The Running Thread - 2018

[Miranda]

So - interesting topic came up after our big group ride tonight. We're registering as a bike club for a local triathlon in July, and this year they're offering Athena/Clydesdale category registration, and the criterias are AGGRESSIVE ... 180 for men, 140 for women. Almost all of the gals (with two exceptions) would be well within the criteria - and over half of the guys would meet it as well.

We talked over this for at least an hour and came to no definitive conclusion ... would YOU register for a weight-related category when signing up for a race?

In this case, signing up for Athena/Clydesdale also is discounted by $15 compared to general age group registration. They don't differentiate on your body marking when you're participating in these categories, but if nobody enters, it's almost a guaranteed podium finish. I know the theory is that larger bodies expend more energy and thus should be compared to like-sized bodies.

I usually sign up for the Athena division if they have one. I'm not really sure why, as I'm not going to podium either in my age group or the Athena one. A $15 discount would just be an extra bonus!

 

[JBinORL]

Just to provide a different perspective, I had an Apple Watch Series 2 and hated it. I found the Garmin did pretty much everything for running better than the AW did, especially without requiring special additional apps for things like intervals. The Garmin Connect app provides a seamless enough interface with my iPhone for my running data and I don't need all day fitness tracking. I've got a stable of everyday watches that I wear and found that I missed them due to having to wear the AW all the time. I sold the AW to a coworker and have never had the slightest feeling of regret, remorse or loss for the lack of it. If you hate the loss of your AW, sell the Vivo and get a Series 3. You're not going to lose much by trying the different approach.

I was the exact same. I had the Series 2, used it a few times and realized it couldn't compare to a Garmin Forerunner. So I sold it and went back to the 235 (now on

 

[SheHulk]

So - interesting topic came up after our big group ride tonight. We're registering as a bike club for a local triathlon in July, and this year they're offering Athena/Clydesdale category registration, and the criterias are AGGRESSIVE ... 180 for men, 140 for women. Almost all of the gals (with two exceptions) would be well within the criteria - and over half of the guys would meet it as well.

We talked over this for at least an hour and came to no definitive conclusion ... would YOU register for a weight-related category when signing up for a race?

In this case, signing up for Athena/Clydesdale also is discounted by $15 compared to general age group registration. They don't differentiate on your body marking when you're participating in these categories, but if nobody enters, it's almost a guaranteed podium finish. I know the theory is that larger bodies expend more energy and thus should be compared to like-sized bodies.

Anybody who looks at me would know I don't weigh less than 140 pounds but I still don't think I could bring myself to sign up for the Athena class. I'm not fooling anybody but it's just been so ingrained in me since childhood to be ashamed of my weight, I couldn't do it. I also think I am stupid for it and why not get the discount and a class prize if you can?

 

[DopeyBadger]

QOTD: If something goes wrong during a race (fall, injury creeping back, watch not coming on, bunny not on track, GI issue, out of breath...) what are your in race recovery strategies? Your pace adjustment strategies? Your positive thoughts to snap out of it?
Todays question is a suggestion by a fellow poster. Thanks for the suggestion!

ATTQOTD: Like you, I realize adversity is bound to happen during the race. One of the first things I do is try and avoid those scenarios as much as possible. Practice the clothing, the shoes, the nutrition, avoid passing in compromised locations, etc. One of the biggest for me is racing blind to pace. I really stuggle mentally dealing with a bad split or the pace slipping. So I've found that removing that piece of race day feedback keeps me much happier. I trust myself. I know I'm doing the best I can on that particular race day. So whatever the mystery time ends up being so be it. I'll leave the evaluation of race day decisions and occurrences until after the race is over.

Positivity and mental mindset can (and in my belief of the Psychobiological Model of Endurance and Motivational Intensity Theory) and do play a significant role in race day performance. Recent research shows smiling during the race can be beneficial. Kipchoge is commonly seen smiling at the end of the race. It serves two purposes. One a genuine smile keeps you in a positive mindset and releases endorphins thus making the perception of effort lower and the race seem easier. Two, a genuine smile also releases some tension in the face whereby you end up more relaxed throughout the body. This relaxed running style allows the body to move more fluidly. Certainly easier said than done to smile in the late stages of a race or a hard training day. I try to aim to relax my face so that it feels like a bowl of jelly. Super relaxed jaw.

 

[huskies90]

QOTD: If something goes wrong during a race (fall, injury creeping back, watch not coming on, bunny not on track, GI issue, out of breath...) what are your in race recovery strategies? Your pace adjustment strategies? Your positive thoughts to snap out of it?
Todays question is a suggestion by a fellow poster. Thanks for the suggestion!

ATTQOTD: This is always my fear during a race, mostly that my calf or hamstring will pop and I will have to withdrawn. So far, I haven't really had official time goals, only to finish so this may change over time. I have dealt with minor challenges during a race (stomach pains, starting out too fast) and for the most part, I just do my best to deal with it.

I want to love the Apple Watch, I'm an Apple girl (my desktop is a Windows machine for gaming but my laptop is a Macbook and I have an iPhone and iPad), but I just have not read enough good things about it as an exercise watch. Someone in my running group was running with the Series 2 one a while, and it was always telling her crazy things like we'd run 16 miles when it was maybe 10-11. Plus it seemed like there wasn't a good way to sync it to Strava like there is with the Garmin.

I don't use Strava so I can't comment on the sync, but I have a Nike Apple Series 3 with LTE and I have been happy with it. I don't know if the 3 has a better GPS than the 2, but it has been very accurate with my miles and I have never had it tell me i have run 16 miles when it has been 11. It has always tracked exactly how I map it out on google maps. I am sure there are better watches for running but the Apple Watch has all the tracking stuff I need including heart rate and elevation. But is so much more than a running watch and I use it for so much outside of running. For running, the interface is amazing and with the LTE, I can stream music through Apple Music to bluetooth earbuds which I love - no more ipod with corded earbuds. Not to mention getting the latest weather and radar when I am out on a run. And while I don't answer calls or texts WHILE I am running, I usually do as soon as I stop which has come in handy many times. Since I run on busy streets there is always a chance I can have some accident or even if I get injured I can call for help. Since I rarely ran with my phone previously, this is a huge plus. And my wife can track me on her iphone if she is wondering how close I am. Like I said, there a better running watches for sure, but if you are an apple girl/guy, I think it is worth considering.

 

[jmasgat]

ATTQOTD: To quote an old work training program I took, when something goes off in a race it's time to "release the outcome", i.e. don't fixate on that end point/goal of what you wanted. So during Goofy 2013, when I lined up at the start of the marathon and my IT band hurt from my first step, or during one year's half, when I had a rather unfortunate GI issue, the only thing to do is just adjust. So Goofy 2013 was a race where I stopped for every character out there, which I never do.

I will say that I have been fortunate not to have something happen in a race where I really cared about the outcome. I'm sure I would be one angry person if something happened in an important goal race.

 

[FFigawi]

QOTD: If something goes wrong during a race (fall, injury creeping back, watch not coming on, bunny not on track, GI issue, out of breath...) what are your in race recovery strategies? Your pace adjustment strategies? Your positive thoughts to snap out of it?
Todays question is a suggestion by a fellow poster. Thanks for the suggestion!

In most races, something will go wrong. I find the best with to deal with any issues is to acknowledge them and move on. Dwelling on them or spending too much mental energy on them detracts from your overall goal. If your pace slipped for one mile, it's better to say "yes, it slipped. Ok, time to refocus and get back on track," than "OMG, it slipped. I'm 22 seconds behind. I have to address this here and now and aahhhhhhh!"

 

[sylkai]

ATTQOTD: I just kind of let things go? I haven't really had anything majorly go wrong though, or had a serious goal race. My main focus on the first several were just to get through them. That's changing now, but I tend to go into a race with multiple goals and can shift approaches between them reasonably well. I'm always worried about the potential for issues so by the time it's mile 12 and nothing has popped up I'm pretty happy and that makes it easier to push through the end.

I had intended to push for a PR at the Dark Side Half in April since I had a friend pacing me, but the weather (read: humidity) put that out of reach, something I knew before the race started. So it was easy to just switch to the mindset of running it for fun and enjoying the experience together, since running with someone was a new thing for me. (Also it doesn't hurt that I had just set a PR the week before at the half distance.)

 

[jennamfeo]

The Apple Watch Triathlete is a great resource for people who want to learn more about how to train and race with their Apple Watch. He covers more than just triathlons.

That's a super fun website with tons of information. Thanks!

Just to provide a different perspective, I had an Apple Watch Series 2 and hated it. I found the Garmin did pretty much everything for running better than the AW did, especially without requiring special additional apps for things like intervals. The Garmin Connect app provides a seamless enough interface with my iPhone for my running data and I don't need all day fitness tracking. I've got a stable of everyday watches that I wear and found that I missed them due to having to wear the AW all the time. I sold the AW to a coworker and have never had the slightest feeling of regret, remorse or loss for the lack of it. If you hate the loss of your AW, sell the Vivo and get a Series 3. You're not going to lose much by trying the different approach.

The price difference of the Vivo 3 vs Series 3 was a big selling point to me. Plus the Vivo was prettier. I feel like I will be okay, but I can always return or sell my Vivo and just stay with my current AW, if I regret.

I'm actually the opposite - this is my first smartwatch, and I'm worried that it's going to be too distracting having all of that stuff coming up on my wrist. I dont need to be looking at texts or messing with my music or whatever while running.
It's funny how the same watch can lead to two totally opposite fears.

Hopefully we'll both end up loving it.

Haha, I remember how weird it was when I first got a smart watch getting notifications all the time. I since turned off most of them. Getting a text during running isn't too annoying, I can swipe it away pretty easily. You get used to things like that. I hope the Garmin is more workout related and less smartphone extension, if that makes sense.

I don’t miss my Apple Watch. I never used it to text, answer my phone or for running. I also found the apps that I used on my phone didn’t work as well on the watch. I liked my Apple Watch, but I love my Garmin.

I mostly use it to track my activities and stuff. I do get text notifications on it but it just allows me to decide if I need to pull my phone out and reply or not if I am busy. I am weird when it comes to change, so I think that is where my worries lie.

Haha. I had the exact same thoughts as you! I'm a tech nerd and I'm always researching the perfect gadgets for me and even after 6-9 months of the Garmin Forerunner 935, I'm still undecided!!! I think the AW vs Garmin battle is a truly personal one. I know you had the series 1 watch, but for me, the Series 3 was nearly the perfect smartwatch! But the couple weaknesses (1-screen isn't always on which bugged me on runs/bike rides. 2- you can't tell when the GPS starts or HR locks on at the beginning of the workout...so the start of my runs would always have messed up data. 3- not enough battery life to last thru a marathon) really pushed me towards getting a Garmin.

Now that I've had the Garmin, I notice it's weakness though!
1- I can't set granular notifications like the AW can. On my AW, I like having only phone calls and messages from my wife to come thru even though my iPhone has more notifications come in. With the Garmin, any and all notifications that come to the iPhone also go to the Garmin. So now I get buzzed on the wrist more.
2- I miss running without my iPhone. My job requires that I be on the phone during the day so with the Garmin, I need to bring the iPhone. Not the biggest problem in the world, but it's still nice to just have the AW and go out on a long run.

That's why I'm just waiting for the Series 4! Like I mentioned earlier, IF it has better battery life and an always on screen, I'm back on the AW train! If it doesn't do that, I'll still be happy with the Garmin Forerunner.

Thank you for some additional feedback! Yeah battery life is definitely a huge factor for me. Along with minor things like pacing and stuff. I always run with my phone so I don't think that will affect me so much. Hopefully I will just love it and everything will be okay. Haha.

 

[KSellers88]

ATTQOTD: I try to channel Elsa...fortunately I have not had any major issues. My IT band acted up during the WDW Marathon this year and that was probably the worst experience so far, but luckily I wasn't running for time.

 

[jennamfeo]

ATTQOTD: It depends on the struggle, honestly. I fell once in a 10k Disney race, like really hard, but felt so embarrassed that I jumped right up and ran as fast as I could away from the people who stopped to help me up that I PR'd that race. So in that one, I just brushed it off and kept on going. But then in my last race I wanted to walk off the course because I was struggling so hard and everything sucked and I was dying. I just had to think about what I wanted and why I was there and that at the halfway point it was going to be downhill again. Otherwise, I just keep @DopeyBadger's positive race week pep talks in my head and hope they push me along. Walk if you need to walk. Hydrate. Take nutrition. Re-focus. Keep on moving forward.

So - interesting topic came up after our big group ride tonight. We're registering as a bike club for a local triathlon in July, and this year they're offering Athena/Clydesdale category registration, and the criterias are AGGRESSIVE ... 180 for men, 140 for women. Almost all of the gals (with two exceptions) would be well within the criteria - and over half of the guys would meet it as well.

We talked over this for at least an hour and came to no definitive conclusion ... would YOU register for a weight-related category when signing up for a race?

In this case, signing up for Athena/Clydesdale also is discounted by $15 compared to general age group registration. They don't differentiate on your body marking when you're participating in these categories, but if nobody enters, it's almost a guaranteed podium finish. I know the theory is that larger bodies expend more energy and thus should be compared to like-sized bodies.

First off, I'll take any discount for any reason -- ever. Period. But I was looking at this low-key Tri in August and they had these categories too, and for the sake of wanting to win, I might consider signing up in that category. Plus, Athena was a bad bee. You wanna compare me to her, I'll take it. Regardless of WHY you are calling me that.

 

[apdebord]

ATTQOTD: My overall race goal is to finish and to do the best I can for that day. I’ve had the standard “issues” during the race and just work through them, maybe walk for a second, take some deep breaths, eat or drink something, etc. Sometimes it’s just that mental game of “make it to the next water stop” or “run until the end of this song” and setting up mini goals throughout the race in order to finish.

 

[OldSlowGoofyGuy]

Plus, Athena was a bad bee...

I never thought about this angle: the women's division is named after a Greek goddess, and the men's division is named after a draft horse? (albeit, one related to beer).

Shouldn't the men's division be Atlas or Hercules? (don't think they quite made it to god rank)

 

[opusone]

180 for men, 140 for women

Here is the official USAT rule (Article III, Section 3.2(b)):
b. Weight Class Division. In events where a weight class division is offered, the minimum weight shall be 220 pounds for men and 165 pounds for women, monitored by the event organizer. The weight class age categories for men and women shall be 39 years of age and under and 40 years of age and over. Participants are not eligible to compete in a weight class division and in an age group division at the same event.

would YOU register for a weight-related category when signing up for a race?

I have totally signed up for this before. A local half marathon had the following requirements, and I placed first in the Clydesdale A division:

Clydesdale / Athena Rules: Clydesdale & Athena Competition offers CARA runners the opportunity to compete in weight divisions. This recognized category of competition affords the heavier, taller runner the chance to compete on a level playing field with others in the same weight divisions

Clydesdales and Athena runners will have the...following weight categories:
Women (Athena): • A = 155-169 • B = 170+
Men (Clydesdale): • A = 185-199 • B = 200-224 • C = 225+

 

[kbenson13]

QOTD: If something goes wrong during a race (fall, injury creeping back, watch not coming on, bunny not on track, GI issue, out of breath...) what are your in race recovery strategies? Your pace adjustment strategies? Your positive thoughts to snap out of it?
Todays question is a suggestion by a fellow poster. Thanks for the suggestion!

ATTQOTD: I'm pretty new to racing, but on my second HM ever (which was just last year) I cramped up about 6 miles into the run. Nothing terrible, just really painful side stitches on both sides. But I had no strategy for dealing with it. I just gutted out the race by slowing down as little as possible to the point where the cramps were tolerable (they never went away). I also walked the water stations (and even walked a few times when there was was no water station). It was pretty ugly but I got through it!

 

[garneska]

So - interesting topic came up after our big group ride tonight. We're registering as a bike club for a local triathlon in July, and this year they're offering Athena/Clydesdale category registration, and the criterias are AGGRESSIVE ... 180 for men, 140 for women. Almost all of the gals (with two exceptions) would be well within the criteria - and over half of the guys would meet it as well.

We talked over this for at least an hour and came to no definitive conclusion ... would YOU register for a weight-related category when signing up for a race?

In this case, signing up for Athena/Clydesdale also is discounted by $15 compared to general age group registration. They don't differentiate on your body marking when you're participating in these categories, but if nobody enters, it's almost a guaranteed podium finish. I know the theory is that larger bodies expend more energy and thus should be compared to like-sized bodies.

i would sign up for Athena, however i will say those are very low weights for the weight class. i do see where you posted the official one of 165 for women and that is what i am used to seeing. i would definitely sign up, why not?

 

[Keels]

Y’ALL MY FRONT YARD IS A MILE MARKER FOR A LOCAL 5 AND 10K AND I’VE NEVER BEEN SO EXCITED TO WAKE UP EARLY ON A SATURDAY IN MY LIFE!!!!

Gotta practice my beer handing out, you know. Training for January.

 

[SarahDisney]

QOTD: If something goes wrong during a race (fall, injury creeping back, watch not coming on, bunny not on track, GI issue, out of breath...) what are your in race recovery strategies? Your pace adjustment strategies? Your positive thoughts to snap out of it?
Todays question is a suggestion by a fellow poster. Thanks for the suggestion!

Its definitely hard, but I try to take a second to reset, adjust my attitude/goals, and forgive myself for whatever went wrong. I try not to set "all or nothing" goals and I like to have a backup goal or a strategy to adjust my goal (even if it's just crossing the finish line as my goal and walking as the adjustment) so that if things go wrong, I dont feel like I completely failed.

Will post my May mileage when I get home (which might be sooner than originally planned, since my head feels like it's going to explode, so I might cut out of the office a little early), since I'm done for the month.

 

[jennamfeo]

Y’ALL MY FRONT YARD IS A MILE MARKER FOR A LOCAL 5 AND 10K AND I’VE NEVER BEEN SO EXCITED TO WAKE UP EARLY ON A SATURDAY IN MY LIFE!!!!

Gotta practice my beer handing out, you know. Training for January.

I'm actually pretty jealous of this. Handing out beer during a race is definitely on my bucket list.

 

[TheHamm]

So - interesting topic came up after our big group ride tonight. We're registering as a bike club for a local triathlon in July, and this year they're offering Athena/Clydesdale category registration, and the criterias are AGGRESSIVE ... 180 for men, 140 for women. Almost all of the gals (with two exceptions) would be well within the criteria - and over half of the guys would meet it as well.

We talked over this for at least an hour and came to no definitive conclusion ... would YOU register for a weight-related category when signing up for a race?

In this case, signing up for Athena/Clydesdale also is discounted by $15 compared to general age group registration. They don't differentiate on your body marking when you're participating in these categories, but if nobody enters, it's almost a guaranteed podium finish. I know the theory is that larger bodies expend more energy and thus should be compared to like-sized bodies.

I would for a discount, but not if they make me weigh in at some sort of public ceremony. I think it is an odd category, and as a relatively tall person I think it would be silly and borderline unhealthy of me to wish to be less than 140lbs. Do they expect Yuki Kawauchi and his Nihon-jin friends to race and throw off the size distribution? Because the Japanese do think me to be obese

QOTD: If something goes wrong during a race (fall, injury creeping back, watch not coming on, bunny not on track, GI issue, out of breath...) what are your in race recovery strategies? Your pace adjustment strategies? Your positive thoughts to snap out of it?
Todays question is a suggestion by a fellow poster. Thanks for the suggestion!

I expect failure and disaster to be just around the corner in most aspects of life, running is no different. I am not looking to BQ or place in any event, so it makes it easier to go with the unexpected. Move on, recognize the privilege I have to train, to register, and start, and that it is my choice to finish. I can stop anytime, but finishing poorly is better than no finish in most situations.

Preach! Seriously, I HATE those stupid cut-out/extra-strappy tops. For one big thing, I don't want to put that much effort into applying sunscreen! All I want is a plain ol' tank.

After spending more time trying to get out the door to run, I'm going to miss a spot, and then I am going to cry when I cannot wear normal clothes for days. Let's not?