The Running Thread - 2019

[TheHamm]

I don't know about your local races per se but I've done way better (and less expensive) races in cities across the country than I've done at Disney. The only thing I really like about Disney races is running through the parks. I don't care about pictures and don't find the stuff you get all that compelling. I just love Disney so as long as I'm going I try to work in a run. More and more they are non_Disney races in other parts of Florida. It is unique but you can find unique places in cities all across the country. My top three, in order, are The Flying Pig in Cincinnati, OH, The Frederick Half in Frederick, MD, and as much as I don't like the RnR Series, RnR Philadelphia.

In Florida The Gasparilla in Tampa and the Halfathon Series in Pinellas County are great. My next Florida race should be the Space Coast Full and I am really looking forward to that.

Aren't you in Montana? I might be mixing you up with someone else. If so there are some great races in your area. I've never heard a bad thing about Missoula and after a friend ran the Great Teton Half in WY that shot to the top of my race wish list.

This is a Disney running board so there are going to be a lot of Run Disney fans. That is perfectly fine but don't discount the many great and unique races throughout the country. One of the best side effects of being a runner, if you ask me, is going around the country and seeing it on foot doing local races.

Thank you for your opinion, as well as those who commented to clarify their dislike for the half course vs. other Disney courses as opposed to other non-disney half courses. I had so much fun mostly due to the distraction of park running and on-course entertainment. I imagine those would be harder to find elsewhere. I am not so sure if the rest of the logistics, ample port-o-potties, and on course water (but I would like to see some before the coral walk!) are similar elsewhere. Destination races are a challenge to work in with family, but at least with Disney they are happy to come along so I alleviate the guilt of ditching my family. I am a different M state, but south east MI has plenty of races, more than anything I have no idea how to filter through and figure out what ones are going to be a pleasant experience. I think for now I am stuck to something that has me home for at least half the day.

and to update the list

12 - TheHamm - Walt Disney World Half Marathon (Enjoy it!/ 3:37)
The joy of going into this race was that as my first half it was an automatic PR
When I left for the bus I told DH I anticipated I would cross the start around 6 and take 3 hours. I still think under modified circumstances I am physically capable of a half under 3 hours despite having skimped on training in November and December. Pondering my experience I have 3 points to improve: (1) stick to the training better (2) I spent a lot of time waiting for character photos {this alone would have gotten me pretty close to the 3 hour mark, Sebastian was not terribly long but at least 10 minutes and the chipmunks were over 20 minutes, the castle photos were well organized and run quickly, but they took only one pic and mine is pretty terrible, a second click of the shutter would have gotten me with eyes open at least} (3) I need to figure out how to manage my stomach.
Reflection is most useful with a plan, right? So I am working on that.
The first point seems achievable, but the current winter weather pattern may work against me. I have access to a treadmill during the week, but the two at work are limited to 20 minutes at a time as there is always a line (even at 6am!) and I feel like I bounce to the ceiling. I can pull of the Y treadmill for closer to 35 minutes on my way to work and for an 1.5 hours on weekends. I am going to try this and hope for some outdoor running tossed in there and pray for things to be passable by March to get in longer weekend runs and aim for a half at the end of March. If I feel like a did a decent job keeping up the runs and get in some longer runs in I will do a spring half, if not I can always do the 10K, but the 10 is advertised as a trail run so that has me a bit concerned for weather. Photo stops are not necessary at non-disney races from what I can tell, so I think this is an easy one to address. While I imagine I may have needed a slow down at additional points without the stops, I cannot imagine it would be nearly as much time lost. The third point is one that has me concerned. While I have to make a stop on most of my long runs, my experiences at Disney seem to be particularly bad. I am not sure if it is the change in food and other life stuff to get there, extra nerves or excitement, or just FL water. I guess I will have to keep trying things?
So while I have three races in my sight I have only signed up for one!

June 2 - TheHamm - Dexter-Ann Arbor Run (3:00/NA)
I did the 10 last summer in the pouring rain and would not hesitate to do it again. This is basically in my back yard and the finish had treats from Zingerman's and beer from a local brewery in quantities that could not be overstated. I did hear that there was less abundance in previous years but I will happily take better weather for only one free pretzel roll and beer.

For those in the north, stay safe this week! I'm staring down a moderate to large snow storm followed by epic cold. Snow shoveling will count as my cardio this week!

less exciting April 7 - TheHamm - Big House Run (00:34/NA) This is literally in my back yard and free for my company so since I can't make it to the SW run, I will think of all of you and dream of being somewhere else. I am also planning on taking it slow and adding miles at the end around the neighborhood to make it a longer run.

 

[michigandergirl]

For those in the north, stay safe this week! I'm staring down a moderate to large snow storm followed by epic cold. Snow shoveling will count as my cardio this week!

We are getting pounded with snow right now in the GR area, so I'm sure it's headed your way, if it's not there already! Kids are thrilled to have another snow day.

 

[TheHamm]

We are getting pounded with snow right now in the GR area, so I'm sure it's headed your way, if it's not there already! Kids are thrilled to have another snow day.

We keep hearing it is on its way! My kids cheered when they cancelled school preemptively- I thought they were supposed to love school for a few more years!
I got up at 4 to go to work, hit the treadmill because I anticipate we will be home through Wednesday and I will be home bound. I have already put in more TM miles this winter than all of last, so I am taking that as a sign I am more committed to running!

 

[LSUlakes]

QOTD: For my morning run folks out there. How early do you start your runs? How much time do you give yourself from waking up to starting your run? What is your routine?

ATTQOTD: Currently not a morning runner but looking to make the switch to make life a little easier at home. To get my runs in I have determined I will need to wake up sometime between 4:00 and 4:45 AM depending on the distance. My normal wake up time is currently 5:45 AM. For shorter runs I would be able to sleep a little later, but I wonder if it would be better to just wake up at the same time everyday regardless of distance to make it more of a routine.

 

[ZellyB]

I am protesting the Super Bowl... Bah Humbug!

I cannot like this enough!!

 

[Dis5150]

ATTQOTD: Not a morning runner. Too dark and unsafe where I live and I live too far out to drive somewhere else then drive back to get ready for work.

 

[PrincessV]

I'm a cheerleader for SmartWool products wearing their socks, balaclava, and beanie hat. My feet never got in the least bit cold.

First, congrats - I can't even imagine running in temps like that! Second, I 100% concur on SmartWool. I have Raynaud's Syndrome, which makes it critical that my appendages not get very cold, and my SmartWool socks have been amazing in cold temps! AND they're equally fantastic in the intense heat of summer here in FL, too. I wish they'd been around when I was growing up in WNY: I spent every winter on the verge of frostbite because nothing kept my feet warm enough.

 

[ZellyB]

ATTQOTD: We start our run at 5 AM on weekdays. We get up around 4:30 since we have to drive to our running route. There's just no place good to run by our house. Get dressed to run as weather dictates. Fix a cup of coffee and drive about 10 min to our start spot. We run anywhere from 3-6 miles on our weekly maintenance runs depending on the training plan. We try to be finished up and back home by shortly after 6 (6 mile runs we either start a bit earlier or run a bit later getting home). Then clean up and get ready for work. I usually leave for work between 7 and 7:30 depending on my work day. I need to work out a way to consistently eat a good small protein breakfast after running but not consistent on that at all yet.

Weekends we start usually more like 6 or 7, but for really long runs on hot, summer days we may still start at 5.

 

[run.minnie.miles]

ATTQOTD: I am not a morning runner- I'd have to get up way earlier than I'd care to!

 

[PrincessV]

QOTD: For my morning run folks out there. How early do you start your runs? How much time do you give yourself from waking up to starting your run? What is your routine?

ATTQOTD: The only morning runs I do are long runs on weekends, or the occasional short run on a holiday, when I'm not working. How early I start depends on the time of year/weather: in summer, I aim to be starting about 30 minutes before sunrise, but in winter I'll sleep later and head out when the temp is a bit warmer, say 9-9:30am. I give myself 1.5 hours to get ready: wake up, make and eat breakfast, read a bit and digest, get dressed, do my foam roller/stretching warm-up routine, apply sunscreen, get shoes/nutrition/hydration, and head out.

 

[GollyGadget]

QOTD: For my morning run folks out there. How early do you start your runs? How much time do you give yourself from waking up to starting your run? What is your routine?

I made the switch to morning runner a few months ago. Prior to that, I woke up just before 6 to get to work by 7. Currently I wake up at 5:30 and get to work by 8. This was working really well when my weekday runs were 30-45 minutes. Now I have weekday runs typically over an hour and up to 90 minutes.... So I'm about to wake up even earlier. I like sticking to the same wakeup schedule regardless of workout.

There's been a lot of treadmill runs lately because of the dark, cold, and snow. I'm looking forward to spring when I'll have some daylight and no ice for slipping.

As for routine, I pretty much roll out of bed and go. I don't want to give my brain a chance to talk me out of it. No breakfast until after the run.

 

[TheHamm]

QOTD: For my morning run folks out there. How early do you start your runs? How much time do you give yourself from waking up to starting your run? What is your routine?

ATTQOTD: Currently not a morning runner but looking to make the switch to make life a little easier at home. To get my runs in I have determined I will need to wake up sometime between 4:00 and 4:45 AM depending on the distance. My normal wake up time is currently 5:45 AM. For shorter runs I would be able to sleep a little later, but I wonder if it would be better to just wake up at the same time everyday regardless of distance to make it more of a routine.

In no case do I eat before an early run because (1) I will never make it out the door (2) I can't get much past 6 miles and have been fine eating something afterwards. I wake up, drink a cup of water, dress, potty and out the door in 15 minutes. If I spend more time than that I will distract myself with things that need to be done but not right then and never make it out the door. If I am feeling overly stiff when I roll out of bed I will stretch a bit before I get to the front door, usually in the bathroom with water. I realize that sounds odd, but that is the only room I can pause in because in any other room I am distracted by laundry, dishes, toys that need to be picked up, the pile of work I brought home and did not touch, or a million other things.

Summer weekdays I am up at 5:15, out the door by 5:30

Winter weekdays: I am still working on this one. I can use the Y treadmill but need to be there when the doors open at 5:30 which is proving harder than it was previous years. We have a TM at work (not nearly as nice as the YMCA), and I am constantly debating 2 miles at lunch or getting here at 6am and having the option of 45 minutes- the later requires cooperation from kids and DH regarding getting ready for school and dropping the kids off, so I do not think it is achievable on a regular basis and I already ditch them for AM yoga once every other week and it is not a good morning for them.

 

[GreatLakes]

QOTD: For my morning run folks out there. How early do you start your runs? How much time do you give yourself from waking up to starting your run? What is your routine?

I run in the evenings so I'm no help. There have been maybe 5 times ever I've run before work and in each occasion I had no morning meetings and was going to work from home so I didn't really get up early, I just started later.

 

[michigandergirl]

As for routine, I pretty much roll out of bed and go. I don't want to give my brain a chance to talk me out of it. No breakfast until after the run.

Yep, get out of bed and go. I make sure I have my clothes ready so that when the alarm goes off at 4:15, I can just put them on and go. No breakfast or coffee until after. I usually do 3-6 miles on weekdays and will wake up at the same time, then do some yoga/stretching after the shorter runs.

On the weekends though, I take a more leisurely approach and I'll have coffee and something to eat before I go.

 

[baxter24]

ATTQOTD: If I do get up early and run, it’s around 5-5:30am. The problem is that my husband is usually waking up around that time and leaving for work so I have to make sure I’m back before he’s ready to go. I try to get out the door as quick as possible. The most helpful thing I have found is getting out of bed immediately when the alarm goes off. Laying in bed and looking at my phone sometimes leads to me closing my eyes and falling back asleep.

 

[rteetz]

QOTD: For my morning run folks out there. How early do you start your runs? How much time do you give yourself from waking up to starting your run? What is your routine?

Depends on my schedule. Usually not too early.

 

[hauntedcity]

QOTD: For my morning run folks out there. How early do you start your runs? How much time do you give yourself from waking up to starting your run? What is your routine?

I used to wake up at 5:15am, so that I was out the door by 5:30. Then, I get back around 6, so my wife can run. Then, I shower, and start getting the kids ready for school.

HOWEVER, I now have a bunch of stretches I need to do because of some back pain I've been having... so now I get up at 5 am on Tuesday and Thursday for my morning runs.

 

[DopeyBadger]

QOTD: For my morning run folks out there. How early do you start your runs? How much time do you give yourself from waking up to starting your run? What is your routine?

Not running right now, but since December have been doing 80 Day Obsession in the mornings.

M - OFF (up at 5:30am). Wife works late, so G and I play Mario Kart or the like till she comes home. Bed at 8:30pm.
T,W,R - 80DO in morning. Up at 4:30am. Start workout at 4:45am till 5:45am. Leave for work 7:00am, back at 5:00pm. Cycle 5:15 till 6:15 to 6:45. Eat dinner/play with G. Bed at 8:30pm.
F - No cycling. 80DO after work.

In a few weeks, running will be added to the routine and Friday will be like T,W,R.

When I used to have to run in the mornings, then it usually took me about 45 min from the moment I awoke to the moment I started the run. That included getting ready and pre-stretch routine.

 

[MadScouser]

Your 10k is a submittable POT as long as it has occurred within the last 2 years prior to SW 2020 (so April 2018?). The 10k POT cutoff for a HM to be submittable is currently 1:15:00.

POT (Proof of Time) Race Equivalency Cutoff Confirmed Times

Thank you ! So my Marathon weekend 10k race time of 62:54 mins would be acceptable then

 

[Miranda]

ATTQOTD: Not running outside right now, but I get up 30 minutes before OTF class starts at 6:45am. That gives me 15 minutes to get my butt out of bed, use the bathroom, and get dressed and another 15 minutes to get out the door (I usually try and have my little drawstring sack already ready to go by the door with a towel, shoes, HRM, heaband, and water bottle), drive to the studio (5 mile drive), change my shoes (it's winter so we are not supposed to wear outdoor shoes into the studio), and put my stuff into a cubby. When I am running outside, I tend to do about the same 30 minutes before I want to leave to run. If I'm eating a snack, I will eat it before I get dressed, and the extra time to make sure all the bathroom necessities are taken care of. This is probably TMI about my bathroom schedule, but we're all running friends here... I do not really ever go #2 in the mornings, except on long run and race days. What is it about long runs and races that somehow the body just KNOWS?