The Running Thread - 2018

[sylkai]

ATTQOTD: I tend to have a pretty recent race to submit for POT so I don't have much difference for A and C. As long as everyone else was using the SAME system, I think most of them work out other than B. I don't really feel fast enough to be on the start line, even in my corral, but I definitely don't want to be in the back either.

Personal brag, I went out today to do a time trial (because I have that virtual 1 mile race trophy to get on Strava), which I've never done before. And I decided that I would actually try running the mile all out to see where my current fitness is, because the fastest mile time I had came from the last mile of a 5k at an 8:07 min/mile. Respectable enough, but I wondered if I could go sub-8.

New fastest mile (I won't call it a PR, it wasn't a race) of 7:07. I haven't run a single mile time trial since the ones they made me do in grade school, so I had no idea how to pace it or anything. On the plus side, this means that with a little more work, I think sub-7 is absolutely in the cards as a possibility, and I'm really excited to see where my fitness goes next. (Like, maybe someday running in the 7s will be my normal race pace instead of my mile best! I can dream.)

 

[DopeyBadger]

New fastest mile (I won't call it a PR, it wasn't a race) of 7:07. I haven't run a single mile time trial since the ones they made me do in grade school, so I had no idea how to pace it or anything. On the plus side, this means that with a little more work, I think sub-7 is absolutely in the cards as a possibility, and I'm really excited to see where my fitness goes next. (Like, maybe someday running in the 7s will be my normal race pace instead of my mile best! I can dream.)

You put in the hard work and your dream can definitely become a reality. In middle school, I ran a 7:18. I finally broke that in November 2013 after 17 months of training as an adult at 7:02. I've since run a 5k, 10k, and HM all under a sub-7 min/mile average with the goal of getting a sub-7 at the marathon in a few months. So I think there's definitely a chance if you're willing to continue to train smart.

 

[sylkai]

You put in the hard work and your dream can definitely become a reality. In middle school, I ran a 7:18. I finally broke that in November 2013 after 17 months of training as an adult at 7:02. I've since run a 5k, 10k, and HM all under a sub-7 min/mile average with the goal of getting a sub-7 at the marathon in a few months. So I think there's definitely a chance if you're willing to continue to train smart.

I think my grade school miles were all over 11 min, haha. I was the epitome of the unathletic child. I was thrilled (THRILLED) when I ran a sub-12 minute mile in my first 10k and that was less than two years ago.

That said, I will be amazed if my 5k drops sub-8 anytime soon. I don't rule it out, depends on how I decide to run the one on the calendar in October, but I rarely do 5ks because they're too short. So maybe that one is an actual race and I just do the half the next day as a tempo-ish run. The current big goal is seeing what happens in my upcoming half, and then after that it's Dopey prep. (Once your account weirdness is done I'll drop you a PM to talk training plan review, since I do want to improve on writing my own but would appreciate input/feedback/brain-picking.)

 

[GreatLakes]

QOTD: If disney races did not require a POT to corral placement where would you place yourself?
A. In a corral based on my current fitness.
B. As far in front as I could get.
C. Where my POT would probably put me.
D. Somewhere near the back.

ATTQOTD: Since I dont have a POT unless something changes on POT dates, I would got with A. Based on my current trends, that would be somewhere near the back.

A, B, and C are all the same for me baring an injury. My times place me in A and I apparently go out fast based on those around me. If I'm anywhere further back than 2 or 3 rows I have to go around people. If I know I'm injured or running a slower race for some reason, like I'm using it to train for a goal race, I'll adjust back. I try to put myself in the right place based on the race I'm running that day.

 

[huskies90]

QOTD: If disney races did not require a POT to corral placement where would you place yourself?
A. In a corral based on my current fitness.
B. As far in front as I could get.
C. Where my POT would probably put me.
D. Somewhere near the back.

ATTQOTD: A. I would probably place myself where I was fitness wise as I think most runners would in most races. Disney races, I agree, I can see someone try to get an advantage to the character meets especially if the runner was less experienced. But I would think, in general, a slow runner would be just as frustrated about being pushed/trampled by the faster runners as a fast runner would be about having to weave around slow runners.

 

[Bree]

ATTQOTD: A or C. If Disney ever did away with POT it would be a disaster.

 

[TheHamm]

QOTD: If disney races did not require a POT to corral placement where would you place yourself?
A. In a corral based on my current fitness.
B. As far in front as I could get.
C. Where my POT would probably put me.
D. Somewhere near the back.

ATTQOTD: I would go for A. I have not previously submitted a proper POT, and my estimated times were all wrong when I entered them months in advance. In both cases, I put in estimated times that were realistic when I entered them, but both times this placed me with people I was speeding by (until I stopped at the portapotty). While I prefer to do the passing, I have not yet found myself saddened by being passed. I do find myself furious about being unable to actually pass- which is why I will not make princess weekend my first half marathon. Locally, they let us line up with estimated finish times, and I find I seed myself ok, but many others are farther ahead than they should be. I find this confusing as to whether this is because they do not know, or they see an advantage to starting in the middle of the pack.

As for those who go for B, I generally blame RunDisney for this. I think most of those people are wanting course experiences, either all of the photos or slow people who just want one or two. I would have happily waited in line for a photo with a character if not for fear that the line would take 30 minutes, my legs would freeze up, and I would get swept. In reality, I had more than an hour after me before getting swept, but I had no idea on the course so I stopped for nothing. I think those who pick B are a reflection of RunDisney's need to do better- if they can figure out how to load level the parks, they could do something about the course congestion and desire people have to stop. I would totally love to see a FP-type system where they told you what/who was on course and then handed out FP-like spots for that character.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

ATTQOTD: I would go with option A or C. I'm not fast. At all. And I hate being in insanely congested corrals with people who are even slower than me. I've ran 20 minute miles in race with no stops because there was no room to move.

There's a reason why proof of time exists. It helps make the experience more enjoyable for all of us.

As far as runDisney goes, people should do their research. You don't want to be like the ladies who were swept from Light Side one year because they did not understand that time spent in character lines counted towards their race time. If your goal is cool photos at every possible stop, realize that goal may not work with a goal of finishing the race if you're slower or if lines are long (1 hour for Darth Vader at the Inaugural Star Wars Half at Disneyland). If your goal is to finish, then understand that may require you to make no photo stops or far fewer stops than you want to.

I missed some great photo ops during my very first Disneyland Half. I've never had an opportunity to get those photos again. But I can live with that. Because finishing that race taught me about what I could do. And there have been subsequent in race photo opportunities that I was able to do precisely because the first time taught me about what was possible.

 

[KevM]

ATTQOTD: I’d go with C. It would most likely be the same spot as A, but I would still want to actually start at what I knew I could do.

 

[Disney at Heart]

QOTD: If disney races did not require a POT to corral placement where would you place yourself?
A. In a corral based on my current fitness.
B. As far in front as I could get.
C. Where my POT would probably put me.
D. Somewhere near the back

In reality I would choose A.
But marathon weekend, when I was standing in the corral like a frozen Anna, I would have liked to be able to choose option B. LOL It took until the end of mile 2 of the 5k just to feel my feet hitting the ground!

 

[Waiting2goback]

QOTD: How many races do you try to a run in a year? Do you have a list of must do's that you plan ahead of time or do you just find one to run when you feel you are ready?

ATTQOTD: I run races based on my training and most of those races are planned out at least 3 months in advance. I will run a shorter distance run from time to time that I find out about a week or two in advance, but havent done so lately.

I go with what looks appealing that will also fit into my schedule. Prior to this year I had limited weekends to run because I was taking care of the kids. Now that my schedule is set I have every other weekend to fit in races, so I have to find something I want to do and it has to fall on my kid-free weekends. This year I am doing three races so far I think. I might find one in November as well.

ATTQOTD: No particular number. WDW Marathon and The Artist Formerly Known as Star Wars Dark Side weekends are my must-dos, and thus far, W&D, too, but that may get the ax after this next one; we'll see. Locally, I did an inaugural race last year that was fabulous, so I'll be back for it this year and probably for years to come. And I throw in another local race weekend occasionally.


If it helps... Summer is my off-season: no races because it's hot as Hades here in FL. So I don't have any particular goals, other than maintaining a base level of running fitness and just enjoying the ride. But I still use a calendar and set up each month with planned workouts. Its no big deal if I skip some, but it still feels good to check things off as I do them!

Why are you axing W&D if you don't mind me asking? Or possibly axing.

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.

ATTQOTD: A few summers ago I went out for a run and did not think I needed to bring water. Well it was much warmer than I was prepared for and I was struggling, but a good ways away from home. The water source I would normally go to was not working. I saw a lady watering her plants in her front yard and asked if I could drink some water and hose myself down to cool down some. She got a good laugh but was happy to help me out. I learned to bring water with me on runs after that regardless how I felt on summer runs from that day forward.

I stopped mid bike ride once because there was a turtle crossing the street and I didn't want it to get killed. But nothing too weird other than that.

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!

Good luck everyone!

QOTD: If disney races did not require a POT to corral placement where would you place yourself?
A. In a corral based on my current fitness.
B. As far in front as I could get.
C. Where my POT would probably put me.
D. Somewhere near the back.

ATTQOTD: Since I dont have a POT unless something changes on POT dates, I would got with A. Based on my current trends, that would be somewhere near the back.

If Disney stops requiring a proof of time and a subsequent corral placement, I'd probably stop running Disney races. As many others have pointed out, the crush of untrained, slow, and otherwise entitled people all wanting to be in the very front of the race would make running behind them extremely frustrating and rather unenjoyable. If I had to run a Disney race under these conditions, I'd head to the back and turn the race into 7-8 hours of pre-day day drinking.



1) this hypothetical person is nuts, and 2) we all know he'd never, ever be late to the race

John took the words out of my mouth. If there was no POT I wouldn't run Disney races anymore. It's bad enough people can sign up, walk a mile and sit for the sweeper bus and still get the medal. But all those same people that don't put in the effort that you all do would then be standing at the starting line of Corral A clogging up the streets.

 

[Waiting2goback]

 

[TCB in FLA]

Yes they can! I ran Mountain to Mainstreet in Greenville a couple of weeks ago. Its mostly run on the Swamp Rabbit, a paved biking and running trail. I lot of bikes zoomed past us (it has a slight downhill grade), and most were considerate, slowing down some and saying "on the left"). There was one lady who came zooming past, she did say on the left but she was going too fast for that crowded of a trail (in addition to the race there were the usual runners/ walkers out for a Saturday stroll). I was out of her way, but less than .5 mile later, I came upon one of the runners I had been leapfrogging with and the rude bike lady, down. The runner was crying. She had been having a great race, and it was over at mile 9 because of this jerk. Luckily it was right before a water stop where the trail met the road, so she had volunteers and a cop who was managing the cross traffic tending to her. Rude lady's bike looked banged up too, and good, because, karma.

I ran that race as well and must have been a few minutes behind you. EMS was getting on the scene when I passed. The cyclists were mainly okay but got worse as the race went on.
Out of curiosity, did you use a GPS during the race? Mine measured.25 miles extra, which was troubling since I was 58 seconds off my time goal of sub 2:20. My friend who also ran had trouble with her watch, but a couple other runners were grumbling about the distance as well.

 

[Smilelea]

Playing catchup on the last 3 QOTD

1) races in a year - Usually 1-2, but this year will be 3, possibly more (but not counting any virtual races)
2) strange thing while running - I'd have to say picking myself up off the ground after a pit bull ran into me and knocked both of my legs out from under me. It was a friendly dog too. I have no idea if it was just coming to see me and didn't slow down in time or what. But there definitely wasn't any more running that day. I walked the rest of the way home, thankfully just a half mile or so.
3) I'm going to go with C. I'd feel like I was getting in everyone's way if I were in a corral higher than I needed to be.

 

[flav]

Also catching up on QOTD
I plan my race schedule based on what I want to achieve (longer distance, faster speed or challenge weekend) then plan training around that and sprinkle a few more if opportunities arise (DD wants to run, there is a race where I travel).

Last challenge, I was running the half as a tourist... Apparently some people were finding it strange to see me stop to take selfies (after properly signaling and pulling aside).

And I would go with A (fitness/goal) for Corral placement. It is fun to run with people going at the same pace. I liked the Ottawa Challenge who gave Carte Blanche (your choice of corrals) to multiple races challengers: I went to the end of the fastest non-Elite corral for the 5k, lined up with a 50min pacer for the 10k which I think was second corral and with a 2:10 pacer for the half thus ending up in the third or fourth corral. It was perfect every time. There were a but more elbow play in the 10k.
Edit: I agree that runDisney without POT would be unmanageable. The above example (6000 to 9000 runners per race) worked only because a minority had that spur of the moment flexibility (although corral placement for non-challenger was based on predicted time no POT).
Edit again: Given the amount af people in the last two corrals at runDisney, those are reallly non-corrals.

 

[AFwifelife]

I know its only June but I'm already stressing how my training will go for September and October. My husband is going to be gone and I have no idea how I'm going to get long runs in

 

[Jules76126]

I did it through London Walks - you'll have to look at their summer PDF for info/dates (it looks like they're offering them in the evening this year instead of the morning), and they're not offered nearly as frequently as some of their other tours, but it was a lot of fun. This was the selfie we took together at the end of the run, with the guide. If their schedule doesn't work for you, there are a bunch of other companies that do running tours as well, although I don't know if they're structured the same way.

I love London. I could easily spend a month in London. I could probably spend two months in London. The runs! Hyde Park was wonderful. I also did Regent's Park which was ALSO wonderful. And there's a canal trail that I want to go back and do, and a Thames River path to be investigated, and...

If you want more recommendations for London, feel free to drop me a PM, because I can go on for a while. And about things other than running too. We did 6 days there last summer and hit a LOT of stuff. (My husband and I are food and drink oriented travelers with an appreciation for older buildings, authentic neighborhoods, and getting somewhat off the beaten path but still enjoy well-done history museums and the occasional tourist trap. And I write romance novels set in 1820s England so there was some work-related research.)

I love London. I lived there for a year and it never got old. When I was there London Walks did not do the running tours. Will have to check them out next time I head that way.

 

[run.minnie.miles]

I know its only June but I'm already stressing how my training will go for September and October. My husband is going to be gone and I have no idea how I'm going to get long runs in

Sorry that your husband won't be home Are you kids school aged? I have had training cycles where I do my long runs during the week instead of the weekend, which worked really great for me. Or maybe a babysitter for a few hours on the weekends? Good luck!

 

[flav]

I know its only June but I'm already stressing how my training will go for September and October. My husband is going to be gone and I have no idea how I'm going to get long runs in

I know that it is not the same but sometimes two shorter runs (ex one at lunch, one going to pickup the kids) in a day instead of one long run are better than nothing.

 

[AFwifelife]

Sorry that your husband won't be home Are you kids school aged? I have had training cycles where I do my long runs during the week instead of the weekend, which worked really great for me. Or maybe a babysitter for a few hours on the weekends? Good luck!

They are just barely school aged. My 4 year old will be going the regular 8-3 but my 3 year old is only 8-11:15. I do have the Y so I can get 2 hours there and just piss some people off that I’ll be on a treadmill more than 30 min but I know I’m going to need to get creative.