The Running Thread - 2026

[eminemilie]

65.9 miles for me in January, which is sort of crazy? I haven’t really been looking at my tracked miles before this month. I did miss a few runs so this number could have been higher.

I’ve also developed a requiring blister between my big toe and the next toe over, which I really am disliking this close to princess. It took about 5 days for it to go away and feel better, but I went on a long run yesterday (about a day and half after it resolved) and it came back even bigger. Even with blister prevention and body glide on! So I’m slapping on everything and anything to my toe hoping it will at least relieve some pain.

 

[marty3d]

@garneska @Fischstick @camaker @princesspirateandrunner @akrosie @marty3d and whoever else was interested in the Lake Hartwell Dam Runs in May:

The Dam Race is going to be altered this year. That refurbishment project, that was supposed to be put off for three years after funds were cut, was put back on the Corps of Engineers calendar. They will start replacing the flood gates and refurbishing turbines in March and hope to be finished before the race in 2027.

After lots of negotiations, we will have a short version of the race. Instead of a 5k and a 10K, they can only guarantee us a single 4k race that will start at Big Oaks as usual, but will only go across the earthen part until we get to the staged equipment/ materials area, turn around, and go back. DH and I are very disappointed, since I had hoped to see many of you here. I’m not sure an uncertified, 4k race is what any of you will be interested in, but we hope to have some participation from folks around here, and we will keep up the streak by still having the “48th Annual Lake Hartwell Dam Run” even if is abbreviated. If you are still interested, it should be on Run Signup soon.

So sorry to hear that! Glad to hear that you’ll at least be able to have a small run. I likely wouldn’t have been able to make it as I’m hoping to run Broad Street again this year and it’s the same weekend. Definitely not ruling out next year’s run.

 

[garneska]

@Disney at Heart i am very disappointed to hear this and disappointed for you and Judd. I will be honest it will be harder to do it for a 4k but I am not counting us out yet.

 

[avondale]

@garneska @Fischstick @camaker @princesspirateandrunner @akrosie @marty3d and whoever else was interested in the Lake Hartwell Dam Runs in May:

The Dam Race is going to be altered this year. That refurbishment project, that was supposed to be put off for three years after funds were cut, was put back on the Corps of Engineers calendar. They will start replacing the flood gates and refurbishing turbines in March and hope to be finished before the race in 2027.

After lots of negotiations, we will have a short version of the race. Instead of a 5k and a 10K, they can only guarantee us a single 4k race that will start at Big Oaks as usual, but will only go across the earthen part until we get to the staged equipment/ materials area, turn around, and go back. DH and I are very disappointed, since I had hoped to see many of you here. I’m not sure an uncertified, 4k race is what any of you will be interested in, but we hope to have some participation from folks around here, and we will keep up the streak by still having the “48th Annual Lake Hartwell Dam Run” even if is abbreviated. If you are still interested, it should be on Run Signup soon.

I'm sure that's very frustrating for this year, but hopefully the refurbishment will be beneficial, and the race will be back to usual in the next year. I think that it's a great idea to have a shorter version of the race because it keeps your website and race entry (i.e.., runsignup.com or whatever) active so that people looking for interesting or nearby races can keep an eye on it and know it's not a race that has been discontinued.

 

[GuinnessRunner]

@garneska @Fischstick @camaker @princesspirateandrunner @akrosie @marty3d and whoever else was interested in the Lake Hartwell Dam Runs in May:

The Dam Race is going to be altered this year. That refurbishment project, that was supposed to be put off for three years after funds were cut, was put back on the Corps of Engineers calendar. They will start replacing the flood gates and refurbishing turbines in March and hope to be finished before the race in 2027.

After lots of negotiations, we will have a short version of the race. Instead of a 5k and a 10K, they can only guarantee us a single 4k race that will start at Big Oaks as usual, but will only go across the earthen part until we get to the staged equipment/ materials area, turn around, and go back. DH and I are very disappointed, since I had hoped to see many of you here. I’m not sure an uncertified, 4k race is what any of you will be interested in, but we hope to have some participation from folks around here, and we will keep up the streak by still having the “48th Annual Lake Hartwell Dam Run” even if is abbreviated. If you are still interested, it should be on Run Signup soon.

So sounds like we all come in ‘27 when you all also add medals right? Sorry they through that wrench into the works for you all but glad it should only impact one year. Depending on lacrosse schedules, I may still bring my son up to do his first race.

 

[Kerry1957]

@garneska @Fischstick @camaker @princesspirateandrunner @akrosie @marty3d and whoever else was interested in the Lake Hartwell Dam Runs in May:

The Dam Race is going to be altered this year. That refurbishment project, that was supposed to be put off for three years after funds were cut, was put back on the Corps of Engineers calendar. They will start replacing the flood gates and refurbishing turbines in March and hope to be finished before the race in 2027.

After lots of negotiations, we will have a short version of the race. Instead of a 5k and a 10K, they can only guarantee us a single 4k race that will start at Big Oaks as usual, but will only go across the earthen part until we get to the staged equipment/ materials area, turn around, and go back. DH and I are very disappointed, since I had hoped to see many of you here. I’m not sure an uncertified, 4k race is what any of you will be interested in, but we hope to have some participation from folks around here, and we will keep up the streak by still having the “48th Annual Lake Hartwell Dam Run” even if is abbreviated. If you are still interested, it should be on Run Signup soon.

With a daughter and SIL in Charlotte, I had just started a conversation to see if they would be in town that weekend. I agree with @GuinnessRunner... let's plan for a large diser meetup in 2027!

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

65.9 miles for me in January, which is sort of crazy? I haven’t really been looking at my tracked miles before this month. I did miss a few runs so this number could have been higher.

I’ve also developed a requiring blister between my big toe and the next toe over, which I really am disliking this close to princess. It took about 5 days for it to go away and feel better, but I went on a long run yesterday (about a day and half after it resolved) and it came back even bigger. Even with blister prevention and body glide on! So I’m slapping on everything and anything to my toe hoping it will at least relieve some pain.

Ouch. I have two problematic toes and my solution is corn pads, not for corns, but as a physical barrier between the toes. Regular Dr Scholls corn cushions from the grocery store. I put one on before training runs and for races and it stays put for the duration and does the job.
FWIW, I sustained a couple of blisters during the MW half (forgot to double sock) and had a blister on the pinky toe of each foot. I drained them Sat night and applied some moleskin before going to bed so that I wouldn't have to mess with it 5 hours later in the wee hours of Sunday morning. Between that and Kintoe toe socks, they would up being a non-issue for the full. YMMV

 

[IamTrike]

I’ve also developed a requiring blister between my big toe and the next toe over, which I really am disliking this close to princess. It took about 5 days for it to go away and feel better, but I went on a long run yesterday (about a day and half after it resolved) and it came back even bigger. Even with blister prevention and body glide on! So I’m slapping on everything and anything to my toe hoping it will at least relieve some pain.

I have 2 different solutions for blister management that have worked for me. For blisters between toes I've found bodyglide between toes + injiji socks works well for me. For blisters on the outside of feet I tend to use bodyglide + wrightsocks.

January totals. 174.17 running and walking.
Current Goal is to run 2026 miles this year and am averaging just slightly more than what I need to hit this.

 

[SheHulk]

January running:
Total distance: 64.3 miles
Average pace: 12:00/mi

27 of those miles were in the WDW Marathon... I haven't been signed up for any races and am trying to mix up my training because, frankly, I'm bored of running and have seen the light that I must get serious about strength training. I've also added in more elliptical training to mix things up and avoid freezing my butt off.

Psychologically I'm just going to need to not pay so much attention to my Garmin stats if I'm going to sustain this change... it is so easy to get pulled in by the numbers and see mileage go way down and then freak out over it.