The Running Thread - 2016

[rteetz]

Isn't that crazy?? I ran the half and was happy with a 1:52, but missed a PR by 8 seconds. Then I read that some are challenging the half course measurement saying that it was measuring at 13.75! Certainly not as significant as the kicked cones for the full, especially for the guy who said he was going to use this to qualify for Boston.

I didn't hear about it until it was on the news a today. I am thinking I will run the half next year.

 

[dis_or_dat]

So this weekend we had our Milwaukee Running Festival. I did not participate but the big news was someone removed cones from the course after the 5th runner or so passed through and a large amount of the runners in the Marathon ran much longer than 26.2 because of this. The race organizers don't know who moved the cones but are offering entry into next years event, or a refund. They also said they will have a person stationed in that area next year so people don't move the cones. Crazy to think people would do that.

That's awful!

@roxymama re: barefoot running, I think a lot started after the book, Born to Run. Fascinating. I did buy some vibrams during the craze, but used them just once for a 3 mile run (cut short to a 0.25 mile jog). I could already tell I was going to blister badly. In fact, there was a class action law suit against vibrams a few years ago. Anyways, I think it can work, but you gotta start really slow to build up your foot muscles correctly. I saw someone blazing through the trails in Hawaii barefoot.

 

[dis_or_dat]

Runners World, Cover search winner is a guy from Louisiana this year. See link.
http://www.runnersworld.com/runners-world-cover-search/winner-josh-lajaunie

Very inspirational.

 

[Baloo in MI]

ATTQOTD: Already been said, but given training is on point it is the mental game that is most crucial. My expereince has been that no matter my shape, sleep, hydration/nutrition I still hit that dark space and it is my mind that pulls me through - or not... I do really beleive in mind over matter; if you don't mind it doesn't matter. Of course that is easier to write from the comfort of my couch than at mile 13 of a marathon!

 

[HomeiswhereMickeyis]

I finished my first race this weekend and really enjoyed it! My time wasn't where I originally hoped it would be due to life (being sick for a month followed by 2 weeks of dealing with hurricane matthew) but I was extremely happy with the time I finished in. The only thing that came close to being a negative was how many people passed me on the right even though I was as far right as you could get! I mean one woman actually ran into me hard because there was so little room on the right! But none of that put a damper on things and I happy sobbed across the finish line thinking about how far I've come in getting my health back. On another happy note there was a coupon for a race I wanted to do next year in the virtual goodie bag! Now back to training for my 10ks next year.

 

[LSUlakes]

So this weekend we had our Milwaukee Running Festival. I did not participate but the big news was someone removed cones from the course after the 5th runner or so passed through and a large amount of the runners in the Marathon ran much longer than 26.2 because of this. The race organizers don't know who moved the cones but are offering entry into next years event, or a refund. They also said they will have a person stationed in that area next year so people don't move the cones. Crazy to think people would do that.

That is some crazy stuff. How much longer did the people who ran extra run? Going for a BQ or not, running much more than a few additional tenths of a mile is brutal when you think you are supposed to done. It is also very unfortunate for the race, because of the negative press.

I finished my first race this weekend and really enjoyed it! My time wasn't where I originally hoped it would be due to life (being sick for a month followed by 2 weeks of dealing with hurricane matthew) but I was extremely happy with the time I finished in. The only thing that came close to being a negative was how many people passed me on the right even though I was as far right as you could get! I mean one woman actually ran into me hard because there was so little room on the right! But none of that put a damper on things and I happy sobbed across the finish line thinking about how far I've come in getting my health back. On another happy note there was a coupon for a race I wanted to do next year in the virtual goodie bag! Now back to training for my 10ks next year.

Congrats on finishing your race! Sorry you had some bad experiences while out on the course. For the most part, runners are a good group of folks, but like with so many things, there is always a few bad eggs. Good luck on you upcoming races and keep up the good work!

 

[rteetz]

That is some crazy stuff. How much longer did the people who ran extra run? Going for a BQ or not, running much more than a few additional tenths of a mile is brutal when you think you are supposed to done. It is also very unfortunate for the race, because of the negative press

I forget the exact number but I want to say a half mile I think.

 

[LSUlakes]

QOTD: Since today is election day, todays question will focus on that. Did you or are you going to vote? Are you going to have to adjust your running plans to both run and vote today?

ATTQOTD: I am going to vote after I (hopefully) run today. The only adjustment I will have to make is probably a decreased mileage today to make sure it make it to the polls in time.



In other news, my sinus infection has returned and is kicking my butt. I feel like this whole training season is going down hill fast as its been one thing after another lately.

 

[FFigawi]

In other news, my sinus infection has returned and is kicking my butt. I feel like this whole training season is going down hill fast as its been one thing after another lately.

Ugh, that's not good. Maybe a few days of total rest will help you get rid of it and start feeling better.

 

[LSUlakes]

I forget the exact number but I want to say a half mile I think.

I was curious so I decided to Google the event and found an article. To sum it up, it seems it didn't change the order in which people finished but did add some time/distance to the run. The women's winner was in the group that went extra and according to the article (Which seems to have been written by someone with little knowledge of the sport) ran an extra "mile or two". Looks like up to a dozen people ran extra, before the error was realized. The women who won had only had a 12 miler as a long run leading up to the race and forgot to charge her GPS watch the night before so wasn't sure of exactly how much extra she ran. That is impressive with only having a 12 miler to go on, heading into a marathon and running low 3:15:xx ish. The reason I said the guy who wrote the article didn't know much about the sport, is because he/she mentioned that elite runners aren't always allowed to use a watch during a run. I cant think of a single major marathon in which this is true, but if it is please correct me.

 

[MommaoffherRocker]

ATTQOTD: I voted early so no adjustments for me.

 

[LSUlakes]

Ugh, that's not good. Maybe a few days of total rest will help you get rid of it and start feeling better.

I agree with you, but the problem is if I take off this week I am going to be in a bind, because Sunday I leave for a week in WDW. I plan to run some, but not the serious miles I really need to get in. Its more bad timing than anything.

 

[whaler8]

QOTD: Since today is election day, todays question will focus on that. Did you or are you going to vote? Are you going to have to adjust your running plans to both run and vote today?

It is a beautiful fall day here in New England so I have already planned my afternoon run to the voting booth. It is only a mile from home so I won't be sweaty (yet) and will continue my run after I cast my ballot. I have never not voted, it is too important no matter who the candidates are.

 

[FFigawi]

I agree with you, but the problem is if I take off this week I am going to be in a bind, because Sunday I leave for a week in WDW. I plan to run some, but not the serious miles I really need to get in. Its more bad timing than anything.

A week off won't kill you, but running your body down while having a sinus infection might. Okay, it won't kill you but it sure won't help with your training. Under training and healthy is better than the alternative.

 

[Slogger]

ATTQOTD: I will vote later today. Hopefully will take my 17 year old daughter with me as she is very interested in the process.
If she can't go, I may just run to the site, vote, and run back. Should be about a 6 mile roundtrip.

 

[baxter24]

I voted last week to avoid the lines. The county I live in issued a two hour delay for all schools to help with traffic since most schools are polling sites. The elementary school my oldest goes to is a mile from our house so we will probably walk so we don't have to deal with the traffic. No need to adjust running plans today but eagerly anticipating the arrival of new running shoes to my doorstep today!

Hope the lines aren't too long for anyone making it out to vote today!

 

[Slogger]

A week off won't kill you, but running your body down while having a sinus infection might. .....

>>>>BREAKING NEWS>>>>>> DEADLY SINUS INFECTIONS killing runners. Story at 11.

Whew....you had me scared for a minute.

 

[Ariel484]

QOTD: Since today is election day, todays question will focus on that. Did you or are you going to vote? Are you going to have to adjust your running plans to both run and vote today?

I voted by mail a couple of weeks ago.

 

[Ariel484]

I agree with you, but the problem is if I take off this week I am going to be in a bind, because Sunday I leave for a week in WDW. I plan to run some, but not the serious miles I really need to get in. Its more bad timing than anything.

I'd take a few days off and totally recover not only for getting back to running, but for being totally healthy/rested to go to WDW!

 

[cburnett11]

06 - cburnett11 - bg Half Marathon (1:58:00 / N/A)

I ended up finishing Sunday in 1:48:36. It was an awesome day. Just 41 seconds off of my half PR and I really had no goal other than to enjoy the race. I ran my 2nd marathon just 4 weeks prior to this half (I'd signed up for this half a full year ago), so wasn't sure if I had fully recovered, etc. My limited training runs since the marathon were nothing special and I certainly didn't feel like I had much speed in me. So I really approached this half almost like a training run. The first half of the course is hilly and then it's flat. Last year I went out too fast and was miserable for the last 6 miles. This year I planned to go out slow and then once I got to the flat part I figured I'd just go with whatever I was feeling.

I found the 152/345 pacer (this race is a half and a full... which is just 2 loops of the half). I asked him if he was planning to run just even splits or even effort because of the hills. He told me he had never run the course, so didn't really know much about it. So I was briefly concerned, but then I quickly found out he had been a pacer at the Chicago marathon that I had just run and so I figured he must be able to run whatever pace he needs to. I'd never run with a pacer before for even a minute, and had barely noticed even noticed pacers in prior races past the corrals. Although I didn't really want to start as fast as his pace, the race was small enough that I figured I could easily keep an eye on him and just see what transpired. Surprisingly, that pace (which happened to be my marathon goal pace from 4 weeks back) still seemed easy and natural for me on Sunday.

So I ran with that pacer until almost the 7 mile mark and we were pretty chatty. I had never really run a race before while being conversational. At about the halfway mark, it flattens out and apparently I sped up. I found another runner to hang with at about the 8 mile mark and we stayed together until about the 12 mile marker. We were both talking and, again, the race just felt easy like a long run. From the midway point until the end of the race, I really don't remember anyone passing me. Runners just felt like they were coming back to me. This was the polar opposite of last year's race. It was weird... maybe because I had no aspiration to PR. Maybe my marathon training was still carrying me. With about 2 miles to go, I realized I could probably PR if I wanted to run hard enough to really hurt. I decided against that. With about a mile to go, I did intentionally pick up the pace. I finally got a little "uncomfortable", but this was only in the last 1/2 mile or so. My fastest 2 miles ended up being miles 12 and 13.

In hindsight, I'm guessing I could've pushed harder in the 2nd half and probably could've PR'd. However it was really a nice run and I can't imagine enjoying the actually running part of a half marathon anymore than this. A bigger venue with more spectators could've been nice and exciting. Running in Disney certainly would've been more fun. But something about just showing up and not knowing what to expect, and then a very solid race just sorta unfolding organically is pretty special. My splits were 55:43 and 52:53. I tried to run negative splits in Chicago, but couldn't help myself from going out too fast. I'm sure it's easier to actually do it in a half, but FOR ME this is the way to race. So....

ATYQOTD: My best races are when I can relax early in a race and just "let the pace come to me". It's really difficult to execute when you have fresh legs that just want to take off when the gun sounds. But my most enjoyable and successful races have come when I was disciplined enough to start slow and finish stronger.