The Running Thread--2024

[KCO5988]

QOTD:

What's your "cutoff" for battery life before you decide to replace your watch? I have a vivoactive 4s that I bought back in June of 2021 that I'm starting to need to charge a lot more. What's the charging frequency that would motivate you to get a new/different watch?

I have the same watch actually, and probably got it around the same time, and it definitely needs to be replaced. I started my 17.5mile long run on 80% this past weekend and finished at 1%. Really hoping if I start at 100% I can do my 19 miler this weekend but there's no way it's lasting a marathon. Time to start shopping. Long runs aside, during the week I'm probably charging every other night. I don't mind that part as much, but can't risk it dying with 6 miles left during my marathon.

 

[kps7795]

QOTD:

What's your "cutoff" for battery life before you decide to replace your watch? I have a vivoactive 4s that I bought back in June of 2021 that I'm starting to need to charge a lot more. What's the charging frequency that would motivate you to get a new/different watch?

For me, the issue isn't the charging frequency per se. Rather, how long can my watch last. I had an Apple Watch that would need to be charged on a nightly basis. That wasn't the problem, but I feared my watch dying on me during a race like an old AW had done in my first marathon on the boardwalk at Mile 24.

 

[kps7795]

One guy who started out with me and finished near me managed to get a PR so mission accomplished.

That's great as a sign of a job well done for a pacer.

 

[Herding_Cats]

I have the same watch actually, and probably got it around the same time, and it definitely needs to be replaced. I started my 17.5mile long run on 80% this past weekend and finished at 1%. Really hoping if I start at 100% I can do my 19 miler this weekend but there's no way it's lasting a marathon. Time to start shopping. Long runs aside, during the week I'm probably charging every other night. I don't mind that part as much, but can't risk it dying with 6 miles left during my marathon.

mine was also "used" via amazon. I've used it for all of my disney races, and it's been above 50 or 60% still at the end of a 7hr marathon, but I also dialed down a bunch of things on it (screen brightness, how fast it goes to "sleep", how to get the backlight to turn on) as soon as I got it to help extend times between charges. I think I'm charging about every 3rd day right now.

For me, the issue isn't the charging frequency per se. Rather, how long can my watch last. I had an Apple Watch that would need to be charged on a nightly basis. That wasn't the problem, but I feared my watch dying on me during a race like an old AW had done in my first marathon on the boardwalk at Mile 24.

This is my whole fear right now. But I also don't want to spend several hundred dollars on a new watch.

 

[LorrieAnn5]

Herding Cat's Q/AOTD: I got my Garmin xmas 2020. When the battery was depleting faster than I would have liked ,I actually just started power-cycling it once a week or so and that made the day to day battery life extend itself. Do you ever turn your Garmin off? Maybe that would help you. Then I got over another year before I decided to get a new one, and at that point, my reason for buying a new Garmin wasn't the battery anymore, it was that I couldn't see the screen easily enough while running in the sun, but now my teen DD wears the old Garmin and it works fine enough for her (non-athlete).

 

[Dopey 2020]

Attqotd
As an Apple Watch user I’m used to a lousy battery. I started my marathon this past weekend at 100% in airplane mode and finished at 19%. Turned off airplane mode walking to my truck and it died. It’s 3+ years old and has died at mile 20 in a race this past spring and I’m still debating new battery, new watch, or a different brand for long races.

 

[Kerry1957]

ATTQOTD: I have a vivoactive 3 that is finally starting to show it's age. It will still last for a HM which is as long as I go anymore. I don't use the music as I now can stream my iPhone directly into my hearing aids which the Garmin cannot do. The GPS is getting wonky however. Saturday I had a nice 9 mile run out and back and it indicated I ran 4.5 miles out and 4.35 miles back. My pace was thus also off. Turning it on and off and resetting things did not help.

My birthday is next week and my DW will wrap and give me a Garmin 265 that I bought last week and gave her.

 

[DopeyBadger]

September Training Summary

Running duration = 22:00 hours
Running mileage = 142 miles
Average Pace = 9:17 min/mile (about 110 sec/mile slower than Jan HM)
Average HR = 132 (12 bpm less than half marathon)
Strength Training = 0:43 hours
Total Training Time = 22:43 hours

Been a while since I've done a monthly update. Did the January Disneyland races. The 5k was with my daughter dressed up as Mike and Marty Wazowski. Then the 10k and HM were solo events. Didn't get the times or performance out of my body like I had hoped. It was the plan to ramp up the training quite a bit aimed towards an April marathon afterwards. I was going to really devote a lot of time. Upwards of 10-11 hrs per week of running (70-80 mpw) and 1-2 hrs of strength work. After we got back from Disneyland, I just decided I couldn't devote that kind of time to training giving all the stressors of life going on at the time. My family needed me more. So I pulled back, and just went into maintenance mode. Spent a lot of time with G, and SO much time making costumes for the upcoming MNSSHP and G's theater group. During the summer I focused more on weight lifting because it didn't require me to leave the house and because the time commitment was less.

Finally in mid-August I was ready to start on a run training plan again. Time's still precious right now, but thankfully with costumes nearing completion things are lightening up. So I didn't want to commit to too much. I settled on training for the mile. I've done the Daniels 5k/10k training in 2017, and the Daniels 1 mi/2 mi in 2020 (a COVID pivot because of canceled races). Ended up lightly injured during the tail end of the 2020 training (3x per week speed is too much), so I never felt like I got to really see what could happen. Did set a 5:42 mile PR. So the goal this time around is a sub-6 (or sub-5:42), and then possibly by Nov/Dec a sub-20 5k or sub-42 10k. Endurance isn't great for me (relatively speaking) at the moment, but I'm still making slow and steady progress. Looking forward to the WI Fall as the temps drop. I'm planning on signing up for a few 5k races and then just racing a mile. Either the first mile if there are other sub-6 runners, or the last mile if there aren't. Just happy to cross 100 miles in a month since the last time was December with 240 miles.

 

[nancipants]

ATTQOTD: I have a vivoactive 3 that is finally starting to show it's age. It will still last for a HM which is as long as I go anymore. I don't use the music as I now can stream my iPhone directly into my hearing aides which the Garmin cannot do. The GPS is getting wonky however. Saturday I had a nice 9 mile run out and back and it indicated I ran 4.5 miles out and 4.35 miles back. My pace was thus also off. Turning it on and off and resetting things did not help.

My birthday is next week and my DW will wrap and give me a Garmin 265 that I bought last week and gave her.

I'm buying myself a Garmin 265 for Christmas.

 

[The Expert]

QOTD:

What's your "cutoff" for battery life before you decide to replace your watch? I have a vivoactive 4s that I bought back in June of 2021 that I'm starting to need to charge a lot more. What's the charging frequency that would motivate you to get a new/different watch?

If you're looking for someone to enable a new watch purchase, you've come to the right place! That said, I wear my Garmin 24/7 and charge it once or twice a week depending on training sessions. I think if it was 3x a week or more, I'd be annoyed. Also it MUST comfortably last through my entire marathon day without having to mess with settings to get it to do so.

This is my whole fear right now. But I also don't want to spend several hundred dollars on a new watch.

Garmin usually has really good deals during the Amazon sales and Black Friday. iirc I've upgraded during the Black Friday sales two or three times now, going with last year's model rather than the latest and greatest. Research what model(s) you might want, and stalk them over the next few months.

 

[nancipants]

Speaking of sales - liquid IV is $8 off at Costco.

 

[The Expert]

I'm buying myself a Garmin 265 for Christmas.

I have the 255S and LOVE it, but I've scratched the crap out of the screen. I keep trying to convince myself that's a good enough reason to upgrade. LOL!

 

[avondale]

elementary school gymnasium for runners to stay out of any weather, stretch, sit, or just hang around and meet new people instead of milling around in the dark or sitting on blacktop. There were more than adequate portapottys at the start, finish, and on course. There was always someone on hand if there was anything you might need, and something I haven’t seen before - the college gymnasium at the finish was open and available for any runner who wanted a hot shower!

I did one HM that had the gym/bathroom/shower perk - I didn't use the shower, but the bathrooms were great. The next year when I returned to do the race again, they were no longer open. Hopefully it wasn't because of racer-caused problems.

Sounds like a great second marathon after that first one! Also sounds like a really nice race to run.

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

yep!! the biggest hurdle right now is just getting out the door for the miles because DD is suuuuuper annoying when I try to use the treadmill. DH has been refereeing a ton of football, DS2 has a boatload of homework (AP and honors classes) on top of not getting home from XC practice until 6:30 usually. I was pretty nervous about that run, but when I hit 75min and still felt great, it was a huge mental boost.

Just do XC practice with DS2? I’m sure he’d love that….
;-)

 

[SarahDisney]

QOTD:

What's your "cutoff" for battery life before you decide to replace your watch? I have a vivoactive 4s that I bought back in June of 2021 that I'm starting to need to charge a lot more. What's the charging frequency that would motivate you to get a new/different watch?

I'm notorious for not charging my electronics until they're about to die (phone at 5%? no problem! laptop about to die? what is a charger anyway?) and I'm also not doing a lot of running these days (so less GPS usage), but my VA3 (June 2019) is still okay for me. I think I charge it every 5-6 days or so? Maybe 4-5 days? I also only use it 6 days a week. I've thought about replacing it just because I've had it a while but I haven't pulled the trigger yet. If I get to the point where I need to charge every day or two I'll probably replace it but we'll see what happens when we get there.

 

[FFigawi]

QOTD:

What's your "cutoff" for battery life before you decide to replace your watch? I have a vivoactive 4s that I bought back in June of 2021 that I'm starting to need to charge a lot more. What's the charging frequency that would motivate you to get a new/different watch?

ATTQOTD: I replace my watch under one of several scenarios:
1) I have to charge it more than twice a week
2) It no longer lasts for the entirety of my longest race
3) A newer version is released with features mine does not have (better screen, better workout modes, weighs less, etc.)

Looking back on it, since I bought my first Garmin many years ago, I've had five different ones. I'm ready to upgrade to the 975 when it gets released, mostly because I (and my eyes) really want one of the AMOLED screens.
Forerunner 305 (2007-2013)
Forerunner 910XT (2013-2015)
Forerunner 920XT (2015-2019)
Forerunner 945 (2019-2022)
Forerunner 955 (2022-present)

 

[kps7795]

Speaking of sales - liquid IV is $8 off at Costco.

Do you have a favorite flavor? I love the Popsicle Firecracker. I can see it being too sweet for some, but there's something about the flavor that I love. Have you (or anyone else reading this for that matter) tried passion fruit yet?

 

[nancipants]

Do you have a favorite flavor? I love the Popsicle Firecracker. I can see it being too sweet for some, but there's something about the flavor that I love. Have you (or anyone else reading this for that matter) tried passion fruit yet?

My favorite is Tropical Punch, and that's exclusively what I buy now. It tastes like fruit punch, which I love.

 

[The Expert]

If anybody is needing to pick up some socks and is a fan of Feetures, they sent this email out this morning.

 

[kps7795]

If anybody is needing to pick up some socks and is a fan of Feetures, they sent this email out this morning.

View attachment 900013

I don't need another pair of socks at this point, but I think that I'll buy a pair just to support their relief fund.