The Running Thread--2024

[kps7795]

November Running
Miles: 1.54
Time: 00:20:09
Avg HR: 145
Avg Pace: 13:04

November Walking
Miles: 6.09
Time: 2:11:11

Let's talk about November.

One ear infection led to a double ear infection. I missed my November 3 half marathon because my ears were so clogged and I was exhausted.

Turns out I was exhausted because I had pneumonia and a pleural effusion as well, which I got while on my first antibiotic. Switched to a new med. Then I got norovirus. Then I had an allergic reaction to my antibiotics.

This all happened in the span of 10 days. Once I had finished my third antibiotic, I tried to run - hence the 1.54 slow miles. I definitely had not recovered enough to do that.

Then, I had to have a medical procedure that also required rest, and that brought me to the end of November.

But, I have completed two 2-mile treadmill runs in December so far with no shortness of breath or coughing, so I think I can start building back something resembling a running base.

Also - never, ever get pneumonia and all the other crap that I did on top of it. It was horrible and exhausting. I even called off sick from work, which I never do (I work from home without many hard deadlines or meetings).

I hope that you're feeling better now and get back to where you left off before November.

 

[nancipants]

I don't know about Garmin, but if I use the lap button to mark segments on my Apple Watch, it has the same effect as programming in a workout in terms of the metrics at the end. Strava also recognizes this as the same as a pre-programmed workout.

Neat! Garmin has never done this for me before, so I hope it's not a fluke and a new feature, because it's very useful.

 

[gosalyn_mallard]

Has anyone ever done the Chicago Spring Half? If so, would you recommend it?

I currently have no races booked in 2025 and it's driving me bonkers! I must plan something!

 

[kps7795]

Has anyone ever done the Chicago Spring Half? If so, would you recommend it?

I currently have no races booked in 2025 and it's driving me bonkers! I must plan something!

The Ten Miler and the Challenge for SS are still open FWIW.

 

[kps7795]

Neat! Garmin has never done this for me before, so I hope it's not a fluke and a new feature, because it's very useful.

Additionally, have you noticed that the touch screen has been disabled since last night's update? It was rather surprising to me at 5:30 this morning when I couldn't scroll through my workouts before my run. I have since gone into "Run Settings" and turned it back on.

 

[nancipants]

Additionally, have you noticed that the touch screen has been disabled since last night's update? It was rather surprising to me at 5:30 this morning when I couldn't scroll through my workouts before my run. I have since gone into "Run Settings" and turned it back on.

I didn't notice, but I have touch screen turned off during activities, so that might be why.

 

[jmasgat]

Well hello winter. My run this morning was a "feels like" temp of 5 and wind of 20mph. It's payback for the mild October/November.

 

[Herding_Cats]

Well hello winter. My run this morning was a "feels like" temp of 5 and wind of 20mph. It's payback for the mild October/November.

did you manage to grab a bib yesterday?

 

[jmasgat]

No. I decided that if I'm going to run for a charity --even one that waives its requirements--it has to be something I can relate to and also rates well with Charity Navigator (or some similar rating system). And I don't know if I should commit to doing a half with 5 weeks training!

So picky, picky.....

 

[kps7795]

Well hello winter. My run this morning was a "feels like" temp of 5 and wind of 20mph. It's payback for the mild October/November.

What were your "mild" weather conditions in October and November? I was thinking about this the other day regarding how long it takes our South Florida weather to match your early autumn T+D.

 

[jmasgat]

What were your "mild" weather conditions in October and November? I was thinking about this the other day regarding how long it takes our South Florida weather to match your early autumn T+D.

We had average Oct max temps in the 60's with the occasional day in the upper 70's. That just seemed 5-10 degrees off for me. November got closer to normal, but the earlier part of the month we had a few days in the 60's

 

[Naomeri]

MN Run Series definitely knows how runner's brains work. They sent me this same email for the other 10 miler I did in April, and if it didn't conflict with Springtime, I absolutely would've signed up right then and there, because I liked (most) of the course, and it's hard to resist the challenge of "hey, can you beat this??"

I won't be signing up for this one because I'm not racing anything longer than a 5K in the summer anymore, it's just too hot when races don't start until 7:45am, and this course was hillier than I expected.

 

[gosalyn_mallard]

MN Run Series definitely knows how runner's brains work. They sent me this same email for the other 10 miler I did in April, and if it didn't conflict with Springtime, I absolutely would've signed up right then and there, because I liked (most) of the course, and it's hard to resist the challenge of "hey, can you beat this??"

I won't be signing up for this one because I'm not racing anything longer than a 5K in the summer anymore, it's just too hot when races don't start until 7:45am, and this course was hillier than I expected.


View attachment 918221

Wow! What a strategy! I've never seen that done before.

 

[kps7795]

MN Run Series definitely knows how runner's brains work. They sent me this same email for the other 10 miler I did in April, and if it didn't conflict with Springtime, I absolutely would've signed up right then and there, because I liked (most) of the course, and it's hard to resist the challenge of "hey, can you beat this??"

I won't be signing up for this one because I'm not racing anything longer than a 5K in the summer anymore, it's just too hot when races don't start until 7:45am, and this course was hillier than I expected.


View attachment 918221

This is one of the best marketing strategies that I have ever seen for a race. Simple, yet brilliant!

 

[jrsharp21]

Has anyone tried muscle scraping on their hamstrings/quads? My right hamstring is always very tight from having pulled it several times in college. This hamstring is the one that will tend to cramp up on long runs. I am hoping to make it through the marathon this year without having it cramp up. My son, who is a pitcher in college, swears by scraping on the muscles in his throwing arm. So I am considering in seeing his sports doctor and getting my hamstrings scraped. Just wondering if anyone else has tried it out and if they found it useful.

 

[kps7795]

Has anyone tried muscle scraping on their hamstrings/quads? My right hamstring is always very tight from having pulled it several times in college. This hamstring is the one that will tend to cramp up on long runs. I am hoping to make it through the marathon this year without having it cramp up. My son, who is a pitcher in college, swears by scraping on the muscles in his throwing arm. So I am considering in seeing his sports doctor and getting my hamstrings scraped. Just wondering if anyone else has tried it out and if they found it useful.

Is that what Molly Seidel has been talking about?

https://sidekicktool.com/pages/moll...jZg_-9sETu9EcoPUI2ohpumElhRrm-EMBk3qFrkPIpqSX

I'm sure that you can find them for a much cheaper price on Amazon though.

Have you tried doing some yoga? I've been doing yoga and pilates throughout this training block and I believe that it has helped me with muscle soreness and stiffness.

 

[Naomeri]

This is one of the best marketing strategies that I have ever seen for a race. Simple, yet brilliant!

Yeah, MN Run Series is pretty good at getting you to sign up for more races. 2024 was the year of the "Triple 10"--sign up for 3 or more 10 mile or half marathon races in their series and get a bonus plaque.

And they always offer a "free" jacket if you sign up for 4 or more races of any distance in their series, even if you do some or all of them virtually.

 

[sandam1]

Has anyone tried muscle scraping on their hamstrings/quads?

My PT did some scraping when I had plantar fasciitis and, holy cannoli, it HURT! I think that I put permanent dents in the treatment table from my finger nails. That being said, I definitely think that it was worth it/helped.

Since then, I saw Sorsoap on Shark Tank, which combines a scraper with an essential oil soap. I figured that I would try it when my legs are sore after running and I really like it. Again, it's not especially comfortable, but I do feel better afterwards.

 

[Herding_Cats]

My PT also did scraping when I went for my PF issue, but they only did my calf. And to echo the above…I felt like I was severely bruised for about a week after.

 

[StarGirl11]

Putting this in here because it came up in another chat I'm in. But if you guys are ever considering fundraising for races. Please, please, please research the charity and how the community the charity supports feels about them before investing that time.

Unfortunately just because a charity can be a big name does not mean it is always good or has good connections. They just are more well known. But more well known doesn't make them necessarily good.

This came up in relation to Autism Speak. Who if you talk to a lot of people who are autistic. You'll hear there is a very strong dislike towards it that people outside the community aren't aware of because a lot of people don't know the absolute fear mongering haterade that they've been known to participate towards the very community that they claim to support. I honestly wish more races would drop them and pick up one of the other charities because Dougie Flute does have a runner charity side and does not participate in it (they're actually partially in charge of Bostons division so that tells you something about this whole mess.)

(Can't go into specifics since some of the stuff they've said and done is not safe for work arguably.)

Not every big name charity is bad. I am with Achilles and I am proud that they have such a good working relationship with the community. And I get this won't stop these organizations from getting money entirely but on a personal level just maybe check to make sure your money is going where you want it to go and not where they claim its going but it actually isn't.

(Susan G Koman has also had problems with pocketing and I think AS as well along with the whole does not get along with the vast majority of the ASD community.)