The Running Thread--2024

[kps7795]

Trail des Pionniers de Saint-Donat race report

My cousins, aunt and uncle proposed this family activity and a weekend at their places in Saint-Donat a few months ago. We ended up with a 25 people gathering and over half of us got bibs for the 5k - or 1k for two of the kids - races on September 14th, 2024.

We arrived the night before, enjoyed a relaxed morning, pinned our bibs at the house before walking to the start line. That was glorious, I recommend any race that is 5 minutes away from your bed or your toaster.

Weather wise we lucked out for this palooza, considering that there was near freezing temperatures the weekend before: We got the nicest, and maybe the warmest Summer days we could ask for.

I did a short warm-up and we took position at the start. DD, DH and I left with the first corral. DD in the lead pack, DH deciding after 3 seconds that he was better running his pace and I doing my best.
View attachment 898149
I had not done any speed or hill work in over four months but wanted to give all that I could for my first official trail race. Good thing that I did not have a set time objective. The course was a 5.55km loop on a wide path. We all got surprised by the hills in the first 2km. While I always said that DH is a goat (well he is also my GOAT but that is another story), I am the opposite: I lack the sprint qualities for the up-hills and the agility for the down-hills. I am proud to have kept running all the way. Besides, I had an extra motivation to place in my AG because, I wanted a medal for my hanger… Priorities
View attachment 898151
DD arrived first woman ( although awards were strictly by age group). On the second step of that podium was my cousins’ daughter, that was cool. DD said that this was more than a cross-country race in terms of hills. She got the chance to goof around by accompanying the 3y.o. later in the 1km.

DH arrived first in his AG. He enjoyed it more than a road 5k.

I guess trail times are irrelevant because too hard to compare between one another. I arrived second in my AG.

However , the person that I am the most impressed by is our other DD. She got an ACL reconstruction less than a year ago and is not particularly trained for running. She took her recovery very seriously and decided a few weeks prior to join the trail race party. She pushed herself without taking undue risk and finished smiling and proud of her accomplishment. It was her first official race, not an easy one. Bravo!

We hung around for another three hours. Snacks, temporary tattoos, kids 1km and podiums, all was well organized and pleasant.
View attachment 898152
The family after race was exceptional. We went boating and I discovered that I like Sea-doos (I am not much of a motor boat person). The Fall colours were starting to show. The lake water and the sun were warm to swim comfortably. We also collectively built a Lego Titanic over the weekend. We had plenty of time to talk over delicious meals and catchup with one another. Fantastic

That probably concludes my 2024 racing. I hung up my medals and will contemplate what the future holds. Thank you for reading.

Thank you for sharing. It sounds like you and your family were able to create some amazing core memories!

 

[dis_or_dat]

Happy first day of fall y'all! It's nearly time for all those warm summer miles to pay off at your fall races. What is on your fall racing calendar? Any big goals?

I have 2 marathons in April, 6 days apart. I'm retiring from marathons after that.

Boston just posted that 24,069 athletes were accepted for the 2025 marathon. They ran 6:51 minutes (or more) faster than the BQ standard. Yikes!

They increased the field from 22k to 24k for 2025 too. I wonder how much the cut off would have been if they kept it at 22k. Makes sense that the 2026 qualifying times have changed, especially with Chicago having stricter times now too. Still with how much faster runners keep getting, I'd try for at least a 2:30-3 min buffer for Boston 2026.

 

[MissLiss279]

I have 2 marathons in April, 6 days apart. I'm retiring from marathons after that.



They increased the field from 22k to 24k for 2025 too. I wonder how much the cut off would have been if they kept it at 22k. Makes sense that the 2026 qualifying times have changed, especially with Chicago having stricter times now too. Still with how much faster runners keep getting, I'd try for at least a 2:30-3 min buffer for Boston 2026.

I was listening to Nobody Asked Us podcast yesterday where Chris (their producer) was talking about how he didn’t like the moving target of a BQ (which could happen a week or two before a runner’s race). He mentioned that he would prefer that they set the qualifying standard every harder - say 15 minutes faster or something like that, and then have some other system to fill in the remaining slots. He also mentioned something about a lottery- he just wasn’t a fan of the moving target, but is okay with the prestige and needing a fast time to qualify.

My thoughts (since I will probably never have a BQ time, and this still doesn’t benefit me):
Sometimes a time can be so far out there that mentally you don’t think you could ever get there. (This would be me. Although I have trained about as hard as I could, and still was nowhere close, and then I’m aging. And I’d rather not run marathons hard anyways. Ha!) But this is what I think could work (still wouldn’t include me).

1. Set the BQ time really fast - say 15 minutes faster than it currently is (or faster). Those runners that qualify would get guaranteed entries.
2. Then have a second qualifying time maybe close to what it is now or maybe even just a little slower, and then have a lottery for those who fall into that range.

The race would still be very prestigious, people would know that they were in if they hit a certain time, and then know that they would have an okay chance of getting in if they hit the second group. Should be an ‘easier’ lottery than NYC or Tokyo or London.

Thoughts or opinions?

My thought, for selfish reasons because I am not super fast, is that I don’t think Boston should be a Major Marathon if there is no chance for some runners to run it without paying a lot of money for a charity. I know several of the Majors are really hard to get selected in a lottery, but at least there is a chance.
I do like my small marathons, and I don’t know that I would ever get to all the Majors anyways, so I’m not super concerned about it either.

 

[SarahDisney]

Important poll: Favorite nuun flavors?

My favorite so far is Tri-Berry. I've also had Watermelon, Lemon Lime and Citrus Fruit - I like Citrus Fruit, Watermelon is okay, and I actually surprisingly don't love Lemon Lime.

I want to try the rest of the flavors but Whole Foods doesn't have them all in stock so I gotta find time for a trek to the running store.

 

[avondale]

Important poll: Favorite nuun flavors?

My favorite so far is Tri-Berry. I've also had Watermelon, Lemon Lime and Citrus Fruit - I like Citrus Fruit, Watermelon is okay, and I actually surprisingly don't love Lemon Lime.

I want to try the rest of the flavors but Whole Foods doesn't have them all in stock so I gotta find time for a trek to the running store.

I get a 4-pack that has mixed fruit, grape, strawberry lemonade, and tropical fruit. And that's pretty much my order from least favorite to favorite, although they are all palatable. Interesting, while I love grape-flavored soda, etc., I find the grape to be very weak-flavored.

 

[Herding_Cats]

Nuun: tri-berry and maybe strawberry lemonade?

NOT fruit punch.

 

[FFigawi]

I have 2 marathons in April, 6 days apart. I'm retiring from marathons after that.

Famous last words...

 

[PrincessV]

Important poll: Favorite nuun flavors?

I don’t have a favorite - they all do the job! I just buy whatever 4-pack of flavor happens to have the lowest price lol!

 

[kps7795]

I don’t have a favorite - they all do the job! I just buy whatever 4-pack of flavor happens to have the lowest price lol!

Have you tried LiquidIV? I tried Nuun, but got sick of getting splashed in my face when I would be running. I couldn't figure out how to deal with the carbonation in my water bottle.

 

[DisneyParrothead]

Important poll: Favorite nuun flavors?

My favorite so far is Tri-Berry. I've also had Watermelon, Lemon Lime and Citrus Fruit - I like Citrus Fruit, Watermelon is okay, and I actually surprisingly don't love Lemon Lime.

I want to try the rest of the flavors but Whole Foods doesn't have them all in stock so I gotta find time for a trek to the running store.

I used to drink Nuun but then I swear they changed the way the flavors tasted. Tri-berry was my favorite, but the last order I got just did not taste the same. Since then I order GU tablets from Amazon. They come in a five pack and have very similar flavors, and these I like. I've tried Liquid IV and didn't like it.

 

[Cabius]

Have you tried LiquidIV? I tried Nuun, but got sick of getting splashed in my face when I would be running. I couldn't figure out how to deal with the carbonation in my water bottle.

I switched from Liquid IV to LMNT for most uses -- more punch, less sugar -- though sometimes on a run I actually want the extra sugar.

I do love the passion fruit flavor Liquid IV though.

 

[kps7795]

I switched from Liquid IV to LMNT for most uses -- more punch, less sugar -- though sometimes on a run I actually want the extra sugar.

I do love the passion fruit flavor Liquid IV though.

I enjoyed the passion fruit, but fell in love with the Firecracker Popsicle flavor. It's likely too sweet for your tastes, but it's perfect for me.

 

[PrincessV]

Have you tried LiquidIV? I tried Nuun, but got sick of getting splashed in my face when I would be running. I couldn't figure out how to deal with the carbonation in my water bottle.

I use bottles with caps that have to be pulled up for that reason! I tried one of those squirty tops once and never again.

 

[kps7795]

I use bottles with caps that have to be pulled up for that reason! I tried one of those squirts tops once and never again.

Is yours different than this Nathan water bottle that I use?

 

[PrincessV]

Is yours different than this Nathan water bottle that I use?

Mine are old-school amphipod handheld bottles. The new ones have those stupid “Speed Draw” caps that I hate.

 

[Popo]

I stumbled onto the planDisney podcast this AM and several months ago they did an episode about rD. Although I didn't learn anything new, it has a lot of useful information for first timers. But mostly I enjoyed how they stressed to only open one browser on registration day

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/plandisney-podcast/id1612528577?i=1000649836865

I agree wholeheartedly with everyone opening one browser for registration. It will improve my chances of getting in quickly with the four I open.

 

[matt and beth]

On my long run today there was a mountain of a man picking weeds and bagging them. He looked up and we locked eyes. For a fleeting moment we connected as he thought… I’d rather pick weeds, and I thought… I’d rather run 10 miles.

 

[Naomeri]

On my long run today there was a mountain of a man picking weeds and bagging them. He looked up and we locked eyes. For a fleeting moment we connected as he thought… I’d rather pick weeds, and I thought… I’d rather run 10 miles.

As someone who spent over 4 hours on their knees clearing weeds, I'm with you--running is way better

 

[PrincessV]

Yep, spent hours this weekend cleaning up hurricane tree debris and 100% would rather be running!

 

[SarahDisney]

Does anyone here volunteer at races? Do you enjoy it?

I've volunteered at the NYC marathon (in the finish area) for the last few years, and while I do enjoy it, the last few years I've loved it less and less every year. I'm signed up to volunteer again this year and I'm really not sure I want to. Last day to cancel is apparently Monday so I need to think about what I want to do. (I'm also signed up for the expo, which most years I actually enjoy more, but I have more time to decide if I want to do that)