The Running Thread - 2016

[Flossbolna]

ATTQOTD: I think I have two running heroes:
my ex-boyfriend's mother who got me started with running. She was a runner (had to give it up a few years ago due to achilles tendon issues, now she is a biker) and I once watched her run a local 10k with my then boyfriend. At the same race was a friend of hers who had just taken up running, was not really fit looking and managed the 10k. This really got me to think and when I mentioned that maybe I could do this running thing, too, I immediately got a nice training plan. I still have that plan around and sometimes get it out when I need special motivation for running. It took me 8 years from starting to finally making it all the way to 10k. But it got me running, sometimes more, sometimes less.
My other hero is my father. He was actually inspired to start running because I started it. He mainly would run on local trails and would go for hours at a time. He never was concerned about his speed, his main motive was to get exercise, be in the fresh air and enjoy the countryside. Maybe he was not a real runner because he never took part in any race, but to me he is a runner, because ran for the joy of running. And having experienced his love of running truly motivates me when I feel sluggish or tired. He has been through some heart issues, orthopedic issues and such, but recently started about maybe taking up running again if his doctor clears him. He is going to be 75 next year. I truly hope to be still running at 75 as well!

 

[CheapRunnerMike]

ATTQOTD: I think I have two running heroes:
my ex-boyfriend's mother who got me started with running. She was a runner (had to give it up a few years ago due to achilles tendon issues, now she is a biker) and I once watched her run a local 10k with my then boyfriend. At the same race was a friend of hers who had just taken up running, was not really fit looking and managed the 10k. This really got me to think and when I mentioned that maybe I could do this running thing, too, I immediately got a nice training plan. I still have that plan around and sometimes get it out when I need special motivation for running. It took me 8 years from starting to finally making it all the way to 10k. But it got me running, sometimes more, sometimes less.
My other hero is my father. He was actually inspired to start running because I started it. He mainly would run on local trails and would go for hours at a time. He never was concerned about his speed, his main motive was to get exercise, be in the fresh air and enjoy the countryside. Maybe he was not a real runner because he never took part in any race, but to me he is a runner, because ran for the joy of running. And having experienced his love of running truly motivates me when I feel sluggish or tired. He has been through some heart issues, orthopedic issues and such, but recently started about maybe taking up running again if his doctor clears him. He is going to be 75 next year. I truly hope to be still running at 75 as well!

Your father absolutely IS a runner!

 

[PrincessV]

To be totally honest, I don't have any running heros. I run because I love it and for my health, which means that I run it for selfish reasons.

But I have enjoyed reading everyone's stories.

Okay, I'm glad you said it, because I feel the same way! I got into running for totally vain reasons (I wanted to lose weight for my wedding), but what you said above is why I keep doing it.

+1! I can't think of anyone I run for but myself, lol! I started running as a kid because it was the early 80s and jogging was cool - I kept running because it made me feel good. Boring, but true!

 

[baxter24]

I don't necessarily have any running heroes but these three munchkins are why I keep running. I got into running because I thought it would be a cool way to get rid of the baby weight from my oldest but I have kept it up because it keeps me active and able to keep up with these three. They are still too young to really get it but they think it's cool that I run races and get medals. My oldest has even said he wants to go cheer on runners this weekend at our small towns first ever half marathon.

 

[surfde22]

Shhh... I have a Brett Favre Vikings Jersey.... Don't tell anyone.

And you're still allowed to live in Wisconsin?

 

[rteetz]

And you're still allowed to live in Wisconsin?

Its only Favre, who led the Packers for 16 great years and is now enshrined in the NFL HoF, Packers HoF, and had his number retired. I am a big Favre fan.

 

[cavepig]

Like a few others said, no heroes, I run for me, myself and I. I do get inspired by others stories but I don't run because of them.

 

[run.minnie.miles]

ATTQOTD: My best friend wanted to run a 5K while we were in college, so she convinced me to train with her. We met at the campus rec center at 6:55am (which was crazy early when I was in college and now is like sleeping in for me haha) 3x/week to run the C25K program. She's my hero for introducing us to running and my best friend for so many other reasons. She is now a Captain in the Army and is so fit... her daily PT makes me tired just hearing about it. Such an inspiration! <3

 

[Dis5150]

ATTQOTD: The only other person I know that runs is my daughter (DD26). I don't know that I would call her my running hero, but she is the one who got me into running. Now she is the slacker and I am the one pushing her to get trained for the WDW marathon! To be fair she is working 2 jobs, so double shifts every day, first job starts at either 3:30am or 6:00am and she closes at her second job, 9:30pm. I don't know when I would run either! And she just moved to NC to live with her best friends, who just told her Monday that her dog is no longer welcome there. They actually expected her to take him to a shelter so she could continue living there! She has had him since he was a puppy (he is 4 or 5 now) and he has been all she has had thru her break up and rough relationship. So needless to say she moved out today, into her step sisters apartment. They have a 24 hour gym and a 1.8 mile running path so she may be able to fit some runs in. Today was her first day off from both jobs and she had a long run planned but is moving instead. So maybe she is my hero. She is so tough.

 

[ZellyB]

Hero may not be the right word, but it is definitely my husband, Chris, who keeps me running. He is my running partner and holds me accountable and encourages me that I can do things I didn't think I could. He can run much faster than me and yet he nearly always slows to my pace and trains with me and races with me. He's the best! Here he is just a week or so ago running our local marathon (I stuck to the half, so he was able to actually run this at his pace). He also completed a 50K this past spring - also not with me at his side and I have no intention of going that far, but he's my inspiration!

 

[roxymama]

Appreciate it @cburnett11! I have no doubt that the sky is the limit for you and you will easily accomplish whatever your next running goal may be. Sounds like if @CheapRunnerMike keeps getting better, then I'll need to keep getting better, which means you'll keep getting better. Ball is in your court @CheapRunnerMike!

Well if you all are gonna keep getting better, I guess that means I should too. You can add me to the tail end of that chain #caboose

 

[jhorstma]

QOTD: Today, let's discuss good running form. What do you think about while running in order to maintain good running form?

Everytime my MapMyRun dominatrix tells me to change tempo between easy and hard I do a form check - relaxed shoulders, head up, mid-foot strike, good arm swings, etc.

QOTD: Who is your personal running hero? By this I don't mean Meb or Pre or even Forrest Gump...I mean who is the person in your life that inspires you and makes you want to get out running yourself. This could be the person who first introduced you to running or someone you met along the way of your running journey...it's your hero so you can make up the rules

That girl in my profile pic is my hero. A few years ago I was getting mocked by my family for being woefully out of shape and left behind on hikes and bike rides, and so when I turned 50 I committed myself to regular walking stints on our treadmill. Then my daughter signed up for the 2016 Disney marathon and when I was booking our trip I thought "why not" and signed up too, without ever having run a step outside. Turns out you can go from couch to marathon in 6 months and either finish or die trying. I've been losing a pound a week, lost the beer gut, got my cholesterol and blood pressure under control, and at rest can go for like 4 or 5 minutes between breaths. (Well ok maybe not that last bit.)

Oh, and on the subject of white whales, forgive me @CheapRunnerMike but I looked up your 2016 WDW marathon time. I can now say in total honesty, in my very first marathon, complete with picture stops, riding EE, running the bonus cone, etc., that I BEAT CHEAPRUNNERMIKE!!! Who-hoo!!! Boston here I come!!! Of course I'm sure that you'll burst my bubble by saying that you ran it with your wife (in fact I believe you already did say that - and I don't mean to take away in any way shape or form that accomplishment, regardless of time), and you'll probably add that you ran it with your wife after first running it with the A corral (what's another lap of Disney afterall), but I'm still claiming this as an achievement.

Good question, especially today for me.

I don't really have a running related hero but I have two people that have greatly inspired me throughout my life.

The first is my Grandmother. She passed away this June of Pancreatic Cancer (Today is World Pancreatic Cancer Day, so wear purple if you can). She was told she would have 6 months to live when she was diagnosed last year. She fought for 9-10 months. She also earlier in her life when I was very young had Breast Cancer and beat that. She went through a lot in life. I was lucky enough to go to WDW with her during my first Marathon weekend experience, that of course would be the last time she was there. She had been going to WDW since 1974. She is deeply missed by everyone in my family and its hard for me to write this right now because I have been thinking about her so much today.

F cancer. It took my dad and my dog from me within a month of each other in 2014. Although I do get a kick out of imagining my dad at the pearly gates being handed a leash, asking "what's this for", and then having our big ol' yellow lab take off with dad flying behind him.

ATTQOTD: First off, I love how running has helped so many of us overcome different obstacles in our lives.

My boys will always be my running inspiration. Awhile back I read Ultramarathoner Dean Karnzes book and there was a passage in which he talked about his dad running the LA Marathon. His comment was something along the lines of, "From that day forward my dad was in my mind the greatest thing a person could be, a marathoner." For whatever reason that line really struck me.

Running is my thing. Its my opportunity to show my boys that I'm willing to work and achieve something that isn't easy. I don't really care if they ever run, but I hope through my running they see that hard work and commitment can lead to great things.

Someday I hope to hear my future grandkids say those 3 little words grandparents always like to hear: "Grandpa runs marathons."

 

[camaker]

Strava has made good on their Back Half Challenge offer. Got the code for a pair of New Balance shoes today. So I have a question for the NB wearers out there. I have worn nothing but Brooks Glycerins for years (started with the 5s and on the 13s now). What does NB have that would be similar/equivalent to the Glycerins? The closest I've been able to find is the Fresh Foam 1080s but I want to make sure I'm not overlooking anything. Thanks!

 

[keahgirl8]

QOTD: Today, let's discuss good running form. What do you think about while running in order to maintain good running form?

ATTQOD: a PT taught me this, but every half mile or so during a run, I remind myself to tighten my core (chest out, stomach tight) and tighten my glutes (which took a little practice). When I do this, I immediately feel my form improve. It's especially useful on longer runs to periodically make sure all muscles are activated and sharing the workload.

@CheapRunnerMike: you get tomorrow's question!

I don't really worry too much about my form. I just make sure my shoulders are down and my arms and hands are loose. I have a bad shoulder that gets sore sometimes when I run if I'm too tense.

As long as you are okay wearing your watch snug on your wrist, the wrist-based (optical) HR monitors are just as accurate as the chest straps. It will not work, though, if you wear your watch loosely on your wrist. I love mine and never plan on returning to the chest strap.

I wear my Fitbit snug, but not too snug, and it still works.

Thanks. It is an awful disease as all cancer is. I wish cures were found to stop people from having to suffer like that.

Agreed. I just lost someone yesterday.

 

[rteetz]

Agreed. I just lost someone yesterday.

Sorry for your loss, its never easy.

 

[keahgirl8]

Sorry for your loss, its never easy.

Thanks.

Onto running inspirations... Really, I started running because I was too stubborn to say I couldn't do something. My parents are my biggest fans though. They believe I can do anything, even when I don't. When I finish a race, even though I'm pretty slow, it's like I won an Olympic gold medal.

 

[DopeyBadger]

Well if you all are gonna keep getting better, I guess that means I should too. You can add me to the tail end of that chain #caboose

Choo-Choo! ALL ABOARD THE GETTING BETTER TRAIN!!!

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[Ariel484]

Strava has made good on their Back Half Challenge offer. Got the code for a pair of New Balance shoes today. So I have a question for the NB wearers out there. I have worn nothing but Brooks Glycerins for years (started with the 5s and on the 13s now). What does NB have that would be similar/equivalent to the Glycerins? The closest I've been able to find is the Fresh Foam 1080s but I want to make sure I'm not overlooking anything. Thanks!

Do you have a store nearby where you can get fitted before the code expires?

 

[camaker]

Do you have a store nearby where you can get fitted before the code expires?

I do. I'm just trying to have an idea what I'm looking for before I head up there.

On an unrelated note, has everyone seen the video going around of the cross country runner getting blown up by a deer during a race? Ooff! Painful and hilarious all rolled into one.

 

[Ariel484]

I do. I'm just trying to have an idea what I'm looking for before I head up there.

On an unrelated note, has everyone seen the video going around of the cross country runner getting blown up by a deer during a race? Ooff! Painful and hilarious all rolled into one.

Ah, in that case I have no idea. Good luck!!

And I did see that video on ESPN this morning. Poor kid!!