The Running Thread - 2018

[Kerry1957]

ATTQOTD - I travel a lot with my job and would not run in many of the areas in which I travel. Example - the state of IL. Does the state believe in killing pedestrians? Road shoulders are less than a foot wide, and there is usually no flat ground off the pavement. I travel to IL a lot and will drive to paths to run or use a hotel dreadmill before risking my life on those roads.

I would love to defend my state, but....living in suburban Chicago I am forced to agree with you. As I mentioned in my earlier post, I only run on trails. If your travel brings you a bit north of O'Hare, check out the Des Plaines River trails. Now it's still Illinois so don't expect great scenery, but nice running trails along the river at least. If you are downtown Chicago the paths along the lakefront can be nice, but they are paved and the bicyclists may run you down. Just kidding...sort of.

 

[camaker]

You can just divide the time by the mileage. Convert the total time into minutes first. Total time - 1000 minutes. Total miles = 100. Average pace = 10 minutes/mile.

That works. I’ve always found it easier to just convert the mph value to min/mile.

Just divide 60 by the mph value. The integer is the minutes. Multiply the fraction by 60 to get the seconds. For example:

5.5 mph = 10:55/mile

60/5.5 = 10.91 = 10:00
0.91 * 60 = 0:55
Total = 10:55

 

[McNs]

Smashrun is another website you can sync Garmin runs to that has some pretty good graphical displays or your running. It also shows average pace and can easily be switched between km and mi (useful for when I need to decode my stats for posting here)

 

[Crysta Waston]

How do you hold your water bottles on your runs?

 

[JulieODC]

I generally feel safe because I try to stick to sidewalks or quite neighborhoods. However, there are several places in town that I fear - small stretches of winding roads or higher speed areas with narrow shoulders where people don’t like to slow down for pedestrians or bikers. #massholes


I just always, always assume that cars are not paying attention and prepare myself to jump out of the way if needed. Someone we know was killed in a horrible car crash in town last year - mid-day by a driver off his meds. That’s made me even more cautious about drivers - you never know who is behind the wheel.

 

[lahobbs4]

ATTQOTD:

I drive to our community center and run a 1.5 mile loop if I'm running later than 6:00 a.m. If earlier, I will start there then head down the extremely wide highway and onto our 2 new bypasses that aren't open yet. Nothing like a brand new road with ZERO cars! It's glorious.

Our drivers don't pay attention to anything. Just the amount of people getting killed in their own vehicle because of another vehicle is enough to keep me off of the majority of our roads. It's awful.

 

[kleph]

How do you hold your water bottles on your runs?

personally, i use smartwater 1 liter bottles. they are about as durable as any designated water bottle you can buy. they fit about perfectly in my hand and are the right length to rest in the crook of my arm as i run. when i'm done with it, i just throw it away.

that said, there are now dozens of different options for runners when it comes to carrying water and fluids. from belts with small bottles to hand holders to hydration packs you wear on your back. and every runner has to find a personal preference. the best option is to first look at the amount you will need (if it's smaller, a hand bottle will do. if its more, maybe a pack is needed) then buy an inexpensive option and try it out. until you take it on a few runs, you simply won't know if it's going to work for you.

 

[MissLiss279]

Water:
For under six miles I have a handheld water bottle that I use - Amphipod (20oz).

(Not my hand )

Over 6 miles I use one of my Orange Mud Hydraquivers - Single or Double Barrel depending on how far I’m going, how hot it is, and whether I will have opportunities to refill or not.

 

[Waiting2goback]

QOTD: Over the weekend a cyclist from this area and a friend were struck by a vehicle. The area they were at is a known and popular area for people to ride at. One of the riders did not make it and the other was airlifted to a local hospital. I realize there is a difference from running and biking, but around here the two activities are usually done by both on the same roads. For todays question I wanted to ask how safe do you feel in the areas you run in which you share the roads with normal traffic? Are there areas that people run, but you refuse to because of the traffic?

ATTQOTD: I normally run around the lakes on the weekends and there are so many people there on the roads that I feel good about it. I've run the area which is about a hour away from my home where this incident happened. It's a rural area and one I would not run alone just in case. I know the rules are different for bikes and runners, but getting hit by a car is a big fear of mine for obvious reasons. I do not know much about the story, but I did see a picture of on of the bikes... It was snapped in two. Really sad for the biking community and stinks because our state is not very bike / runner friendly. Be safe out there folks.

At my old house I had some routes that were on very low traffic roads that were also very wide so in theory I should have been safer. But there is in spot on that route where I almost got hit about 4-5 times over the couple of years I ran it. I had to jump into the woods a couple of times and I swear they were doing it on purpose. Where I moved to now my route is much busier, it's the main road into town and speed limits are 45mph but I have yet to have an incident where someone came close. It is still a wide road and I run right next to the edge of the road so I can jump off if needed.

For me it's a trade off. I feel like I am less likely to get jumped by someone from the woods when they know a lot of cars are coming by, and I run by the police station as well. On my old route there wouldn't be cars for 20 minutes at a time so someone could have easily jumped me. My theory is, if it's my time to go it's my time to go. If someone hits me with a car while running, it was my time to go.

 

[Waiting2goback]

 

[flav]

ATTQOTD: I run in my residential neighbourhood with no problem. No sidewalk except on big arteries but parks everywhere. I do not necessarily trust drivers so I stay alert and ready to jump just in case.

When running downtown, I wait for pedestrian lights and accept that my average pace will be impacted. From there, I go to the Old Port, the canal or the mountain so I am not on roads for long.

 

[KSellers88]

ATTQOTD: We live in basically the middle of nowhere on a lake and the traffic is not that bad normally. It picks up in the summertime and on the weekends, but most of the people who live there full time are used to be running by now. There is no shoulder, but since it is so quiet I can hear cars coming pretty far in advance and have time to get off the road. Although most cars are nice and will either slow down or move to the other lane. Of course there's always those people who are just rude and act like they own everything. I've actually had people stop and offer me water before and had to have one family take me home on a day when there were some creepers on the road, so the nice people outweigh the rude for sure.

 

[LdyStormy76]

I would love to defend my state, but....living in suburban Chicago I am forced to agree with you. As I mentioned in my earlier post, I only run on trails. If your travel brings you a bit north of O'Hare, check out the Des Plaines River trails. Now it's still Illinois so don't expect great scenery, but nice running trails along the river at least. If you are downtown Chicago the paths along the lakefront can be nice, but they are paved and the bicyclists may run you down. Just kidding...sort of.

Second this! Not safe on most Chicago suburban roads from either vehicles or bicyclists who think the rules of the road do not apply to them.

@BuckeyeBama if you end up in the Aurora/Naperville area the Fox River trail is nice, if a bit hilly in some places. DuPage County also has some decent forest preserve gravel paths.

 

[camaker]

How do you hold your water bottles on your runs?

I can't stand hand-held water bottles. They throw my balance and form off. Belt-based systems always seem to spin around on my hips, so they haven't been a good option. I will either use a hydration bladder pack or a Hydraquiver like @MissLiss279. The single barrel Hydraquiver will hold a 20-29oz bottle and I have 1L, 1.5L and 2L bladders for the hydration packs so I've got a good range to choose from.

Water:
For under six miles I have a handheld water bottle that I use - Amphipod (20oz).
View attachment 334563
(Not my hand )

Over 6 miles I use one of my Orange Mud Hydraquivers - Single or Double Barrel depending on how far I’m going, how hot it is, and whether I will have opportunities to refill or not.
View attachment 334566 View attachment 334568

How tight is the fit of the bottles in your double barrel Hydraquiver? I've got one of the single barrel vest packs with that style holder and it is a ridiculously tight fit! To the point that it's hard to get the bottle in and out when it's not on me. I'm wondering if that's normal or if I've run afoul of a quality control issue.

 

[gjramsey]

Smashrun is another website you can sync Garmin runs to that has some pretty good graphical displays or your running. It also shows average pace and can easily be switched between km and mi (useful for when I need to decode my stats for posting here)

Smashrun is probably my favorite site for run-tracking.

 

[LSUlakes]

How do you hold your water bottles on your runs?

I have a fuel belt that can hold up to 4 bottles that hold ~10-12 oz of water each. I bring as many as needed for a particular run.

 

[LSUlakes]

QOTD: What are your plans for the 4th? Any traditions, spending time in the parks, ect?

ATTQOTD: Only tradition for us is something has to be BBQ'd. The work on that starts tonight! I have a brisket to prepare, burgers to make, and a early morning run on the to do list. I'll probably start the brisket before I head out for my run. DD has requested fireworks... so we have that to do as well. Hope everyone gets to enjoy a midweek break from work.

 

[OldSlowGoofyGuy]

ATTQOTD: My brother (and sometimes his sons) and I run the Peachtree Road Race. This will be 32 years in a row! Then it's back to their house for a cookout.

 

[YawningDodo]

ATTQOTD: This year we're planning to do a midday picnic with a couple of friends at one of the local parks--fried chicken, potato salad, that kind of thing. We might go to another friend's house for a cookout and fireworks in the evening, but I haven't actually heard on whether they're doing that this year, plus...well, my housemate and I probably aren't going to feel like staying out late since we've both got to work on the 5th.

Edit: I did shift my run schedule this week to run Monday/Wednesday instead of Tuesday/Thursday so I can take my time tomorrow morning--and so if I do stay up late tomorrow night I don't have a run scheduled the morning afterward.

 

[gjramsey]

ATTQOTD: We are road-tripping to Fayetteville for a campus visit at the home of the Razorbacks on Thursday than on to Rolla for a campus visit with Missouri Science and Tech.

Hopefully these will kick start my 17 year old into getting more interested in researching life after high school.....

So certainly not a traditional July 4th for us this year.