The Running Thread --2025

[fatmanatee]

Just ran Chicago and finished my first marathon! Was simply aiming to finish and it was an incredible race and experience! I got to run with Team DetermiNation for the American Cancer Society, and loved seeing a runDisney themed team be the top fundraising group (shoutout to any of you that were in runDisney Villains Take Chicago )!

But now have to shift my focus for attempting my first Dopey in January. Any guidance/advice for those that have done a marathon a couple months prior in terms of training plans/strategies? I figured I’d just run some sort of high mileage to maintain my base until then. I’m also curious about shoe strategy during Marathon Weekend and how those of you who’ve done it rotate (or not) shoes?

I did NYC then Dopey. Took a few weeks off to rest and travel (to Japan ), then got back to it. Adjusted the eight week plan below to take me to Dopey.

https://www.halhigdon.com/training-programs/marathon-training/multiple-marathons/

 

[AZMermaid]

I walked to the mailbox and back with only a few twinges on my ankle. Ours is at the end of the street so about a block and a half round trip. Bonus- neighbors are moving in and it looks like real people stuff, not an AirBNB. I iced it when I got home just to be sure.

I just ordered some collagen after reading it can help with tendon repair. Figure it won’t hurt.

 

[Poohverine]

Thank you all so much for the kind messages and words of advice! I'd quote every message, but that would get extremely long and annoying to read, so I'll summarize my thoughts! I had originally planned to bring two pairs for Marathon Weekend (one pair for 5k + half, one pair for 10k + marathon), but now it sounds like I'm gonna do 3 pairs (one specifically for the marathon, two to split between the other three races), and then probably 1-2 other pairs for recovery and walking around the park (sounds like I'm gonna need a bigger bag)!

I also appreciate everyone's advice to rest, take it easy, and ease back into it. I've been worried about losing all the fitness I built up for Chicago, but the comments about fitness being there already and just doing something when able (@LSUlakes, @WillRunForPizza, @Dopey 2020, and @avondale) are highly reassuring. Also really like the thought about making sure fueling is something you trained and not something you wing, since that always is a huge focus of marathon training (@LatebloomerultraF3).

I did NYC then Dopey. Took a few weeks off to rest and travel (to Japan ), then got back to it. Adjusted the eight week plan below to take me to Dopey.

https://www.halhigdon.com/training-programs/marathon-training/multiple-marathons/

Interestingly, I've got a few weeks until I travel to Asia as well! Think I may use this as a guide to figure out what to do until Dopey when I'm ready, or like others suggested, kind of reverse taper from an old plan, but keep it easy rather than do a lot of the speed work that comes with race plans.

 

[KCO5988]

I had a gait analysis yesterday to try to help determine the cause of my shin splints. Despite years of thinking I was a heel striker, but that my stride was fine... turns out I'm a midsole striker but I overstride. I also have a weak posterior tibialis. So, 10/10 recommend getting a gait analysis done for anyone who's having any sort of running pain issues. Of course the orthopedic only suggested RICE and physical therapy- and that was only after me asking if PT could help. A regular PT probably would have found the weak posterior tibialis, but not the overstriding. I found the doctor who did the gait analysis on my own and just paid out of pocket because it was worth the investment to me.