The Running Thread - 2018

[camaker]

@LSUlakes, can you please add a late breaking race to the schedule for me?

Nov 17 - camaker - Holly Springs Half Marathon (NG/NA)

I’ve gone back and forth on whether to run this race and was waiting to see how Chicago and Tuna Run recovery went before committing. Ultimately, the race ended up ticking several boxes that tipped me over into registering:

• I’m going to treat this more as a supported training run for my upcoming 50k. The ultra is on maritime trails and the half course features significant stretches of dirt and mulch trails
  
• It gives me an opportunity to test out a couple of new fueling options without having to carry my own water
• One of my goals for the year was to run my 20th half marathon. I’m sitting at 19 and this is the last feasible opportunity to get one in this year. The downside is that otherwise the WDW half would’ve been #20. Choices choices.
• I got a bib through a legal transfer for ~1/2 the current registration fee

Now I’m just hoping that the forecast of 35 degrees for the race start warms up 10-15 degrees!

 

[OldSlowGoofyGuy]

ATTQOTD: Cold weather gear:

Short answer: Nothing special. I add/subtract layers as needed.

Detailed answer:

All my routes are multiple out and backs from where I park, so it's easy for me to ditch or add gear as I go.

Head gear: burglar hat, tech ear band and/or running hat. Unless it's really cold, the burglar hat/ear band never lasts more than a mile or so.

Top: I layer tech shirts, both long and short sleeve, and peel them off as I warm up. I have a running shell for wind and rain, but don't like it. It's too hot and allegedly water resistant and breathable, but seems to be neither.

Bottom: Either compression shorts alone or with tights/sweats/windpants over them. I really dislike running in long pants, so they rarely last the whole run. If it's really cold, I'll layer the pants. Sometimes I wear compression shorts, compression knee braces, and compression sleeves, so my legs are completely covered but it doesn't feel like I'm running in long pants. This is a REALLY good look as none of them (shorts, braces, sleeves) match.

Gloves: I have 2 pair of running gloves, Manzella Windstoppers and Saucony ones with a pull-out mitten part. If it's really cold, I'll add a pair of knit glove liners.

Socks: My regular brand of running socks, but in crew length rather than quarter length.

 

[TheHamm]

@michigandergirl i would love to hear about these new tights when you have a chance to test them out!

I had more trouble with my legs than core last winter and am not sure how to address that other than double up on pants, which was uncomfortable.

 

[avondale]

ATTQOTD: For cold weather I normally wear in the 40's just capris and a 1/4 zip, nothing special. In the 30's, I'll add a short sleeve or long sleeve tech shirt layer underneath the 1/4 zip and wear full length leggings, possibly fleece lined (both depending on where in the range of 30's it is and whether it's sunny or not). If it's lower 30's, I'll usually start out with some Smartwool gloves, but quickly will take them off. For 20's, short sleeve and long sleeve and jacket layer and fleece lined leggings. Smartwool gloves and maybe a hat or ear warmers, but both may come off shortly into the run depending on wind and sunniness. For teens, the gloves and hat may stay on the whole time. I'll probably also add a buff and wear my Smartwool socks here too instead of just regular socks. For single digits, the gloves and hat will definitely stay on the whole time.

I have a nice running jacket with some wind panels, but I gained too much weight and it doesn't fit now. I need to get some new fleece lined leggings, as both of mine have inner thigh seam rips after a few years of wearing. They are not very adequate though in the teens and single digits. I definitely get cold butt and thighs.

I'm not much of a thicker sock person either... most of the time my regular socks are fine unless it's down into the teens or lower.

The hat and glove situation, I don't understand how people can wear those an entire run unless it's REALLY cold. My hands and head start sweating like crazy shortly into the run and you'll hardly ever see me wearing my hat or gloves after the first mile unless it's < 20 or the wind chill is really brutal.

I have a pair of Yak Trax and also a pair of Stabilicers, but I don't like wearing either of them much. They don't get much use even when it's snowy or icy.

I was going to write an answer, but my dressing levels are remarkably similar to yours, so I will quote you. I agree with you about the thicker socks (don't wear them) and the hats/gloves (must be low-20s or windy for me to keep them on). I got my first pair of microspikes last winter, and they were great. We don't get a lot of snow that lasts around here, but I got good use out of them while visiting family in Michigan and NW Pennsylvania over the holidays.

One nice addition for really cold weather (say < 20 F) is a set of gloves that are fingerless, but have a mitten flap to go over them. So you can pull the flap off and use your fingers or put the flap on and be warmer. I actually wear these over some thin running gloves that have tech tips. Pull the flap off, and be able to use your phone with the tech fingertips, or put the flap back and be extra warm.

Last winter while visiting family in Michigan over Christmas, I did to a run at zero F. Three layers on my torso, beanie, the two glove layers, but only one layer of non-fleece-lined tights and regular socks. As long as I kept moving, I was fine. I did learn about how fast my hydration vest straw freezes, and I had a nice ice beard, eyebrows, and eyelashes when I was done. After that, nothing else has really worried me!

More recently, I have run three days in a row at about 43 F, but with other circumstances that meant totally different clothes.
43 F + sunny + very windy: tights and long sleeves, felt good
43 F + sunny + no wind: t-shirt, shorts, and arm sleeves that I took off after 1 mile, felt good
43 F + rain + night: tights, long sleeves, baseball cap = too cold

 

[avondale]

Has anyone had their electronics decide to change themselves when they get wet on a run?

This evening, running in the cold rain, my wet sleeve inadvertently kept touching the screen of my Vivoactive 3. At first, it would just slide me out of the run display mode into watch mode. But then about 2/3 of the way in, I check it and it has re-set the running mode to a different number of data display fields. Most of the ones it decided to display were not ones that I wanted.

My phone (Galaxy S8) likes to do this also in the rain or if I get soaked with sweat in the summer. It will bounce around in my hydration vest pocket and decide to change things, even when it's locked. The most common thing is to pause my music or send me forward/back on a sock. Not a big deal. It also likes to reply to any pop-up text messages with garbage, which is mildly amusing. But the next most common thing it likes to do is to turn off the bluetooth - much more annoying.

Last summer during one run in bright sunlight, my phone managed to turn its screen brightness down to the minimum. This was a quite warm day (bright sunlight!) and a mixed tempo and T-pace run, and I was struggling. I was hoping to pause to check in with my husband to give him an update (he knew I was having some trouble), but then I can't read the darn screen! Of course, I could not remember where the brightness control was to try to reset it by guessing. What a stupid problem. I finally managed to find dark enough shade to barely be able to see the settings. In retrospect, I laugh about it, but it was really frustrating at the time.

(My husband has the same phone and is much more of a guru with it...he says that even with the lock screen on, you can't turn off some of those adjustments. Bummer.)

 

[run.minnie.miles]

Sometimes I wear compression shorts, compression knee braces, and compression sleeves, so my legs are completely covered but it doesn't feel like I'm running in long pants. This is a REALLY good look as none of them (shorts, braces, sleeves) match.

This made me chuckle! I’d love to pass you on a running trail in the winter

 

[Keels]

Has anyone had their electronics decide to change themselves when they get wet on a run?

This evening, running in the cold rain, my wet sleeve inadvertently kept touching the screen of my Vivoactive 3. At first, it would just slide me out of the run display mode into watch mode. But then about 2/3 of the way in, I check it and it has re-set the running mode to a different number of data display fields. Most of the ones it decided to display were not ones that I wanted.

My phone (Galaxy S8) likes to do this also in the rain or if I get soaked with sweat in the summer. It will bounce around in my hydration vest pocket and decide to change things, even when it's locked. The most common thing is to pause my music or send me forward/back on a sock. Not a big deal. It also likes to reply to any pop-up text messages with garbage, which is mildly amusing. But the next most common thing it likes to do is to turn off the bluetooth - much more annoying.

Last summer during one run in bright sunlight, my phone managed to turn its screen brightness down to the minimum. This was a quite warm day (bright sunlight!) and a mixed tempo and T-pace run, and I was struggling. I was hoping to pause to check in with my husband to give him an update (he knew I was having some trouble), but then I can't read the darn screen! Of course, I could not remember where the brightness control was to try to reset it by guessing. What a stupid problem. I finally managed to find dark enough shade to barely be able to see the settings. In retrospect, I laugh about it, but it was really frustrating at the time.

(My husband has the same phone and is much more of a guru with it...he says that even with the lock screen on, you can't turn off some of those adjustments. Bummer.)

I usually lock my watch screen after I start running. Yes, it's a PITA to unlock it to swipe through to what screen I want to see but it's a way smaller PITA than my watch deciding it wants to do whatever it wants to do.

 

[IamTrike]

ATTQOTD: Cold add/subtract layers as needed.
Sometimes I wear compression shorts, compression knee braces, and compression sleeves, so my legs are completely covered but it doesn't feel like I'm running in long pants. This is a REALLY good look as none of them (shorts, braces, sleeves) match.

. This is a post that really warrants pictures. I’m imagining a harlequin runner.

 

[r2chewbaccad2]

Another Monterey Bay Half Marathon Weekend Report:

Smoke was blowing in from the Camp Fire in Paradise, CA (about 260 miles away from Monterey) all weekend. The air quality was deemed moderate on Saturday so the 3k and the 5k were held. The 5k was an out and back along Monterey Bay. The views were incredible and as @sourire reported, seals and whales were spotted in the bay! At the expo, it was announced that registration was way up this year-- I speculate that a lot of Northern Californians who would normally run the Super Heroes weekend at Disneyland went to Monterey instead (both races held on the same weekend in the past). Lots of parents with their kids were participating in these races!

On Saturday at approximately 6 pm, an e-mail was sent out from the race organizers announcing the cancellation of the half marathon on Sunday. Apparently, the air quality index was forecasted to reach the 150-200 range, which is deemed unhealthy. I was extremely disappointed-- my training hasn't been great this cycle but I was looking forward to running this beautiful course along the bay to the edge of the Pebble Beach resort. I immediately thought of all of you who had to experience the cancellation of the 2017 WDW half. On the e-mail announcement, we were notified that there would still be a party at the finish line on Sunday morning. We would receive our medals, our post-race food (which included bagels, cookies as big as your head, energy bars, bananas, and apples) including beer and minestrone soup. I had no qualms accepting the medal as I had put in the training for the race. Since the race was cancelled, my group drove out along the bay where the race was to be held and quite a few people were still running the course, many with their bibs on. It was announced at the party that all the food that was not passed out would be donated to the victims of the wildfires in Paradise, CA!

Overall, it was still a great weekend. The Monterey Bay area is absolutely gorgeous. It was great to meet @sourire and her husband before the 5k and hanging out in the corral with her before the start of the race.

 

[JulieODC]

Congrats to all the weekend racers!!

For cold weather, my favorite gear are my Skida hat and neck warmer. Though, I need to figure out how to do a hat with my aftershokz...

@LSUlakes - can you add a few races for me?

Nov 18 - JulieODC - Norwood Turkey Trot (4miler) (NG/NA)

Nov 23 - JulieODC - Richmond (VT) Turkey Trot (NG/NA)

Dec 01 - JulieODC - Hopkinton 10k (59:59/NA)

 

[Waiting2goback]

QOTD: the weather dictates what I wear. I have compression pants and some pull overs that are running specific. I have a pair of running gloves at well. So anything in the 30's and 40's will get this layer of clothes. If it gets below 30 I add regular winter gloves, my hat that I got for running, and my Columbia windbreaker that I normally wear when I run in the rain. I will run in the single digits if there is no snow or ice to contend with but once the ice starts I usually move inside on the treadmill.

 

[Waiting2goback]

 

[JulieODC]

Help me spend $! Can I crowdsource a Garmin watch decision???

I’ve been using a Garmin vivosmart HR for every day use, and then put on a Garmin forerunner 230 for tracking my runs.

The vivosmart band just broke unexpectedly. I’ve had no issues with the forerunner, and it’s about 2 years old.

What do I replace the vivosmart with??

Do I go with something like a vivomove HR for everyday?

Or do I just go ahead and upgrade to a single watch with GPS and get the Vivoactive 3? Leaning this way because it’s only $36 more than the vivomove. Anyone have this and recommend it?

 

[derekleigh]

Trying to play a little catch-up here:

White Mountain Milers Half Results from 10-28-2018

1:55:29

Overall- 68 out of 190...
Gender - 46 out of 83
Age Division - 12 out of 20

Myles Standish 16.20 Relay from 11-11-2018

My time - 1:47:33 ~ 12.3 miles
Our Total Time - 2:40:58

QOTD: Since most of us are experiencing at least some colder weather I thought we could discuss running clothes for the winter today. What items you find work well and others that don't?

Until it drops below 20 degrees, I wear shorts. Once below 20 degrees, long compression pants under shorts or sweat pants. For upper body I always were a short-sleeve tech until it dips below 20 degrees and once it does I switch to long-sleeve tech shirts. Always wear gloves and my all-reflective jacket. I have a breathable pullover mask and tech-style sweatshirt I start to wear when it gets below 20 degrees. A 2nd set of gloves and hand warms for REALLY cold days, like sub-zero temps. For short runs(3 miles or less) during sub-zero temps I may wear a cotton (!!!!) shirt to stay warm.

Oh yeah and Stabl-Icers for snowy/icy road conditions.

 

[AFwifelife]

Help me spend $! Can I crowdsource a Garmin watch decision???

I’ve been using a Garmin vivosmart HR for every day use, and then put on a Garmin forerunner 230 for tracking my runs.

The vivosmart band just broke unexpectedly. I’ve had no issues with the forerunner, and it’s about 2 years old.

What do I replace the vivosmart with??

Do I go with something like a vivomove HR for everyday?

Or do I just go ahead and upgrade to a single watch with GPS and get the Vivoactive 3? Leaning this way because it’s only $36 more than the vivomove. Anyone have this and recommend it?

A few of us have the VA3 and I think it’s awesome. I moved up from a Fitbit Blaze so can’t comment on the different between the VA3 vs the 235. I do like having the everyday features though and it’s the watch I wear 99% of the time.

 

[QueenFernando]

I PR'd my 10k this weekend! But..... the race was about .2 mi short. It's ok. I still think I would have PR'd at 6.2.

How often does this happen? A race not being measured correctly.
As we came up to the finish I looked at my Garmin because we were doing intervals and noticed it looked off. After the race we were chatting with a guy we talked to a lot on the course, and he mentioned it being short too. When I checked my run in Garmin connect, sure enough, 6.03. DH's watch said 6.02.

@LSUlakes, can you please add Hot to Trot 10k (NG/NG) for me (11/22)?

 

[run.minnie.miles]

Congrats to all the weekend racers!!

For cold weather, my favorite gear are my Skida hat and neck warmer. Though, I need to figure out how to do a hat with my aftershokz...

@LSUlakes - can you add a few races for me?

Nov 18 - JulieODC - Norwood Turkey Trot (4miler) (NG/NA)

Nov 23 - JulieODC - Richmond (VT) Turkey Trot (NG/NA)

Dec 01 - JulieODC - Hopkinton 10k (59:59/NA)

It makes me so happy to see that you are feeling better and well enough for racing!!

 

[AntimonyER]

Help me spend $! Can I crowdsource a Garmin watch decision???

I’ve been using a Garmin vivosmart HR for every day use, and then put on a Garmin forerunner 230 for tracking my runs.

The vivosmart band just broke unexpectedly. I’ve had no issues with the forerunner, and it’s about 2 years old.

What do I replace the vivosmart with??

Do I go with something like a vivomove HR for everyday?

Or do I just go ahead and upgrade to a single watch with GPS and get the Vivoactive 3? Leaning this way because it’s only $36 more than the vivomove. Anyone have this and recommend it?

I would say go for the single solution. I just bought a VA3 and am waiting for it to arrive myself. Can't give you any personal advice, but the reviews on it are pretty good, and most of the issues associated with early negative reviews have been remedied with updates since it released.

 

[JulieODC]

It makes me so happy to see that you are feeling better and well enough for racing!!

Thank you!! Me too!

 

[LSUlakes]

QOTD: For those with races either on marathon weekend or around the same time, how is training going for you so far?

ATTQOTD: It's not going well and I've made a huge mistake for signing up for the marathon. It's going to be fun, but brutal experience.