The Running Thread - 2018

[garneska]

@camaker any tips you want to share are appreciated. i mean i have run marathons but since you just did the 50k there might be something you did not think of that might help me .

 

[FFigawi]

@camaker any tips you want to share are appreciated. i mean i have run marathons but since you just did the 50k there might be something you did not think of that might help me .

I'm not @camaker but having done quite a few ultras, here are a few simple tips.

1. Run when you can, walk when you must. In reality, this means jog the flats, run the downhills, and walk the inclines.
2. Get used to fueling with something other than gels/blocks/sugar. Tailwind, salted potatoes, Uncrustables, etc., are all good options for when you need solid food over sugar.
3. If the trail is likely to be muddy or sandy, invest in a pair of shoe gaiters. They work wonders at keeping the sand, rocks, and dirt out of your shoes.

 

[garneska]

thanks @FFigawi i normally eat uncrustables before i run so that will be a good option for solid food. yeah slightly concerned about nutrition plan. I was hoping it would be 6 or 6:30 hours but i am now thinking it will be 8 or 8:30 hours and i will need to eat real food. thanks on the shoe gaiters, i have some i hike with but will look into dirtygirl gaiters. i am thinking muddy. i still hope the weather is not horrible but it is way to early for that stalking.

 

[Baloo in MI]

@garneska what @FFigawi shared is right on! To this I would add:

• Start slow! There is usually a lot of energy at the start and it is easy to get caught up in the "I feel great" and take off. Having done a few 50k's, 50 milers and 12-hour races I will say that when I went out too fast I paid for it terribly late in the race.
• I would also add to not get discouraged if you hit a bad patch. Have a couple motivators with you whether that is music you really like or a particular food item you normally crave. The low patches do end and it always feels so go to move past them.
• Lastly, I have found most ultras to be in really pretty locations and the people running with you, volunteering at the aid stations and race directors to be really cool. It is a really great atmosphere. Take all that in and let it feed tired feet, legs and lungs! Good luck in February!!

 

[Sleepless Knight]

Congrats to everyone who ran a race this past weekend.

TL;DR: 1st 50k finished in 6:23:52. I’m an ultramarathoner!!

I would be thrilled to finish the WDW marathon in the neighborhood of your first ultra time.

 

[camaker]

@camaker any tips you want to share are appreciated. i mean i have run marathons but since you just did the 50k there might be something you did not think of that might help me .

I'm not @camaker but having done quite a few ultras, here are a few simple tips.

1. Run when you can, walk when you must. In reality, this means jog the flats, run the downhills, and walk the inclines.
2. Get used to fueling with something other than gels/blocks/sugar. Tailwind, salted potatoes, Uncrustables, etc., are all good options for when you need solid food over sugar.
3. If the trail is likely to be muddy or sandy, invest in a pair of shoe gaiters. They work wonders at keeping the sand, rocks, and dirt out of your shoes.

@FFigawi has hit on most of the things that I had read about for ultras and then had to learn to incorporate under race conditions. I would also add to slow it down, too. Probably more than you’ll think you need to. Part of my late race fatigue and struggle was due to pace mismanagement, even though I thought I’d slowed things down enough initially. I would also suggest walking the inclines early in the race, not just when fatigue slows you down to the “need to” point.

On the fueling front, I started out using my gels, but found that I felt better with bananas, orange slices and Tailwind as the race wore on. Some of the mild stomach discomfort I had seemed to be due to hunger pangs as much as anything and the solid food helped there.

If the race offers a drop bag location, I’d also strongly recommend having dry socks, shirt, shoes and hat (if you wear one) in it, especially if there’s any question about the weather. Swapping out my shirt and socks for dry ones was a big help and I really wished I’d thrown my extra hat in there, too. Gaiters would have saved a few minutes, too, as I had to stop a couple of times to get pebbles or sticks out of my shoes.

You can’t anticipate everything, so be as prepared as you can and ready to relax and enjoy the ride, too! You’re going to do great!

 

[Baloo in MI]

I want to go to Aulani. I am sure I could find some kind of race down there if that was the requirement.

I need an opinion. It may be pretty obvious but I figured I would ask anyway.

So, I have an appointment with my ankle surgeon on 1/3/19 for my right ankle. But, I was doing more research and found some doctors that specialize in this surgery that are at Mass General (widely considered one of the best hospitals in the world). Do I go with the doctor who did my first ankle, that may or may not have done a decent job (hard to know considering it has hurt since, but I have been able to run on it) or try one of these new doctors?

One of the guys is the team doctor for the US Ski team and Boston College sports. One guy did his under grad at Yale and med school at Harvard, so he might be smart.

And what if they can't get me in for a while. Do I wait for them or take my guy because he will be quicker?

I am leaning toward the Mass General guys. But my ankles hurt, I am currently done running for a while, and I want to get the ball rolling soon.

I know this was a few days ago, but for what it is worth I would recommend going to the specialist even if it takes longer. I know when I had to settle on surgery as the only avenue to fix my injury the first person I saw was able to set a surgery date just a few weeks later. I was very excited to get it done and start the healing process. Then I got a recommendation for a different surgeon who specialized in runners. For him I had to wait two extra week just to see him and then set a surgery date. At the time I felt this would be an eternity and simply ridiculous to even consider. Ended up slowing everything down about 5 weeks but looking back I am glad I waited for the specialist.

So sorry you are having to deal with this again!

Seashore Nature Trail 50k Race Report
TL;DR: 1st 50k finished in 6:23:52. I’m an ultramarathoner!!

View attachment 370085

Congrats!!! Gonna try a 50 miler now?

 

[camaker]

Congrats!!! Gonna try a 50 miler now?

After spending the last few months trying to talk me out of the 50k, that was the first question DW asked after the race was over. At this point, I wouldn’t rule it out, but I’m certainly not surfing race sites looking for one right now. Maybe once the soreness from this one has passed and only the good memories of accomplishment remain I’ll think harder on it. On the plus side, I’m significantly less sore from the ultra than I was after my last marathon, so that’s a point in its favor, right?

 

[Mickey Momma]

Me!! I'm running on a charity team for the March of Dimes. I'm thinking about starting a training journal.

I actually made it in through the lottery! Was fairly shocked when I got the e-mail too. I am also thinking about a journal, but not sure what format it will take yet.

Also, share that fundraising link!

Me...my first "real" marathon and I am so scared.

Me too and totally get what you are saying. But I have to say that after running two WDW marathons and a third as a part of Dopey, someone in my local running life used the phrase “real marathon” on me when I told her I had gotten into Chicago and it rubbed me the wrong way. 26.2 miles is 26.2 miles whether we are stopping for character photos or not!

 

[JulieODC]

Wow, so many impressive race reports! Congrats to all!

Our tradition is also to buy an ornament. I also usually get a mug as well - but sadly, our cupboard is getting a little full, so not sure if this one will carry on!

 

[Waiting2goback]

I know this was a few days ago, but for what it is worth I would recommend going to the specialist even if it takes longer. I know when I had to settle on surgery as the only avenue to fix my injury the first person I saw was able to set a surgery date just a few weeks later. I was very excited to get it done and start the healing process. Then I got a recommendation for a different surgeon who specialized in runners. For him I had to wait two extra week just to see him and then set a surgery date. At the time I felt this would be an eternity and simply ridiculous to even consider. Ended up slowing everything down about 5 weeks but looking back I am glad I waited for the specialist.

So sorry you are having to deal with this again!




Congrats!!! Gonna try a 50 miler now?

My first guy was a specialist, he even used to be a runner. I have the appt with the guy from Mass General. I'll go see what he has to say. At least I have something to compare him to now. He is on 1/2 and my original guy is scheduled for 1/3. So if I don't like the new guy I will keep the 1/3 appt. if I really like the new guy I will cancel my original guy when I leave his appt.

I am not sure how much faith I have in the original guy as my repaired ankle hurts more than ever. I definitely did something to it on my last run. But, in his defense, as my girlfriend points out, he did tell me I shouldn't be doing anything more than a 10k anymore and I have done a full and a 1/2 since. So maybe it's my fault.

Your doctor hasn't limited your distances at all?

How long was your recovery? I am asking because I had a bone cut in my surgery and had a screw in my foot so my recovery was extended because of that. Your will be closer to what I would have this time around. I am concerned if I have the surgery in Feb/March that I might not be ready for walking the parks in April.

 

[LSUlakes]

QOTD: What did you find to be the most difficult part of running when you first started? What do you find to be the most difficult now?

ATTQOTD: When I first started the most difficult thing was to run a single mile without stopping. Today I would say being able to find time to get my runs in are the most difficult. A lot has changed over the years, but I do love to get out there a get some miles in regardless how fast or slow they are these days.

 

[ZellyB]

ATTQOTD: I think just building up distance. Each increased mile seemed insurmountable at first. I still remember clearly the first time I ran 5 miles and thinking, "Wow! I just ran 5 miles. That's the furthest I've ever gone!!" Now I think the most difficult is trying to increase my speed. I'm trying to figure out if maybe I've just sort of hit my best paces and that my age is going to start having a bigger effect on me (54 now) or is it just a mental barrier I've created that I can't seem to overcome.

 

[huskies90]

QOTD: What did you find to be the most difficult part of running when you first started? What do you find to be the most difficult now?

ATTQOTD: I have been running forever so it is difficult to remember when I first started but I would say the 2 most difficult things back then are probably the same as they are today - Getting motivated to get out in cold/bad weather and finding the time to get the run in.

 

[rteetz]

QOTD: What did you find to be the most difficult part of running when you first started? What do you find to be the most difficult now?

Probably the mental hurdle and build up for longer distances. I never thought when I started I would be running a marathon or even considering things like marathon majors or even maybe a tri some day.

 

[camaker]

QOTD: What did you find to be the most difficult part of running when you first started? What do you find to be the most difficult now?

ATTQOTD: The most difficult thing for me when I first started to run was how to occupy my mind constructively during the effort. I've always been a sports-focused person and love chasing a tennis ball or a frisbee or a soccer ball, but got bored quickly without that additional stimulus when running. I think some of my success in overcoming that has been due to settling down as I've aged and finding ways to occupy my mind, like audiobooks. What I'm struggling with right now is motivation. I think all the demotivators all kind of converged on me the last couple of months: mental training fatigue from peak marathon training and then having to maintain it past the race, the early onset of darkness, and the advent of colder weather. It's made it much more difficult to get myself out the door for those mid-week runs. I'm always glad when I did, but to use a chemistry term, the energy of activation to get a run started is much higher right now.

 

[PrincessV]

QOTD: What did you find to be the most difficult part of running when you first started? What do you find to be the most difficult now?

ATTQOTD: I have to break my running "career" up into two time periods: childhood up to distance running, and initial distance running to present. I started "jogging" as a kid when it was a the big craze. The hardest part then was finding super-awesome fancy laces for my Nikes! As a young adult, it was hard to find time between nights out at bars and working as a restaurant server. Later, the hard part was having an infant/toddler, but the treadmill mostly solved that. All of that was short distance - a mile or two at a time, tops. Once I started building distance, the hardest part was adding miles while avoiding injury and learning how to back off once injured; metal strength and determination has never been a problem for me, but stubbornness has!

 

[Barca33Runner]

ATTQOTD: Taking the first step. Always.

 

[QueenFernando]

ATTQOTD: When I first started running I was doing a couch to 10k program. The hardest part was going from a 3min run interval to a 5min interval. I have no idea why that was the hardest because going from 5min to 8min was no big deal. Now the hardest part is always the first 1/2 mile. Warm up is just brutal for me. Everything hurts! Not an injury hurt, but just a "OMG my body is 49 years old" kind of hurt. After that I can get in the zone, and while it might be a tough workout it's never as hard as that first part.

 

[TheHamm]

QOTD: What did you find to be the most difficult part of running when you first started? What do you find to be the most difficult now?

My time horizon for these is not as long as many, but the end points are very different.
When I first started, the biggest hurdle was fear. I was afraid of failing, afraid of falling, afraid I had decided to run a 10K and would not complete it and those around me would see me for the failure I felt to be, afraid I would never be able to keep up with my kids, afraid I would never have the mental boost I had heard about for years. Afraid. It took me longer than I would have imagined to get over fears I knew to be totally irrational.

Now the difficulty is balance. Getting out to go a mile or two is doable, but not on vacation and not when it is icy. Getting out to do 8 miles in the dark? hard. watching the time and going out at lunch? sometimes it does not work. Realizing I need to sip chicken soup and not run? also hard.

ATTQOTD: the energy of activation to get a run started is much higher right now.

Do you find it behaves in a temperature dependent manner?
Let me know if you find a catalyst with a higher turn over frequency!
(sorry, I cannot help myself.)