The Running Thread - 2018

[JohnFilipoff]

Random Question:
I can do my last long run before my race on March 31 on Tuesday (11 days) or Wednesday (10 days) of this week. Will it make that big of a difference which day? I want to do it Tuesday but Wednesday's weather looks so much nicer (and less muddy).

If your race is a half or less it probably will not make that much of a difference. If it's something more than that, then I prefer to error on the side of more rest.

 

[cavepig]

ATTQOTD: ALWAYS, so I'm bummed to find out it was televised and I missed it! Drat.

So, Me too!

I will watch (well DVRd usually) any and all marathons we get. Unfortuanetly, we don't get the Olympic Channel which had I think Tokyo this year, but last year it was on NBC so that was fun. I looked for the LA marathon but we didn't get it on any channel. I absolutely love watching them.

 

[Dis5150]

ATTQOTD: Only the Olympics and I missed the last one so I guess, no?

 

[FFigawi]

QOTD: Yesterday morning I was watching a little TV and saw that the LA Marathon was being aired. I got to watch the last 20-30 minutes of the men and women leaders. BTW the women's race was a good one! So, my question is, do you watch a marathon if it's on TV?

I'll watch one if I stumble across it while channel surfing, though I do always watch Boston and the two Olympic marathons.

 

[KSellers88]

ATTQOTD: Boston is the only one I try to make sure I watch. If I run across any others I will watch them.

Publix Georgia Half recap: can be found here. Finish time of 1:59:41. Great race, but I always forget how many hills Atlanta has! Very well organized and a really pretty course.

 

[jennamfeo]

ATTQOTD: I have only watched Boston, but yesterday I watched the Elites from miles 18 to finish at the LA Marathon and a little bit after that. I was just streaming it on my phone. My husband was like "really?" but it got me excited for my long run later that day.

 

[Keels]

QOTD: Yesterday morning I was watching a little TV and saw that the LA Marathon was being aired. I got to watch the last 20-30 minutes of the men and women leaders. BTW the women's race was a good one! So, my question is, do you watch a marathon if it's on TV?

Yup - two: Boston and BMW Dallas Marathon.

 

[tigger536]

ATTQOTD: Boston is the only one I try to make sure I watch. If I run across any others I will watch them.

Publix Georgia Half recap: can be found here. Finish time of 1:59:41. Great race, but I always forget how many hills Atlanta has! Very well organized and a really pretty course.

Great job!! I ran the full yesterday. Publix is a very tough race. You crushed it.

 

[jennamfeo]

@LSUlakes Can you add a few races for me, please?

March 31 - jennamfeo - Diamondbacks Race Against Cancer 5k (NG / N/A)
April 7 - jennamfeo - Impact 5k (NG / N/A)
May 6 - jennamfeo - Spring Recycled 10k (59:59 / N/A)
Sept 16 - jennamfeo - Navy Air Force Half Marathon (1:59:59 / N/A)

 

[KSellers88]

Great job!! I ran the full yesterday. Publix is a very tough race. You crushed it.

Holy smokes! Major props to you on running the full! After 3 miles I thought to myself, thank God I don't have to do this for 23 more miles. Congrats!

 

[Wendy98]

ATTQOTD: I will watch any marathon on TV. There aren't many ever on (because as much as I love this sport, it probably isn't the most interesting to the non-runner or non-marathoner). The last one I watched was NYC and I loved every second. I will watch the Olympic marathons, the trials, the sub 2 hour Nike project, you name it. I haven't watched Boston since I race it, but my friend will DVR it for me at my house. I LOVE watching The Flying Pig coverage and watched it the afternoon after I ran it (plus I wanted to see my cringe-worthy interview).

Race Summary from this Weekend:

18-Wendy98-Heart Mini Marathon 15K

I did go ahead and race this weekend. I did the 15k. I have done the 1/2 marathon for the last several years, but didn't want to push my luck with my lower leg issues. I was nervous because I wasn't sure what to expect from myself. The course isn't very nice. Nobody here loves that course. It is an out and back along the Ohio River. It is one hill after another. As nice as it was to go down a hill, you know you will just be trekking back up that thing on the way back into town. There is also a nasty side street thrown in on the way back. That hill is a monster and dreams get crushed there. I don't know why they insist on keeping that hill in the route. They took it out several years ago by extending the out and back, but brought it back about 4 years ago. Anyway, weather was nice for running and it is always fun to see the sunrise on the river. I hung with the lead women in sight for awhile--it is tough because you don't know who is racing the hm and who is 15k. I could see once we hit the turnaround and gauge where I was at. I passed a girl around mile 4 and had a bike escort at that point so figure I was 3rd. Biker never told me and never spoke to me. I have had bike escorts before and some are so friendly and tell you exactly how you are doing and how far back next person is. He didn't go up the nasty hill with me but picked back up when I came down (around the 10k mark). I just tried to stay steady and knew there would be another long hill back. I was excited to see the split for the hm because I knew I was just about done and so happy to not run another 3.8 miles! And so happy to not have to run over the bridge to Kentucky and back! Race went off an exit ramp (and then back up the damn thing!) to finish. Biker told me nice race and signaled ahead that I was number 2. I had no idea I was second and thrilled! Anyway, final time was 1:02:26 (around a 6:42 pace) and second overall woman. I am very satisfied with this despite running the hm at a faster pace on this course the last couple years.

Girl in the pink sports bra was the one I passed at mile 4. She was so sweet to get this pic and text it to me.

 

[tigger536]

Thank

Holy smokes! Major props to you on running the full! After 3 miles I thought to myself, thank God I don't have to do this for 23 more miles. Congrats!

Thanks!! I asked myself that too a couple of times, lol. It was my second year running the full (in 2016 I did the half). I was happy with my finish of 4:54:25. Almost 30 minutes slower than my PR (Chicago), but its a really tough race. I wanted to beat my last year's Publix time, and I did!

I really like this race, it is well organized and the community support is fantastic. Congrats again to you!

 

[run.minnie.miles]

ATTQOTD: I will watch any marathon on TV. There aren't many ever on (because as much as I love this sport, it probably isn't the most interesting to the non-runner or non-marathoner). The last one I watched was NYC and I loved every second. I will watch the Olympic marathons, the trials, the sub 2 hour Nike project, you name it. I haven't watched Boston since I race it, but my friend will DVR it for me at my house. I LOVE watching The Flying Pig coverage and watched it the afternoon after I ran it (plus I wanted to see my cringe-worthy interview).

Race Summary from this Weekend:

18-Wendy98-Heart Mini Marathon 15K

I did go ahead and race this weekend. I did the 15k. I have done the 1/2 marathon for the last several years, but didn't want to push my luck with my lower leg issues. I was nervous because I wasn't sure what to expect from myself. The course isn't very nice. Nobody here loves that course. It is an out and back along the Ohio River. It is one hill after another. As nice as it was to go down a hill, you know you will just be trekking back up that thing on the way back into town. There is also a nasty side street thrown in on the way back. That hill is a monster and dreams get crushed there. I don't know why they insist on keeping that hill in the route. They took it out several years ago by extending the out and back, but brought it back about 4 years ago. Anyway, weather was nice for running and it is always fun to see the sunrise on the river. I hung with the lead women in sight for awhile--it is tough because you don't know who is racing the hm and who is 15k. I could see once we hit the turnaround and gauge where I was at. I passed a girl around mile 4 and had a bike escort at that point so figure I was 3rd. Biker never told me and never spoke to me. I have had bike escorts before and some are so friendly and tell you exactly how you are doing and how far back next person is. He didn't go up the nasty hill with me but picked back up when I came down (around the 10k mark). I just tried to stay steady and knew there would be another long hill back. I was excited to see the split for the hm because I knew I was just about done and so happy to not run another 3.8 miles! And so happy to not have to run over the bridge to Kentucky and back! Race went off an exit ramp (and then back up the damn thing!) to finish. Biker told me nice race and signaled ahead that I was number 2. I had no idea I was second and thrilled! Anyway, final time was 1:02:26 (around a 6:42 pace) and second overall woman. I am very satisfied with this despite running the hm at a faster pace on this course the last couple years.

Girl in the pink sports bra was the one I passed at mile 4. She was so sweet to get this pic and text it to me.

View attachment 309886

Wendy, I could read your race recaps all day. You are so inspiring! (And fast!!) Congratulations on a great race!

 

[KSellers88]

Thank


Thanks!! I asked myself that too a couple of times, lol. It was my second year running the full (in 2016 I did the half). I was happy with my finish of 4:54:25. Almost 30 minutes slower than my PR (Chicago), but its a really tough race. I wanted to beat my last year's Publix time, and I did!

I really like this race, it is well organized and the community support is fantastic. Congrats again to you!

That is awesome! I agree it was a great race. If I ever do it again I will be sticking to the half for sure. I am not as brave as you. Way to get that course PR!

 

[KingLlama]

Hey gang, I have been dealing with calf cramps during the second half of my long runs(and races).

I know that hydration is key, and I need to do a better job of that, but someone also suggested Nuun tablets. I found some the other day and was going to try them out over the next few weeks.

For those of you who use them, how do you use them? Morning of? Day before? Quantity?

Thanks for the help. When it comes to Nuun, I know none.*

*see what I did there

 

[Miranda]

Hey gang, I have been dealing with calf cramps during the second half of my long runs(and races).

I know that hydration is key, and I need to do a better job of that, but someone also suggested Nuun tablets. I found some the other day and was going to try them out over the next few weeks.

For those of you who use them, how do you use them? Morning of? Day before? Quantity?

Thanks for the help. When it comes to Nuun, I know none.*

*see what I did there

Some people use it for prehydration, although I just use mine in my water bottle during long runs/races. I use one tab per 20oz bottle.

* It's actually pronounced "noon"

 

[Mickey Momma]

ATTQOTD: Actually, it was watching the marathon during the Beijing Olympics that got me to start training for my first 5K. I had a two-year-old and six-month-old twins at the time, so this was quite the undertaking! I remember thinking to myself as I ran on the treadmill in our Minnesotan apartment’s closet - wonder if I can run that distance someday? Probably not. (Spoiler alert - I have run three marathons now.)

Anyhow, other than Boston and the Olympics, I don’t tend to search out marathon broadcasts. I did watch the Nike team when they tried to break the two-hour marathon, but fell asleep. Interestingly, one of our local news channels is broadcasting our marathon this weekend. I won’t be watching, though, since I will be running the half.

 

[Keels]

Hey gang, I have been dealing with calf cramps during the second half of my long runs(and races).

I know that hydration is key, and I need to do a better job of that, but someone also suggested Nuun tablets. I found some the other day and was going to try them out over the next few weeks.

For those of you who use them, how do you use them? Morning of? Day before? Quantity?

Thanks for the help. When it comes to Nuun, I know none.*

*see what I did there

At minimum, I consume two +Energy tablets a day - usually first thing in the morning (instead of coffee or Red Bull). When training, I usually have at least one before/during a workout and then a second afterwards to rehydrate, just depending on how I feel.

On the weekends if I've been drinking, I'll even have a bottle with Nuun before I go to bed.

It's basically just trial and error for what works best for you.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

I have a question for those who run multiple races during one weekend. I thought I could wait until my tapering in May but my mind keeps wandering to it, even during training runs:
What objectives do you set? What would you recommend in the following situation (I am looking at you all Dopey’s)?

The Ottawa Voyageur Challenge consist of three races. Of course, finishing all three in good health is the primary objective.

Day Time Distance PR to beat
Saturday 4:00PM 5k 24min50s
Saturday 6:30PM 10k 54min50s
Sunday 9:00AM Half 2h45min*
*The Half PR is making at least 20 stops for pictures at Disney, I was and am training for a time between 1h50 and 2h10.

As we get closer to that weekend, I’ll be able to evaluate my abilities at that time. The weather will also be a factor.

But if all is well, do I try to beat my PRs? Which ones? Or do I just try to keep the total to under 3h40min? Going for steady pace throughout?

TIA

Better runners than me may disagree, but I've always heard that you want to take the first run(s) of any multi race weekend slower and conserve it all for the longest distance.

Random Question:
I can do my last long run before my race on March 31 on Tuesday (11 days) or Wednesday (10 days) of this week. Will it make that big of a difference which day? I want to do it Tuesday but Wednesday's weather looks so much nicer (and less muddy).

I don't believe it will. It's one day.

ATTQOTD: I watched the 2016 Olympic marathon delayed, but mostly because I knew that BYU professor and U.S. Olympian Jared Ward had finished in the top 10 and run a PR for him that day. I also tuned into the live stream of the sub 2 hour attempt when they tried that a while back.

 

[Sailormoon2]

@SarahDisney CONGRATS on the new PR!

how do we feel about allergy pills and nothing new on race day?

I wanted to add an aside to this, once a few years ago I woke on 1/2 marathon morning with hives, so I popped a Benadryl and actually scored a 5 minute PR. So you never know! LOL!

do you watch a marathon if it's on TV?

Nope. Never. However, I am obssessed with any and all ULTRAmarathon documentaries on Youtube.