The Running Thread - 2018

[GreatLakes]

QOTD: Does anyone else watch professional running or just participates themselves. It could be track & field or the televised marathons. How about other endurance sports like pro cycling, triathlon, even swimming?

I watch quite a bit of professional endurance sports. All the Diamond League meets, the televised spring meets like the Penn Relays, ITU triathlon, any Ironman recaps, any pro cycling that might be on including every Tour stage, and on occasion pro swimming but that is more hit or miss depending on what else is on my DVR.

ATTQOTD: Yes. All of them. As much and as often as I can! Just finished the Tour de France this weekend. I really don't know much about cycling, but love the scenery and watching world-class athletes gut out endurance events is always amazing and inspiring to me.

If anyone has a great way of keeping track of upcoming events likely to be televised, I'm all ears. I've missed a lot of T&F lately because I never hear of it until it's too late to alter plans or it's over. I follow Runner's World and Competitor on FB and used to see posts about upcoming events, but that seems to have slacked off.

I just set the DVR to record anything in the cycling, running, marathon, track and field, triathlon, or swimming categories. I set it for all airing and all channels and then I don't have to really keep track. I have DirecTv. Depending on what your provider's search is like you can do a key word search and then set recordings for everything that is queued in the system.

My guilty pleasure, however, is watching the professional cycling events. I religiously watch the grand tours each year, and I will watch some of the spring classics as well. It's actually quite funny given that I am much more of a runner than a cyclist (in fact, I likely only log 100-200 miles on the bike in a good year), but I enjoy the strategy, teamwork, scenery, traditions, and personalities in cycling much more than you get in a televised running or triathlon event.

Paris-Roubaix is my favorite event of the year. If I had to choose between watching that or the Super Bowl in a year I'd choose the Hell of the North every time. I used to be able to watch my second favorite one-day race, Strade Bianche, but it hasn't been on the last few years. Usually I can find something online but wish we had more of the spring classics on television.

 

[YawningDodo]

I don't know how you cord cutters do it. I've had cable since the day I was born (well, before that too, but I couldn't see the TV before I was born). You'd have to take it away from me by force. And I don't even watch huge amounts of TV.

I don't know that I'd call myself a cord-cutter; I've just got different cords snaking through my home/life. I didn't have cable in the second part of college because I didn't have money for it and had enough to occupy my time between schoolwork and Netflix, and by the time I could afford cable I found that I didn't really miss it. By then, though, Netflix had turned into a streaming service, and I've gotten too spoiled to put up with waiting on a network to air something I want to watch--I'd rather stream things on my own schedule. So I've got that, I've got a couple video game consoles, I've got Spotify for music, Marvel Unlimited for comics, and then I'm just generally online on my laptop most of the time when I'm home.

 

[PrincessV]

I just set the DVR to record anything in the cycling, running, marathon, track and field, triathlon, or swimming categories. I set it for all airing and all channels and then I don't have to really keep track. I have DirecTv. Depending on what your provider's search is like you can do a key word search and then set recordings for everything that is queued in the system.

No DVR here, just basic cable

 

[Capang]

I don't know how you cord cutters do it. I've had cable since the day I was born (well, before that too, but I couldn't see the TV before I was born). You'd have to take it away from me by force. And I don't even watch huge amounts of TV.

Same here, then we cut it and it is freezing. We do Netflix, hulu, and have tried YouTube TV. But really we dont miss it at all. Once it's gone its forgotten.
ETA *freeing, not freezing. Stupid phone.

 

[TheHamm]

ATTQOTD: No watching televised sports as we also are Comcast-averse.

I don't know how you cord cutters do it. I've had cable since the day I was born (well, before that too, but I couldn't see the TV before I was born). You'd have to take it away from me by force. And I don't even watch huge amounts of TV.

Same here, then we cut it and it is freezing. We do Netflix, hulu, and have tried YouTube TV. But really we dont miss it at all. Once it's gone its forgotten.
ETA *freeing, not freezing. Stupid phone.

I was horrified when I would be up late at night with my kids and at 3 months old they would be mesmerized by BBC News and baseball, so we decided we were not watching TV with them around. Making a list of what we could and did watch, it seemed like an awfully lot of money to watch F1 races and the Colbert Report. Once I saw it that way it became easier to decide cable was out and we would try to chromecast Colbert from youtube. It was no more irritating than commercials and $150/month! We do watch cartoons now that my kids are older and I insist on their hair being in tight braids or buns on daycare days (the first notification of head lice made me declare it 'ballerina week' with tight hairsprayed buns to rival Bippity Boppity Botique) and we do that via the disney jr app. Overall, we have saved a lot of money and really do not miss much.

Also of note, I had my first DNS this weekend, and not for reasons I would have anticipated. When 2 kids drag their stuffies into my bed at 4am because they want to snuggle, I'm going to snuggle! I did the 5 miles this morning and was slightly off my target time largely due to stoplights. My point in signing up for the race was to explore a new route as I am apprehensive of going new places solo and while there are group runs in town, the time does not work with my life. Does anyone want to comment on how they find new routes? Also, I would consider Strava if it would include where to find a functioning drinking fountain on route!

 

[sylkai]

I'm back from having added some WI running to my state list.

I got to run with my dad too; we did a 5 miler, a 4 miler (with one mile in there walked because stomach issues on my part), and a 2 miler. And my shins have held up well, although I'm giving them a rest day today I think, as I deal with the "returning home from a short vacation" pile of everything.

Of course, Monday also greeted me with the news that there was a break-in at the barn where my friends were storing the tool chest I inherited from my grandfather. I was going to drive out and pick it up over Labor Day weekend (they're in CO, I'm in CA). It's on the list of things that were stolen from the barn.

Monday's fired.

ATTQOTD: I watch no TV. I occasionally find things to stream online but I'm honestly not even watching much there. I piggy-back on my parents' FiOS subscription to log into a few places when I'm desperate for something (Olympics). But that's it.

 

[Jules76126]

ATTQOTD: We do watch T&F events. My husband is very into anything like that so if we randomly come across one, we will watch it. We saw some event that was taking place in London three weeks ago. We also love the Olympics so tend to watch that. I prefer winter and he prefers summer so generally we watch a lot of both.

We actually decided to downgrade our cable because of the price. We decided to get basic cable as we already have Netflick and wanted to sign up for Sling. Well my new bill has come in and we still have all the channels. Not sure what is going on here, but we will milk it for as long as possible.

 

[Keels]

ATTQOTD: I make it a point to watch Boston and the BMW Dallas Marathon (they broadcast it locally). If there happen to be other events on the regional FoxSports channel - like triathlon or whatever - I'll put it on as background noise during the day. Same goes for the TdF. Swimming is just during the Olympics.

 

[cavepig]

I'll watch (well DVR it first) any marathon on TV. I try to catch track & field too but really sucked at it this Spring, but caught some here and there if it was aired.


The Olympics is so my jam, I'll watch everything

 

[Dis5150]

I have a question(s) for those of you who wear glasses. Do you wear them when you run? What do you look for in glasses that you would wear when you run? I have an eye appt on Wednesday and want to get some glasses I can wear when I run as I am tired of not being able to see my phone to read a text or change music or anything else! But is there anything specific I should look for that would make them better for running? Metal, plastic, etc? TIA!

 

[Slogger]

@Dis5150 .... Great question. I have similar thoughts when I am picking out sunglasses to wear when I run. I want them to be lightweight (not always easy for glasses with my prescription), have rubber/soft contact points on my ears and nose (no hard plastic please) and protect my eyes from harsh sunlight, pollen, etc. I have seen some nice composite materials that seem to combine the comfort and durability. You could also buy a sporty pair of sunglasses and have your prescription lenses installed in the frame.

I do wear glasses but only wear them in the early morning before the sun comes up. They are actually an old pair that I've had for 20+years and I don't mind if something happens to them. They are light, comfortable, and easy to wear (guess I have a theme going here..) For normal running, I wear my contact lenses.

 

[Smilelea]

ATTQOTD:

Um, nope. Watch something I want to watch... What's that like?
When the TV is allowed to be on, I'm stuck watching Moana, Incredibles, Paw Patrol, Mickey Mouse or Wreck it Ralph.

Seriously though, I haven't ever really been drawn to watching any kind of running or T&F events. Ice skating and gymnastics are about the only things I ever care to watch when the olympics are on. Football is the only other sport ever on our TV.
Roll Tide!

 

[Keels]

I have a question(s) for those of you who wear glasses. Do you wear them when you run? What do you look for in glasses that you would wear when you run? I have an eye appt on Wednesday and want to get some glasses I can wear when I run as I am tired of not being able to see my phone to read a text or change music or anything else! But is there anything specific I should look for that would make them better for running? Metal, plastic, etc? TIA!

I don't run with glasses - just contacts. But my girlfriend that is running Leadville 100 in a few weeks actually ordered some prescription glasses from Ro-Sham-Bo and she is LOVING them. She ended up going with the transition glasses, but they sent her a pack of try-on frames to pick the size she wanted and all she had to do was send her prescription to R-S-B. Because of how the R-S-B frames are made, you can swap the lenses out for different color frames really easily.

I think @ZellyB is a R-S-B believer now?

 

[ZellyB]

I AM a fan of R-S-B. I love them. I didn't realize they did prescription though. That's pretty cool!

 

[Keels]

I AM a fan of R-S-B. I love them. I didn't realize they did prescription though. That's pretty cool!

We had Book Club at the pool yesterday and took a cute picture of all our R-S-B glasses floating together in the water. I'll see if I can track it down.

 

[ZellyB]

We had Book Club at the pool yesterday and took a cute picture of all our R-S-B glasses floating together in the water. I'll see if I can track it down.

I was really glad I had them when I got hit square in the face for the first time by the massive wave in Typhoon Lagoon's wave pool. My glasses went flying off, but after a few seconds, I found them floating along not far from me. PHEW!

 

[KaitlynJ]

I have a question(s) for those of you who wear glasses. Do you wear them when you run? What do you look for in glasses that you would wear when you run? I have an eye appt on Wednesday and want to get some glasses I can wear when I run as I am tired of not being able to see my phone to read a text or change music or anything else! But is there anything specific I should look for that would make them better for running? Metal, plastic, etc? TIA!

I've never been able to wear glasses when running because I always need my sunglasses (and was never willing to shell out the $$$ for prescription sunglasses). I always wore contacts before I got Lasik. But for sunglasses, the biggest thing for me is that they need to be adjustable so they're tight enough on my face that they aren't constantly falling off. The easiest pair I've found to adjust are my Rayban aviators with metal frames. Anything plastic that can't be tightened is a nuisance.

 

[jennamfeo]

I have a question(s) for those of you who wear glasses. Do you wear them when you run? What do you look for in glasses that you would wear when you run? I have an eye appt on Wednesday and want to get some glasses I can wear when I run as I am tired of not being able to see my phone to read a text or change music or anything else! But is there anything specific I should look for that would make them better for running? Metal, plastic, etc? TIA!

I don't have anything helpful to really add except I decided to not wear my glasses during a race once and fell, hitting the side of my head on the ground. I still to this day wonder what would have happened if I had my glasses on.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

I have a question(s) for those of you who wear glasses. Do you wear them when you run? What do you look for in glasses that you would wear when you run? I have an eye appt on Wednesday and want to get some glasses I can wear when I run as I am tired of not being able to see my phone to read a text or change music or anything else! But is there anything specific I should look for that would make them better for running? Metal, plastic, etc? TIA!

I have to wear glasses as I am pretty much blind without them. I wear contacts when I run, and only when I run. My glasses are too problematic.

 

[camaker]

I have a question(s) for those of you who wear glasses. Do you wear them when you run? What do you look for in glasses that you would wear when you run? I have an eye appt on Wednesday and want to get some glasses I can wear when I run as I am tired of not being able to see my phone to read a text or change music or anything else! But is there anything specific I should look for that would make them better for running? Metal, plastic, etc? TIA!

I can’t wear contacts, so it’s glasses for everything for me. I don’t think the frame material matters all that much, but I would pick a pair of frames with temple pieces that flex out (spring loaded, typically). I’d also look for nose pieces that were silicone rather than plastic so that they’re a little more slip resistant under sweaty conditions. For lenses, I’d look at a high index polycarbonate to maximize both lightness and shatter resistance in the event of an impact.