The Running Thread --2025

[camaker]

Sorry, everyone, I’ve gotten caught up in Mother’s Day commitments and don’t have a SAFD this week. Normal service will resume next week unless someone wants to toss out a question (or we can just keep talking Star Wars).

 

[sandam1]

Wrong thread?

 

[camaker]

Wrong thread?

Yup. Not my sharpest day.

 

[garneska]

It’s ok @camaker you are busy taking care of your wife for Mother’s Day! Hope you did good! Am sure you did.

 

[Herding_Cats]

I know this has been talked about a lot, but I am going to be needing some different leggings (capris) this summer. It appears that Under Armour has stopped making the model that I have been wearing for 4 years (along with the sports bra model I've worn for nearly the same amount of time! ugh!)

I won't pay $100 for a pair of leggings. Even if I break it down to "cost per wear" I just can't bring myself to spend that much (we are ignoring the double standard when it comes to tutus) on leggings.

I need: a pocket that will fit my phone, ideally on the leg since I hate digging it out of a waistband and a drawstring in the waist (or a waist that won't fall down due to the weight of my phone.) I don't want to add a drawstring on my own.

Athleta has a pair on sale for $60, but they are listed as having "powermove" fabric but I have some Old Navy leggings with "powersoft" fabric that I cannot stand running more than about 3mi in because they stretch too much, so I'm wary of that family of fabrics.

 

[michigandergirl]

I picked up a pair of the Novablasts and I feel like running is fun again. Honestly I can see why they are banned from Ironman, they feel like springs on my feet

Oh darn, an Ironman is off the table now...

 

[pluto377]

@Herding_Cats try baleaf brand on amazon. I have a bunch of shorts and full length pants from them. Side pockets on both legs and a small one in the waist (fits a key or chapstick). I find them comfortable, but not sure if they're too soft for you. Don't get the brushed, those would definitely be considered soft. Also, reasonably priced.

 

[The Expert]

I know this has been talked about a lot, but I am going to be needing some different leggings (capris) this summer. It appears that Under Armour has stopped making the model that I have been wearing for 4 years (along with the sports bra model I've worn for nearly the same amount of time! ugh!)

I won't pay $100 for a pair of leggings. Even if I break it down to "cost per wear" I just can't bring myself to spend that much (we are ignoring the double standard when it comes to tutus) on leggings.

I need: a pocket that will fit my phone, ideally on the leg since I hate digging it out of a waistband and a drawstring in the waist (or a waist that won't fall down due to the weight of my phone.) I don't want to add a drawstring on my own.

Athleta has a pair on sale for $60, but they are listed as having "powermove" fabric but I have some Old Navy leggings with "powersoft" fabric that I cannot stand running more than about 3mi in because they stretch too much, so I'm wary of that family of fabrics.

I like the Salutation Stash leggings from Athleta. Ticks all your boxes and is just the right weight, imho. They come in a million colors and go on sale often. If you're not picky about colors, there are several on sale pretty cheap right now: https://athleta.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=5313216520022&locale=en_US#pdp-page-content

 

[nancipants]

@Herding_Cats try baleaf brand on amazon. I have a bunch of shorts and full length pants from them. Side pockets on both legs and a small one in the waist (fits a key or chapstick). I find them comfortable, but not sure if they're too soft for you. Don't get the brushed, those would definitely be considered soft. Also, reasonably priced.

@Herding_Cats CRZ Yoga is another Amazon brand I see recommended a lot (Tatiana Forbes on IG uses their crop tops). I have no experience with them so I can't comment on the fabric.

 

[Zutroy]

@Herding_Cats CRZ Yoga is another Amazon brand I see recommended a lot (Tatiana Forbes on IG uses their crop tops). I have no experience with them so I can't comment on the fabric.

You can pair it with a shirt from a running clothing line I just discovered called Satisfy. It’s a 100% cotton shirt with their patented “Moth Tech,” which apparently means it has holes in it. Do I probably have a million shirts already like that? Yes. But this one costs $220, and has the washing instructions tag on the outside so everyone knows how fancy you are.

 

[DianaMB333]

I know this has been talked about a lot, but I am going to be needing some different leggings (capris) this summer. It appears that Under Armour has stopped making the model that I have been wearing for 4 years (along with the sports bra model I've worn for nearly the same amount of time! ugh!)

I won't pay $100 for a pair of leggings. Even if I break it down to "cost per wear" I just can't bring myself to spend that much (we are ignoring the double standard when it comes to tutus) on leggings.

I need: a pocket that will fit my phone, ideally on the leg since I hate digging it out of a waistband and a drawstring in the waist (or a waist that won't fall down due to the weight of my phone.) I don't want to add a drawstring on my own.

Athleta has a pair on sale for $60, but they are listed as having "powermove" fabric but I have some Old Navy leggings with "powersoft" fabric that I cannot stand running more than about 3mi in because they stretch too much, so I'm wary of that family of fabrics.

I have used these ones, very comfortable
https://a.co/d/hMj4O1b

 

[SarahDisney]

You can pair it with a shirt from a running clothing line I just discovered called Satisfy. It’s a 100% cotton shirt with their patented “Moth Tech,” which apparently means it has holes in it. Do I probably have a million shirts already like that? Yes. But this one costs $220, and has the washing instructions tag on the outside so everyone knows how fancy you are.

View attachment 965119

Well now I know what I'm buying myself for my birthday...

 

[PrincessV]

I know this has been talked about a lot, but I am going to be needing some different leggings (capris) this summer. It appears that Under Armour has stopped making the model that I have been wearing for 4 years (along with the sports bra model I've worn for nearly the same amount of time! ugh!)

I won't pay $100 for a pair of leggings. Even if I break it down to "cost per wear" I just can't bring myself to spend that much (we are ignoring the double standard when it comes to tutus) on leggings.

I need: a pocket that will fit my phone, ideally on the leg since I hate digging it out of a waistband and a drawstring in the waist (or a waist that won't fall down due to the weight of my phone.) I don't want to add a drawstring on my own.

Athleta has a pair on sale for $60, but they are listed as having "powermove" fabric but I have some Old Navy leggings with "powersoft" fabric that I cannot stand running more than about 3mi in because they stretch too much, so I'm wary of that family of fabrics.

I’m a one-time Athleta-only gal who’s become a CRZ Yoga convert. My CRZ Yoga capris, tights, and shorts fit better than any other brand I’ve tried over 20+ years and hold up through FL sun/sweat/sunscreen and a gazillion washings. And the price is fantastic for the high quality.

 

[LSUlakes]

QOTD: I'm curious to know how many days you ran when you first started out. At what point did you add more and why? Also does the amount of days you run vary depending on time of year or training plan? Lastly, do you do doubles?

ATTQOTD: I first started out with a c25k program that I think did 3 days a week. Once completed I went to 4 days when training for my first half. I then adjusted to 5 days a week once I started training for my first full. For the most part I ran 5 days a week now, but from time to time I can only get 4 days in. I added days to have a better shot of reaching my goal. As far as double go, there was one plan I followed that had 1-2 days during the plan where it wanted you to run AM and PM. I am considering added another day and not sure if its worth it or not. If I am going to do it, I think I may introduce it by just walking for 30 minutes or so on one of my rest days. See how that goes and then just treat it as a easy 3 mile recovery type run day...

 

[camaker]

ATTQOTD: I started out running 4 days/week because that's what the initial Hanson's half marathon plan I chose called for. I continued with 4 days/week through my initial @DopeyBadger training plans, but then decided to give 5 days/week a try. I've been running 5 days/week ever since and feel like it's a very natural, comfortable approach. Right now I'm limited to shorter distances 3-4 days/week rehabbing this $#@&% hamstring and it feels unnatural and unsatisfying.

I've never tried running doubles. The closest I've come to that is trying to get out and walk 2-3 miles at lunch on days I'm running just to add a little bit extra. I don't know that I'd want to run 2x in a day.

 

[RuntheMouse]

ATTQOTD: When I first started running, I ran 3-4 days a week. About a year in I started adding days and have settled on 5 days a week which I love. I keep it set there year round while varying the miles depending on if I’m training for something. I tried 6 days about a year and a half ago and it wasn’t a fit for me, constant niggles/injuries.

 

[WillRunForPizza]

ATTQOTD: After high school, I ran very sporadically for quite a while (so like 0.02 days per week on average lol). When I signed up for my first half, I ran two days a week and cross-trained about two more because I was having knee issues. Then I went back to running sporadically, or not at all.

I finally started running consistently when I signed up for the 2023 WDW marathon and started PT to address my knee issues. Initially I think I ran about three days a week, then four over the summer, and then in the fall I went to six and have been doing that pretty much ever since, with the occasional exception for post-race recovery periods and days off for illness/injury. I like six because it allows you to maximize mileage while still getting a rest day, which I think is important.

These days I typically run 40-50 miles per week (outside of marathon training when I might get a bit higher). IMO, that's not really enough for doubles to make sense, so I've never tried to put them in my schedule.

 

[PrincessV]

ATTQOTD: it’s always been 3-4 day a week for me, on average. I’ve never added more days, only more mileage when training for long distances. The number of days I run only varies if interrupted by weather, illness, vacations, life happenings, or these days just because I don’t feel like running on any given day! I’ll dabble with doubles sometimes as a means of dealing with summer heat: I hate getting up early, so I might compromise by doing a mile or two in the AM and getting into the pool for another 20-30 minutes late in the day.

 

[Herding_Cats]

ATTQOTD: when I first started out, I would just kind of run whenever. But then because I trained for a HM as my first real race, I got on a training plan that was 5 days/week. And that's really all I can handle with my schedule. I don't even consider more days per week because i know I would just end up skipping them.

As far as doubles go, no. Looking at our hs XC team (our coach is in the state and national hall of fame for XC and T&F, and is USATF certified as well) I can confidently say that for him to even consider putting kids on doubles workouts for XC season they need to be running sub-17 for a 5k. OR they need to be "old" (for their grade) juniors or seniors and specifically ask him for doubles because they want to push for something and physically he thinks they can handle it. And from the plans I've seen, the doubles usually only fall about half way through their summer running plan and are 1 day/week and there are only a couple of weeks at the end of their plan that have 2 doubles/week. And if those super fast, super fit kids don't need doubles, then neither do I!

 

[WillRunForPizza]

T(angent)TTQOTD: Jumping back in because this conversation is giving me all kinds of ideas about doubles, which I hadn't really thought much about before! I am not an expert, but I do listen to a lot of podcasts/watch a lot of YouTube videos about running. From this mostly osmosis-based knowledge, I would not consider running doubles unless:

• I had already been running very consistently for at least the past two years. Preferably significantly more.
• I was comfortable running six days per week. (I wouldn't say you need to run six days per week to do doubles - you might be an advanced runner but have schedule constraints that mean you can only run five days per week but can run twice on 1-2 of those days. But I don't think doubles would make sense for someone running four or fewer days per week. First add more days.)
• I was running more than 10 miles every day. (Because to me it would make more sense to do one 9-mile run than a 5-mile run in the morning and a 4-mile run in the afternoon.)

I could see exceptions to these rules: maybe your schedule is absolutely packed and you have time for two 3-mile runs but not one 6-mile run. The 6-mile run would be best from a training perspective, but two 3-mile runs could be better than one if those are your choices. Also, there's probably more leeway with cross-training doubles, e.g. morning run + evening elliptical. That's a solution I've definitely heard of for injury-prone runners. It increases the aerobic volume you're getting without so much pounding.