The Running Thread - 2016

[LSUlakes]

ATTQOTD: All of my races to this point have been goal races. But my next 2 won't be, I am running them with DH ( and one will be in Vegas!!) so the objective will be to just have fun.

I raced the Marine Corp Half in Jacksonville yesterday. The course had to be modified since the race had been rescheduled and it would take too long to get new permits. It ended up being a 4 loop course and the first shorter loop was the 5k. So I was able to run with my family and see them cross the 5k finish line. Running with them was a big help in the beginning it kept me slow and steady. Once I left them I kicked it up a bit and was able to PR @ 2:56:07!

Congrats!

Also congrats to all who raced over the weekend!!

 

[Miranda]

ATTQOTD: I just like to run races, so I tend to do a lot of them and not set too many goals. I don't do particularly well at any of them, at least not this year, but I still do them because I like them. Plus if I always have something coming up on the schedule, I won't get TOO lazy and sit on my butt all the time. I didn't do a particularly good job keeping on point with my training for any of my goal races which would have been my HM's this year, so I might be hitting up @DopeyBadger to help me out with that for next year. I gave Hal a shot this year and he didn't really work out for me, although I don't really know that my lack of sticking to his plans was really his fault. Things started going downhill for me when I started having achilles pain after my 10 miler in April, and I feel like that started a cycle of losing a lot of good habits with sticking to my training.

Last year, when I was sticking to my Galloway runDisney plans, I feel like my PRs for other shorter races just came naturally as I trained for the HM at the end of the cycle. Last year was my first year back running races in a long time, and I PR'd every race (except my turkey trot) where I did the distance more than once (8 5K, 2 10K, and 3 HM), so this year was kind of a disappointment in that regard, even though I knew logically it very likely would not continue on that path. This year, I kind of set out with the same intentions, to train for a cluster of HM's in the spring and in the fall, and then hopefully the shorter races would just sort themselves out along the way, but it didn't really work out as intended.

I like getting medals and tshirts at the HM's, and the shorter ones that I do, some of them have tshirts or hats but no medals. The swag at my 5K last weekend was a merino wool Swix hat, and then I won another one in the post race raffle. And most of my races are part of a local series where the overall goal is a Brooks half-zip at the end of the season with the series logo and stuff on it for doing 6 of 8 races with 2 > 5K, and a $50 gift card to the LRS, Runner's Alley, for doing all 8. So a lot of my short races are part of this, as I do all 8 of them. I am also doing the bonus race, my HM that is on 11/13, and for doing 6 of 8 plus the bonus race, I'll be entered into a drawing to get free entry into all the series races next year.

 

[gjramsey]

Some of the Capital to Coast pictures.

Pre-race in the fog of Austin

On the road during leg 12

What every guy needs after a tough 8 mile leg, ice cold water and a gal with a feather boa!

On the road to the finish, legs died about there!

Finished!

 

[Slogger]

The results are in and ...

(Cue Maury Povich voice)

I've been cleared to start training!!

NO......(Elaine from Seinfeld shove)......WAY!!!!!
that is awesome

 

[disneydaydreamer33]

The results are in and ...

(Cue Maury Povich voice)

I've been cleared to start training!!

Congrats @Keels! That's great news!

A training plan is like a good book. You have to trust that the author will guide you from the beginning to the end. That the author will help explain the twists, turns and plot detours along the way. But sometimes we like to take a peak at a later chapter (WAIT WHAT?!?!? ROCHELLE DIED?!?! WHO DID THAT???!?! OMG!!!! ) and this causes concern. As you said it's better to just read each sentence as they come up, each paragraph as they mosey along, and each chapter as a moment of success. Before you know it, you'll have reached the end of the book. And you'll look back and smile and say "Yep, that was a pretty good book."

I couldn't love this analogy more!

 

[dis_or_dat]

ATTQOTD: being new to the racing world, all of mine have been for POT or PR. SWLS is the first one I won't be racing -I'm really excited to see all the characters! I just hope I don't get competitive and go off pace. Once I'm done with my A race, I think I'm going to back off and maybe just do a few races for fun new experiences (hot chocolate etc) or to support local charities but not for time unless I sign up for another rD and need a good POT for corral placement.

 

[JulieODC]

ATTQOTD: I am using my November 10K as a POT for Princess, which is my goal race, so my main objective is to get a decent (for me) POT. It's also my 1st race in 2 years, so it'll be a "return to racing" test run of pre race rituals, pacing, and a good test of my mental toughness!

This is my exact response - except my POT 10k is in october

 

[Slogger]

ATTQOTD- I am also guilty of the race every race, give everything you have and set a PR mindset. That worked great until one day I didn't get a PR and that led to quite a bit of frustration. Now I am working on the "slow down to go faster" mantra. I run several races with family and go at their pace and also use other events for training purposes and try....try.....try to fight the urge to break training pace and run faster. Hopefully it will lead to PRs down the road.

 

[roxymama]

I race every race I race. Pretty much.

So I heard you like races, so we put some races in your races. (This is the definition of a triathlon...so I've figured you out)

 

[virtuoso1989]

Hi guys. I didn't know if there was a welcome thread so i thought i'd just introduce myself here. Been a lurker for a while, but everyone seems nice so i thought i'd say hi. Currently registered for Dopey, Rebel challenge plus 5k, and Dark Side challenge plus 5k.

And to participate in the discussion above, i don't race every race. i rundisney for fun, and i do other races for time. I have disney PRs and race PRs.

Thanks and i hope to talk to you all. )

 

[dis_or_dat]

Hi guys. I didn't know if there was a welcome thread so i thought i'd just introduce myself here. Been a lurker for a while, but everyone seems nice so i thought i'd say hi. Currently registered for Dopey, Rebel challenge plus 5k, and Dark Side challenge plus 5k.

And to participate in the discussion above, i don't race every race. i rundisney for fun, and i do other races for time. I have disney PRs and race PRs.

Thanks and i hope to talk to you all. )

Welcome fellow Rebel challenger (so jealous you're getting the kessel run too!)

 

[DopeyBadger]

Hi guys. I didn't know if there was a welcome thread so i thought i'd just introduce myself here. Been a lurker for a while, but everyone seems nice so i thought i'd say hi. Currently registered for Dopey, Rebel challenge plus 5k, and Dark Side challenge plus 5k.

And to participate in the discussion above, i don't race every race. i rundisney for fun, and i do other races for time. I have disney PRs and race PRs.

Thanks and i hope to talk to you all. )

 

[derekleigh]

So...when you do a race...what does your warm up entail? Do you do it before the race starts?

Currently, I'm walking for 3 minutes as a warmup. (Just followed whatever Galloway told me to do)...but I'm wondering: on race day, do I get there early and do my 3 minute warm up before getting in the start line? Do you do that as the first part of your race?

I'd love to hear what everyone does that works for them.

Thanks, y'all!

Highly depends on the distance. For any 10K or shorter, some light running (maybe a mile or so) followed by .25-.5 miles of fartlek-style to get the heart and lungs primed. A 10 miler or greater, I usually use the first mile or 2 as a slow or moderately paced warm-up.

QOTD: What are your objectives for the races you do leading up to a goal race?

Usually I don't have too many races grouped together. So most races are run for the goal of a PR.

 

[LSUlakes]

Hi guys. I didn't know if there was a welcome thread so i thought i'd just introduce myself here. Been a lurker for a while, but everyone seems nice so i thought i'd say hi. Currently registered for Dopey, Rebel challenge plus 5k, and Dark Side challenge plus 5k.

And to participate in the discussion above, i don't race every race. i rundisney for fun, and i do other races for time. I have disney PRs and race PRs.

Thanks and i hope to talk to you all. )

Welcome to the thread! This thread is as good as any to introduce yourself as I am sure many that post on here also post to the thread specific to which ever Disney race they are participating in. If you would like, I can add any race you are signed up for to the OP. I just need the following info: Date - Username - Race/distance (Goal). Thanks again for joining in on the fun!

 

[LSUlakes]

QOTD: It seems someone is always looking to get their first GPS watch or upgrade to a newer one for various reasons. What watch or GPS device do you use for tracking your runs (or other activities) and why did you choose it?

ATTQOTD: I use the Garmin Forerunner 235. I love this watch! I had a 620 that died and wanted to upgrade. So after some research (DCrainmaker - google for excellent in depth reviews) I found the 235 to meet all my current needs. The thing I like the most about it is the HR monitor on the wrist. I hated the chest strap as it always causing chaffing and moving all over the place during a run. I find the HR reading to be sufficient for my needs. I also like that its a activity tracker as well.

 

[bcarey2k]

I use the Garmin 220 and really like it. My 'next' watch will have the integrated heart rate monitor though .. I too am done with the chest strap.

I'm actually waiting to see the reviews on the series 2 iWatch .... it has promise, if it can do what it says.

Brian

 

[Dis5150]

I had been using a Garmin 10 I bought off ebay when I first started running. But the battery life is not long enough for a marathon or marathon training so I just got a Garmin Vivoactive and I LOVE it! I can set 3 different screens for whatever data I want to see while I run, plus the screen is large enough that I can see it without my glasses. It also gives me notifications when I get text messages, phone calls, emails, basically anything I get on my phone. I can read it all but can't respond. It's great because I am not supposed to have my phone out at work so I can monitor it from my watch. I wear it every day. It also tracks your steps, sleep patterns, can control your music playing thru your phone, shows my calendar and the only thing I can't get to work is to show me the weather. All this and it was only $117, refurbished, on Amazon.

 

[Ariel484]

QOTD: It seems someone is always looking to get their first GPS watch or upgrade to a newer one for various reasons. What watch or GPS device do you use for tracking your runs (or other activities) and why did you choose it?

ATTQOTD: I use the Garmin Forerunner 235. I love this watch! I had a 620 that died and wanted to upgrade. So after some research (DCrainmaker - google for excellent in depth reviews) I found the 235 to meet all my current needs. The thing I like the most about it is the HR monitor on the wrist. I hated the chest strap as it always causing chaffing and moving all over the place during a run. I find the HR reading to be sufficient for my needs. I also like that its a activity tracker as well.

Using a Garmin Forerunner 25 right now. I had a FR230 that I really liked but recently got an Apple Watch, so I didn't need the smart functions of the 230 anymore and I sold it hoping to help offset what I paid for the Apple Watch. Got the FR25 on sale for about $100.

I have to say, I do regret selling the 230. The 25 is great and does what I need it to do, but there are some features from the 230 that I miss more than I expected (more options for intervals being one of them, but the bigger thing is that the 25 does not have a vibrate option - which I knew ahead of time but again, it's a bigger deal to me than I expected), and I did not get as much for the 230 as I was hoping for on eBay. Once the 230 goes on sale I may re-purchase it. Sigh.

I haven't tried to run with the Apple Watch yet (I have a series 2 so it does have standalone GPS). Who knows, maybe I'd love it, but I have had Garmins for years and they have always been awesome so I just stick with what works.

 

[Flossbolna]

Oh, I love the QOTD today!! I don't own any device but am thinking of putting something on my Christmas wish list, so looking forward to reading everyone's replies!

 

[FFigawi]

QOTD: It seems someone is always looking to get their first GPS watch or upgrade to a newer one for various reasons. What watch or GPS device do you use for tracking your runs (or other activities) and why did you choose it?

I use a Garmin 920XT. I upgraded from the 910XT because I became frustrated at how poorly it tracked my laps in the pool. The 920 also has a better algorithm for smoothing pace, much closer to what my favorite Garmin 305 would do. I also bought it because it has a built-in triathlon mode accessible without having to dig through menus and sub-menus. For $310, the price was right too.