it. They provide no meaningful data, just memories. We are definitely planning on purchasing the photos from our family vacation/2017 Marathon Weekend trip since, as I understand it, it will include race photos for all linked MDE accounts and all of the pictures from our vacation taken while we were in the parks. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems like a much better deal than it used to be. Knowing that I would be purchasing the photos helped me to notice the photographers more and keep a bigger smile on my face throughout my races.

 

[rteetz]

QOTD: Lets discuss "official race photos". Do you buy them or plan to at any point? Do you look at them to check on your running form? If so, did you see something in them to where you got a video taken on you running to see your form in more detail to try to change it up any? Or do you just look at them and wonder why in the heck am I making such a strange face? Any other type of info you try to gather from them?

I definitely look at them but I've never bought them. Now that rundisney uses photopass I'm definitely going to use them. We wouldn't buy photopass anyways. I don't care about my running form in my photos.

 

[dis_or_dat]

ATTQOTD: I've purchased twice out of 3 times. I bought my RnR one because it was my first and a great deal (always good to wait til the last minute). Then I bought the Tinkerbell ones because photopass takes much better pictures than marathonphoto. I should have taken advantage of the "all day" photopass deal and used it to take more family pictures at the park and linked them. I had no idea. But I still have 140+ pictures of me running at Tink!

I never thought my form was off based on my pictures (although the grimacing ones at RnR were no fun to look at). I read somewhere that the truly terrible pictures are tossed, I can't imagine how bad they must have been! But my husband had taped me running twice at my last half and I was really shocked by my form. My feet barely left the ground and I had very little kick, which explains my super high cadence. I actually thought it was at the end of the race, but it was only at mile 1.5! The video at mile 13 showed I had let go of any form and was just trying desperately to cross the finish line. I actually had the opportunity to ask a coach about it (without video) and she said it sounded like I had a shuffling gait and recommended trying to increase my stride behind me. So now on my easy runs, I've been trying to be more conscious of my form.

Edited to add: I'm also a total ham in front of photographers - usually because of all the adrenaline at the beginning. At the end ... not so much!