The Running Thread - 2018

[Waiting2goback]

QOTD: Lets stay with the current discussion about running in the heat today. Even if you do not run during the hottest part of the day, it isnt uncommon especially for those of us along the gulf coast to wake up to temps near 80 and high RH% or late afternoon temps still very warm. What are some things you do or would suggest to others to make these runs safe and avoid potential health issues?

ATTQOTD: Staying hydrated is the single most important thing I would suggest! Drink plenty of water and a sports drink here and there. The time of day of morning vs afternoon each have its + and -, you just have to pick your poison. Run in singlets or moisture wicking shirts and have access to water along your route is really the best option IMO. I'll add I am not above running through someones sprinkler system for a quick cool off lol. For those who have a pool, I think it would be glorious to run a nice little 5 miler and continue running right into the backyard and cannon ball into the pool on a hot day! Shoes removed at the last moment of course.

During the hot weather I drink water constantly because it helps keep your cells hydrated, I also try to run in shaded areas if the sun is still out. Luckily in my area a lot of the streets I run on area covered by trees. And, if it is really hot I mike ride my bike so there is a breeze to keep me cool while doing my workout.

@Waiting2goback - I love your daily inspirational posts!

ATTQOTD: In the summer is statistically when I give up on training because of the heat. Let's see how well I do on my training plan that has me going from next week until September. Hahaha. @PrincessV had some great tips that I will definitely incorporate (especially the bandanna trick!). Also, @LSUlakes idea of jumping immediately into the pool afterwards -- I already discussed with my husband that after my long runs on the weekends I will probably go directly into the lake to cool off. I bought a hydration belt to prepare for these hot summer months. Basically my game plan is: early mornings, lots of water & nuun, cool down in the lake or pool, and take it inside if I need to (thank you gym membership).

Thanks. I used to do them last year but then life got crazy. Now that I am back and focused on my running again it is a nice part of my day as well.

 

[Waiting2goback]

 

[Sailormoon2]

@Sleepless Knight what a great race report! I have not done Dark Side yet, but it always sounds like it has the best character stops, of course it could be that I am just a huge Star Wars fan!! For what it's worth, if you can do 3 races at Disney you can Dopey! So long as you do the Marathon training in advance. One more early morning won't hurt

 

[LSUlakes]

QOTD: What brought you to running and is that reason the same today?

ATTQOTD: Simply put I was fat and I did not want to be that way. I knew running and diet would be the easiest way to solve that problem. I never thought I would do anything over a 10k, but it's funny how things change. For a while I was running for goals of PR's and new distances. Now, I am running for the reason I first started out, because I am getting fat... and I want to run another marathon.

 

[camaker]

QOTD: What brought you to running and is that reason the same today?

I started running after a significant weight loss. Initially, I went back to playing Ultimate Frisbee, but my PT asked me to run a Disney race with him. I thought I was crazy to even consider running a half marathon, but after the first 10k I ran (as a PoT) I was hooked. My first RunDisney event was Marathon weekend in 2016. I ran the 10k + Goofy, which included my 3rd half marathon and 1st marathon after starting to run seriously in early 2015.

Now I run because I love to run and because I like to eat a little more than I should. It’s also easier on the joints than Ultimate. Hopefully this year will include my 20th half marathon and 5th marathon.

 

[Capang]

ATTQOTD: Earlier in my life I dabbled in running, elementary school cross country, a couple years of running in college. But more recently I was fat and wanted to get my steps for the day in faster. I love to walk, but once upon a time walking a mile was nearly a 30 minute endeavor and I walked 4 to 6 miles at a pop. 3 hour walks 4 times a week were killing me. Eventually, I started to try and jog some of those miles. I discovered Galloway and decided to train for a 5k. Trained for the 5k and had a blast running it. Now my motivation is to run longer distances and participate in as many runDisney events as my bank account will allow.

 

[apdebord]

ATTQOTD: Oooohhh good question. I’ll try to keep myself edited so this doesn’t turn into a rambling therapy session.

I started cheerleading in 6th grade and continued through college. We always had running incorporated into practices and workouts, so after graduation I continued to do a few miles each week as part of my exercise routine. I didn’t think about racing until my husband started training for his first marathon. Something I love and hate about him is that when he’s interested in something he is all in and it kind of consumes his life. So, his training became his top priority. About a month before his marathon, I decided that I would sign up for my first race, Wine and Dine Half 2014. So in short, my decision to start doing races was to share an interest with him.

A week after his race, I fractured my tibia and heel so no training for me for 3ish months. It was hard to sit on the sidelines and watch his interest grow and feeling excluded. When I was cleared, he was awesome and did all my long runs with me. His sights soon moved onto ultras, so we do not run together too often anymore. We do Disney races together, so he will try to run with me before those so he can train with my intervals and pace. I still really look forward to running with him and sharing that time together, so I think about 49% of me still runs because of him, the other 51% runs because I like it and it’s a great healthy outlet. Sometimes that 49% involves some insecurities, like proving to his ultra running “friends” that I am a real runner; I won’t go down that overly dramatic road.

We will be able to run together this weekend! He is running the Devil Dog Double Challenge at the Marine Corps Historic Half (5 Miler straight into the half) and I’m just doing the half. So he will start his 5 miles 20 minutes before the half starts. He said he’s going to try to PR the 5-Miler then keep pushing until he finds me on the Half course. I’ve been down with a virus for the last 5 days so I’m sure I’ll be needing his encouragement to finish on Sunday, so I’m really looking forward to running with him.

 

[Dis5150]

Super busy at work as my boss and my assistant went on vacation at the same time so I am doing everyone's job! But just wanted to comment on the last couple of QOTD.

I run after work and it is always hot this time of year. I try to run in the shade and slow down.

For my marathon in Waco I carried a water bottle in my pocket. My thinking was that as a new race there was a possibility that they would run out of water for us back of the pack people. What I should have carried was Gatorade in that bottle as they didn't start handing that out until about mile 10. Insane in May in Texas! But they were new. I poured water over my head at every stop and drank water, then water and gatorade when it was offered. I tried to find shade, even if I just ran in it for a few seconds. But what I didn't do was slow down early in the race because 1. I wanted a PR and 2. I thought I wouldn't finish by their 6 hour cut off (they ended up letting everyone finish so I would have been ok.) Looking back I was not smart. I should have quit when I was having chills, sweating and throwing up. Honestly my brain was so foggy it was all a blur. My summer running will be much smarter and I won't be pushing it at all. Even if that means sacrificing my goal times for my November marathon (#4/5). Be careful out there!

 

[PrincessV]

QOTD: What brought you to running and is that reason the same today?

ATTQOTD: Running, in general, started when I was in elementary school and the jogging craze hit. It was probably more about wearing Nikes and super-cool terrycloth jogging shorts, but I'd go out and jog around the neighborhood. Racing is far more recent and started after seeing the tail end of the WDW marathon while at DHS; I had no idea "normal" people could/did races like that! My reasons for running have mostly been about it feeling good, and that's the same today.

 

[Keels]

For my marathon in Waco I carried a water bottle in my pocket. My thinking was that as a new race there was a possibility that they would run out of water for us back of the pack people. What I should have carried was Gatorade in that bottle as they didn't start handing that out until about mile 10. Insane in May in Texas!

People from my run group were talking about that race this morning and how disappointed they were in overall logistics - things like you mentioned, which stinks because for a race in freakin' Waco it certainly wasn't cheap.

 

[Dis5150]

Lastly keep in mind that if you go into heat distress you are not always keenly aware of it. Pay very good attention to yourself or even better run with someone else. Then you can keep an eye on each other and help if needed.

This time 100! That is exactly how I was and no one was around me to see.

People from my run group were talking about that race this morning and how disappointed they were in overall logistics - things like you mentioned, which stinks because for a race in freakin' Waco it certainly wasn't cheap.

No, it wasn't cheap! We had fun on the trip but I will only run the half going forward and only if they acknowledge that they are changing things for the better. I give them some slack as it was their first attempt at a race but they should have hired a race director that had a clue what to do.

 

[rteetz]

QOTD: What brought you to running and is that reason the same today?

Disney and yes Disney....

 

[Sailormoon2]

ATTQOTD: I started running in my late teens/early twenties as a way to quit smoking. I had already started losing weight from being an overweight child, but wasn't quite motivated to kick the habit simply from going to the gym. Needing my lungs to improve for cardio endurance was an effective motivator. As a competitive person (with myself, not really others) once I discovered racing I have been hooked ever since. I LOVE the feeling, the mental health boost, the ability to eat a few more desserts and drink a few more glasses of wine and of course THE BLING!!!

 

[michigandergirl]

ATTQOTD: I started running to lose some baby weight. It's been 13 years since I've had a baby, and yes, I'm still trying to lose that weight, but that's not really the main reason why I run. I would say it's more for the overall mental & physical health benefits, and making goals and being competitive.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

@Sleepless Knight what a great race report! I have not done Dark Side yet, but it always sounds like it has the best character stops, of course it could be that I am just a huge Star Wars fan!! For what it's worth, if you can do 3 races at Disney you can Dopey! So long as you do the Marathon training in advance. One more early morning won't hurt

Thanks. I'm threatening to post a more detailed race report in my training journal, but anyone who has read that knows I'm very good about starting race reports, but not so good about finishing them. I appreciate the vote of confidence on Dopey. I'm reasonably sure I want to run the Walt Disney World Marathon. I'm now trying to decide between devoting my entire stay to running or just Goofy.

QOTD: What brought you to running and is that reason the same today?

ATTQOTD: Simply put I was fat and I did not want to be that way. I knew running and diet would be the easiest way to solve that problem. I never thought I would do anything over a 10k, but it's funny how things change. For a while I was running for goals of PR's and new distances. Now, I am running for the reason I first started out, because I am getting fat... and I want to run another marathon.

I visited Disneyland during the 2008 and 2009 Half Marathon weekends. In 2009, I finally asked a couple wearing their medals about the race. Not only did they assure me that a non runner was fully capable of doing a half marathon, but they gave me a brief overview of how I could do it and explained that the training was not, in fact, impossible. I wish I could see them again and thank them.

Disney and yes Disney....

My Disneyland geek really wanted that Sleeping Beauty Castle medal from Disneyland. That was the hook. While my first half was a difficult experience, I did not despise it and had such great time that I came back for more the next year. Race number two was substantially more fun. I've yet to run outside of Disneyland and Disney World, but that may happen some day.

 

[cavepig]

I started running for high school cross country because my older siblings were in it, why did they pick CC, I don't really remember the why. (I could say middle school track was when I began but really I don't know if that counts). Today I run for health, Disney races (& nonDisney too I suppose) & because I really enjoy the escape it gives me & challenging myself.

 

[rteetz]

My Disneyland geek really wanted that Sleeping Beauty Castle medal from Disneyland. That was the hook. While my first half was a difficult experience, I did not despise it and had such great time that I came back for more the next year. Race number two was substantially more fun. I've yet to run outside of Disneyland and Disney World, but that may happen some day.

Disney is what started me as it was an excuse to go to WDW for vacation. Disney keeps me running as a lot of local races don't interest me. I am much more looking at destination races outside of Disney now.

 

[FredtheDuck]

I started running after my husband finished his first half marathon. He got so trim and was so into it, and I was decidedly not as trim as I wanted to be. So I thought running would be something we could do together and that along the way, I'd drop some weight. We ran together a lot when I first got started, and for all of our LRs and my first half marathon last year. Nowadays we don't run together terribly often anymore (different paces, different LR days, etc.), but it's still a shared interest that we can talk about and can provide support/encouragement/empathy about, so I really value that.

Why do I run now? Habit, I guess? Because I feel better on days that I run? Because I've lost some weight but still have some to go, and at the very least want to keep things in check? Because I like beer and pizza? Because I've surprised myself—mostly to the upside—with how I've grown as a runner (huge thanks to @DopeyBadger for that), but know that I've got a lot of room to improve and want to see where that leads me? I'm not sure. Most days my calendar just says run, so I do.

 

[Dis5150]

ATTQOTD: DD28 aka @LikelyLynae wanted to do a Disney run and wanted me to do it with her. Now it is something I (mostly) enjoy and we still love going to Disney to run.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

Disney is what started me as it was an excuse to go to WDW for vacation. Disney keeps me running as a lot of local races don't interest me. I am much more looking at destination races outside of Disney now.

For me it's very much about the experience of running through the parks. There's a lot to see that helps distract me from whatever random minor ache that my body is using to try and convince me to stop. I enjoy seeing all the costumes and have come a long way from that first early morning wakeup call when I thought all the people with boundless energy cheering loudly were completely insane.

Plus depending on when a race occurs, it could provide the benefit of running through parks during certain times of year. Avengers allowed you to run through Disneyland decorated for Christmas. Wine & Dine 2012 offered the same for Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Epcot. Star Wars Walt Disney World takes place during Flower and Garden.