The Running Thread - 2018

[TheHamm]

Question: I am traveling for work to a place I have been before, and there were no sidewalks near the hotel which had a broken treadmill. The hotel staff have historically been unhelpful identifying other locations to run. There is a local Fleet Feet which has a free evening group run. The closest thing I have done to a 'group run' is a race. I mostly want a route and if I am really lucky a bathroom or water fountain identified. I am wondering if it would be weird to show up in hope that that they at least have a mapped out route with a trail or sidewalk. Is it worth cutting my coworkers useless yapping after the meeting short to make the free run?

Alternatively, does anyone from MD know of a safe place to run near Gaithersburg? I kept finding web pages about murders in Rock Creek park so I am a bit apprehensive of it.

 

[jennamfeo]

ATYQOTD: My whole city is a hill. All my races are hills. All I know are hills.

ATTQOTD: The only stops I do on my long runs are at stop lights. Otherwise, I am just trying to do the whole thing in one fell swoop.

ATBQOTD: @run.minnie.miles I have been eyeballing goodr sunnies and have heard nothing but great things about them! I will probably end up getting some soon, but @KSellers88 those Knockaround sunnies are cute too. Ugh.

 

[Chaitali]

Question: I am traveling for work to a place I have been before, and there were no sidewalks near the hotel which had a broken treadmill. The hotel staff have historically been unhelpful identifying other locations to run. There is a local Fleet Feet which has a free evening group run. The closest thing I have done to a 'group run' is a race. I mostly want a route and if I am really lucky a bathroom or water fountain identified. I am wondering if it would be weird to show up in hope that that they at least have a mapped out route with a trail or sidewalk. Is it worth cutting my coworkers useless yapping after the meeting short to make the free run?

Alternatively, does anyone from MD know of a safe place to run near Gaithersburg? I kept finding web pages about murders in Rock Creek park so I am a bit apprehensive of it.

I often run the trail in Rock Creek Park with friends but I agree that I wouldn't do it alone. How long of a run are you thinking? There are routes on Fleet Foot's site and the Kentlands is a neighborhood area and I would think of it as pretty safe. http://www.fleetfeetgaithersburg.com/resources/running-routes

If you're ok with running loops, there is a shopping center in Gaithersburg with a paved path (a bit less than a mile) around a lake that's nice and pretty safe because there are usually people around. http://www.mapmyrun.com/us/gaithersburg-md/around-the-lake-at-washingtonian-center-route-55237648

 

[chuckille]

ATTQOTD: I won’t stop during my long runs, barring a bathroom break.

I have 2 pairs of Goodr glasses. They are fashionable, don’t bounce during runs, and best of all super cheap. $25 for the original style and $35 for the larger frames. I have the Donkey Goggles color (orange) and I wear them all the time.

 

[roxymama]

ATTQOTD: I try not to stop. I have a lot of "stopping for traffic lights" opportunities where I run. So if it's just an easy day then I will hit pause on the watch if it's looking like an especially long wait. Or I'll do the run down the sidewalk a little and come back trick. For long runs I tend to let the watch run and just chalk it up to what a water stop or potty stop may do to my time (Or the eventual extra mileage of a race.)
I tend to carry water bottles and refill at drinking fountains and have been known to slow up when eating my goo shots. But again, I'll just let the watch run and it shows in my pace for that mile...cause in a race I can't hit pause. Even though I'd love to.
For blind runs I run in a one mile square around my neighborhood in the direction where I can make left turns and never cross a big street. I did that once for a 10 miler way back in the day. Eek

 

[baxter24]

ATTQOTD: I never stop during long runs except for a bathroom break or the occasional crosswalk signal.

@run.minnie.miles - I have two pairs of Goodr sunglasses and love them! Love all the colors and the prices.

 

[michigandergirl]

ATTQOTD: I like to drink a lot of coffee on weekend mornings before my long runs, so it's inevitable I will have to stop for a bathroom break at some point, but other than that I don't typically take any breaks.

 

[KSellers88]

@MissLiss279 @PrincessV @run.minnie.miles @baxter24 @rteetz @chuckille and @jennamfeo, y'all are making me want to buy more sunglasses now. Just checked out their website, please someone stop me. Disconnect the internet or something!

 

[OldSlowGoofyGuy]

Is it worth cutting my coworkers useless yapping after the meeting short...?

Does it even matter what the second part of the question is? The answer is Yes.

 

[apdebord]

ATTQOTD: I do intervals, so yes and no. On long runs I wear my hydration vest so I'm good to go; if I stopped and went inside the house I probably would not go back out. Occasionly I will leave water on the porch just in case.

 

[FFigawi]

QOTD: Do you take break during your long run? If so how long does it last before you start running again?

Nope. I don't count refueling and refilling bottles as breaks. They're more an opportunity for sweat to soak directly into my shoes so they'll make that lovely "squish" sound for the rest of the run.

 

[PrincessV]

ATTQOTD addendum: aka, "Why I Pause my App When I Have to Stop for Street Lights"... on one 20-mile training run, I had the worst red light luck, and most of our lights have cycles of 5 minutes or more. iSmoothRun tells me my total time actually moving vs. total time including pauses - and I clocked 40+ minutes of pausing for red lights. FORTY minutes! My pace data would be ludicrously off base had I not paused the app!

 

[ZellyB]

@MissLiss279 @PrincessV @run.minnie.miles @baxter24 @rteetz @chuckille and @jennamfeo, y'all are making me want to buy more sunglasses now. Just checked out their website, please someone stop me. Disconnect the internet or something!

Um, yes to all of this!! The shopping enabling of the Dis strikes again!

 

[LilyJC]

@DopeyBadger told me to do T-pace runs on a flat course. I went to the local high school track. It's flat, but pretty darn monotonous if you're going to be there for a long time. (Also, curiously, my Garmin told me one end of the track is 17 ft higher than the other, giving a pleasant sine-curve to my elevation graph. It's hard to believe the track is really that tilted, but I got the same thing with two different runs.)

Billy definitely told me to do the same, but I'm ridiculous and thought, "oh, it'll be just fine..." Not fun! Today's T-pace session was much better on a different route, but still not quite flat. I do have a really nice high school track right near my house, but they aren't keen on allowing the community to use it. And my oldest would be mortified if I got busted for trespassing the year before she starts school there.

That's so strange that your track is tilted! Hopefully they don't use the location for big track meets! And good luck with your DopeyBadger plan! I'm having fun with mine!

 

[TheHamm]

I often run the trail in Rock Creek Park with friends but I agree that I wouldn't do it alone. How long of a run are you thinking? There are routes on Fleet Foot's site and the Kentlands is a neighborhood area and I would think of it as pretty safe. http://www.fleetfeetgaithersburg.com/resources/running-routes

If you're ok with running loops, there is a shopping center in Gaithersburg with a paved path (a bit less than a mile) around a lake that's nice and pretty safe because there are usually people around. http://www.mapmyrun.com/us/gaithersburg-md/around-the-lake-at-washingtonian-center-route-55237648

Thanks! I was wondering about Kentlands as I think it is the neighborhood I got lost in last trip and thought it was sleepy but looked nice enough. I was hoping for 5 miles, but maybe I just figure out how to do 6. Although if I run loops I can end at the theater for Infinity War so that has some appeal as well....

Does it even matter what the second part of the question is? The answer is Yes.

One of the greatest skills I learned in grad school was sitting through seminars and looking completely engaged and then asking a question at the end. This has served me well as it allows me to tolerate (not enjoy!) the useless yammering.

 

[LilyJC]

QOTD: Do you take break during your long run?

I can't stand stopping for anything during my long runs. I've been fortunate to never have to stop for a bathroom break, but I guess lights do count during training runs and Ragnar races.

Random Question... has anyone tried "Goodr" sunglasses?? Thoughts?

The majority of the ladies in my city's local MRTT chapter use Goodr sunglasses and absolutely love them!

and I clocked 40+ minutes of pausing for red lights. FORTY minutes!

40 minutes!!!! That's madness! I won't complain about my stops anymore....

 

[TheHamm]

Um, yes to all of this!! The shopping enabling of the Dis strikes again!

Things I have bought due to this board include: Better shoes, feetures and balega socks, compression socks, a running hat (not loving it), a visor (not here yet), winter running pants, and I am considering purchasing a sparkle skirt and a garmin because my fitbit is on its way out. I will also be referencing previous posts as there was something about hydration and I thought I was going to lick plants for water running this afternoon- and it is only 72 degrees out there! I am afraid to click on some of the links on this page, not because they are inappropriate but because I will buy something else!

 

[hauntedcity]

Random Question... has anyone tried "Goodr" sunglasses?? Thoughts?

I have five pair in different colors.

Okay, so it's not as crazy as it sounds.... I bought three of them a few years back when they did a Kickstarter. I bought 2 (black/black, and black/blue) and got a third pair for free. The PROBLEM was that in designing my outfits for Dopey last year, those didn't really fit the theme. So, of course, I HAD to get blue frames with yellow lenses to match my Donald costume for the half, right? AND THEN AND THEN AND THEN, I couldn't very well wear THOSE with my Dopey-themed outfit for the full marathon, so I HAD to get purple frames with green lenses, right? I said, RIGHT?

Okay, so maybe it is as crazy as it sounds. As a recent Lasik person, I'm able to wear actual sunglasses for the first time since 1986, so I may (just MAY) have gone a bit overboard.

Anyway, I like them a lot. I have a couple more expensive pairs (I DON'T have a problem), but I usually use the Goodrs, because they are cheap, comfortable, and I like the look.

 

[cavepig]

I don't plan for breaks during long runs, but if for some reason I need to I will, like the bathroom. Practicing character stopping I guess would be smart for training though, maybe. But, like if I run into someone and start chatting, it's hard to get going again so I avoid breaking if possible.

 

[FFigawi]

ATTQOTD addendum: aka, "Why I Pause my App When I Have to Stop for Street Lights"... on one 20-mile training run, I had the worst red light luck, and most of our lights have cycles of 5 minutes or more. iSmoothRun tells me my total time actually moving vs. total time including pauses - and I clocked 40+ minutes of pausing for red lights. FORTY minutes! My pace data would be ludicrously off base had I not paused the app!

No auto-pause feature?