The Running Thread - 2019

[JulieODC]

The first thing that comes to mind is the 2017 Tinkerbell half marathon. Just got into this groove where I felt great and that I could run forever. I can perfectly picture running straight down Anaheim Blvd (I think?) - chasing each street light. Oh to capture that feeling on every run!

This is one of the reasons I really want to pick the marathon in 2020 - coming into Epcot, hearing "Let's Go Fly a Kite," "How Far I'll Go" and something else as I ran around the world showcase, it was simply magical. That was a runner's high to me as well. I might have spread my arms and pretended to fly.

As a spectator, the music playing on Marathon day in Epcot still gives me chills. It’s like 75% of why I just signed up for the 2020 Marathon as my first! (The other 25% is a mix of an excuse to visit WDW and a grand mariner slush).

 

[QueenFernando]

ATTQOTD: Yes, I get the runner's high. It's random though. Sometimes on short runs and sometimes towards the end of a long run. I've actually started giggling. Lol! Then I say "I love running!" My DH just looks at me like I'm crazy.

 

[momandmousefan]

ATTQOTD: yes! It’s partially why I’ve finally gotten into longer distances. I ran cross country as a kid and would get it from races but it took work, and they were short 5ks. It was only recently I decided to commit to doing a half and was going to give myself a ton of time to take it easy, train, etc.. Up to this point I was a 5k only max gal and had a tendency to overpush so things weren’t fun.

When I FINALLY figured out it was ok to let myself run sometimes at a slower pace where it just felt good, and got past the mental roadblock to push I hit 7 miles for the first time ever....that felt so good and I was so surprised (I had been aiming for 4-5)That runners high triggered enough happy endorphins that I decided to just keeping going, slow pace or not and see how it went. I did a full 13.1 that day! The pain I expected just never came. Granted it took me 3 hours, but it felt AMAZING! I literally laughed and cried I was so surprised, as I never really thought I’d be into longer distances. I’d just started up running again 4 weeks prior too after probably not running in over a year. The euphoria of realizing I actually might be able to do something I’d told myself for years I’d never do felt great.

Now I’m trying to make sure I always have a least one, “anything goes mile/speed wise, just pay attention to feeling good” run a week amongst longer runs, speed work, intervals, etc...

 

[baxter24]

@LSUlakes here are some of my upcoming races. Thanks for taking the time to put these in!

4/26 - Baxter24 - NC Spring Classic 8k

11/02 - Baxter24 - Wine and Dine 10k
11/03 - Baxter24 - Wine and Dine half

1/09 - Baxter24 - WDW 5k
1/10 - Baxter24 - WDW 10k
1/11 - Baxter24 - WDW half marathon
1/12 - Baxter24 - WDW marathon

 

[FFigawi]

QOTD: Have you ever experienced a runners high? If so, what was the situation?

Sure have. Most noticeable was during my first Comrades. I felt great the whole way, as shown in this pic taken with 20 or so miles to go. It was one of those miracle days where everything felt in place and nothing could get me down.

 

[Smilelea]

Trying to play catch-up:

am currently enjoying shorter distances... 3-5 miles seems about perfect. There is a season for everything, and my current season is just enjoying running for fun

This! Or hopefully this after Sunday. I have the half (my 2nd one) that was postponed from 2 weeks ago. Work has been so insane lately that I've been doing good to get to run 2 days a week. Throw in being sick for 2 weeks and we will just say that Sunday's race will be interesting.

I only have one Disney race under my belt but I knew ahead of time that I wanted the castle pic, the "I did it" pic and a pic with the character on the medal. I got all 3 and more. I foresee having the same plan for my next Disney race in 2023 (oh so far away!)

I have definitely had "runners high". I can think of 2 races (a 5k and my one and only half) and maybe 2 training runs that were awesome.

 

[CDKG]

@LSUlakes Oops, it looks like I missed posting my Wine & Dine race too!

Nov 03 - CDKG - W&D Half Marathon (NG / N/A)

 

[Dis5150]

ATYQOTD: Yes, at a 10k a few years ago that I was running for a POT. I ran the fastest I have ever run and felt like I could keep going! In my finish line pic I just look so happy!

 

[TinkerBellLiz]

ATTQOTD: I usually feel awesome after a run. If that’s the “high” then I get it after most runs!

I got my Day 2 in yesterday afternoon! You can do it! Are you on the strava? I believe my runs post on their from my Garmin but I havent had much chance to peek over there lately.

I use Nike Run Club on my Apple Watch, which they’ve improved nicely! My son gifted me the Results App for Christmas and I considered switching to Runtastic as it was part of the subscription but it runs from the phone rather than the watch. I need my phone for the lolo interval run program and my watch records the run.

Since the storm was coming yesterday I just repeated Monday’s 4 miler but I did it! Thursdays are supposed to be 400m run/ 200m walk days but I have to drive somewhere flat to do those. The lolo 10K has the beginner and a “improve your time” 10 week training plan. Since I’m not actually “training” for a race, I’m repeating week 1 until it’s easy then moving to week 2. This should keep me going throughout the summer!

 

[LSUlakes]

QOTD: In keeping with yesterdays theme a bit, have you ever been emotional during a race? It could be for any reason from pure joy or pain. Tell us about it if you would like.

ATTQOTD: This has happened to me twice. The first time was towards the end of 2014 Boston Marathon. After not being able to cross the finish line in 2013 I was a mess for the last mile or so. I was not thinking about it, but when I saw my wife around mile 25 was the first spot, then when I passed the point where I was stopped the year before and was I crossed the finish line. The second time was more recently, which was the WDW marathon. I was so unprepared for the distance and the whole race was just a struggle. I was just trying to enjoy being a part of the event, which I was enjoying. For some reason though as I am approaching Spaceship Earth and see my kids and wife I just lost it. I have no idea why, but it happened. My best guess was I just so happy to be almost done and to see my peoples made me happy. The marathon is a crazy thing, and why the things that happen during that race happen I'll probably never fully understand.

 

[PkbaughAR]

ATTQOTD (yesterday): I guess I haven’t really had that runners high that some of you describe. I often feel great while running, and in the middle of a run feel like I could go forever, but as I near the end, I’m always glad to be finished! Lol

ATTQOTD: I was very emotional at my Wine & Dine 10K last fall when I realized I would accomplish my goal of running the entire race without stopping.

 

[Professor_Cookie]

Attqotd: The first time running into the Osborne lights during W&D. I anticipate the same feeling running on to Main Street in January.

 

[KSellers88]

ATTQOTD: I am not an overly emotional person, so I am still waiting on a big outburst, but I do get goosebumps every time I run our local Soldier Half Marathon. There is a mile of remembrance where they line the road with pictures of soldiers from Ft. Benning who have died in combat, it is amazing how quiet everyone gets during that mile. All you can hear is breathing and footsteps.

 

[LSUlakes]

This week we have the following folks with races:

25 - @KevM - Fort Washington Rush Hour Run 5 Miler (46:15 / N/A)
26 - @baxter24 - NC Spring Classic 8k (NG / N/A)
27 - @QueenFernando - Run for the Trees 5k (NG / N/A)
27 - @Kazrak - Western Pacific 5k (NG / N/A)
27 - @AntimonyER - Freedom Run 5K (21:00 / N/A)
27 - KevM - Conshy 5K (NG / N/A)
27 - @surfde22 - Get in Gear 5k/10k (TDB / N/A)
27 - @flav - 5k des Érables (NG / N/A)
27 - KevM - Sandy Sprint 10K (NG / N/A)
27 - @michigandergirl - Hurt the Dirt 1/4 marathon (NG / N/A)
27 - @KingLlama - Kentucky Derby Mini-Marathon (NG / N/A)
27 - @cburnett11 - Kentucky Derby Mini Marathon (1:44:00 / N/A)
27 - @jennamfeo - Revel Mt. Charleston Half Marathon (1:59:59 / N/A)
27 - @OldSlowGoofyGuy - Tear Drop Half Marathon (PR / N/A)
28 - @YawningDodo - Ice Breaker 3 Miler (NG / N/A)
28 - KevM - Valley Forge Revolutionary 5 Miler (NG / N/A)
28 - @JulieODC - Portland 10 Miler (NG / N/A)
28 - @PaDisneyCouple Mr. - York College Spartan Half Marathon (1:59:59 / N/A)
28 - @Smilelea - BHM 26.2 Half Marathon (3:10:00 / N/A)
28 - @MissLiss279 - Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon (NG / N/A)

Hope yall have a great race this weekend with ideal racing weather! We look forward to reading about how you race went over the weekend!

 

[steph0808]

Emotional - two times, one bad, one good.

Good - 2013 WDW Marathon - I had the flu and a cold and it took me 2+ hours longer to finish the marathon than it should have. It was 90 degrees. I was beat. I came into Epcot and saw my brother and SIL standing by the red phone booth in England. I teared up as I gave them high-fives and continued on my way. I'm tearing up just thinking about how $#*@&^% glad I was to see them. I knew I could make it then.

Bad - 2017 local marathon - I told this story a few pages ago. Terrible weather, thunderstorms, mile 22 or so, a guy running the relay (so like 2 miles into his run) passes me and says something like "Don't give up!" (I wasn't, though I may have been walking) "You're gonna make it" (well no $#^&, Sherlock, I've done 22, I can do another 4.2), "Let's go!", etc. At the time, his words felt super derogatory, like I wasn't giving this marathon all I had in soaked clothes and ten-pound shoes. I got angry, and then I cried.

 

[Professor_Cookie]

Emotional - two times, one bad, one good.

Good - 2013 WDW Marathon - I had the flu and a cold and it took me 2+ hours longer to finish the marathon than it should have. It was 90 degrees. I was beat. I came into Epcot and saw my brother and SIL standing by the red phone booth in England. I teared up as I gave them high-fives and continued on my way. I'm tearing up just thinking about how $#*@&^% glad I was to see them. I knew I could make it then.

Bad - 2017 local marathon - I told this story a few pages ago. Terrible weather, thunderstorms, mile 22 or so, a guy running the relay (so like 2 miles into his run) passes me and says something like "Don't give up!" (I wasn't, though I may have been walking) "You're gonna make it" (well no $#^&, Sherlock, I've done 22, I can do another 4.2), "Let's go!", etc. At the time, his words felt super derogatory, like I wasn't giving this marathon all I had in soaked clothes and ten-pound shoes. I got angry, and then I cried.

Ugh. The only marathon I’ve run so far had a relay going on, so all the aid stations/portapotties were jammed up with relayers who had finished their leg. I feel ya contempt on that.

 

[surfde22]

QOTD: In keeping with yesterdays theme a bit, have you ever been emotional during a race? It could be for any reason from pure joy or pain. Tell us about it if you would like.

The only time I was emotional during a race was around mile 19 or so during the 2017 WDW marathon, just before heading into the stadium. I was having an absolutely terrible race due to a stomach bug I had come down with Friday night and suffered with all day Saturday. I was unable to really eat the day before the marathon and as such had no energy for the race itself. I was so far off the pace I had spent over a year training for and was feeling miserable. Around the 19 mile mark I received a text of encouragement and support from my wife and nearly broke down crying right there on the course. It was one of the most meaningful messages she had ever sent me and she had no idea how much I was suffering. That moment was more emotional to me than actually crossing the finish line, and was just what I needed to hear to drag myself to the finish.

@LSUlakes - I will be doing the 10k this weekend with no real goal. The weather is forecast to be horrible, and I'm only about a month back into training after a two month lay off from surgery. I'm not sure what to expect with my race, but know I won't be pushing hard at all.

 

[huskies90]

QOTD: In keeping with yesterdays theme a bit, have you ever been emotional during a race? It could be for any reason from pure joy or pain. Tell us about it if you would like.

ATTQOTD: I can't say I have been emotional during any of my races outside of nerves before the race starts. Once I get going, all of my races become just another training run.

 

[derekleigh]

QOTD: Have you ever experienced a runners high? If so, what was the situation?

Yes. I'm sure there have been others but the two biggest ones that stand out for me are:

- 2018 Race the Runways 10K = From the start I hooked on to a 8:00 mm pace and started to fear I had gone out too hard. But each mile into it I started to become a little faster. I finished at 48:00-something (about 45 seconds slower than my PR). But overall, I felt great and it felt (until the end) effortless.

- Training run last year. I started about a 4-miler with the mentality "whatever pace happens, happens." I didn't look at my watch and simply ran by effort, which felt lacking. I ended up running about a 8:10 pace. A moderate pace for me is 8:30-8:45. So running an effortless 8:10 pace for 4+ milers, needless to say I had a runner's high that day!

QOTD: In keeping with yesterdays theme a bit, have you ever been emotional during a race? It could be for any reason from pure joy or pain. Tell us about it if you would like.

During, no. Post-race, yes. Obviously any PR will make me feel happier and taller. However, give to my 10K mentioned above, I missed placing in the top 3 on my AG by 12 seconds. It was hard because I had trained for this to be a placing race for me personally. But for the rest of the weekend, the wind came out of my sail.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

For the runner's high - I used to during and after very long runs when I ran without walk breaks. I never experienced euphoria, but I did experience a general sense of well being and was able to run faster without effort, breaking past physical barriers without even realizing that I was doing so. I have never had this experience when doing run/walk intervals.

Today's question - I have only been emotional when running when I have had to overcome some significant adversity to finish. This has happened to me a few times, and the result (tears that I simply could not stop) freaked out my wife a little bit the first time. I have been very happy many times, but not sure that really counts since I am generally a pretty happy person.