The Running Thread - 2018

[DopeyBadger]

QOTD: Do you or have you practiced a race? What I mean by that is, have you raced a 5k, 10k, ect that is not actually a race? Why did you? If you have not done this before, why?

Yes, I did in Spring 2017. As an end to my Daniels 10k training, I did some time trials at 5k to test the end result of the training. In three years time, I had improved my 5k PR from 23:36 to 21:02 (10.8% improvement). After 11 weeks of Daniels training, I dropped the PR from 21:02 to 19:30 (7.4% improvement). It was also to aid me in setting up fitness relevant pacing leading into my BQ attempt in October 2017. I measured out the distance via satellite to ensure that GPS accuracy wouldn't be an issue (although the GPS did come out to 3.11 as the satellite mapping suggested). Those two time trial 5ks beat out the actual 5k I did only two weeks later (20:30). Thankfully, I've since beaten that 5k time during the 10k at Disney in 2018 (19:27).

February Training Summary:
(Completed/Scheduled)
Total Running Miles: 6.17 miles
Total Running Time: 54:42 minutes
Total Biking Time: 5:00:00 (pure guess around 85-100 miles)
Average Bike HR: 125/min

Still recovering from my low grade fibula stress fracture. I've got an appointment on 3/12/18 with the hopes of getting an all clear. Then starts the slow process of getting back to where I was. Right now that looks like late-April before I'll be back to normal.

 

[run.minnie.miles]

QOTD: Do you or have you practiced a race? What I mean by that is, have you raced a 5k, 10k, ect that is not actually a race? Why did you? If you have not done this before, why?

I have practiced the distance, but not the "speed" (that's relative). I don't think I can ever replicate the adrenaline/atmosphere of a race to get an accurate time trial.

I've been on this board for years now, and have never laughed out loud at a post....until this one.

I wish I was meaning to be funny...

 

[cavepig]

Here we go:

Before:

After:

He lost his Garter Belt around Mile 2 as it hurt and at that point, he sweated enough for the stockings to stay up.

Oh my gosh how awesome! Love it!!

 

[BikeFan]

Still recovering from my low grade fibula stress fracture. I've got an appointment on 3/12/18 with the hopes of getting an all clear. Then starts the slow process of getting back to where I was. Right now that looks like late-April before I'll be back to normal.

Hope you get all healed up soon! I'm excited to see what you do at Chicago in October!

 

[Sanchez]

February Totals:

Swim: 9.2 miles
Bike: 108 miles
Run: 88.3 miles

Swim is improving but still below standard. Minimal gains on speed but much more relaxed with reduced energy output. Longer days and better weather will help to up the bike mileage. Run mileage low with two reduced mileage weeks following half marathon. That took longer to recover from than expected.

Upcoming
3/2: 5k Run. Goal 20:30 - this is a training run.
3/10: Sprint Tri. Goal 1:04:00. 500m/10mi/5k
4/7: 10k Run. Goal 43:15

 

[kleph]

February total: 63.4 miles.

 

[PrincessV]

QOTD: I am curious about everyone's race day routines. For a typical race how many hours before the race do you start your day? For Disney races with the very early starts, do you adjust that time frame?

ATTQOTD: I mostly run WDW races, so I'll just use that as an example, and assume a 5:30am start, staying offsite...
Get up at 1:45am
Wash face (helps me wake up), get dressed
Eat breakfast: oatmeal and coffee
Finish preparations and leave room at 3:15am

So I get up about 1.5 hours before needing to leave for the race.

QOTD: Do you or have you practiced a race? What I mean by that is, have you raced a 5k, 10k, ect that is not actually a race? Why did you? If you have not done this before, why?

ATTQOTD: Kind of... in preparation for racing a 10K for time, I'll do a final "long" run of 5-6 miles and do 4 of those miles at or near race pace. I do it to determine A. if my expected race pace is realistic, and B. if the shoes I think I'll wear are really the right ones for the job.

 

[camaker]

ATTQOTD: I've never run a practice race. I trust the training and then go out and see what I can do. I'd be a little worried about getting injured during the practice race, too, and then end up either not being able to run the goal race or at least not at my full capability.

February Total:
Running mileage: 0.0

I spent all of February resting my shin issue. Fortunately, it's not a stress fracture like @DopeyBadger, but the soft tissue inflammation around the mid-tibia has been extremely slow to resolve. I've also been a little scared to go back out and run on it despite the doctor clearing me last Friday. Current plan is to test it out this weekend. I don't know how many miles I've put in on the elliptical, but hopefully they'll pay off in a quick return to form once I get back out there.

 

[Dis5150]

February miles - 90 after my 4 mile run today. Would have been 125.5 if I hadn't missed more than a week being sick!

 

[MissLiss279]

ATTQOTD: I’ve ran the local race half route prior to training, but I don’t think I’ve ever ran the mileage of a race at race pace. Haven’t felt the need to, I guess??

February totals:
Mileage: 141.0
Time: 22:02

 

[cburnett11]

ATTQOTD: I've never tried a practice race.

Feb totals:
Total Miles: 183.6
Total Time: 29:14:58
Average Pace: 9:34 min/mile

 

[Capang]

ATTQOTD: yep. I've done 5k practice races and a 10k as well even though I haven't raced that distance yet. For me I need to do that for confidence.

 

[PCFriar80]

February Totals:
Add me to the list of 0 miles, thanks to hernia repair surgery. After this latest post surgical discomfort and recovery time I take back all of those bad things I said about a sore calf and tight hamstring. I'll take those any day! Doctor's appt. tomorrow and hopefully back running by Daylight Savings Time. I'm going to need that extra hour!

 

[rteetz]

QOTD: Do you or have you practiced a race? What I mean by that is, have you raced a 5k, 10k, ect that is not actually a race? Why did you? If you have not done this before, why

Never really have. I have practiced several distances at race paces in training but not really a real race run through. It's just never seemed extremely necessary for me. Most of my races are Disney and I know I will run those differently than I would a local race.

 

[jennamfeo]

ATTQOTD: I have never done a practice race. It just doesn't seem like something I would need or want to do.

February Totals:
Miles Ran – 92.4
Total Time – 17:27:15
Average Pace - 11:20/mi
Miles Swam - .7 miles

Less running this month because taper week, but still happy with my numbers. Only missed ONE scheduled run and it was during taper week so I was okay with it. I am ready for March!

 

[BikeFan]

ATTQOTD: I've never done a practice race. For me personally, it's just impossible to replicate the good (the excitement and crowd energy) and bad (pre-race jitters!) of race day, so I don't bother. One thing every runner should do, though, is practice running in your race day clothing, especially for the distance you expect to race. I've found that some clothing which is perfectly fine for a 5K will start chafing at the longer distances. That's something you definitely want to know before race day, so you can pick an outfit that's going to be comfortable the whole race.

February miles: 206 so far, plus whatever I run tonight.

 

[michigandergirl]

ATTQOTD: Nope, I've never done a practice race either and agree with @BikeFan, I don't think you can plan ahead for what race day is going to be like.

February miles: 103.2

 

[kywyldcat03]

Total 2018 Miles: 227.09 miles
Total 2018 Time: 36:56:05
Total Feb Miles: 116.70 miles
Total Feb Time: 17:53:17

Training smarter and finally incorporating speed work thanks to @DopeyBadger! My numbers are improving all around thanks to his guidance!

 

[cavepig]

What's funny is we always called cross country and track in high school "practice", so yes I've practiced runs, but come race day I run different cause there's other people to motivate. To me training and practice are kind of the same. Of course I don't run a full marathon as practice before, but 5ks, 10ks and even the half I will 'practice' it.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

ATTQOTD: I've never had a practice race per se, but I do use long runs to test various things out. I usually follow the Galloway plan which calls for a 14 mile long run 2 weeks before the race. Since my first 10K came after my first half, I already knew that the distance would not be a problem.

As a new runner, I found knowing that I could go longer than race distance useful from the mental side of things. More experience has helped me understand that I do not need to match or go beyond the race distance in training, which helps me not stress when life necessitates adjusting training runs downward.