The Running Thread - 2019

[Guidman]

ATTQOTD: Same outdoor route hands down. Even if it was 1/4 mile out and backs, I'd still pick that.

 

[Professor_Cookie]

Attqotd: outdoors, totes obvi.

 

[AntimonyER]

ATTQOTD: Outdoors for me. Treadmill running just bores me to death. At least the scenery is changes outside, even if it is on a loop.

 

[KevM]

ATTQOTD: My answer is depended on the question of weather as well. I’m inclined to say outdoors, as long as I can blow off the run due to weather/temperature. If, instead it’s a case of running everyday weather regardless, I’d go treadmill. Turn the TV on to a sporting event and I can run on the treadmill for a good while.

 

[IamTrike]

ATTQOTD: It depends on the length of the loop but I'd be inclined to go with my treadmill. It's got video runs from around the world and the incline adjusts based on the real world. I went through a series running around Greece and am currently running/hiking up Mt Kilaminjaro (jambo everyone). DD has been doing a series of runs through Australia.

 

[echamp404]

ATTQOTD: outdoors – found it hard to make a twenty minute round-trip drive to the gym when I can just walk outside. Running in 40 degrees at night has made me question my sanity a couple of times this past winter, though.

Thanks for the additional input and suggestions @KevM @Waiting2goback @DopeyBadger!

 

[PrincessV]

ATTQOTD: Outdoors. Always outdoors.

 

[michigandergirl]

ATTQOTD: Same route outdoors for sure. The seasons & weather provide the variety. I do have a treadmill which I will use sometimes, mostly in the winter when it's too slippery when I'd rather be bored than risk injury.

 

[apdebord]

ATTQOTD: 1000% same outdoor route

 

[OldSlowGoofyGuy]

ATTQOTD: Outdoors. I've only run on a treadmill a dozen times during business trips or thunderstorms. If I had to run on a treadmill, I would not be a runner.

Even if I had to do 100 yard out-and-backs, I'd still choose outside.

I like the element of the unknown when you run outside: animal sightings, snail rescues, changing weather, and things like this (from today's run):



My best guess is that it's a cookie smooshed into the pavement. He made my day. You don't see stuff like that on a treadmill.

 

[Chaitali]

I'm going to agree with most people and say outdoors But I'm also thankful that I don't have to make this choice for real! I like changing up my routes and I like having the option of the treadmill when it's more convenient.

 

[rteetz]

Would you rather run the exact same route outdoors every day or run on a treadmill every single day?

Same route cause I do that anyways

 

[jmasgat]

02 - TheHamm - Dexter-Ann Arbor Run (3:00:00 / 2:50:21)

Summary: I am not sure I will run it as a half but would not hesitate to do the 10K again. I think if you are faster than I and looking for rolling scenic hills, this would be a great race. I have mixed feelings about this race I am still working through, as evidenced below. I wanted to see what I could do, I set an early goal of sub 3 hours. I did think I was faster than that but was a bit nervous to say that out loud or type it.
I met the goal I had when I signed up, and it is a PR, so I am satisfied, but not necessarily happy.

Bib pick: I had limited time as I had dropped my husband and kids elsewhere and needed to get back to them promptly. I grabbed my bib and stopped at the 3 local running stores to see if they had my shoe model and size as I have been having a hard time finding them. The Brooks rep was telling someone about their logistical problems and suggesting they stop selling them at expo discount as they would continue to be hard to get throughout the summer. My goal of finding a different colored shoe than the current model went out the window with that info. I walked out with the same exact shoes I have and a bib in 22 minutes. All happy with this!

Race day: I picked up a friend and we parked and headed to the line for the busses. We were happy it was cooler than the day before at only 62, but it was still 90% humidity. Too bad the race wasn’t 24 hours later, it is 10 °C cooer and 50% humidity! The seemed to have a problem counting people to put on each bus (every time 4 people had to get off), but it went relatively smooth. We got to the neighboring town’s high school and waited indoors and got to use a real bathroom! Pacers went to 13 minutes and I was hoping to be a bit faster so I noted who it was and did my own thing. I tried to learn from the last race where I knew I went out far too fast and decided I would prefer to error on the too slow side, so I decided to run with the friend who was planning on 13 and is pretty even paced. I stuck with friend for three miles because it was just nice to chat and I figured I had time. She complained that I had said the course was flat and this was rolling hills. I agreed it was rolling hills, but when we discussed the course she had just run Pittsburgh and I still think it is comparatively flat. We ended up running closer to 13:20 and I left her at mile 4 as we hit country roads and gave myself 2 miles to pass the 13 minute pacer. I was a bit faster than I hoped and found him in less than a mile. As I was sweating profusely, I did stop at every water stop and everyone was kind and helpful. While the course map said they had Gu, I never saw any except the packets squished in the road. I did panic a little as at mile 4.5 I saw flashing lights reflecting inside my sunglasses as the police started trailing the 13 minute pacer. I think this was not cool. They stated a 15 minute pace was required and I was ahead of this but I panicked for the next 3 miles thinking they were shutting down the course and going to make us stop. Apparently, they did open the course early, and friend who maintained just a hair under 14 minute mile had vehicles on the road with her and those behind. This is frustrating enough to consider not running this race again. Around mile 7 I had slowed to the 13 min pacer and could hear a woman just chatting loudly to everyone, so my goal became to keep the noise behind me and push on. I am grateful for the resident who rigged up their hose to their mailbox and left it running. I doused my salty face in it without any hesitation. Chatty lady became quiet as the flag for mile 12 came into view and I panicked they had passed me without me noticing. Nope, she was just struggling. Up the last hill and I could see the clock as 2:51:22 and I decided there was zero chance I was letting it get to 2:52 so I am sure I looked ridiculous sprinting at that point, but I did. I am not thrilled with the early opening of the course to traffic, nor having a cop car crawl be hind us, pass and park within view and repeat for nearly 9 miles, it was stressful.

Post Race: I am irritated with the post-race stuff. Several pages back someone mentioned tear tabs for finish line libations, and this was the first time I had seen that. Not that it mattered as only 3 people in line behind me got beer, and there were 80 people on the course behind me. Those 3 people were not on their first drink and the tabs were clearly an on-your-honor thing. There was supposed to be pizza, but that was also gone to the disappointment of others who were finishing within the stated race time. There were plenty of my favorite bagel left, so I pocketed one and headed out my kids’ soccer games.

Current reflections: I did not go out too fast as I had in the past, so this is improvement. I think I would be faster in lower humidity and in a few days, I will be happier with the time I earned even though it was not what I had hoped. If I use DopeyBadger's T+D ajustment, I was closer to what I thought I would do so that is some comfort. I also think I ended up very hungry before the race was over and may have needed more food before or during the race; I am not sure what is necessary or appropriate, but I did not hit it here.

First, congrats on your finish. I have heard that this is a rolling course.

Second...I hope you send this note to the race director. This is not a new race. For that many "unwelcome variations" with course opening, inadequate race provisions, and inadequate post-race provisions, I would be super-pissed.

 

[TheHamm]

First, congrats on your finish. I have heard that this is a rolling course.

Second...I hope you send this note to the race director. This is not a new race. For that many "unwelcome variations" with course opening, inadequate race provisions, and inadequate post-race provisions, I would be super-pissed.

Thank you for encouraging me to say something. The race is older than I so I would have thought they had it down. However, they also said the previous race director had retired and was'working for a seamless transition,' but I think if that were true the race would not exist. It is my hometown race, so I want it to be there when I am ready to try again, but I won't do so if it is run the same way, even if it is faster.

 

[cavepig]

My best guess is that it's a cookie smooshed into the pavement. He made my day. You don't see stuff like that on a treadmill.

That poor cookie. This reminds me of all the smashed food I see on the road running, even whole boxes of cookies or a half a pizza. I always wonder if people just toss it or it was the car roof or why it ends up there.

 

[Kerry1957]

Race Report: North Shore Classic Half Marathon (Highland Park, IL) (NG / 2:30:32)

Bottom line is I PR'ed on a very pleasant morning.

I ran another half marathon 4 weeks ago with the goal of getting into the Disney Marathon corral E, which I accomplished. That, combined with the fact I am running a 6-hour race in 2 weeks, led me to initially conclude I should make yesterday's race just an easy training run. But after weeks of endless rain in Chicago, Sunday morning was glorious; bright blue sky, 55 degrees, and no wind. So I changed my mind about an easy training run about an hour before the gun, and decided I would push it just a bit at the start and see how long I could maintain a quicker (for me) pace of 11:30. Although pretty fatigued at the end I held the pace the entire race and finished 3 minutes quicker than last month for a new PR.

If I had run 33 seconds faster, I would be in corral D for the Wine & Dine HM, but I'll have to attack that on another day.

There were about 1,200 HM runners and the race was very well organized. We only had half the road for part of the race, but dozens of police and 1,000s of traffic cones kept all parties in their correct lanes. This was my second year running this race, and I plan to run it again next year.

 

[avondale]

Ok, runners, I’m filling in for @LSUlakes today and sending out the QOTD. I thought I’d go with something lighthearted to generate some fun conversation. Would you rather run the exact same route outdoors every day or run on a treadmill every single day?

ATTQOTD: Same outdoor route everyday. At least the weather and the season changes. Although I will admit that that can get to be boring, too.

 

[avondale]

02 - TheHamm - Dexter-Ann Arbor Run (3:00:00 / 2:50:21)

Summary: I am not sure I will run it as a half but would not hesitate to do the 10K again. I think if you are faster than I and looking for rolling scenic hills, this would be a great race. I have mixed feelings about this race I am still working through, as evidenced below. I wanted to see what I could do, I set an early goal of sub 3 hours. I did think I was faster than that but was a bit nervous to say that out loud or type it.
I met the goal I had when I signed up, and it is a PR, so I am satisfied, but not necessarily happy.



Post Race: I am irritated with the post-race stuff. Several pages back someone mentioned tear tabs for finish line libations, and this was the first time I had seen that. Not that it mattered as only 3 people in line behind me got beer, and there were 80 people on the course behind me. Those 3 people were not on their first drink and the tabs were clearly an on-your-honor thing. There was supposed to be pizza, but that was also gone to the disappointment of others who were finishing within the stated race time. There were plenty of my favorite bagel left, so I pocketed one and headed out my kids’ soccer games.

I'm one of the folks who mentioned the tear-off tabs on bibs for drinks. I don't drink, so I've never used them. Those are only for free drinks. I've always assumed that you can buy additional drinks - maybe someone else here can correct me if I'm wrong. That might explain how they ran out. Also on the pizza. But I would agree...they need to keep the advertised post-race food and drink available until the advertised finish time. That seems very unwelcoming.

Sounds like you had a good race on a humid day! Congrats!

 

[xjillianpaige]

Any advice for registering for Princess tomorrow? I'll be registering for the 5k and challenge (5k first - challenge second?) and I feel good about that - just need to bring my computer to work/make sure I'm back in the office on time. If I can't be there on time - will registering on my phone be a hassle? I'm out of data and it's been slow lately.

I'm more worried about my parents. My dad is registering himself and my mom for the 5k and 10k. Will he be able to do that successfully? Any tips to ensure they get the races?

 

[FFigawi]

ATTQOTD: Outdoors! I only have 3 or 4 routes that I run regularly anyway. And one of them is only when I'm forced to because it's the only one that gets plowed. Hate hate hate the treadmill.
@FFigawi I guess I should ask a clarifying question: If you pick outdoors do you HAVE to go outside in any kind of weather or can you just say, I'm skipping today. Because that might change my answer. Maybe.

My reaction was similar to @SheHulk, I would pick outdoors and the same route all the time, but I would want to be able to wave off in inclement weather.

Let’s assume you can skip, but you can’t substitute.