The Running Thread --2025

[FFigawi]

I'm not sure? I've always alternated between the chews and the gel, so I don't know if having more of the chews would have an adverse effect?

Only one way to find out. Might as well experiment now and see how it goes.

 

[SheHulk]

Okay who is running Broad Street next Sunday? There are always a few to a bunch of us here. Right now the forecast looks great with no rain!

I haven't been motivated to train like I had been for a while there, I've just kind of been running and doing long runs on Saturday. But my half corral A PoT is expiring this yaar, and I'd love to refresh it. That is most likely not possible this week or maybe ever again, but, not letting reality get in the way, I'm trying to decide whether to go for broke/crash and burn, or be sensible and start off at a reasonable pace for where I am, and at least get a little confidence from running a good race.

 

[marty3d]

Okay who is running Broad Street next Sunday? There are always a few to a bunch of us here. Right now the forecast looks great with no rain!

I haven't been motivated to train like I had been for a while there, I've just kind of been running and doing long runs on Saturday. But my half corral A PoT is expiring this yaar, and I'd love to refresh it. That is most likely not possible this week or maybe ever again, but, not letting reality get in the way, I'm trying to decide whether to go for broke/crash and burn, or be sensible and start off at a reasonable pace for where I am, and at least get a little confidence from running a good race.

I’ll be there. Aiming for B POT. A would be a real long shot for me given how my training has gone the last month and I’m worried if I tried for a sub 1:25 time I could even put a B POT at risk. So I’m aiming for 1:30 and hoping my legs don’t give out on me.

 

[SheHulk]

I’ll be there. Aiming for B POT. A would be a real long shot for me given how my training has gone the last month and I’m worried if I tried for a sub 1:25 time I could even put a B POT at risk. So I’m aiming for 1:30 and hoping my legs don’t give out on me.

Oh I was talking about aiming for a half marathon corral A POT, which would be about 1:31. A full marathon corral A is out of the question!

 

[avondale]

Race day!

Today was my 5K, the first one I’ve ever truly raced. A few weeks ago I posted that I PR’d my 5K in a training run and I was hopeful to do it again officially.

We had perfect weather this morning, 39 and sunny with barely a breeze. I had a rough morning, didn’t sleep well last night and all the doubts crept in. I am a one speed runner so this is my first attempt to get a sub 30. The course is great for this, slight downhill start, relatively flat in the middle and being an out and back a slight uphill finish. I went out a little slower than I had planned, 9:25,but that’s better than the alternative! Mile 2 I cranked a 9:20 right on target. Mile 3 I was dying but still managed a 9:35 and finished the final stretch with an 8:56 pace. Final time 29:30!

I really tried to stay near the tangent and that helped me tremendously! I was thinking I needed to be prepared for 3.18 but I came in at 3.13 miles. I knew I wanted this but didn’t know exactly how much it was going to mean. I’m over the moon! Nothing big on the horizon other than marathon training starting in June!

Congratulations! Great new PR!

 

[RuntheMouse]

Congratulations! Great new PR!

Thank you!

 

[dis_or_dat]

Great job @RuntheMouse ans @rick1zoo2 !

@The Expert that quilt is beautiful! I’ve been looking for a company that does memory quilts

 

[The Expert]

@The Expert that quilt is beautiful! I’ve been looking for a company that does memory quilts

I linked the company name in my post, but feel free to DM me if you have any questions.

 

[nancipants]

Think I sprained my foot while running today. I rolled my ankle on a curb and I was able to complete the run okay, but now I can barely put weight on my foot. Gonna RICE and take painkillers and see how it feels tomorrow.

 

[dis_or_dat]

sorry to hear this @nancipants , hope you recover quickly!

 

[dis_or_dat]

Race Reports:

I'll try to make these shorter than my usual novels.

Boston 2025
Training
So after major life changes (freak accident, surgery, months of not running/exercising, big move...) my surgeon finally gave me the go ahead to run. It was very hard to come back from nothing and with just 3 months to get ready I tweaked an old running plan @DopeyBadger had written for my successful NYC marathon. I was disheartened when I couldn't make it through the first substance run without stopping in the middle for 5-8 min but kept with it. Also, my left upper hamstring pain came roaring back even after so many months off and spread to my calf too. Another new quirk was getting light headed during longer or tempo runs. Scheduling was tricky, so kept moving the recovery days around or skipping them altogether and finally tipped into overtraining and got sick 3 weeks before the marathon. We were on Spring Break and the time change was brutal. Luckily I was able to run during everyone's jetlag and didn't take away from "vacation," but I paid for it with chills and body aches. Good thing it was the beginning of taper.

Boston
Made sure to get to the buses ON TIME this time and gear check! However, there was so much traffic on the highway some people missed their start. I barely had 5-10 min once I got to Athletes Village! My bus seatmate was really amazing. She was almost 10 years older than me, paces 3:30 marathons, and had done the 6 Majors twice (and countless others). She and many others I had met inspired me to go a little faster than the 3:45-4:00 I usually aim for.

They say Boston weather is unpredictable, but the weather gods looked down kindly that day. Saturday was HOT, Sunday was WINDY, and Tuesday was RAINING! Monday was perfect!

I was anxious about how my body would take the marathon on such an abbreviated training plan, loss of fitness, worsening leg issues and light headedness. Went a bit too fast on the first downhills so pulled back a little and nervously noticed 8:05 pace felt easy. Decided to just do check ins with my body every mile and adjust accordingly. Wellesley tunnel gave a lot of energy and Newton Hills were a bit tougher this year, but doable. I finally allowed myself to relax after the hills and enjoy the race. Usually people are passing me the entire time and couldn't believe this year I was actually doing some passing! NGL, I did some ugly crying turning right onto Hereford and left onto Boylston - I'm so proud of what my body was able to achieve after such a tough year.

Felt amazing after the race with almost no soreness! Which was good because in 6 days I had:

 

[dis_or_dat]

Boston 2 Big Sur marathon:
My freak accident occurred right after coming home from Boston 2024 and so I had to DNS Big Sur. That year was a 15 day turn around, but a changed course because of a slide out. HWY 1 was thankfully fixed just in time for Big Sur 2025. My Boston seatmate paced Big Sur in the past and told me to just take it easy since I only had 6 days to recover.

Saturday was gorgeous weather and I can't believe I forgot how beautiful Big Sur is. I mentally planned out all the stops I would make for pictures, since I knew this race would be just for fun.

That night it started drizzling and continued throughout the race. I made a last minute change to footwear and decided to wear super old throwaway shoes and save my usual race day shoes. My feet were wet by mile 1. Weather was dreary and cloudy but the runners around me were bright and cheery. One in particular was hilarious and friendly and we all got to know each other. I even found someone I met at Boston and pulled her into the group and the first few miles flew by. My Boston friend powered up the infamous 2 mile hill like it was nothing but I was able to catch up with her a little afterwards. However, I bid everyone adieu when I stopped to take pictures along Bixby bridge. Winds weren't as bad as they could be but they still weren't fun and I kept my windbreaker and armsleeves on the entire race. Even though it was overcast, the views were still breathtaking. Loved finally experiencing the Taiko drummers, piano man, funny mile markers, and strawberries at Mile 23. Someone had a sign that said "RACE PR = PRETTY RAINY"

I kept slowing as the miles ticked by to barely a shuffle jog. My feet were killing me and my body was just tired especially fighting the winds, hills, rain and road camber. The 4:00 and 4:10 pacers passed me. Run walkers passed me. I was afraid if I walked a little, I would either cramp or not be able to get back to jogging and would have to slog it out even longer. At mile 24, a local gleefully noted there was a surprise at mile 25. It was another hill (of the many rollers over the last 6 miles)! They diabolically put a photographer at the bottom to capture runners reactions to seeing it! I was never more relieved to see the finsher chute!

At the special Boston 2 Big Sur tent my Boston friend screamed out my name as I hobbled in and we hugged. There was a great spread, but neither of us eat well after races so we just chatted. She ran 2 minutes faster than her Boston time! I ran my worst marathon time ever.

It was nice to be humbled at B2BS after riding the high of Boston. Marathons are tough! I'm happy to have met so many amazing people and have plans for Boston 2026 (my last, really!).

 

[Stitch&Co.]

Think I sprained my foot while running today. I rolled my ankle on a curb and I was able to complete the run okay, but now I can barely put weight on my foot. Gonna RICE and take painkillers and see how it feels tomorrow.

Hopefully its nothing serious.

 

[RuntheMouse]

Think I sprained my foot while running today. I rolled my ankle on a curb and I was able to complete the run okay, but now I can barely put weight on my foot. Gonna RICE and take painkillers and see how it feels tomorrow.

Oh no! Hopefully it resolves quickly, take it easy!

 

[KCO5988]

It's race week and all I can focus on is pacing strategies and running content. It's going to be a long week!

I decided to set and A, B and C goal and feel the need to document them somewhere. Maybe for the motivation at mile 23 when I'm dying but know I've written this down somewhere that lives on the internet forever hahaha!

A goal: 3:23 - BQ minus 7 minutes. Current cutoff predictions are rising so this would give me confidence of actually getting in. I know this is a reach for me, but my Runna app estimate for my training cycle has me at 3:21-3:38 so maybe I can

B goal: sub 3:30 - Chicago Marathon qualifying time (and BQ but wouldn't get me in) so I can at least knock out a major next year

C goal: sub 3:35 - this is if things aren't going my way at all, but to at least get a better POT for MW

Temps are tracking well (50-60) and it's a flat course. It's way less humid in NY right now than southern GA, where I live. Only downfall could be the wind. It's been an insanely windy spring up there. My last marathon, nutrition on course was my undoing. But I've really dialed it in this training cycle and completed my 19-mile practice run and 21-mile easy run without any of the old nausea I faced in the past. I just need Sunday to get here already!