The Running Thread -- 2022

[bovie]

Question: anyone have advice on transitioning to a zero drop shoe? I just bought a pair of Altra Riveras. Also, now that I have these, am I committed to zero drop everything forever?

 

[RuntheMouse]

Question: anyone have advice on transitioning to a zero drop shoe? I just bought a pair of Altra Riveras. Also, now that I have these, am I committed to zero drop everything forever?

I love my Altra Riveras! I also have Torins and Lone Peaks as well as Hoka Mach 4 and Clifton 8’s. When I first bought Altras I was running in a Saucony and the difference in drop was too great and I ended up with a calf strain that took me weeks to get through. Now with the Hokas which I think are a 5mm drop, I don’t have any problems switching back and forth. Hope that helps a little!

 

[Kerry1957]

COVID question - after two years and 3 vaccines I tested positive.
Those of you who have had a mild case of covid - did you continue to run?

I brought back a Disney souvenir from Marathon Week 2022; a mild case of Covid. It was an easy choice for me to take it easy for 2 weeks since it was immediately post-marathon anyway. I did notice that after resuming light training that I was more tired later in the day than usual. I would thus echo the advice of others...take it easy, listen to your body, when in doubt take it easy.

Missing a few weeks of training is not going to impact your long term fitness, but rushing back too quickly might (or might not) so why chance it?

 

[avondale]

COVID question - after two years and 3 vaccines I tested positive.
Those of you who have had a mild case of covid - did you continue to run?

I tested positive in mid-May with mild symptoms (headache, mildly painful lymph nodes (like I get with a cold), fatigue). My symptoms never went below my neck (no serious cough or trouble breathing) but evolved through a range of cold-like symptoms nearly daily. Traditionally I don't skip a run or workout for ANYTHING, but I felt run-down and fatigued enough that I didn't really even think about doing my runs for a week. I did some easy walking. After about a week, I started back on *easy* running and my effort level was a lot higher than usual for my typical pace - covid definitely affected me more than I would have expected given my symptom level.

So I agree with what others have said - listen to yourself and take the time off if you need it.

 

[Jillfo]

Also, now that I have these, am I committed to zero drop everything forever?

I mostly run in Topo shoes which are zero drop but occasionally run in On Clouds which I think have a 6 mm drop. I have no problem switching between them.

 

[lookingforsunshine]

Question: anyone have advice on transitioning to a zero drop shoe? I just bought a pair of Altra Riveras. Also, now that I have these, am I committed to zero drop everything forever?

I run in Altras but sometimes use inserts which negate the 0 drop. I don’t think you’re committed to zero drop forever though. And actually you should alternate between 0 and whatever you have been using for awhile while your body adjusts.

 

[striker1064]

Question: anyone have advice on transitioning to a zero drop shoe? I just bought a pair of Altra Riveras. Also, now that I have these, am I committed to zero drop everything forever?

I wasn't able to do Altra, so I tried Topo and their 5mm drop and I love those.

 

[DisneyParrothead]

I brought back a Disney souvenir from Marathon Week 2022; a mild case of Covid. It was an easy choice for me to take it easy for 2 weeks since it was immediately post-marathon anyway. I did notice that after resuming light training that I was more tired later in the day than usual. I would thus echo the advice of others...take it easy, listen to your body, when in doubt take it easy.

Missing a few weeks of training is not going to impact your long term fitness, but rushing back too quickly might (or might not) so why chance it?

I also brought back the souvenir in January post MW. I took it easy for two weeks with my coach modifying the recovery plan. I did easy cycling and yoga and the yoga felt the best. I could stretch out where I was feeling tight. I also pounded EmergenC like I do with all of my head colds plus cold medicine. My case wasn't even as bad as my normal head colds.

 

[PrincessV]

Question: anyone have advice on transitioning to a zero drop shoe? I just bought a pair of Altra Riveras. Also, now that I have these, am I committed to zero drop everything forever?

I made the switch from Brooks Glycerin (10mm drop I think?) to Altra Torin in about 2 weeks at the end of marathon training - BUT the Brooks were the highest drop shoe I wore anywhere: most of my standing/walking life was/is spent barefoot or in Birkenstocks. Plus I’m a lifelong ballet dancer, which means already strong feet/calves/ankles. And I’m a forefoot runner in any shoe. So running in zero drop wasn’t a sudden change on my body.

I think the average person needs a longer adjustment period to build the strength needed. Alternating shoes is a good idea, as is spending some time in the Altras and/or barefoot in daily life. You’ll likely feel it after a couple miles if you need more time to adjust - go by feel.

I don’t think you’re committed to zero drop forever… but you might choose to be! I have a bunch of higher-drop, pointy-toed retired running shoes I kept for non-running use that I’ll never wear again because the retired Altras are sooooo much more comfortable.

 

[Cabius]

For those incorporating a shorter race, such as a Half Marathon, into your training plan -- do you build in a taper/recover for that race? Or just keep your overall plan trajectory, perhaps taking it easy the following week to recover?

 

[striker1064]

For those incorporating a shorter race, such as a Half Marathon, into your training plan -- do you build in a taper/recover for that race? Or just keep your overall plan trajectory, perhaps taking it easy the following week to recover?

I've got a @DopeyBadger plan and I'm running exclusively easy running the week after the HM, with my first post-race hard workout coming the following Sunday. That's roughly in-line with my experience and feeling recovering from HMs in the past. At a glance, there's no real taper leading up to the HM though, so I'm interested to see how that turns out for me.

ETA: Ok, upon closer inspection the no-taper is not totally true. I have a 40 mile week, then a 32.5 mile week, then the HM week is 33.1 miles total. The only hard running in the two weeks leading up to the race are HM-tempo runs. So yes, there's a bit of a taper there.

 

[camaker]

For those incorporating a shorter race, such as a Half Marathon, into your training plan -- do you build in a taper/recover for that race? Or just keep your overall plan trajectory, perhaps taking it easy the following week to recover?

When I run a shorter pace as part of a longer training plan I try to fit it into an appropriate portion of the plan and run the race at training pace rather than as a full-out effort. That typically means running a half marathon at my long run pace on a weekend where I was already scheduled to run a 12-15 mile training run during marathon training. By taking that approach there's no need to taper or worry about recovery, as I'm essentially just running within my training plan.

 

[dobball23]

Question: How accurate is a Garmin (Forerunner 235) on a moving cruise ship? I'm lucky enough to be going on a Disney Cruise next month. I'm curious if my Garmin will function if I run on the promenade deck while the ship is moving. I'm thinking it will give erroneous data, but figured I'd ask here for potential first-hand accounts.

 

[GollyGadget]

Question: How accurate is a Garmin (Forerunner 235) on a moving cruise ship? I'm lucky enough to be going on a Disney Cruise next month. I'm curious if my Garmin will function if I run on the promenade deck while the ship is moving. I'm thinking it will give erroneous data, but figured I'd ask here for potential first-hand accounts.

Assuming the ship is moving and you want accurate data, your better off using the indoor track mode. If you just want a fun little slinky shaped run, the gps will work fine.

 

[BigEeyore]

Question: How accurate is a Garmin (Forerunner 235) on a moving cruise ship? I'm lucky enough to be going on a Disney Cruise next month. I'm curious if my Garmin will function if I run on the promenade deck while the ship is moving. I'm thinking it will give erroneous data, but figured I'd ask here for potential first-hand accounts.

Your garmin is going to congratulate you on all of your PR's! It's fun to use the GPS just to get the map data (look, I ran in the middle of the ocean!) but your times are going to be generously faster for sure.

 

[BigEeyore]

Question: anyone have advice on transitioning to a zero drop shoe? I just bought a pair of Altra Riveras. Also, now that I have these, am I committed to zero drop everything forever?

Just be sure to ease into it - start with shorter runs to let your body adjust.
I tried years ago to go to a low drop shoe and ended up with achilles issues, but I know they work great for a lot of people.

 

[DopeyBadger]

For those incorporating a shorter race, such as a Half Marathon, into your training plan -- do you build in a taper/recover for that race? Or just keep your overall plan trajectory, perhaps taking it easy the following week to recover?

Depends on a few things: when it occurs compared to the "A" race, what the goal for the "B" race is (training vs PR), and how much you want the "B" race to impact your fitness for your "A" race.

 

[FFigawi]

For those incorporating a shorter race, such as a Half Marathon, into your training plan -- do you build in a taper/recover for that race? Or just keep your overall plan trajectory, perhaps taking it easy the following week to recover?

If the shorter race is not my A race, I treat it as nothing more than a training opportunity. For example, I’m using my 70.3 in Sept as a fueling and pacing test for my IM in Dec.

 

[bovie]

Thanks to everyone who answered my zero drop question. I actually bought some inserts to go in them (I always put them in my Hokas) before realizing that sort of negated the spirit of the zero drop. They're actually a birthday gift so I gave them to my mom to wrap and return to me in a week lol.

https://vimeo.com/654351696?embedded=true&source=video_title&owner=2809602

I just watched this video of the race I'm considering and it looks AMAZING but also terrifying, mostly because I can't tell how wide those ridges are.

 

[OldSlowGoofyGuy]

I survived a 25 hour trip through the medical world Thursday. I'm back home safe and sound and healthy.

During my journey, at least 6 nurses asked me if I was a runner, based on my heart rate.