The Running Thread --2025

[DisneyParrothead]

Unless you have kids or pets who don’t know what time is.

Or have a circadian rhythm that doesn’t care…

 

[jmasgat]

Race Report: Rock CF Half Marathon, Grosse Ile, MI

I got a new Garmin in November and since I like my running to be structured (even without racing), I decided to let it do a plan for me. I picked a goal of 2:10, which was I thought might be somewhat accurate based on my current fitness and increasing age. I have not run a half in 6 years (Wow) and honestly had no clue how this would go. I've been nervous for the last 3 days.

So nice to have a small (750-ish) field, a High School start/finish (yeah for real bathrooms!) and a 100 yard walk from the car to the start/finish. I ran most of the first few miles in the 9:35-9:40 range, which was faster than I should have gone out, but I was able to pretty much maintain that through the race. The course was largely a rectangle, on an island, and the expected wind was not so bad. I walked for my gel stops, and after thinking I would bail on my final gel, I ended up using it after mile 11 when I started to feel like I was lagging.

Ended up running 13.23 miles (can't figure out why--this course had very few turns) in 2:07:26. So I made my nominal goal. Placed 3rd in my AG, which I should be satisfied with since I could not have given it much more. On an age graded scale, I am generally in line with results from younger days, not that that lessens the brain from doing "race math"

But for now, winter running is over, and I'm off to FL on Tuesday for a week of sun, spring training and a few days of chilling at PO-FQ.

 

[WillRunForPizza]

Race Report: Rock CF Half Marathon, Grosse Ile, MI

I got a new Garmin in November and since I like my running to be structured (even without racing), I decided to let it do a plan for me. I picked a goal of 2:10, which was I thought might be somewhat accurate based on my current fitness and increasing age. I have not run a half in 6 years (Wow) and honestly had no clue how this would go. I've been nervous for the last 3 days.

So nice to have a small (750-ish) field, a High School start/finish (yeah for real bathrooms!) and a 100 yard walk from the car to the start/finish. I ran most of the first few miles in the 9:35-9:40 range, which was faster than I should have gone out, but I was able to pretty much maintain that through the race. The course was largely a rectangle, on an island, and the expected wind was not so bad. I walked for my gel stops, and after thinking I would bail on my final gel, I ended up using it after mile 11 when I started to feel like I was lagging.

Ended up running 13.23 miles (can't figure out why--this course had very few turns) in 2:07:26. So I made my nominal goal. Placed 3rd in my AG, which I should be satisfied with since I could not have given it much more. On an age graded scale, I am generally in line with results from younger days, not that that lessens the brain from doing "race math"

But for now, winter running is over, and I'm off to FL on Tuesday for a week of sun, spring training and a few days of chilling at PO-FQ.

Congrats! Sounds like a nice race.

 

[col1]

Race Report: Rock CF Half Marathon, Grosse Ile, MI

I got a new Garmin in November and since I like my running to be structured (even without racing), I decided to let it do a plan for me. I picked a goal of 2:10, which was I thought might be somewhat accurate based on my current fitness and increasing age. I have not run a half in 6 years (Wow) and honestly had no clue how this would go. I've been nervous for the last 3 days.

So nice to have a small (750-ish) field, a High School start/finish (yeah for real bathrooms!) and a 100 yard walk from the car to the start/finish. I ran most of the first few miles in the 9:35-9:40 range, which was faster than I should have gone out, but I was able to pretty much maintain that through the race. The course was largely a rectangle, on an island, and the expected wind was not so bad. I walked for my gel stops, and after thinking I would bail on my final gel, I ended up using it after mile 11 when I started to feel like I was lagging.

Ended up running 13.23 miles (can't figure out why--this course had very few turns) in 2:07:26. So I made my nominal goal. Placed 3rd in my AG, which I should be satisfied with since I could not have given it much more. On an age graded scale, I am generally in line with results from younger days, not that that lessens the brain from doing "race math"

But for now, winter running is over, and I'm off to FL on Tuesday for a week of sun, spring training and a few days of chilling at PO-FQ.

Congrats on your first Half in 6 years, meeting your goal and the age group placing. Enjoy the Florida sunshine.

How did you find the Garmin plan ?

 

[fatmanatee]

Race report - TOKYO MARATHON (a brief recap!)

I am in pursuit of the 6 star medal, and Tokyo was #5 for me. I got my entry through a tour group that does marathons around the world (also how I got into London and Berlin).
Tokyo itself is a really cool city. The 14 hour flight + the 14 hour time change really kicked my butt though - I never adjusted ,waking up around 2 am every night and tossing and turning. The mattresses in Japan are also very firm!
The expo was insane but the line for bib pickup moved smoothly. I didn't even attempt to enter the war zone that was the official race merch area, but was able to pick up some smaller things from another booth.
The Tokyo marathon is SUPER strict about things - the main issue being that they don't allow you to carry your own hydration. Not kidding - no handhelds, no racebelt, no hydration vest. I usually run with Tailwind, and have a sensitive GI, so I did train with their on course drink (Pocari Sweat) and didn't have any issues. Race day was pretty warm - low 50's at the start but pushing 70 by late morning. The hydration stops were every couple of miles, and things were going ok, until I hit around mile 18 and I started noticing that some of the tables had NO water and/or cups - but I was still able to find another table down the line to grab something. I ran about a 4:40 and later learned that people behind me had absolultely NOTHING to drink for the last 8 miles!! Unbelieveable for a world major!
At the finish - I was handed one tiny mini bottle of water and told I could only have one, and then there was NO food except for a small piece of cheese. I could not believe it!
Tokyo is also SUPER strict about cut offs - they make the balloon ladies look like your best friends - and so many people were swept.
I did get a really nice poncho at the finish, and the volunteers were AMAZING. You could tell they felt awful about running out of water.
I did celebrate at Tokyo Disney after - the weather was awful (cold and rainy) but those parks are incredible.
Overall - Japan is an incredible place, with wonderful people, but the Tokyo marathon needs to get it's act together. Hoping that Abbott steps in to force them to make some positive changes (Abbott runs the 6 star program).

Heard some chatter about this, both the lack of water and the "balloon ladies". Cutoff is 7 hours from the beginning of the race, at 4:10 pm, but that seems to be from the start of the race itself, and it sounds like the last group starts at 9:45ish.

Really jealous! Hoping one day I'll be able to do this and/or Osaka, which is apparently a week or two earlier and also looks great.

 

[jmasgat]

How did you find the Garmin plan ?

My Garmin (a lowly 165) has the option under Training and Planning--Garmin Coach Plans. You can pick an event or goal that you have. Mine had a choice of 3 coaches, and you could input how many days/week you wanted to run. It drip feeds you the plan, i.e. a week at a time and also supposedly adapts to your fitness/missed runs/etc (although without a complete baseline plan, I can't say what it did in that regard)

 

[col1]

My Garmin (a lowly 165) has the option under Training and Planning--Garmin Coach Plans. You can pick an event or goal that you have. Mine had a choice of 3 coaches, and you could input how many days/week you wanted to run. It drip feeds you the plan, i.e. a week at a time and also supposedly adapts to your fitness/missed runs/etc (although without a complete baseline plan, I can't say what it did in that regard)

Ah ok that’s interesting might be something to consider thanks

 

[mmm_texas]

ATTQOTD: DREADING IT!!! I hate hate, double hate, loathe entirely waking up in the dark. Similarly, I'm perfectly happy to go to bed by 9 and also dislike when it's still daylight at 10pm in the summer. Give me standard time year round please.

Related to running, I frequently need to find time to run before work and that is a challenge when it's not daylight until 7 or later.

For example, sunrise today here was at 7:45 AM. I want my morning light back....

 

[LSUlakes]

For example, sunrise today here was at 7:45 AM. I want my morning light back....

While its still cool, I may be on board with this, but in May till October, I prefer to do my running before the sun is up. Its hot enough without the sun lol.

 

[mmm_texas]

While its still cool, I may be on board with this, but in May till October, I prefer to do my running before the sun is up. Its hot enough without the sun lol.

I suspect in many cases people's preferences may have some basis in how far east or west they reside in their time zone. For instance, my parents are in the same time zone as I am, but their sunrise today was at 7:02 AM (vs my 7:45 AM).

 

[nancipants]

If we have to do Daylight Saving Time, I wish they'd do it in April like they used to. Starting it in March when it's still cold in much of the country doesn't make sense!

 

[Naomeri]

If we have to do Daylight Saving Time, I wish they'd do it in April like they used to. Starting it in March when it's still cold in much of the country doesn't make sense!

The fact that they randomly changed when it switches just proves how silly the whole thing is in the first place

 

[Herding_Cats]

I saw a graphic somewhere about "what if we didn't have DST" and it gave the sunrise/set times for various major cities for the month of June, and let me just say. I am not excited about the idea of sunrise being at 4:15am and sunset at 7:30pm. Would our schedules shift/change and people would adjust? Yes. Do I want to deal with the hassle of all of that? Absolutely not.

 

[RuntheMouse]

Head up to Maurten Drink users. Got an email from The Feed today with a 40% off sale on the mix packets.

https://thefeed.com/collections/mau...unJzQWsb3RFCcNVgamBZ87_OZV4nYBj4JwIwmxAnGzM9X

 

[Novatrix]

I saw a graphic somewhere about "what if we didn't have DST" and it gave the sunrise/set times for various major cities for the month of June, and let me just say. I am not excited about the idea of sunrise being at 4:15am and sunset at 7:30pm. Would our schedules shift/change and people would adjust? Yes. Do I want to deal with the hassle of all of that? Absolutely not.

Here it is.

I would hate this. I love my summer light/beginning of dusk evening runs.

 

[Professor_Cookie]

Jokes on me, I thought DST would throw a wrench in my physical activities, didn’t even see sore throat coming

 

[Naomeri]

I'm trying to be a more responsible adult and use sunscreen when I go out for a run (which I finally did today, almost 2 months post-Dopey, and only 3.5 weeks until Springtime ) Anyway, I hate wearing sunscreen when I run, I don't seem to sweat right or something, and my heart rate trends a little higher. Despite being paler than a hitchhiking ghost, I've never gotten burned, or even extra tanned on a run, but I know that doesn't mean it's a healthy way to exist

So...QOTD: what's your go-to running sunscreen? I tried a Coppertone Sport stick, and it was awful.

 

[nancipants]

My eyes always start burning when I use regular sunscreen, so I stick to my regular moisturizer (oil of olay) with SPF.

 

[flav]

ATTQOTD: I use Hawaiian Tropics Sports SPF 30 or 50 plus suglasses

 

[The Expert]

I'm trying to be a more responsible adult and use sunscreen when I go out for a run (which I finally did today, almost 2 months post-Dopey, and only 3.5 weeks until Springtime ) Anyway, I hate wearing sunscreen when I run, I don't seem to sweat right or something, and my heart rate trends a little higher. Despite being paler than a hitchhiking ghost, I've never gotten burned, or even extra tanned on a run, but I know that doesn't mean it's a healthy way to exist

So...QOTD: what's your go-to running sunscreen? I tried a Coppertone Sport stick, and it was awful.

Supergoop makes a lot of different versions -- I like their tinted moisturizer.