The Running Thread --2025

[flav]

July 2025 totals
Distance: 21.6km (13mi)
Average pace: 6m52s/km (11:00min/mi)
YTD: 929km on 2025km

Took the decision to heal and not run on vacation. Sadly abandoned my 2025km objective.

 

[Herding_Cats]

July Totals
122.1mi (31hr 1min)

I added my dedicated walk into this because I also did a couple of shorter treadmill hill walks, and my watch lumps anything treadmill into running. On paper this month was meant to be a lot bigger, but this is still my highest mileage month ever by 16mi. WOO HOO!

 

[avondale]

Today's Astronomy Picture of the Day, which is of a Bok globule in the Eagle Nebula, looks like a runner with a heavy "thought cloud" above him: https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250801.html A lot of nebulae have popular names - like "Eagle Nebula", because it's really Messier 16 (M16) - so I'm surprised this little one doesn't have a name.

There is a Running Man Nebula (see here: https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap160113.html), but it's not the same nebula, and I don't think it looks nearly as much like the name.

Enjoy!

 

[*DisneyDreamer]

Does anyone else live in the Midwest where we’re getting plagued with wildfire smoke? I was so excited for a temperature cooldown here after it has been so humid but can’t even enjoy it because the air quality is terrible now. For a few weeks I felt like I was getting good running consistency back but now have taken a step back again because between heat and air quality, I just can’t get out. I’m getting really antsy about it. The Canadian wildfires aren’t getting any better and I’m worried about how long we’re going to be dealing with this and that fall is going to be even worse than now.

And on a related question, if you deal with air quality advisories, at what level do you feel comfortable running in it? I’m probably going to have to resort to a treadmill soon if we keep having these issues.

 

[Naomeri]

Does anyone else live in the Midwest where we’re getting plagued with wildfire smoke? I was so excited for a temperature cooldown here after it has been so humid but can’t even enjoy it because the air quality is terrible now. For a few weeks I felt like I was getting good running consistency back but now have taken a step back again because between heat and air quality, I just can’t get out. I’m getting really antsy about it. The Canadian wildfires aren’t getting any better and I’m worried about how long we’re going to be dealing with this and that fall is going to be even worse than now.

And on a related question, if you deal with air quality advisories, at what level do you feel comfortable running in it? I’m probably going to have to resort to a treadmill soon if we keep having these issues.

I'm in the path of smoke too. I was supposed to start my new training plan this week, and I only managed my planned treadmill run on Monday. The heat cancelled Tuesday, and the smoke cancelled yesterday (both could've been done on the treadmill, but that's how I fall into the trap of "since I'm doing it on the treadmill, I can do it later" and then "later" never comes)

Generally, if I can taste the smoke when I go out the door, I don't run. If it's just hazy, but I can't taste it, I go ahead, but stay close to home so I can call it early if I need to.

 

[RuntheMouse]

Does anyone else live in the Midwest where we’re getting plagued with wildfire smoke? I was so excited for a temperature cooldown here after it has been so humid but can’t even enjoy it because the air quality is terrible now. For a few weeks I felt like I was getting good running consistency back but now have taken a step back again because between heat and air quality, I just can’t get out. I’m getting really antsy about it. The Canadian wildfires aren’t getting any better and I’m worried about how long we’re going to be dealing with this and that fall is going to be even worse than now.

And on a related question, if you deal with air quality advisories, at what level do you feel comfortable running in it? I’m probably going to have to resort to a treadmill soon if we keep having these issues.

Yup……again! Sadly I think this is our reality for awhile.

I will run to 150 AQI, not over. I don’t have a treadmill (hate them) so I watch the AQI like a hawk and adjust my runs when necessary.

 

[MissLiss279]

It’s smoky here in Kansas today with the air quality in the ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’ range.
I was really looking forward to the cooler temperatures for my long run too. We’ll see how it goes tomorrow. It’s supposed to be 63 to start!!

 

[Herding_Cats]

*raises hand*

Yeah. It's been pretty bad.

Headed out for 10mi with a friend on the trails this morning and the temperature is currently in the glorious mid-50s, but the AQI is at 136. Now, that's better than the high 170s it's been most of the week, but still not great.

 

[PrincessV]

Re: air quality and smoke, especially - what about using an N95 or KN95 mask? I’ve run in them at races to avoid viral exposure and while not the most comfortable thing in the world, neither was it a major discomfort. I don’t have any experience with using them for smoke, but the Internet says they’re good for that.

 

[jmasgat]

I’m in the Detroit area and have been running even with the AQI in the 100+ range. Probably stupid, but it hasn’t bothered me. But my runs have easy/moderate.

 

[The Expert]

We've had air quality issues up here in Vermont, too. We used to get them all the time in Salt Lake, so I'm sadly used to checking. I don't go out if it's higher than "caution for sensitive groups", but I do a lot of treadmill anyway.

 

[The Expert]

Anyone used the UltrAspire Mountain Racer Waist Pack? I saw an IG ad for it this morning and I'm intrigued by how much it holds. Mostly I'm curious if any fellow shorties have tried it. I'm only 5'1" and short waisted, so I'm worried about it covering my entire torso!

 

[*DisneyDreamer]

Yup……again! Sadly I think this is our reality for awhile.

I will run to 150 AQI, not over. I don’t have a treadmill (hate them) so I watch the AQI like a hawk and adjust my runs when necessary.

I think so too and it depresses me.

Re: air quality and smoke, especially - what about using an N95 or KN95 mask? I’ve run in them at races to avoid viral exposure and while not the most comfortable thing in the world, neither was it a major discomfort. I don’t have any experience with using them for smoke, but the Internet says they’re good for that.

I have some KN95 masks yet (I still travel with them) and hopefully they’re effective for smoke, so it’s something to keep in mind. It just seems incredibly uncomfortable.

 

[PrincessV]

I have some KN95 masks yet (I still travel with them) and hopefully they’re effective for smoke, so it’s something to keep in mind. It just seems incredibly uncomfortable.

I was pleasantly surprised by how comfortable I was running in them! I really forgot they were on my face at all. (Doesn’t apply to current conditions, but they also have turned out to be far superior to anything else when it comes to cold, dry air and my asthmatic lungs when running in the cold!)

 

[SimbaMufasa321]

Definitely don't play around in wildfire smoke! I know it sucks to miss a run, but as someone who is in California, it can really mess with your lungs.