The Running Thread --2025

[camaker]

They’re dangerous when they jump

That's some awfully whimsically upbeat music for a video with the caption "luckily, she survived."

 

[jmasgat]

Back after nearly 2 weeks in Iceland and London. For the first time in all my travels to London, I finally went for a run: 4-ish miles around St James’s Park, Green Park and environs. So finally, I have used the running gear that I generally pack about half the time!

Back home and now it just seems so dark in the morning. Guess fall is coming, which will suit me to run.

 

[jrsharp21]

Anyone tried Xendurance in their training? Was talking to someone the other day about my IM training and then going into Dopey training right after. They said to take a look at Xendurance for endurance and recovery. I searched it online and of course, immediately after, my Instagram was flooded with ads. I watched a bunch of videos on it from runners, and they seemed to have liked it what it did for them. I ended up buying a 30 day supply to try it out.

 

[jrsharp21]

I am a sucker for trying products. I was reading about BASE Performance salt. Instead of take a tab or pill, it's like Fun Dip, LOL. Lick your finger/thumb, cover the container with it so that the salt sticks to your finger, then lick it off. Ordered some to try on my runs and long bike rides.

 

[Herding_Cats]

I'm officially an ultra-marathoner! 50k trail run race report here

 

[GuinnessRunner]

I'm officially an ultra-marathoner! 50k trail run race report here

What an accomplishment! Congratulations!!!

 

[Zutroy]

I am a sucker for trying products. I was reading about BASE Performance salt. Instead of take a tab or pill, it's like Fun Dip, LOL. Lick your finger/thumb, cover the container with it so that the salt sticks to your finger, then lick it off. Ordered some to try on my runs and long bike rides.

That’s definitely a pre-porta potty supplement. Not sure I want to be licking my fingers and sticking them in my mouth during races.

 

[marty3d]

I'm officially an ultra-marathoner! 50k trail run race report here

Congratulations - great accomplishment ! Being able to able to wear that media is an accomplishment in and of itself too!

 

[col1]

I'm officially an ultra-marathoner! 50k trail run race report here

Amazing Congratulations

 

[camaker]

I'm officially an ultra-marathoner! 50k trail run race report here

Congratulations!!

 

[Herding_Cats]

Congratulations - great accomplishment ! Being able to able to wear that media is an accomplishment in and of itself too!

It's ridiculously enormous. The announcer told us they're about a pound and a half each. And they're 7in in diameter. Apparently SIL told DH that he's going to need the extra-heavy-duty hook to hang it.

 

[Stitch&Co.]

I'm officially an ultra-marathoner! 50k trail run race report here

Great Job!!!

 

[PrincessV]

I'm officially an ultra-marathoner! 50k trail run race report here

So amazing - CONGRATS!!!

 

[Fenway1970]

Question for the fellow marathoners/Dopes out there: has anyone else experienced chronic mental burnout/fatigue on the longer training runs? I mean, it happens to everyone sometimes, even the elite runners (which I am very much not). But this year for some reason as I'm starting to ramp up the miles for Dopey '26 I'm having a hard time getting motivated for long run days across the board.

If I'm doing 5 miles or less, no problem. I can cruise all the way with no issues because I know I'll be done in less than an hour. In the 7-8 range I start to get testy but I can usually power through. Once the planned run gets into double digits though I just have a hard time making myself go, and even when I do get out there, I've often quit at 4-5 miles not because I'm physically tired, but because my brain can't stop thinking about how much farther I have to go and how much time it will take. Such thoughts eventually knock me out of my zone and I just lose focus and quit.

It's completely mental I'm (almost) sure. I've tried changing up my routes, going to different locations, with music, without music, etc etc. But no matter what I try I still just get daunted by the idea of being out there for hours. Maybe because this will be my third Dopey and I don't have the "first time" motivation of conquering a goal?

I don't know, it's starting to get to me and the miles/hours haven't even gotten "serious" yet. Any thoughts or suggestions from this extremely helpful community are welcome.

 

[mtnmjd]

Question for the fellow marathoners/Dopes out there: has anyone else experienced chronic mental burnout/fatigue on the longer training runs? I mean, it happens to everyone sometimes, even the elite runners (which I am very much not). But this year for some reason as I'm starting to ramp up the miles for Dopey '26 I'm having a hard time getting motivated for long run days across the board.

If I'm doing 5 miles or less, no problem. I can cruise all the way with no issues because I know I'll be done in less than an hour. In the 7-8 range I start to get testy but I can usually power through. Once the planned run gets into double digits though I just have a hard time making myself go, and even when I do get out there, I've often quit at 4-5 miles not because I'm physically tired, but because my brain can't stop thinking about how much farther I have to go and how much time it will take. Such thoughts eventually knock me out of my zone and I just lose focus and quit.

It's completely mental I'm (almost) sure. I've tried changing up my routes, going to different locations, with music, without music, etc etc. But no matter what I try I still just get daunted by the idea of being out there for hours. Maybe because this will be my third Dopey and I don't have the "first time" motivation of conquering a goal?

I don't know, it's starting to get to me and the miles/hours haven't even gotten "serious" yet. Any thoughts or suggestions from this extremely helpful community are welcome.

I went through this the past Dopey training cycle. I HATED my long runs (longer than 13ish)! I just never felt good on the long runs I would loose motivation midway through. It even had me questioning if I'd be able to finsih the 48.6 miles.
In order to force myself to finish I would always map out my long runs so that I was furthest from the house at the 1/2 point thus making my get the distance I needed. Those runs would sometimes be pretty terrible and often contained considerably longer walk intervals but I mostly got through them all but it definintely had my questioning how I would be at mile 20 on Sunday.

Rest assurred I was absolutely fine during the marathon. I was running at party pace with a couple of friends and was even sprinting ahead to character stops during the late miles when they didn't want to stop anymore.

Don't worry it happens to all runners, the natural ebb and flow of running desire.

 

[jrsharp21]

Question for the fellow marathoners/Dopes out there: has anyone else experienced chronic mental burnout/fatigue on the longer training runs? I mean, it happens to everyone sometimes, even the elite runners (which I am very much not). But this year for some reason as I'm starting to ramp up the miles for Dopey '26 I'm having a hard time getting motivated for long run days across the board.

If I'm doing 5 miles or less, no problem. I can cruise all the way with no issues because I know I'll be done in less than an hour. In the 7-8 range I start to get testy but I can usually power through. Once the planned run gets into double digits though I just have a hard time making myself go, and even when I do get out there, I've often quit at 4-5 miles not because I'm physically tired, but because my brain can't stop thinking about how much farther I have to go and how much time it will take. Such thoughts eventually knock me out of my zone and I just lose focus and quit.

It's completely mental I'm (almost) sure. I've tried changing up my routes, going to different locations, with music, without music, etc etc. But no matter what I try I still just get daunted by the idea of being out there for hours. Maybe because this will be my third Dopey and I don't have the "first time" motivation of conquering a goal?

I don't know, it's starting to get to me and the miles/hours haven't even gotten "serious" yet. Any thoughts or suggestions from this extremely helpful community are welcome.

I think it happens to everyone. For me, I try to go out early in the morning so that I know when I get done I have the rest of my day still ahead of me. When you do something in the middle of the day, the "I could be doing this instead" mindset takes over.

Also, for me, since I have done the marathon several times, I like to try to recreate the course in my mind based on my mileage. I will look at my watch to see the mileage and then say "oh, well here I would be running up to the TTC and there is a bunch of people cheering". I then try to visualize that crowd cheering in my mind. It's a little game to play in your head to keep it occupied. I now have a spot towards the end of the run where I always visualize the choir, which then I know the run is almost done!

 

[RuntheMouse]

Question for the fellow marathoners/Dopes out there: has anyone else experienced chronic mental burnout/fatigue on the longer training runs? I mean, it happens to everyone sometimes, even the elite runners (which I am very much not). But this year for some reason as I'm starting to ramp up the miles for Dopey '26 I'm having a hard time getting motivated for long run days across the board.

If I'm doing 5 miles or less, no problem. I can cruise all the way with no issues because I know I'll be done in less than an hour. In the 7-8 range I start to get testy but I can usually power through. Once the planned run gets into double digits though I just have a hard time making myself go, and even when I do get out there, I've often quit at 4-5 miles not because I'm physically tired, but because my brain can't stop thinking about how much farther I have to go and how much time it will take. Such thoughts eventually knock me out of my zone and I just lose focus and quit.

It's completely mental I'm (almost) sure. I've tried changing up my routes, going to different locations, with music, without music, etc etc. But no matter what I try I still just get daunted by the idea of being out there for hours. Maybe because this will be my third Dopey and I don't have the "first time" motivation of conquering a goal?

I don't know, it's starting to get to me and the miles/hours haven't even gotten "serious" yet. Any thoughts or suggestions from this extremely helpful community are welcome.

I don’t have any suggestions but wanted to tell you that you’re not alone!

I’m 6 weeks out from my marathon and even though this block is going well, I’ve had some mind games going on during my long runs and even my midweek 10 milers. I can crush a long run on Sunday and then on Wednesday around mile 5, I feel so out of sorts and question if I can finish the run. It’s really weird because things aren’t ever really going sideways but my mind starts to freak out. I just keep reminding myself that it is mental and ALL of my runs are longer than the point at which I begin with the bad thoughts so get over it and just KEEP RUNNING! It has been getting me out of my funk so far but it still frustrates me that it even happens!

 

[KCO5988]

I find on long easy paced runs listening to a good audio book helps past the time.

 

[Fenway1970]

It’s really weird because things aren’t ever really going sideways but my mind starts to freak out. I just keep reminding myself that it is mental and ALL of my runs are longer than the point at which I begin with the bad thoughts so get over it and just KEEP RUNNING! It has been getting me out of my funk so far but it still frustrates me that it even happens!

Yes! This is exactly what I'm feeling. I won't yet be physically tired. My mile splits will be right on point. I'll be nowhere near the distance when my legs and lungs start to feel it, but my brain is just like "why are we doing this again?? Are we really going to be out here for another 1-2 hours?" And all I can think about is being done. It is, as you say, really weird.

Glad to know it's not just me. Just trying to find the fortitude to push through those moments and like you said, KEEP RUNNING.

Those runs would sometimes be pretty terrible and often contained considerably longer walk intervals but I mostly got through them all but it definintely had my questioning how I would be at mile 20 on Sunday.

Yeah, and once I stop running it's hard to get started again. Even if I'm able to make myself finish the distance it's mostly walking with maybe some bursts of running here and there. At some point there it does become partially physical I think, because my legs go, "oh we're done? Cool." and then tighten up.

 

[mmm_texas]

Question for the fellow marathoners/Dopes out there: has anyone else experienced chronic mental burnout/fatigue on the longer training runs? I mean, it happens to everyone sometimes, even the elite runners (which I am very much not). But this year for some reason as I'm starting to ramp up the miles for Dopey '26 I'm having a hard time getting motivated for long run days across the board.

If I'm doing 5 miles or less, no problem. I can cruise all the way with no issues because I know I'll be done in less than an hour. In the 7-8 range I start to get testy but I can usually power through. Once the planned run gets into double digits though I just have a hard time making myself go, and even when I do get out there, I've often quit at 4-5 miles not because I'm physically tired, but because my brain can't stop thinking about how much farther I have to go and how much time it will take. Such thoughts eventually knock me out of my zone and I just lose focus and quit.

It's completely mental I'm (almost) sure. I've tried changing up my routes, going to different locations, with music, without music, etc etc. But no matter what I try I still just get daunted by the idea of being out there for hours. Maybe because this will be my third Dopey and I don't have the "first time" motivation of conquering a goal?

I don't know, it's starting to get to me and the miles/hours haven't even gotten "serious" yet. Any thoughts or suggestions from this extremely helpful community are welcome.

I have not experienced it, at least not yet, and I don't know if any aspect or variation of my situation would apply to you, but I think for me it might come down to wanting to see how much better I'll do this time.

This will also be my third Dopey (as well as my third marathon). The first one, I was in my mid-50s, could have prepared better, and was happy to finish but not really satisfied with my time. The second one I trained somewhat better and improved my time, but I was doing a Dopey-to-Dumbo, so for the marathon I was holding back some in the tank. This time I've entered my 60s, but I don't have a race afterwards, and I'm curious to see if I can drop significant minutes off of my time. (Mind you even if I do I'll still be near the middle-of-the-pack for my age group.)

So I'm hoping for this race having that goal will keep me motivated.