The Running Thread -- 2022

[NYC_MW]

Adding on to the race reports - also got to run DC Cherry Blossom 10M yesterday. It was as beautiful and flat (except for that hill right at the end, what was that?!) as advertised. Weather conditions were perfect. Not a PR (man, I'm not at pre-pandemic fitness), but achieved negative splits and happy with the time which will hopefully be enough to get me Dopey POT if they keep with W&D reqs.

Extra fun since a whole bunch of friends went down together. We got to walk around enjoying the blossoms and the monuments the day before and all run (the group lottery mechanism is great). Legs not very happy with me today, but so it goes.

 

[striker1064]

I finally got to run the Cherry Blossom 10 miler that I signed up for in late 2019 this past weekend. What a great event. It was a quick trip out with just one of my friends. We left Friday afternoon and came back after the race. Back when we signed up I thought my son would be too young to really enjoy a weekend in DC but with the two year delay he would have had a blast. I think this is a race I'll do again at some point and bring him for the kid's race and a day at the Smithsonian.

The course was pretty flat, the support was really good, and every meal I had in DC was excellent. It has been a few years and I forgot how much I love walking around the city.

I have been in recovery mode since MW trying to make sure I am not injured going into the summer and then Boston (hopefully) training in the fall so I wasn't sure what to expect. I started the race by feel and after a few miles I decided to try and come in under 1:30 half pace (6:52) and came in at 6:49. It felt hard but I wasn't on the edge the whole time so I think my W&D goal of a sub 40:00 10K followed but a sub 1:30 half is doable.

It's such a good race! I was sad to miss it this year. I went out for a jog Sunday morning and you could not have asked for better racing weather.

 

[sandam1]

I am thrilled to report that I am officially back on the road! My PT and I still need to work out a training plan to get me in good shape for the start of a combined Wine and Dine/Dopey plan in July, but it's a huge and very exciting step forward. I'm sure the training plan will be conservative and I don't think that I've out of the woods yet, but I'm still doing the happy dance today.

 

[dis_or_dat]

Loving all the race reports!

Late to the game but here it goes:

March:
Total miles: 109.5
Avg pace: 7:43

 

[JulieODC]

Been a bit MIA, but also ran the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler this weekend and agree with other posters - a fabulous race, flat and scenic course, perfect weather.

I’ve been dealing with a lower leg injury, so it was my slowest race ever - but ran with a friend and it was a good time.

DC was wonderful too - we used to live there, so it was really nice to be back after the past few years. Great food, and some 30k step days seeing all the sights.

This may become a regular race - if only my allergies weren’t raging!

 

[gosalyn_mallard]

Race Report - Run the Bluegrass Half Marathon, Lexington, KY

This is another race report where the word "hills" will be mentioned several times. This was my fourth RTB and for a race that describes itself as "America's Prettiest Half Marathon" it does not disappoint. The race starts and ends at Keeneland thoroughbred racecourse and winds through hilly and narrow and hilly roads surrounded by horse farms.

I'll get the hilly part out of the way first, by saying my Garmin reported I ran up 98 flights and ran down 96 flights during the HM, so in addition to 13.1 miles horizontally, I made it up and down a near 100-story building.

This was a fun run for me, with no expectation of a PR. I started with the 2:45 pace group. When I asked the leader if she was going to run continuous or intervals she said intervals, but that we will not walk down any hill and will be forced to walk up many hills. I liked that approach, and started with the group, but after a couple of miles I felt good and started pulling away and ran most of the race on my own. I ran pretty steady mile paces and finished in 2:36 (just under 12:00 minutes per mile).

The race weekend is a celebration of running, horses, and bourbon. This year featured Affirmed, the horse who won the Triple Crown in 1978. Steve Cauthen, Affirmed's jockey was on hand to sign medals and a special single barrel bourbon release. He is the only jockey to ever win Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year and was an absolute delight to chat with. All in all, a very fun event.

Congrats on the race! And thanks for sharing your recap. Those hills look like no joke! Sounds like a great course though and a fun atmosphere. This one is on my list!

 

[Herding_Cats]

Anyone have any good suggestions for a FREE alternative to the peloton app for spin bike? **We don't own a peloton---we have a schwinn IC4 and used kinetic and an approximate equivalent chart for resistance** We burned through our free 30 days last year, and I need something to maintain my cardio but not stress my foot out. Bonus points if it has a playlist that'll work with cadence.

If there's nothing really decent out there, I'll just cancel my spotify subscription and switch back to peloton.

 

[accm]

Anyone have any good suggestions for a FREE alternative to the peloton app for spin bike? **We don't own a peloton---we have a schwinn IC4 and used kinetic and an approximate equivalent chart for resistance** We burned through our free 30 days last year, and I need something to maintain my cardio but not stress my foot out. Bonus points if it has a playlist that'll work with cadence.

If there's nothing really decent out there, I'll just cancel my spotify subscription and switch back to peloton.

My response will not be helpful with what you're asking for, but I love my peloton subscription. Beyond just the bike, I really like all the other content on it. I love using it for stretching, since then I don't need to think about what I'm doing. I think if I had to pick between spotify and peloton, I'd pick peloton.

 

[Herding_Cats]

My response will not be helpful with what you're asking for, but I love my peloton subscription. Beyond just the bike, I really like all the other content on it. I love using it for stretching, since then I don't need to think about what I'm doing. I think if I had to pick between spotify and peloton, I'd pick peloton.

Honestly, it's probably what will end up happening, but sometimes there is great free stuff out there.

 

[lookingforsunshine]

Tomorrow I am doing my first track workout ever (with a group). Feeling nervous!

Also, @Herding_Cats, I also recommend picking Peloton if it’s an either/or. And then you can add me as a friend haha.

 

[The Expert]

Before you commit to Peloton, try iFit. I believe they also do a 30 day trial and having done both, I prefer the iFit training options. YMMV but it would buy you another 30 days.

 

[JulieODC]

Can anyone recommend online Pilates or barre classes?

I’m dealing with an injury and my PT recommended switching from yoga to Pilates or barre.

I’ve been loving yoga with Adrienne - wondering if there are any comparable Pilates or barre classes out there??

 

[striker1064]

I finally decided on my fall running plans and registered for the Philadelphia Marathon this November. I've heard great things and we haven't been to Philly in a couple years. Looking forward to it! However, beginning training in July will be... unpleasant.

 

[lookingforsunshine]

My track run got cancelled today and I left my running shoes at work accidentally (I won’t be back to the office until Monday and it’s 45 min away so not worth an extra trip). Sad.

 

[Naomeri]

I signed up for a non-Disney challenge today! The Twin Cities Marathon Weekend Loony Challenge is a 10K followed immediately by a 5K (or with a short break between if you’re faster than me) and then a 10 miler the next morning. This will be my peak training week before Wine & Dine this fall, since it’s about a month beforehand.

 

[kps7795]

I'm running a HM next weekend in a last ditch attempt to get a better POT to qualify for s3. Has anyone here utilized the pace groups? I've only run three races (HM, M and 10 Miler), so my frame of reference is limited. What is the experience like with the pace groups and do they help you actually run to get your desired finish time?

 

[kps7795]

I signed up for a non-Disney challenge today! The Twin Cities Marathon Weekend Loony Challenge is a 10K followed immediately by a 5K (or with a short break between if you’re faster than me) and then a 10 miler the next morning. This will be my peak training week before Wine & Dine this fall, since it’s about a month beforehand.

That sounds great. Good luck with your training!

 

[kps7795]

My track run got cancelled today and I left my running shoes at work accidentally (I won’t be back to the office until Monday and it’s 45 min away so not worth an extra trip). Sad.

Looks like a good excuse to get a second pair of running shoes. Perhaps one pair for long runs and another pair for threshhold/tempo training?

 

[FFigawi]

I'm running a HM next weekend in a last ditch attempt to get a better POT to qualify for s3. Has anyone here utilized the pace groups? I've only run three races (HM, M and 10 Miler), so my frame of reference is limited. What is the experience like with the pace groups and do they help you actually run to get your desired finish time?

This really depends on how you run and how the pacers run. Some, like a friend of mine who paces the 4:15 group at the Houston marathon, try to run even splits. Others like to plan for a negative split. Some run the whole time (maybe walking the water stops) while others use a run/walk interval. Finding out in advance how the pacers you're interested in running with are going to approach the race will be very helpful in making your decision to run with them or not. Even if you choose not to run with them, you can always keep an eye on where they are. It's very unlikely they'll be coming in slower than their goal time.

 

[kps7795]

This really depends on how you run and how the pacers run. Some, like a friend of mine who paces the 4:15 group at the Houston marathon, try to run even splits. Others like to plan for a negative split. Some run the whole time (maybe walking the water stops) while others use a run/walk interval. Finding out in advance how the pacers you're interested in running with are going to approach the race will be very helpful in making your decision to run with them or not. Even if you choose not to run with them, you can always keep an eye on where they are. It's very unlikely they'll be coming in slower than their goal time.

Thank you. Perhaps I'll send the race coordinator an email asking about the pace group plan. I know that there is a 2:00 pace group that is continuous running (they specify a 2:45 Galloway group), but I don't know if the plan is for even splits or negative splits. I was assuming that the plan would be even splits but you certainly never know.