The Running Thread - 2018

[IamTrike]

congrats on the great race slogger.

OK- Just when I was feeling pretty good about my marathon training, I am now terrified.
So thanks for the "no one has a good marathon" talk...

The best thing about your first marathon is that it's "YOUR" first marathon. You'll see a lot of people with different perspectives on a race, but only you determine what happens to you. Your attitude, your training, the pace you select, the interactions you choose. They all have an impact on your marathon experience. There are things out of your control (like weather), but Disney does a good job of putting together an environment where you can have an amazing race. I hope your first race is magical and awesome, but it is still a marathon. 26.2 is a long ways to run, but that's what makes it such a huge accomplishment when you finished. If you were going into thinking "this is no big deal" then it wouldn't be as big on accomplishment when your done.

This made me wonder. Does anyone think about your PR based on age group categories and not just lifetime? Or pre/ post major injuries?

Up to this point it's been lifetime, but I didn't really start running until I was in my late 30s. I think once I approach 50 I might start thinking about age group. Right now I am just trying to be the best potential version of me I can be right now, and I believe that could ultimately be faster than I was before.

QOTD: Do most people base their finish time off of the chip time when they cross the finish line or what their GPS watch says when they hit 3.1, 6.2, 13.1 or 26.2 miles?

Todays question is a suggestion from a fellow poster. Thanks for the suggestion!!

ATTQOTD: I always go with chip time.

Chip

Which is why I'm not sure why rD still calls them finisher medals

Well they could switch the name to "payer" medals but I think that devalues the accomplishment of the people that finished.

 

[FFigawi]

Well they could switch the name to "payer" medals but I think that devalues the accomplishment of the people that finished.

Agreed, which is why I disagree with their current policy

 

[IamTrike]

Agreed, which is why I disagree with their current policy

I was trying to avoid that discussion.... Resort Mugs, Finisher Medal, Walking DVC reservations all topics that walk around.

I know I'm a wierdo in that I don't even like to try on the shirts at the expo, because I don't want to put on race shirt before I finish that race. That's my own mental issues though.

 

[cavepig]

Which is why I'm not sure why rD still calls them finisher medals

They should call them started medals.

 

[huskies90]

QOTD: Do most people base their finish time off of the chip time when they cross the finish line or what their GPS watch says when they hit 3.1, 6.2, 13.1 or 26.2 miles?

ATTQOTD: Chip time. Anything else is interesting info, but not official.

 

[GreatLakes]

Hopefully everyone is starting to get the emails from running gear companies with their Black Friday sales. Going back to the rain jacket talk of a few days ago North Face has their Flight Series Better Than jacket on sale for $60. If I needed a hoodless rain jacket I'd jump on it.

QOTD: Do most people base their finish time off of the chip time when they cross the finish line or what their GPS watch says when they hit 3.1, 6.2, 13.1 or 26.2 miles?

Always Chip with the caveat being a drastically short course (like a 5K I ran recently that came in at 2.7) I don't really count towards my race PR.

 

[LdyStormy76]

I know I'm a wierdo in that I don't even like to try on the shirts at the expo, because I don't want to put on race shirt before I finish that race. That's my own mental issues though.

You are not alone with this; that is a mindset I inherited from my father.

 

[Miranda]

ATTQOTD: I like to have both times, but if I'm reporting my results somewhere or talking about my PR, then it is the chip of course (unless it was very short, although I haven't had that experience). But I like to have the real data in Strava to see what my actual pace was.

 

[Waiting2goback]

OK- Just when I was feeling pretty good about my marathon training, I am now terrified.
So thanks for the "no one has a good marathon" talk...

My first marathon was my best running experience to date. I went into it severely undertrained due to injury. I’d never run further than 13.1 either in training or race conditions and my pace was limited due to the conditions of my rehab. That being said, I loved the whole experience and that positive was what hooked me on the marathon distance.

I agree with @camaker. My TOT race and my first marathon were life changing events. I was going through a lot of stuff at the time. A lot of self doubt. A lot of mental abuse from the ex. Those races, and the experiences, taught me so much about myself. Yes, my first full was painful, but the fact that i didn't give up, when I had given up on improving myself so many times, was the breakthrough I needed. Knowing what I know now, I would have finished the race if someone lit me on fire. Those two races are the best things I have ever done for myself (not counting having my kids). I only lump them together because they were only 2 weeks apart so it was like one big experience.

I understand not everyone goes through the same emotions I did but that's why I push people so hard to follow through on the goal if they set out to do it. It is scary but the way I was living before was much scarier. Now when I see something difficult in front of me I ALWAYS say, "If I made it through that race, I can do anything." So for me, it was a good marathon experience.

 

[Waiting2goback]

QOTD: Do most people base their finish time off of the chip time when they cross the finish line or what their GPS watch says when they hit 3.1, 6.2, 13.1 or 26.2 miles?

Todays question is a suggestion from a fellow poster. Thanks for the suggestion!!

ATTQOTD: I always go with chip time.

Chip!

Here, I'll fix that right up: I had a STELLAR first marathon experience! Honestly. Were there difficult patches? Sure. But in my book, deciding at mile 25 that you 100% want to do this thing again goes down as a "good" marathon! And honestly, my 2nd and 3rd marathons were equally good, if not better. It's definitely not all bad news!

My 2nd full was 2016 Disney. OMG, I had so much fun during that race. I ran it with a friend who was doing his first. I just ran his pace, which is slower than mine, so I wasn't hurting at all. I got it on GoPro, made my youtube video, which I watch on occassion almost 3 years later. It happens to be the race I tore my ankle in but I won't hold that again Disney. It was such a blast. 2018, under trained, not so much fun. I almost through my GoPro in the water I was so aggravated to be carrying it. : )

Which is why I'm not sure why rD still calls them finisher medals



I loved my first marathon. I got to run with some of my training buddies, had our coaches pop up for encouragement along the way, and never hit the wall. Y second one is the one I didn't really enjoy all that much.



Chip time. Always chip time. Unless you're running the tangents perfectly, your watch will never match the mile markers on the road.

ATTQOTD: Always chip time. In April, my FitBit claimed that I ran less than 13.1 miles. My First Order Challenge medal which I had to finish the Half to earn proves I ran 13.1.

Thanks. It's also why my goal is finish.

I almost want to finish last because of the craziness. Kind of like Mr. Irrelevant in the NFL Draft. The key though is almost. But finish. That's the key.

While I'm not attempting to reignite the medal if you didn't finish debate, I will say this. I'm very glad that I did not know that everyone got a medal even if they were swept. Because the start of my very first race was miserable with intense shin splint like pain. I knew I could not continue like that so I slowed down to a relatively pain free pace. If I had known that I would still get the medal if I withdrew, I fear I would have done so, and limped back to my hotel room to go back to bed. I would have the medal and know that running is a great thing for many people, but not for me.

And when runDisney announced Star Wars themed races, I know that I would have said "oh that would be so cool, but I can't run because I already failed at attempting to run." I would have missed out on so much.

I think mental preparation is critical to success.

Honestly, while that kind of talk also scares me, I strive to view it as another component of mental preparation. I think about developing strategies for what to do when difficulties arise during the race so I'm not trying to figure them out on race day. Races feel so much better when I have a plan in place for coping if race day turns out to be not what I dreamed of.

I'm looking forward to the choir and getting to run by Cinderella Castle. Not sure it will top running through Sleeping Beauty Castle since Disneyland is "home" as it were, but still something to really look forward to.

I love this. There is so much we can control.

At my speed, finishing is always the goal. But I appreciate reminders to stay focused on the finish line goal.

If someone puts in the effort and tries their best and gets injured, OK, I could see them getting a medal. But to buy entry and walk a mile and sit for the sweeper bus, that's where it bothers me. BUT, I finish, and I get the good stuff that goes with it, so I shouldn't care as much as I do. I recognize that.

 

[baxter24]

ATTQOTD: Chip time. There have certainly been a few races where I wish I could count my watch time but that’s just because I don’t remember to run the tangents well.

To add to the first marathon discussion...I had a great first experience for my first marathon! I think it helped that I didn’t put any pressure on myself to finish in a certain time and I stopped for photos along the way. Those miles leaving WWoS and just before entering Hollywood Studios were the hardest. I think knowing that I would have great spectator support once you enter Hollywood Studios until the finish line is a great help. Still one of the most rewarding experiences ever crossing that finish line!

 

[Sleepless Knight]

I agree with @camakerI understand not everyone goes through the same emotions I did but that's why I push people so hard to follow through on the goal if they set out to do it. It is scary but the way I was living before was much scarier. Now when I see something difficult in front of me I ALWAYS say, "If I made it through that race, I can do anything." So for me, it was a good marathon experience.

As someone who needed some pushing last week, I appreciate that. Even my two most challenging races were incredibly rewarding.

If someone puts in the effort and tries their best and gets injured, OK, I could see them getting a medal. But to buy entry and walk a mile and sit for the sweeper bus, that's where it bothers me. BUT, I finish, and I get the good stuff that goes with it, so I shouldn't care as much as I do. I recognize that.

I think it's difficult for non runners to understand why we put ourselves through the challenges in pursuit of this sport. It's not about the medal. It's about the hard work, sacrifice, and most importantly, lessons learned about ourselves that lead up to that moment where we cross the finish line. For those who so desire, the medal becomes the real symbol of the hard work that led up to it.

I may well feel very differently when I cross the finish line of the marathon, but for now my most treasured medal is the 2017 Kessel Run. But it's not because it's Star Wars. It's because of what it required to earn that medal. The two respective races that I ran to earn that medal are among my best race experiences ever. One of them still stands as my character stop PR race. But that medal means so much because of the 18 months of training and sacrifice that I put in to earn that medal. It often meant training repeatedly when I didn't want to. It meant doing things I once never wanted to do and once also believed was impossible for me.

And none of that would have happened if I had quit during my very first race when it became difficult.

 

[JeffW]

I was trying to avoid that discussion.... Resort Mugs, Finisher Medal, Walking DVC reservations all topics that walk around.

I know I'm a wierdo in that I don't even like to try on the shirts at the expo, because I don't want to put on race shirt before I finish that race. That's my own mental issues though.

When I ran the Dublin Marathon, I went to the expo to pick up my number. After getting my bib, I asked "Where do I pick up my shirt?". The nice volunteer gave me a strange look, like I had 4 heads, and calmly replied "At the finish line after you finish the race tomorrow..." That was a new experience.

 

[Jules76126]

@LSUlakes i need to change my race for Thursday. The original turkey trot we wanted to do was canceled due to logistics. The new one is Jules76127 - Savage Family Turkey Trot 5k (NG/NA). There is a chance this also may be canceled the forecast for Thursday is looking rough. High of 15 with 30 mph winds. Saying it could be the coldest thanksgiving on record. I sure know how to pick a first race

 

[avondale]

Hopefully everyone is starting to get the emails from running gear companies with their Black Friday sales. Going back to the rain jacket talk of a few days ago North Face has their Flight Series Better Than jacket on sale for $60. If I needed a hoodless rain jacket I'd jump on it.

Dang, the women's version is still $99. Although that's not horrible.

 

[KSellers88]

ATTQOTD: This was my question and y'all have made me feel like I am not crazy (or any crazier than I already know I am). Long story short, I have a friend who ran a marathon this weekend and stopped their watch at the 26.2 mark and is using that as their official time. Apparently their tangents were way off, because their chip time is over 5 minutes slower than the PR they are claiming. Either time would be a PR for them so I don't understand the reasoning for the watch time instead of chip time. I realize in the grand scheme of things this is pointless and probably makes me seem petty, but I wanted to make sure I wasn't doing my own PRs wrong too. LOL. So thank you all for your answers, I use chip time as well.

Also like others, I don't count it as a PR if the course is short, which really stinks sometimes.

 

[SarahDisney]

Hoka people! I know Hoka One One shoes are different than many other brands. Is there anything you wish you had known before you started running in them? Advice for someone who is new to the Hoka brand?
For people who tried Hoka shoes and didn't like them - was there something about them you didn't like? Or was it just a general feel/fit situation?
(Specifically, I'm trying out the Bondi 6, but I'm interested in general Hoka advice as well. I thought they were okay in store, but knew I couldn't make a decision on them until I actually took them out for a run. I'm switching over from New Balance.)

TIA!

 

[Miranda]

For me, the Hokas were too narrow. I need a wide toebox. The narrowness of the shoe plus the stack height made me feel like I was going to roll my ankles running in them. That's how I ended up in Altras.

 

[Capang]

• Hoka people! I know Hoka One One shoes are different than many other brands. Is there anything you wish you had known before you started running in them? Advice for someone who is new to the Hoka brand?

For people who tried Hoka shoes and didn't like them - was there something about them you didn't like? Or was it just a general feel/fit situation?
(Specifically, I'm trying out the Bondi 6, but I'm interested in general Hoka advice as well. I thought they were okay in store, but knew I couldn't make a decision on them until I actually took them out for a run. I'm switching over from New Balance.)

TIA!

I love my Hokas. I wear Arahi 2s and love them. I switched over from an OLD version of Adrenalines and I own Ghosts that I use for mainly walking once i realized they hurt to run in. When I finally got fitted the Arahis are what I walked out with.

The only negative I've noticed is that I seem to rub through the material on the side and heel fairly quickly. I have odd feet and ankles so I'm not sure if it is because of my feet, the fit, or what. Aside from that they are the most comfortable shoe I have ever run in.

ETA I find the color choices to be lacking. Not much variety.

 

[Keels]

For me, the Hokas were too narrow. I need a wide toebox. The narrowness of the shoe plus the stack height made me feel like I was going to roll my ankles running in them. That's how I ended up in Altras.

I tried them too before I had surgery and I swear I felt I was more prone to tripping or stumbling, so I passed.

I went back to Inov-8s and added in Nike Frees.