The Running Thread --2025

[avondale]

I've been using Nuun tablets for awhile. I like them for some flavoring plus electrolytes and they have very few calories. Recently, they have revamped the flavors in the box I usually get: fruit punch, strawberry lemonade, grape, and tropical. The new flavor versions are not as good in my opinion - in particular, they totally ruined "tropical", which had previously been my favorite.

I may branch out and try some other flavors.

But does anyone have suggestions for a different brand with similar characteristics?

• flavored
• has electrolytes
• no caffeine
• few calories - but not the "zero calories" sort of thing, which usually means super sweet because of artificial sweeteners. The current Nuun I use has some artificial sweeteners, but I don't feel like it's over the top. I can't do a lot of artificial sweeteners.

 

[jmasgat]

Ooooo....Iceland has been on my list for awhile, and your photos may have moved it up. But one of the things I might like to see in Iceland is the aurora - seems like you wouldn't have had enough nighttime for that? But also maybe too many clouds regardless?

Not the time of year for them. It’s generally an Oct-April ish kind of thing.

 

[RuntheMouse]

August running:
-199.99 miles still my highest month ever
-time 37:34:10
-only 6 strength training sessions

The weather finally turned and it has definitely made a difference in my pace, so much so that I went out crazy fast on my 18 miler today and crashed and burned at mile 16. Only 5 weeks until my race, still hanging in there with the training!

 

[camaker]

Ooooo....Iceland has been on my list for awhile, and your photos may have moved it up. But one of the things I might like to see in Iceland is the aurora - seems like you wouldn't have had enough nighttime for that? But also maybe too many clouds regardless?

Not the time of year for them. It’s generally an Oct-April ish kind of thing.

We went to Iceland during Thanksgiving for our anniversary a few years ago and took one of the "Northern Lights" bus tours. It was one of the favorite trips we've taken and we got to see mild auroras several nights. The downside, if you can call it that, was that just about everything was frozen and snow-covered. Temperatures averaged around 15 degF. Iceland in the summer and winter are radically different experiences, but both incredibly beautiful. The black sand beach covered with diamond-like chunks of ice from a calving glacier was breathtaking.

 

[WillRunForPizza]

I've been using Nuun tablets for awhile. I like them for some flavoring plus electrolytes and they have very few calories. Recently, they have revamped the flavors in the box I usually get: fruit punch, strawberry lemonade, grape, and tropical. The new flavor versions are not as good in my opinion - in particular, they totally ruined "tropical", which had previously been my favorite.

I may branch out and try some other flavors.

But does anyone have suggestions for a different brand with similar characteristics?

• flavored
• has electrolytes
• no caffeine
• few calories - but not the "zero calories" sort of thing, which usually means super sweet because of artificial sweeteners. The current Nuun I use has some artificial sweeteners, but I don't feel like it's over the top. I can't do a lot of artificial sweeteners.

I always get the berry-flavored Nuun, so that might be worth a try if it's not in the variety pack.

If you're looking for another brand, I like Skratch a lot for when I'm running. It does have more calories than Nuun, but I find that helpful for supplementing my gels. It's not a high-carb drink by any means, though. The flavor is pleasantly mild, and I don't think they use any artificial sweeteners.

The other electrolyte powder I use is LMNT, but that doesn't sound like it would work well for you because it's zero calories and has what seems like a lot of artificial sweeteners.

 

[avondale]

Not the time of year for them. It’s generally an Oct-April ish kind of thing.

Well, from the astronomy point of view, there's no "time of year" for them. But Oct - Apr would be more when Iceland is getting more nighttime. Obviously if it's not dark, you can't see them, which is what I was wondering about with August.

 

[WillRunForPizza]

August 2025
Running: 39h 12m, 243.2 miles
Strength/mobility: 9h 3m
Total: 48h 17m

This month edges out October 2023 for my highest-ever mileage. With my marathon at the end of October, I expect September will be slightly higher barring (further) illness or injury.

 

[garneska]

We were in Iceland this time in 2023. Thanks FB for the memories and no august is not a good time for northern lights, but we had very long days. @avondale based on your trips I think you would love it.

Oh and on a running note, I am at least leaving August running. Next week I move to 1.5 minute run intervals. Took 3 weeks to get over the covid enough that I could start running again.

 

[nancipants]

I’m looking for some shoe recommendations for longer runs, as in more than half marathon distance. My current Brooks shoes (Adrenalines and Ghost Max) are comfortable for shorter runs, but during my past two long runs (14 and 17 miles), the bottoms of my feet hurt really bad toward the end. I ordered Glycerins, but they weren’t comfortable when I tried them on, so I’m sending them back. I’m considering Novablasts, but would appreciate any super-cushy shoe recommendations.

 

[WillRunForPizza]

I’m looking for some shoe recommendations for longer runs, as in more than half marathon distance. My current Brooks shoes (Adrenalines and Ghost Max) are comfortable for shorter runs, but during my past two long runs (14 and 17 miles), the bottoms of my feet hurt really bad toward the end. I ordered Glycerins, but they weren’t comfortable when I tried them on, so I’m sending them back. I’m considering Novablasts, but would appreciate any super-cushy shoe recommendations.

I ran a marathon in Novablast 3s, so can confirm they work for long distances if you like them.

Alternatively, have you considered plated shoes? I don't mean like the Alphafly - I don't think those are good for easy running or for run/walk. Any of the top-tier supershoes would probably be a bad choice for run/walk because they often feel quite weird to walk in. However, a lot of companies make super-trainers with similar foams and plates but more stability. The benefit would be getting to run in a squishy foam with the plate to provide the support you want over longer distances. I haven't tried them myself, but I've heard Hoka's supershoes feel more like super-trainers, so those might be worth a look as well.

 

[nancipants]

I ran a marathon in Novablast 3s, so can confirm they work for long distances if you like them.

Alternatively, have you considered plated shoes? I don't mean like the Alphafly - I don't think those are good for easy running or for run/walk. Any of the top-tier supershoes would probably be a bad choice for run/walk because they often feel quite weird to walk in. However, a lot of companies make super-trainers with similar foams and plates but more stability. The benefit would be getting to run in a squishy foam with the plate to provide the support you want over longer distances. I haven't tried them myself, but I've heard Hoka's supershoes feel more like super-trainers, so those might be worth a look as well.

Ooh, thanks for the suggestion. I haven’t tried Hokas, so that might be an option. I know lot of trail runners use them so they must be comfy for long distances!

 

[RuntheMouse]

I’m looking for some shoe recommendations for longer runs, as in more than half marathon distance. My current Brooks shoes (Adrenalines and Ghost Max) are comfortable for shorter runs, but during my past two long runs (14 and 17 miles), the bottoms of my feet hurt really bad toward the end. I ordered Glycerins, but they weren’t comfortable when I tried them on, so I’m sending them back. I’m considering Novablasts, but would appreciate any super-cushy shoe recommendations.

I second what @WillRunForPizza said about super trainers! I have a pair of ASICS Superblast 2 that I love! I was a Novablast 3 fan and ran a marathon in them but skipped v4 and tried the SB2 instead. Super squishy but not an energy sucker! I was going to run my next marathon in them but I fell in love with the Adidas Boston 12s so I’m using those instead.

 

[Zutroy]

I second what @WillRunForPizza said about super trainers! I have a pair of ASICS Superblast 2 that I love! I was a Novablast 3 fan and ran a marathon in them but skipped v4 and tried the SB2 instead. Super squishy but not an energy sucker! I was going to run my next marathon in them but I fell in love with the Adidas Boston 12s so I’m using those instead.

The answer is always Superblast. I run my marathons in Alphaflys, but did all my long run training in Superblast 1 & 2. It took me a while to understand the shoe, since you expect something with that much foam to be squishy, but it’s a firm shoe that is very stable despite its stack height. It’s great on slow paces but can go fast (although I find turnover to be tricky because of the size of the shoe).

I preordered the Megablast, which is set to ship tomorrow. I’m excited because it’s ATPU foam, is lighter than the Superblast, and less clunky.