The Running Thread - 2018

[Keels]

Good Target.
Was this not a goal previously?

IDK ... PoT and corral placement is important ...

 

[michigandergirl]

ATTQOTD: I use my Garmin primarily. Math is limited. I've never ran with a pace group, but if I see one ahead of me, I use them as motivation and will try to catch them or pass them.

 

[OldSlowGoofyGuy]

ATTQOTD: For all races, I use the watch. I click the splits manually and look at the time for the mile and make adjustments. I don't use any of the smart watch features on race day, so it's the same as the trusty old Timex Ironman.

For halfs and fulls, I carry a cheat-sheet that will have up to 5 finish times, and where I should be, time-wise, at specific splits. For a marathon, I have 1, 10, 13.1, 20 and 25 miles. It saved my butt at RCM, where I had given up on my A goal, but due to the cheat-sheet, realized I still had a 5 minute cushion at 20 miles. Did some quick runner math and pieced together a strategy to get in under the wire.

For marathons, I will make use of the pacers in different ways. Stick with a group from start to finish, use a slower group to not go out to fast, and if I'm having a bad day, try to latch on to a group near the end, just to focus on something.

There is nothing worse than having a bad day on a marathon and hear the thundering hooves of yet another pace group passing you.

 

[roxymama]

I used to have goals but now pretty much my only goal is don’t die.

That seems to involve little to no math; so it all checks out.

 

[kbenson13]

ATTQOTD: I definitely look at my watch to ensure I'm hitting the pacing I'm aiming for. But I've had my best successes when I'm running with a pacer and pace group. I don't know any of the people I'm running with, and they don't know me, but I still feel like I'm part of a group doing the run together.

 

[jennamfeo]

ATTQOTD: I'll use any and everything I have and whatever is provided to know how I am doing during a race. My watch, the race clocks, text message updates... Unless coach says to "run it blind". We have an interesting strategy for my next race that should keep me from mathing too much during it and just going by effort. ((12 days, omg.))

 

[Chaitali]

Ugh... stupid planning getting complicated I had planned to do the Columbus Nationwide Half in October. I've already registered and it was only $60. It seemed to work out because I had a work trip in Seattle the week before so I figured I could just stop in Ohio on the way back to Maryland. Well now, I finally looked at flights and it's all complicated. But it's essentially going to cost an extra $250 to get to Columbus, plus it will be like a 10 hour journey with stops.

Or I could say forget it and consider the $60 as donation to a good cause (the children's hospital). There is a Baltimore half that same weekend. Of course, it's $120. But that's still cheaper than the extra costs to get to Columbus plus it would save me that extra travel time as I could get a direct flight back to Baltimore.

Columbus is a flat race and Baltimore is a hilly race. I've done the Columbus race before and know it's a great race but I've heard good things about the Baltimore race too and it would be something new.

What would you guys do? I'm having a hard time deciding. I hate foregoing that race registration fee for Columbus but at least it's going to a good cause and I wouldn't have to spend extra travel money on top of it...

 

[roxymama]

Ugh... stupid planning getting complicated I had planned to do the Columbus Nationwide Half in October. I've already registered and it was only $60. It seemed to work out because I had a work trip in Seattle the week before so I figured I could just stop in Ohio on the way back to Maryland. Well now, I finally looked at flights and it's all complicated. But it's essentially going to cost an extra $250 to get to Columbus, plus it will be like a 10 hour journey with stops.

Or I could say forget it and consider the $60 as donation to a good cause (the children's hospital). There is a Baltimore half that same weekend. Of course, it's $120. But that's still cheaper than the extra costs to get to Columbus plus it would save me that extra travel time as I could get a direct flight back to Baltimore.

Columbus is a flat race and Baltimore is a hilly race. I've done the Columbus race before and know it's a great race but I've heard good things about the Baltimore race too and it would be something new.

What would you guys do? I'm having a hard time deciding. I hate foregoing that race registration fee for Columbus but at least it's going to a good cause and I wouldn't have to spend extra travel money on top of it...

You lost me at 10 hour journey with stops.

 

[Sanchez]

I am a race over planner with a well memorized detailed pace analysis. I use a Garmin and check mile times as well as pace. Nothing is done without a plan. Pitiful.

 

[Chaitali]

You lost me at 10 hour journey with stops.

Yeah... I'm leaning toward it sounding like a waste of time too.

 

[derekleigh]

QOTD: We have discussed training for a race, pre race plans, post race plans and so on, but we havent actually discussed much about during the race. How do you make sure you are going to reach your goal during the run? Do you use race provided pacers, GPS watch, other methods?

Generally, my Garmin 220 for pacing. If I find the watch GPS mileage doesn't match the miler markers, then I simply do the math in my head based on my time and the mile markers.

 

[jmasgat]

My next goal is to run a HM under 2:00:00. I am training with a pace for a target time of 1:52:00. I know that I will walk the water stops, go to the bathroom once and cannot pace myself without risking a fall looking at my iPhone. Do I start with the 1:50 pacer and sprint before and after each stops so I stay with him as long as I can thus building a buffer or do I start with the 2:00 pacer, sprint all stops and hope to have energy left to push at the end? Suggestions? I will look into pace bands.

I would posit that the answer to this question depends on your running style---how well you can consciously speed up or slow down at will/do you tend to run even splits---, whether or not you will you be happy with anything under 2 (or will you feel cheated if it's not close to 1:52), and how comfortable you have felt with your training. Personally, during a race, I try to run even splits. I'm not sure I would have the mental strength to deal with lots of micro changes in tempo. But if you are comfortable with that, then that's good.

If it was me, I would not want to follow the 2 hour pacer, especially if you know you expect to have stops, and also, your training indicates you could be doing better than that. I would probably try to keep the 1:50 pacer in my sights, but not worry about letting s/he go ahead when you make your stops.

Think about whichever style will give you the greatest level of "comfort"--which I use loosely, because, of course,, it's a race!

 

[GreatLakes]

Ugh... stupid planning getting complicated I had planned to do the Columbus Nationwide Half in October. I've already registered and it was only $60. It seemed to work out because I had a work trip in Seattle the week before so I figured I could just stop in Ohio on the way back to Maryland. Well now, I finally looked at flights and it's all complicated. But it's essentially going to cost an extra $250 to get to Columbus, plus it will be like a 10 hour journey with stops.

Or I could say forget it and consider the $60 as donation to a good cause (the children's hospital). There is a Baltimore half that same weekend. Of course, it's $120. But that's still cheaper than the extra costs to get to Columbus plus it would save me that extra travel time as I could get a direct flight back to Baltimore.

Columbus is a flat race and Baltimore is a hilly race. I've done the Columbus race before and know it's a great race but I've heard good things about the Baltimore race too and it would be something new.

What would you guys do? I'm having a hard time deciding. I hate foregoing that race registration fee for Columbus but at least it's going to a good cause and I wouldn't have to spend extra travel money on top of it...

What are the details of the travel? Are you flying into someplace other than CMH? Is the 10 hour number the combined first leg (Seattle to Columbus) and second (Columbus to home) or just the first leg. I love Columbus and run there often but if it is logistically a problem I'd skip it.

 

[gjramsey]

ATTQOTD: Interesting question! It seems like most races, I don't have a plan and will check my watch at the mile markers just to see how I am doing.

I have done a number of Halfs where I ran with a pace group for the 1st half or so of the race, and pick up the pace the rest of the way to see how I do.

I have had a couple of races where I was going to try and PR and the weather gods slapped me down and laughed at my goals. One I tried to stay in front of the pace group by about a minute or so, and waved at them as they passed me by during the last qtr. of the race.

I have also had a couple of races that I did not plan to go out and PR, and ended up with one, and in those I really did not check my watch that much during the race.

So I guess my answer is ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[cavepig]

I wear a watch, I know the pace I want to run, I look at the watch, but if my body says no, a watch doesn't matter. I'm a very run by feel person, maybe because of cross country days and no GPS instant feedback of pace back when. I have only ran with a pace group once and it wasn't the one I should have gone with (cause I always doubt myself), so started off too slow and then was playing catch up, my own fault. I may try a pace group (my target time to get it right this time) again here soon.

 

[Chaitali]

What are the details of the travel? Are you flying into someplace other than CMH? Is the 10 hour number the combined first leg (Seattle to Columbus) and second (Columbus to home) or just the first leg. I love Columbus and run there often but if it is logistically a problem I'd skip it.

I have a work trip to go from Baltimore to Seattle. I thought (mistakenly) that it would be a similar price to fly back from Seattle to Columbus and then I would just have to pay for the final leg home from Columbus to Baltimore. But when I went to book the flight through our work portal, the options were really limited. A lot of stuff is saying not available. There are no direct flights. So it is taking me 10 hours to get from Seattle to Columbus because I have to stop somewhere in between. And it costs more than just coming back to Baltimore would cost.

 

[opusone]

QOTD: We have discussed training for a race, pre race plans, post race plans and so on, but we havent actually discussed much about during the race. How do you make sure you are going to reach your goal during the run? Do you use race provided pacers, GPS watch, other methods?

In general, my main focus during the first quarter to half mile of each race is on pace. I use my Garmin to ensure I am not going out too fast (which is easy to do in a race environment). After adjusting appropriately, I then more-or-less go by feel with periodic checks of my watch.

Now on to the specifics... for 5k races, I allow myself to go more by feel at the beginning even if it's faster than planned, because sometimes you just feel good, can keep it up for 3.1 miles, and set a PR. Therefore, I don't look at my watch as much during a 5k. For 10k's and half marathons, I absolutely force myself to slow down at the beginning of the race if I am above my goal pace. I figure I can always speed up later if I still feel good. I tend to look at my watch more during these longer races, although by about mid-race, I am completely going by feel.

For pace groups, I have tried to stay with them only a few times, but I have never had much luck with them. Their pacing can be off, they sometimes try to bank time early, they don't run the tangents, they approach water stations a certain way that may not work for me, etc. The best way I have used them is when I don't actually join them, but instead just keep an eye on them, fully knowing and accepting that they may pull ahead or behind as I run the race at my own pace.

 

[YawningDodo]

Sub QOTD for all you DCL cruise veterans out there. I just put a deposit on our spring break 4 night Dream sailing for 2019. Eeeeeee!!!! Whether I talk any other family into doing the same is up in the air.
But what is all of your strategy for arrivals before embarkation? Do you stay on disney property a night, do you stay at the airport hotel the night before. Do you roll the dice and arrive via a plane the day of?
We kind of don't want to spend a bajillion by tacking on WDW because we sprung for a room with a balcony. And we like to get places early. And we have a DCL transfer to the ship from MCO. So I'm thinking maybe fly in night before and stay at airport hotel?
Please help me; my logistically inclined friends.

PS Once I know the exact Castaway Cay day I'll add my 5k race for April 2019 @LSUlakes

I've only done DCL once and it was out of Miami so not quite the same thing, BUT --

Definitely fly the day before!! I had a late afternoon flight scheduled for the day before my cruise and I still came way too close to missing the boat when it was delayed very very badly -- I missed my connection in Denver by several hours and only got onto a red-eye by the skin of my teeth after the airline initially screwed up the transfer to another carrier. I would not only fly in the day before after that experience, I would fly in as early as possible the day before, because if you miss the boat, you miss the boat, end of story (which is a good reason to get travel insurance, btw).

As for the night before, when I'd priced out a DCL cruise from Orlando as one of our options for 2020 I discovered that the MCO Hyatt is really no cheaper than a WDW value resort per night if you're not going to the parks. If you can get a DCL transfer from a different airport-area hotel you may be able to trim that cost a bit, but purely cost-wise when I was looking at doing that type of trip I was inclined to stay at POP and just hang out at the hotel or go to Disney Springs. Of course, being on property has a way of increasing costs in general when some impulse item comes up.

 

[Slogger]

ATTQOTD: I'll use any and everything I have and whatever is provided to know how I am doing during a race. My watch, the race clocks, text message updates... Unless coach says to "run it blind".............. ((12 days, omg.))

Strangely enough, I could run faster, more miles, more days, and not eat or drink during a run but the "run it blind" advice from Coach DB was something I still haven't mastered.

12 days away....almost time to check The Weather Channel 10 day forecast!

 

[Princess_Nikki]

ATTQOTD: Still just use RunKeeper on my phone...but I’ve got to find a better way!!

But for some silly humor...check out this picture on the DISNEY website. Hahahahaha! I mean, I know the running trails aren’t the highlight of their website, but crikey, that picture looks like it’s from 1992. Lol.