The Running Thread--2024

[Kerry1957]

Earlier this year I shifted from running 5-6 days a week to 2 run days, 2 Orange Theory days and 2 bike days. I like the variety. I'm still trying to figure out how fast for how long I should be biking but I also enjoy just biking at a semi-leisurely pace on the trails near my home. OT is fun and it's a free perk of my Medicare Advantage plan; there must be some benefit to being older.

One thing I discovered; I have no core. Not just a weak core, but a seemingly non-existent core. I thought that running would give me decent core strength, but I was wrong. OT is helping.

 

[SarahDisney]

Just saw this in Publisher's Weekly

RunDisney book

I'm intrigued

Fyi they had this at the disneyland half expo ... I didn't buy it but was also intrigued

 

[jmasgat]

Anyway, I’m already missing running, so I look forward to getting back to it at lower mileage. Have any of you dialed back from long distance to mid-distances? Did you use a different kind of plan, beyond just reduced mileage? I know I don’t technically need to “train” for a 10K a this point, but I also really like having a “plan” in place so I don’t have to think every day about what I want to do. Also, I really enjoy checking things off.

In winters, I usually run lower mileage. I find some kind of bridge plan to get me through winter. I think last year, I picked a Higdon one and it may have been a time-based plan (vs distance). Then I ease into whatever plan is appropriate for my race plans.

This year....nada. I am easing back into running after being off 2 months due to neck issues. Thinking maybe do a spring something? I did sign up to volunteer at Boston again, so maybe the 5k on Saturday.

 

[Zutroy]

@PrincessV

If anyone can understand this weird situation, it’s this group!

After more than a decade of pretty continuous training for multiple half’s and a full/Dopey each year, I’m now dialing back, have nothing other than a fun 10K in April on the calendar, and… don’t know what to do with myself lol!

For years I had no training plan, I would just go out the door and run. I wouldn’t even necessarily know where I was going—I just went wherever I felt like going in that moment. I still try to do this in the periods of time between races to have the freedom and spontaneity that make running fun. It’s not training or running for any particular purpose except to enjoy where I am in time and space.

 

[PrincessV]

I’ve got a plan for my time off from running! I discovered during the COVID shutdowns that the Dutch National Ballet was posting company class videos on YouTube - well, they've continued to do so and there are a BUNCH of them now! I’m gonna run through them all, replacing the days I’d normally run with ballet classes. Ballet’s always been my first love and it’s hard to fit it into any run training plan. Non-ballet days will stay my usual ST/yoga/Pilates/rest days. I’m interested to see if my cardio takes a hit or if things stay mostly level - I’ve never tracked my HR doing ballet before, but will during this time.

 

[avondale]

If anyone can understand this weird situation, it’s this group!

After more than a decade of pretty continuous training for multiple half’s and a full/Dopey each year, I’m now dialing back, have nothing other than a fun 10K in April on the calendar, and… don’t know what to do with myself lol! I simultaneously feel so free - I could do ANY kind of exercise on any given day! - and paralyzed by the unknown - WHAT am I going to do for exercise each day?! Right now, I’m not running at all: I developed a pretty painful case of knee bursitis that I’m seeing if time off will improve. I tried a 30 minute walk the other day and was reminded that I started doing short run-walk intervals long ago because continuous walking is really painful on my hips and back (thanks scoliosis.) Indoor cycling is limited, too, because it also doesn’t play nicely with my back. I think the next week+ will be mostly a mix of ballet, Pilates, yoga, and strength training. Maybe I’ll find some Zumba classes on YouTube - do people still Zumba?!

Anyway, I’m already missing running, so I look forward to getting back to it at lower mileage. Have any of you dialed back from long distance to mid-distances? Did you use a different kind of plan, beyond just reduced mileage? I know I don’t technically need to “train” for a 10K a this point, but I also really like having a “plan” in place so I don’t have to think every day about what I want to do. Also, I really enjoy checking things off.

I definitely get what you're saying. Swimming is often the suggestion, although I see from your later posts that it's not your favorite - nor is it mine.

Zumba: I have a number of Garmin connections who Zumba regularly, so this is definitely a thing. Also, I hadn't realized, but there are tons of dance and "walking dance" workouts on YouTube...maybe they'd be easier on your back? I have some Garmin connections who do tons of these.

If you have money for equipment, there are all sorts of variations on cycling trainers, ellipticals, "running simulators", etc., that have different combinations of recumbency (is that a word?) and posture to help various populations with back issues or whatever. You might find something that works, but it seems like the hard part is figuring out how to test the specific equipment.

 

[PrincessV]

I’ve got a plan for my time off from running! I discovered during the COVID shutdowns that the Dutch National Ballet was posting company class videos on YouTube - well, they've continued to do so and there are a BUNCH of them now! I’m gonna run through them all, replacing the days I’d normally run with ballet classes. Ballet’s always been my first love and it’s hard to fit it into any run training plan. Non-ballet days will stay my usual ST/yoga/Pilates/rest days. I’m interested to see if my cardio takes a hit or if things stay mostly level - I’ve never tracked my HR doing ballet before, but will during this time.

Quoting myself to update that after class #1, I can unequivocally say that yes, an hour of ballet class is absolutely equal to an hour of run-walk intervals as far as HR goes! And has the same mental and emotional release, which is what I REALLY need while taking a break from running.

I definitely get what you're saying. Swimming is often the suggestion, although I see from your later posts that it's not your favorite - nor is it mine.

Zumba: I have a number of Garmin connections who Zumba regularly, so this is definitely a thing. Also, I hadn't realized, but there are tons of dance and "walking dance" workouts on YouTube...maybe they'd be easier on your back? I have some Garmin connections who do tons of these.

If you have money for equipment, there are all sorts of variations on cycling trainers, ellipticals, "running simulators", etc., that have different combinations of recumbency (is that a word?) and posture to help various populations with back issues or whatever. You might find something that works, but it seems like the hard part is figuring out how to test the specific equipment.

Yeah, I’ve tried various forms of equipment over the years - the gist of the problem is that sitting in any position is really painful for more than about 15-20 minutes. Walking on even terrain for long periods hurts because scoliosis makes my hips twist one direction and my upper back the other: when both feet are on the ground at the same time and same level, that creates spinal compression . Running feels fine because each foot can land as it needs to to avoid that twisting, if that makes sense? It’s super annoying, but I’m trying to just be thankful that I can still move in some ways!

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

@Mr_Incr3dible do you mean the R.I.C.E. (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) or M.E.A.T. (Movement, Exercise, Analgesics, Treatment) and no H.A.R.M. (Heat, Alcohol, Running, Massage)? Or something else?

As noted by others, it really is the half-@assed running method (but I am liking your version of the acronym). Basically, I do a lot of shorter runs due to time constraints, which are getting my runs in in-between work and dinner during the week, and not spending too many hours out on Sundays. So whereas many of the training programs have you doing longer and longer runs on Sundays, mine never reach race length. For instance, my longest Sunday run in the past few months was 9 miles. For the Dopey 2 years ago, I think 12 or 13 miles was my longest run.
Am I really fast? No. Do I finish? Yes, and usually not at the very back. Do I spend a lot of time recovering between my weekly runs? No. Do I have training injuries? Not until this past year, when I had a nerve pinching in my back, which halted my runs for about 5 weeks. PT and better, different stretching corrected the problem.

If I manage to follow through on good intentions, I'll increase my training distances this year, but probably not by too much. So I'll continue with my method in one form or another. As noted in my training thread, I felt pretty good after the Goofy last weekend, and went back to running on the following Thursday. So in the past two years it has gotten me through a Dopey and a Goofy.
I just threw it out there as something you might want to try. YMMV.

 

[flav]

it really is the half-@assed running method (but I am liking your version of the acronym)

I take no credit for the acronym definition, it’s what comes up on a search for « HARM method «

 

[jmasgat]

What I learned on my brief run in -3 (feels like-19) temp this morning....the new spendy fitted Athleta tights are better left behind in favor of the old Brooks loose tights and long underwear bottoms! A valuable data point. Smart enough to turn around after a mile and go home. Will try again tomorrow when it will still be near 0.

ETA: Yup. Today is 9 feels like -4. A change of tights and the buff for my chin and things were

 

[Baloo in MI]

What I learned on my brief run in -3 (feels like-19) temp this morning....the new spendy fitted Athleta tights are better left behind in favor of the old Brooks loose tights and long underwear bottoms! A valuable data point. Smart enough to turn around after a mile and go home. Will try again tomorrow when it will still be near 0.

Yeah, being smart is good! I had 10 miles planned yesterday morning and very similar temps, it was beautiful and at the start of the run I was the first person out so the path was untouched, just gorgeous! But the temp kinda snuck up on me and it took me an hour at home afterward to recover! Gotta love the beautiful, but kinda mean, Michigan winters!

Picture from late in my run.

 

[garneska]

Saw the dr today to review the MRI results and get a game plan. Let me start with the good news. He said no surgery. However maybe that should be yet. Here is the best line from the report with the Dr.

-No arthroscopy indicated, should manage nonop until arthroplasty in the future

The concern from the MRI was the arthritis i had on the outside of my knee cap. It is bone on bone and pretty large area. His comment was surgery on the meniscus is not going to help. Keeping me active is the best thing to do until i have to have knee replacement.

Next week i see another dr, who specializes in running and non operative solutions. It could be some injections. I will need to continue seeing my PT. I need to work on strength (which i started) and will have to do more cross training and a little less running. The good news is i should be able to run. I might stick with halfs for the year though. Get my strength up before i try marathon training.

 

[jmasgat]

@garneska Pretty good news all things considered. I guess as we age, there is no going back to the days of 100% fine. This is something I am still coming to terms with at the age of 65!

 

[garneska]

@jmasgat i hear you. It kind of sucks it might be a slower running year for me, but i am happy i am going to be running. I really have to get into cross training. It is so much easier to convince myself to put on my shoes and go for a run. Trying to convince myself to get myself back at the pool. I am not a good swimmer at all but for me a swim feels so exhausting but with little pain on my body. its just getting to the pool before work that is hard.

 

[camaker]

Saw the dr today to review the MRI results and get a game plan. Let me start with the good news. He said no surgery. However maybe that should be yet. Here is the best line from the report with the Dr.

-No arthroscopy indicated, should manage nonop until arthroplasty in the future

The concern from the MRI was the arthritis i had on the outside of my knee cap. It is bone on bone and pretty large area. His comment was surgery on the meniscus is not going to help. Keeping me active is the best thing to do until i have to have knee replacement.

Next week i see another dr, who specializes in running and non operative solutions. It could be some injections. I will need to continue seeing my PT. I need to work on strength (which i started) and will have to do more cross training and a little less running. The good news is i should be able to run. I might stick with halfs for the year though. Get my strength up before i try marathon training.

That's probably the best news you could've realistically hoped for! So glad to hear it! I'm going to go out on a limb and guess they're going to have you doing a lot of strengthening exercises so that the muscles can take as much load as possible off of the knee.

 

[garneska]

@camaker i think you are right. Honestly it was the best news i could hope for. My knee has been bad since Sep 21 so its not like this was one little thing, though i kept hoping it was. I do think the strength training is going to be key. The good thing is my PT is a runner and really into strength training. i am expecting to get some pretty good work outs from her. I might even consider a trainer.

 

[accm]

@garneska that sounds like the best outcome considering everything. I hope with PT that you can continue running without having to cut back too much.

 

[accm]

Does anyone have a 10 miler training plan they like? I'm running the Cherry Blossom 10 miler, and hoping to use it as POT for wine and dine.
I looked at Hal Higdon's intermediate plan, but I don't have time to run 6 miles during the week, which is what it calls for. And the novice plan doesn't look like enough.

 

[The Expert]

I'm also interested in a 10-miler plan, as I'm doing SS and have never done that distance.

 

[PrincessV]

Saw the dr today to review the MRI results and get a game plan. Let me start with the good news. He said no surgery. However maybe that should be yet. Here is the best line from the report with the Dr.

-No arthroscopy indicated, should manage nonop until arthroplasty in the future

The concern from the MRI was the arthritis i had on the outside of my knee cap. It is bone on bone and pretty large area. His comment was surgery on the meniscus is not going to help. Keeping me active is the best thing to do until i have to have knee replacement.

Next week i see another dr, who specializes in running and non operative solutions. It could be some injections. I will need to continue seeing my PT. I need to work on strength (which i started) and will have to do more cross training and a little less running. The good news is i should be able to run. I might stick with halfs for the year though. Get my strength up before i try marathon training.

This is nearly identical to what I was told… before I went and run-walked a gazillion races, including 7 marathons and 4 Dopeys. My point being, it really, truly is doable! I suspect I’m now at or near the point of facing surgery or greatly reducing the running, but I got a solid couple decades in on a knee with a nearly identical diagnosis. It sounds like good news to me and I’m so glad for you!!