The Running Thread - 2018

[baxter24]

ATTQOTD: What I carrying for races is typically what I carry on my runs. And speaking of gear for yesterday’s question....

Brooks Ravenna 8’s with Road ID attached to my shoe
Running tights and some type of dry fit shirt
Headsweats visor
Nathan’s handheld water bottle
Headphones and my phone
Nutrition is water or tailwind for longer runs and gu chomps

On the subject of a phones....I carry mine primarly so I can listen to podcasts while I run but I do like having it on me in case of an emergency. I’d rather have it on me and never have to use it than the latter. There have been a few times in the past two years that my younger son has gotten sick at preschool and I was close by running so I was able to get back to him quickly.

 

[flav]

my magnets to hold on the bib)

Never heard of these until you mentioned it. Doing some searches... Are they Race Dots? They do not interfere with the timing chip?

 

[Keels]

In case y'all missed it ... BREAKING FACE-PAINT NEWS!!!!!!!!

 

[sylkai]

Never heard of these until you mentioned it. Doing some searches... Are they Race Dots? They do not interfere with the timing chip?

Mine are Race Bib Ups which I got probably a year or so ago? Never had any issues with interference with the timing chip. They aren't necessarily the easiest to reposition but they hold well - I've never had them come off during a race. I much prefer it to dealing with safety pins.

I've also tried Bib Boards (which are a snap-type thing) but those left visible marks on the shirts that I was less fond of.

It's possible at some point I will try a race number belt, for when I really don't want the shirt obscured by the bib.

 

[Miranda]

I didn't switch to the Discman until they came up with the drive that didn't skip unless you made a really bad, jarring movement. I had a friend wh switched when the forst Discman came out and he said it was useless while running, and a problem when walking.

I wanted a Discman so bad when I was in junior high, and I got one... it unfortunately skipped if you even breathed on it wrong. I could only use it with it sitting perfectly flat on a table.

 

[CDKG]

QOTD: Staying with our theme of gear from yesterday. What do you carry in a race that you would not carry on a daily run? What do you take along for a daily run that you would not for a race?

Since my daily runs are on a treadmill...in my home, I don't have to "carry" anything. In one cup holder I have an asthma inhaler (that I use before I run), Kleenex (I swear my nose runs more than I do!), and fuel if it is a long run. The other cup holder holds my nuun. Finally, my iPad sits in the book holder. I can see the tv in the next room, but I can't hear it. So, a few months ago I started listening to podcasts (true crime) with my Bluetooth headphones.

My answers yesterday reflect what I typically carry for a race.

 

[Miranda]

Never heard of these until you mentioned it. Doing some searches... Are they Race Dots? They do not interfere with the timing chip?

I use RaceDots... I have never had a timing problem in the 2+ years that I've had them.

 

[Olallamom]

ATTQOTD:
On race day I might carry ID, cash, car key and fuel
Here is AZ I currently have to carry water on all training runs short or long.
All runs include tissues.

 

[LSUlakes]

Never heard of these until you mentioned it. Doing some searches... Are they Race Dots? They do not interfere with the timing chip?

I had some of these and absolutely hate them! I tried to run a race with them and they kept sticking to each other, which just folded my shirt and made for a frustrating run. Maybe it was operator error, but that was the first and last time I used them. They work great on the fridge though!

 

[flav]

I had some of these and absolutely hate them! I tried to run a race with them and they kept sticking to each other, which just folded my shirt and made for a frustrating run. Maybe it was operator error, but that was the first and last time I used them. They work great on the fridge though!

Mmm I can totally see myself being that kind of operator, I have very flowing type of tank tops. I’ll keep the magnet option in mind but will probably keep using my belt since it allows me to carry fuel and stuff.
Oh wait, if I don’t buy magnets right now, that means I can add 20$ to my Dopey 2020 savings account, right?

 

[LdyStormy76]

Never heard of these until you mentioned it. Doing some searches... Are they Race Dots? They do not interfere with the timing chip?

I had some of these and absolutely hate them! I tried to run a race with them and they kept sticking to each other, which just folded my shirt and made for a frustrating run. Maybe it was operator error, but that was the first and last time I used them. They work great on the fridge though!

Based on discussions here a few months ago (this board is bad for my wallet) I bought a pair of RaceDots since I cringe every time I poked a safety pin into my tech shirts. They have not interfered with timing chips. Lessons learned in my two races since then: 1) only use 3 dots (2 on top and 1 on the bottom) to prevent them from trying to fold the shirt in half when you sit down and 2) cut down the paper they come on and store attached to that in a plastic box - crazy me tried a metal box and was afraid I would neve4 get them out. They are super strong magnets so be careful if you have to walk through a turnstile.

 

[Waiting2goback]

QOTD: Staying with our theme of gear from yesterday. What do you carry in a race that you would not carry on a daily run? What do you take along for a daily run that you would not for a race?

This is also a suggested question from a fellow poster. Thanks for the series of suggestions!

ATTQOTD: The only thing I find that I have for some training runs (mostly long runs) and not races is my turn by turn directions in a Ziploc bag to prevent from getting wet.

Depends on the race. A 10k I won't use anything different. A 1/2 in hot weather I will carry my water belt. If it's cool I can get by with the water stations. A full marathon, like Disney, I carry food, deodorant, a small TV, my tooth brush in case I get lost.... ok, I don't really carry the tv and tooth brush but I do carry food, deodorant, chapstick, and my water.

It is the peroneal tendons on the outside of the ankle running up from the foot to the lower leg. Evidently there are two of these tendons and I have a tear that runs up and down nd not across. I am told this is a good thing. I remember when you went through your ankle injury and how long it took. But you give me hope because you are running now!

Yep, that's what I had. The MRI said only one was torn and when he got in there they were both "best up pretty bad" according to the doctor. You have a burning feeling around your ankle bone? Are they suggesting you cut any bones to realign your foot? Honestly, I have the same thing in my right ankle now. I run with my ankle brace on, I have been for the last 9 months and I have no issues. I am going to keep doing that until I can't do it anymore because my right ankle hurts less than my surgically repaired left ankle does. I see no reason to go through another surgery and 6 month recovery when the one that has been repaired hurts more.

I am not trying to scare you, I am just giving my honest option as someone who has gone through it. Because when I was going to have my surgery I couldn't find any runners that had had it. You can PM if you want.

 

[TheHamm]

I wanted a Discman so bad when I was in junior high, and I got one... it unfortunately skipped if you even breathed on it wrong. I could only use it with it sitting perfectly flat on a table.

Samesies. I just wanted to use it on the school bus so I could ignore everyone. I ended up just turning it off and wearing the headphones. I was so ahead of the curve, all those people on public transit with their iPhones have it easy

 

[Waiting2goback]

Fitting for this thread I would think.

 

[Miranda]

2) cut down the paper they come on and store attached to that in a plastic box - crazy me tried a metal box and was afraid I would neve4 get them out. They are super strong magnets so be careful if you have to walk through a turnstile.

I always store them just in the blister pack they came in on the cardboard, but I have put them down on top of my car before and was afraid I would never get them off my car before the race started.

The bib folding problem seems to be more of a problem with smaller bibs. Most bibs, I never have any problems, but one or two races have had really small minimal bibs and they did fold. They do add some weight, so if your shirt is made of a really thin material, they can pull at it a bit.

 

[Chaitali]

The bib folding problem seems to be more of a problem with smaller bibs. Most bibs, I never have any problems, but one or two races have had really small minimal bibs and they did fold. They do add some weight, so if your shirt is made of a really thin material, they can pull at it a bit.

I agree, I have the race dots and like them for races with big bibs (i.e. Disney and RnR) but they don't work as well for the smaller bibs that local races use. Those are the ones where I've had problems with the top and bottom magnets sticking to each other. I've started using bib boards for those types of races.

 

[Slogger]

I had some of these and absolutely hate them! I tried to run a race with them and they kept sticking to each other, which just folded my shirt and made for a frustrating run. Maybe it was operator error, but that was the first and last time I used them. They work great on the fridge though!

LOL, I ordered the "pirate" themed RaceDots and had similar issues with the shirt folding or dots sticking to everything they weren't supposed to. Stopped using them a while ago and went back to safety pins.

Based on discussions here a few months ago (this board is bad for my wallet) I bought a pair of RaceDots since I cringe every time I poked a safety pin into my tech shirts. They have not interfered with timing chips. Lessons learned in my two races since then: 1) only use 3 dots (2 on top and 1 on the bottom) to prevent them from trying to fold the shirt in half when you sit down and 2) cut down the paper they come on and store attached to that in a plastic box - crazy me tried a metal box and was afraid I would neve4 get them out. They are super strong magnets so be careful if you have to walk through a turnstile.

@LdyStormy76...those are great suggestions, the 3 dot idea is brilliant.

 

[Dis5150]

I love my Bibboards! (Once I get them on straight anyway.) They do leave a tiny mark when you take them off but it washes out and have never had any lasting marks. That is the brand that runDisney gave us for Dopey last year. So now I have 2 sets.

 

[LSUlakes]

QOTD: Lets discuss race spectators! What you love about them and what you hate about them?

ATTQOTD: Theres nothing like coming up on a group of spectators that seem to be just at the right place to keep you going. It really does wonders! I also enjoy comical signs to read along the way and orange slices... There comes a point of a race when I don't care who touched the oranges or how long they have been sitting out. They just hit the spot! Now, for what I dont like. Spectators that smoke along the course! I get it, some people smoke and arent runners but have a runner friend they are their to support, and heck I understand where they are coming from as I used to smoke a pack a day. I even miss it at time, an other times I want to vomit. Weird thing there... But if you gotta burn one, must they do so right along the street? Would it kill them to take a few steps back? They always seem to be on a corner where I am trying to take the shortest distance and taking deep breaths.... than BAM! Anyway, thats my rant for the day. lol

 

[PrincessV]

@Baloo in MI and @Waiting2goback - on the peroneal tendon injuries... I busted mine BADLY over 30 years ago. I was a ballet dancer then and at a place where I didn't feel I could take the time off to let it heal properly, let alone have it surgically repaired. So I continued to dance on it - in agonizing pain - with as much Aspercream and strapping as I could stand. Needless to say, that did not help in any way and I eventually had no choice but to stop dancing on pointe. Fast forward to a few years ago... I was having constant issues with that same ankle, in the area of the peroneal tendons. Saw a sports med guy who is a runner and treats a number of local ballet dancers - he did an ultrasound and showed me where the tendon had "repaired" itself with a big ol' chunk of scar tissue. Told me there was no surgical solution this late in the game, and that it was soundly healed, just tight because scar tissue doesn't like to be stretched. He suggested some things to make running more pleasant:
* Shoes - look for shoes that really support my lower ankles well; could be stability, could be neutral - the important part is minimizing lateral movement where the ankle connects to the foot
* PT - he gave me a resistance band and showed me how to wrap it around my foot and do a series of movements to help strengthen the muscles surrounding the tendon, to help reduce strain on the tendon while also gently stretching the damaged tendon to lengthen the undamaged parts
* Tape - I religiously kinesio tape that foot/ankle for all long runs

I rarely have pain anymore, and just minor discomfort after very long (20+ mile) runs. Hang in there - there is light at the end of the tunnel!