The Running Thread - 2018

[PrincessV]

And for I think the third year in a row, National Running Day falls on my off day!

I'm glad to know I'm not the only one!

 

[SarahDisney]

We were in Manhattan last week and I went out for an easy run on Saturday. Near the end I came upon a large church on 50th street where a significant number of graduates were lined up around the block. I slowed down and near the end of the line a group (gaggle? pack? flock?) of nuns were exiting the church, crossing the sidewalk in front of me and getting into a minivan. I stopped to let them cross and was asked by one about my Citadel shirt. After a brief discussion I moved on.

And that's how we know you were there as a tourist. A New Yorker would have run through the nuns (possibly while muttering something obscene, depending on the level of New Yorker).

And for I think the third year in a row, National Running Day falls on my off day!

Happened to me twice, so I feel your pain. This year I actually ran.

ATTQOTD: Nothing odd ever happens on my runs. I'm boring.
Although I did learn during a run that my friend knows where all the bathrooms are in Central Park. Not a bad piece of knowledge to have.

 

[apdebord]

ATTQOTD: A month or two ago I had to rescue a dog in my neighborhood during my lunch break run. I made it .1 down my street and saw him. He came right to me, so instead of running, I hung out with him in the backyard. Luckily he had a collar on and his owner got him shortly after.

I signed up for a race last minute: Dash for the Donuts Five-O 5K for this Saturday. One thing I wanted to do this year is to race a 5K and it’s finally happening! It’s a fundraiser for training for our local police department. Donuts are provided by Krispy Kreme, not my favorite but I think I can get over it for a little bit.

 

[TheHamm]

Although I did learn during a run that my friend knows where all the bathrooms are in Central Park. Not a bad piece of knowledge to have.

I figured that out when we were in town and my 3 year old decided in the park that diapers were gross and we were done. We visited 7 below 79th street over the course of 4 hours, and I was surprised at how clean they were! Also, consumed one hot dog for every bathroom stop, she was thrilled with her visit to The New York Island and is now asking for the Redwood forest and Gulf stream waters.
I would like to find more restrooms and water fountains on my running routes!

 

[DopeyBadger]

I think my block is that I have no idea what to put on a calendar. So perhaps I ask here?!

I have a question for all wise and/or opinionated runners: I spent some time on a training plan that someone gave me, that I mostly understand. That plan got me to my target 10K of less than 1:15 by running 3-4x per week, maxing one at total time 45 min on ground of my choice, one total time 45 minutes with hills (TBH, this is the one that got dropped when life said no time to run), one total distance of 3 miles, and a long run that maxed at 6.5 miles. I would like to stay where I am fitness wise, but perhaps get a bit faster, I do not have any more races scheduled (working on that). Do I just keep repeating that end of training schedule or is there something else I should consider? I'm not sure I can carve out time for 6.5 miles every week unless I get faster, nor am I sure I should be doing that. I am terrible at a constant pace, but do not know how to improve that other than treadmill, which I do not want to deal with unless weather is poor.

If the goal is to get faster, then it might be a good idea to change up the stimulus of training every once in a while. Providing the same stimulus (whether it be the same duration, same pace, same effort level) over a long period of time will lead to stagnation and you will be less likely to see continued improvement. Consider running in a 6-8 week min-cycle with a different paced "hard" day that is progressive in nature. Either you increase the duration held at hard, reduce the duration of recovery intervals at hard, or change the total time spent at hard in a workout. With 3-4 days per week of running, I'd limit

Choosing what type of hard pace to do would be determined by what goals you are setting for yourself. I like to choose paces that are around a race pace area I'd like to improve. If I want to improve my 10k pace, then I include 5k or faster paces, 10k pace, and easy days. If I want to improve my HM pace, then I include 10k paces, HM paces, and easy pace. If I want to improve my M pace, then I include HM paces, M paces and easy paces. The more you can challenge multiple areas of paces across the spectrum around your desired race goal, the more you will see improvement in that specific area.

Another consideration is how best to improve one's self is generally determined by where the biggest current deficiency lies. For most recreational runners like us, it will be endurance. I generally use a race equivalency calculator as a first step in determining deficiency. If I plug in a recent 5k, and it says my 10k should have been much faster than recent, then I need more endurance to hit that 10k time. If I plug in a recent 5k, and it says my 10k should have been slower than recent, then I probably need to work on speed to increase my 5k time. If they're even, then you could realistically go in either direction. Endurance comes from slower running and generally runs in the 60-90 min golden zone. As you progress in your running journey you'll be able to increase your training load if you desire to have more and more of these types of days without causing a significant increase in fatigue (they become the new normal).

If the goal is to improve your inconsistent pacing, then it's best to stick with as many outdoor runs as possible. Have a set pace you aim to hit and try to stay close to it. Over time, memorize what it feels like to run certain paces under certain conditions. This memory bank of running will enable you over time to become more consistent with pacing even without ever looking at electronic devices. Practice makes perfect.

 

[tigger536]

@LSUlakes I also have Hotlanta this weekend, no real goal, although getting close to my PR would be nice.

ATTQOTD: Not really super odd, but I've combined runs with errands before. I've run to CVS and to pick up lunch and run back home.

 

[rteetz]

And 2018 I have no rundisney planned...waaaaaahhhh.

Yet....

 

[rteetz]

QOTD: What is something odd you had to do while out on a run? Can be anything from bathroom related to stopping your run and having a random drink at a bar with a friend.

I would think riding a rollercoaster is odd to many. That's only possible during the WDW marathon though and I have done it twice.

I also did a running scavenger hunt thing a while back. I had to go on a playground during my run, and so some other things.

 

[Bree]

ATTQOTD: Nothing strange during my run unless you count stopping to take photos of our town's wild free roaming chickens.

 

[Dis_Yoda]

ATTQOTD:

Well, I'm odd in general...

I take photos during a run but that isn't that odd anymore.

 

[Capang]

ATTQOTD: nothing real exciting. I've had to stop because territorial deer have blocked my path and a couple of times I saw a coyote that was just as afraid of me as I was of it. I did see my mom out while running today and I ran away from her. Does that count?
She's really a great woman, I love her dearly. I swear.

 

[TCB in FLA]

QOTD: No longer odd since it happens so much, but I’m the go to gal for people needing directions at the local arboretum where I run 90% of the time. Once on a straight wider path, I watched four runners go by a couple but they then stopped me for directions. I think it’s my sparkling Disney persona coming through... or maybe I don’t look as intimidating as other runners. I often run with two other ladies, and they’ve both commented that I get the direction questions more than they do.

 

[MissLiss279]

ATTQOTD: Last year the local Girls on the Run chapter put on a group running challenge - kind of Amazing Race inspired. We ran back and forth around downtown completing challenges, and it was a lot of fun. One thing I got to do was hop on a pogo stick for as long as I could.

 

[FFigawi]

QOTD: What is something odd you had to do while out on a run? Can be anything from bathroom related to stopping your run and having a random drink at a bar with a friend.

My Hash running group found a dead body while we were out on trail one day several years ago. We've found femurs and other unusual items too.

 

[Keels]

ATTQOTD: I’ve stopped for drinks - either at the patio barbecue place, the food truck park or the pub down the street ... usually if friends are there. The pub is .5 from my house, so I generally ended long runs there with a beer, some a/c and ice water, and then I’d just walk home.

 

[PCFriar80]

ATTQOTD: Nothing strange during my run unless you count stopping to take photos of our town's wild free roaming chickens.

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But we still don't know why the chicken crossed the street!

 

[Disney at Heart]

This week we have the following folks with races:

06 - MissLiss279 - The Big Run 5k (NG / N/A)
09 - michigandergirl - Brian Diemer 5K (NG / N/A)
10 - Ksellers88 - HOTlanta Half Marathon (NG / N/A)
10 - Nole95 - HOTlanta Half Marathon (NG / N/A)
10 - Disney at Heart - Echo Half Marathon (NG / N/A)
10 - huggybuff - Gold Country Half Marathon (NG / N/A)
10 - Disney at Heart - Remarkable River Series 10k (1:05:00 / N/A)
10 - Sailormoon2 - Diva's Half Marathon (2:15:00 / N/A)

Best of luck to each of you this week with your races! If you would like to make a change or if someone would like to add their race to the list, just let me know. Hope yall have a great race and we look forward to hearing about how the races goes!

Change for me. Echo Half was canceled so running the Remarkable River 10K that day instead.

My Hash running group found a dead body while we were out on trail one day several years ago. We've found femurs and other unusual items too.

Started to hit like, but I needed a “oh no” button instead!

ATTQOTD: Butt bite by a dang Jack Russell terrier. I still see him in the road while driving through the neighborhood and threaten to run him down every time! (Don’t mean it, but he doesn’t know that.)

 

[Dis_Yoda]

My Hash running group found a dead body while we were out on trail one day several years ago. We've found femurs and other unusual items too.

ATTQOTD: I’ve stopped for drinks - either at the patio barbecue place, the food truck park or the pub down the street ... usually if friends are there. The pub is .5 from my house, so I generally ended long runs there with a beer, some a/c and ice water, and then I’d just walk home.

Somehow neither of these things shock me

 

[SarahDisney]

But we still don't know why the chicken crossed the street!

To get to the other side.

 

[cavepig]

ATTQOTD: Not really super odd, but I've combined runs with errands before. I've run to CVS and to pick up lunch and run back home.

This is me too, I've run errands on my runs many times too, like mailing stuff.

Otherwise, I have moved snapping turtles & most recently a snake off the road so they wouldn't get hit. Snapping turtles I know you have to be careful and was or snap!