The Running Thread - 2018

[avondale]

I have a Garmin Vivoactive 3 that I got in July on Prime Day. It was an appearance upgrade from the Forerunner 235 that I had previously. The white band and rose gold looks at least a bit less "fitnessy" than the loud colors on others (and I don't like black).

I wear it constantly except for about 30 minutes a day for it to charge while I shower, etc. I am OCD about measuring steps, HR, calories, and so on, and I like having the time with me (but not my phone).

I love that it is waterproof so that I can wash it easily as needed, although very little sticks to the default plastic band. Also love the touch screen instead of having multiple buttons - seems much more modern.

Also, I love, love, love the alarm function, as does my husband. I can wake myself up in the morning with a more subtle buzzing on my wrist instead of the blaring alarm clock. About 99.9% of the time, I wake up significantly before him.

 

[cavepig]

I only wear my Garmin when I run as I don't count steps or anything during the day. I wear a regular Timex watch the rest of the day. I don't know if I could sleep with something on my wrist, I thought the Coast to Coast band was annoying enough to sleep with!

 

[LdyStormy76]

ATTQOTD: Fitbit Alta during the day at home and alland for all treadmill runs. Garmin Foreruuner 35 when training outside or for a race. The Garmin is just too bulky to wear all the time.

But what is all of your strategy for arrivals before embarkation? Do you stay on disney property a night, do you stay at the airport hotel the night before. Do you roll the dice and arrive via a plane the day of?
We kind of don't want to spend a bajillion by tacking on WDW because we sprung for a room with a balcony. And we like to get places early. And we have a DCL transfer to the ship from MCO. So I'm thinking maybe fly in night before and stay at airport hotel?
Please help me; my logistically inclined friends.

Another reason to go out a day early: Chicago’s freaky rainstorms which can shut down - or flood - the airport. As others have said, check out the hotels actually near the port you are leaving from. We do not cruise DCL, but for 2/3 of our cruises we have arrived the day before. Another option to explore: some cruise lines offer a ‘book your airfare with us and we will guarantee you get to the ship no matter what’ service. Their pricing might be out of line with what you find, but it might be similar.

 

[Disney at Heart]

No watch here! Keep my miles/ pace on the free version of Map My Run, but don’t obsess about data. DH has a Garmin, but only wears it for running.

 

[KaitlynJ]

ATTQOTD: I wear my Apple watch for indoor and outdoor runs, and all day for the most part.

 

[jennamfeo]

ATTQOTD: I am a duel watch wearer. I only take my Garmin (Vivoactive 3) off when I shower. I take my Fitbit Charge off when I shower and when I sleep. I usually charge them while I am in the shower (birds and stones, y'all!). After reading everyone's responses, I almost considered taking my Garmin off when I sleep as well (their sleep data is not that helpful to me anyway), but then @avondale reminded me that I like the alarm feature too much! It's my backup, backup, backup alarm.

 

[lahobbs4]

So my gym just upgraded their treadmills. I was just getting to where I could run 5 miles on one so I was prepared for my 7 miles today.

Welp, the new ones are super cool and energy efficient but have a PERMANENT 4 or 5 incline. Guys, I don't do that! I'm a 1.5 TOPS. I made it 2 miles and my calves were yelling at me. I had to go outside in the blazing sun and 100 degree to get 2 more miles and then I died.

UGH.

 

[Smilelea]

Also, I love, love, love the alarm function, as does my husband. I can wake myself up in the morning with a more subtle buzzing on my wrist instead of the blaring alarm clock. About 99.9% of the time, I wake up significantly before him

p

This but with my Fitbit charge.

I onky take if off to shower and charge. I really try to pay attention when the battery is getting low so that I can plug it in after I logged my minimum steps and activity for the day. Otherwise, I don't want to move because there isn't anything to track it and it feels like wasted energy

 

[PCFriar80]

QOTD: Since a minor discussion has been started about our running watches I thought I would be a good question for the day. Do you wear your running watch all day, just to run or anywhere between?

No running watch or any other tracking gear for me. I know how slow, I mean fast I can run. I don't even own a cell phone.

 

[flav]

ATTQOTD: I stopped wearing watches many years ago, I feel like I am in vacation that way. After careful introspection and analysis, I concluded that I did not want a watch that watches me. The money I save goes to... Smaller phone (went from iPhone 6+ to X) with better camera and waterproof or my Dopey 2020 funds.

 

[FFigawi]

QOTD: Since a minor discussion has been started about our running watches I thought I would be a good question for the day. Do you wear your running watch all day, just to run or anywhere between?

I only wear my 920 when running, biking, or swimming. I have a dress watch, an Apple Watch, and few knockoffs I wear to work.

 

[Waiting2goback]

QOTD: Since a minor discussion has been started about our running watches I thought I would be a good question for the day. Do you wear your running watch all day, just to run or anywhere between?

ATTQOTD: I wear mine all of the time. The only time it comes off is to charge it. The reason for this is it is able to track steps, my all day heart rate, as well as sleep. If running gets a little tough, looking at this data can help explain why I am struggling at times.

I don’t wear any watches. I have my heart rate monitor that I wear on my wrist only while running. As soon as I am done it comes off. I don’t see the benefits of an Apple Watch yet to justify the expense.

 

[opusone]

QOTD: Since a minor discussion has been started about our running watches I thought I would be a good question for the day. Do you wear your running watch all day, just to run or anywhere between?

I've gone back and forth on this. I have used Garmins for many, many years, and prior to my current version, I only wore them when running. However, when I first got my Garmin 935, I decided to test out the sleep data, track my steps, and try the 24-hour HR feature, so I wore it all day and all night. I would only take it off when showering and charging. Unfortunately, my skin (under the watch) wasn't really a fan of this constant use, so I switched back to using it only during the runs. This, however, creates a problem with the watch's calculation of my resting HR since I only have it on when my heart rate is elevated. So now, I use it during my runs (mostly in the morning), but I also try to remember to put it on again when I get home from work until I go to bed in order to get a good resting HR number.

 

[Keels]

I wear my VA3 almost all the time, though I've noticed I've started taking it off in the middle of the night and will find it in random places.

 

[dis_or_dat]

For those who race with their watches and look at the mile markers (samesies!) do you also set alerts for when you're running above/below pace? I did for one and felt so defeated whenever I heard the "sad" alert.

Also, I only wear my garmin when I run. I try to wear my regular watch to keep it wound.

@lahobbs4 that sounds horrible!

 

[Baloo in MI]

ATTQOTD:
No running watches for me. When I do run it is with the strava app on my phone.

On the ankle front I had my post op appointment today. I am now in a lovely blue cast for two weeks. It was pretty freaky to see the bandages come off and get to view the actual wound site, before they put the cast on. The incision was a lot bigger than I thought it would be. It is going to make for a pretty big scar. the doctor also spent a lot of time talking to me about how bad the tendon and several ligaments were, and how I was headed for full rupture if I did not address it.

Also, I am not much of a fan of this cast. What feels heavier, bulkier and hotter than the brace I had been wearing? My cast of course! Well at least it is the next step. I will take what ever I can get.

 

[LdyStormy76]

So my gym just upgraded their treadmills. I was just getting to where I could run 5 miles on one so I was prepared for my 7 miles today.

Welp, the new ones are super cool and energy efficient but have a PERMANENT 4 or 5 incline. Guys, I don't do that! I'm a 1.5 TOPS. I made it 2 miles and my calves were yelling at me. I had to go outside in the blazing sun and 100 degree to get 2 more miles and then I died.

UGH.

Fill out a comment card and request a follow up. If you are at a park district or small gym (anything other than a chain) you should get a response. There should be a way to change the programming on them to return that setting to user choice. That type of incline setting is not reasonable for most runners so you will most likely not be the only one complaining.

 

[FFigawi]

For those who race with their watches and look at the mile markers (samesies!) do you also set alerts for when you're running above/below pace? I did for one and felt so defeated whenever I heard the "sad" alert.

I sometimes will set the pace alert, but for much slower than the pace I want to run. If my goal is 9 min/mile, for example, I might set it at 845 and 920 because I know I will vary between 850-910 anyway.

 

[Waiting2goback]

I have to vent a little and this is the only place where I know people will understand. For the last two months I have found my motivation. Prior to that I was running still, I would just skip a run here and there. The last two months I haven't really skipped any runs (I missed a run last week because I felt my plantar fasciitis coming back so I took a run off and did my stretches, which worked). These last couple of runs I have had have just been brutal mentally. The heat and humidity up here in MA has been record breaking this last month. We reached 96 this week, which for MA is high for this time of year, along with high humidity. I realized you southerners are used to this but we are not. I run in such a hilly area on top of it so my times are 3:00/mile slower than what I was preinjury.

I know the important thing is, I am out there at 5:30 am doing it. Not making excuses anymore. But it is so discouraging. My body won't loosen up for these runs. My Achilles both have tendinitis right now so they are very sore. And I have a 1/2 marathon at the end of the month. It will be my first race for time since September of 2015. All my races since then were fun races, races with other people to help them, or races during my injury comeback where I just wanted to finish.

I know I am rambling. I also know that eventually cooler temps will return and the humidity will disappear. The course for the race is very flat and along the ocean so I may surprise myself on time since I am training on ridiculous hills and humidity, it right now it is just so frustrating. I haven't had a 100+ mile month since before my injury, which is over 2 years now, but I am giving myself a goal of at least 100 miles this month. I will be posting my results and if I don't make it you all have permission to yell at me.

OK, I am done. Thanks for listening.

 

[Waiting2goback]