The Running Thread - 2026

[rick1zoo2]

Since its been so frigid outside, we have been doing most of our runs on the indoor track at my college. Since Marathon weekend, we have run 10 times. 8 of those were on the indoor track for about 41 miles. We calculated (and even measured it once) that it's about 7 laps per mile running in the outside lane, so that's about 287 laps. Kind of monotonous, but I like that as it's very easy to run it and I tend to lock into a pace like a metronome. It's easy to go fast. After each mile (7 laps) I take a short walk break and reverse direction. So today was 49 laps for about 7 miles. I am hoping it gets a little not-so-cold out so we can run outside more, not sure about doing longer runs on the track.

 

[Psymonds]

I think #3 was the hardest thing for me. I had done other goal based training for earlier goals and there the race really just did seem like a celebration, it was just a fun time. It's probably a "duh" statement but as your goals move to faster times the harder it will be on race day. I think that's why some people above may have the sentiment that training plans don't really train you well for a specific pace.

I think the mental part of that is the hardest part for me, but I have definitely had better luck with pacers. I met my goal at CIM in December but mostly because I really focussed on staying with the pacers, even when the mental energy wasn't there.

this has all been good feedback!

 

[5xdisneyfans]

Does anyone have any experience with recovering from a bad ankle sprain? Decided to run outside this morning since it’s been weeks since I have done so. Well let’s just say it was a bad decision. Rolled my ankle really bad. It’s double the size and bruised badly. Went and got X-rays and thankfully no brakes or fractures but who knows what the tendon and muscle are like. I am suppose to do SS challenge and training is just starting to ramp up. Not sure I will be able to run again. 10 weeks today until the 5k. Any advice what to do. Feeling sad and frustrated. Thanks

 

[IamTrike]

Does anyone have any experience with recovering from a bad ankle sprain? Decided to run outside this morning since it’s been weeks since I have done so. Well let’s just say it was a bad decision. Rolled my ankle really bad. It’s double the size and bruised badly. Went and got X-rays and thankfully no brakes or fractures but who knows what the tendon and muscle are like. I am suppose to do SS challenge and training is just starting to ramp up. Not sure I will be able to run again. 10 weeks today until the 5k. Any advice what to do. Feeling sad and frustrated. Thanks

I have some indirect experience. You might try to find a place like Airrosti near you its a rehab center and they deal with athletes. My son an several of the guys on his basketball team have used them to get back into playing shape faster after an ankle sprain. I don't have any association with them, you can probably find a similar place to that near you.

 

[avondale]

Does anyone have any experience with recovering from a bad ankle sprain? Decided to run outside this morning since it’s been weeks since I have done so. Well let’s just say it was a bad decision. Rolled my ankle really bad. It’s double the size and bruised badly. Went and got X-rays and thankfully no brakes or fractures but who knows what the tendon and muscle are like. I am suppose to do SS challenge and training is just starting to ramp up. Not sure I will be able to run again. 10 weeks today until the 5k. Any advice what to do. Feeling sad and frustrated. Thanks

I'm a trail runner and play tennis, and I've had some bad sprains. You want to take some time off running (walking ok if no pain) for a week or so until the swelling goes down. Don't do any stretching or mobility exercises while it is still swollen and heavily bruised. Looking back at my last bad sprain, I took about 2 weeks off from running, but did quite a bit of walking. The orthopedist said after that that easy running was ok, but "don't do anything stupid".

I kept it wrapped in an Ace bandage pretty much continuously well after the swelling had gone down so that it had basic support.

In my experience, if you're running on a pretty flat surface, easy pace, and don't make a lot of turns, then probably you can run while the healing is happening. Obviously don't run if you have pain. I would run with the Ace bandage, even though it feels like you have this huge thing under the arch of your foot.

Because I trail run and wanted to get back to trail running (I did 4 weeks on pavement only), and that has a very unstable sort of surface, I actually got a hard brace to help while I finished healing. This is the brace I got: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009325VDM?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_4&th=1 (Actually, over the years, I've sprained both ankles, so I have one for both legs - notice that it is right/left specific.) You might think it's weird or even impossible to run in something like this, but I got used to it and did it just fine. (Note: I'm not a super fast runner.) My physical therapist at the time who was helping me recover from the sprain endorsed this.

Obviously, you don't want to run with a brace long term because it will become a crutch. Once you're past the swelling and pain stage, do your PT exercises to strengthen the various ankle/calf muscles and get away from the brace.

I think if you're careful, you can soon return to training and progress working on your 5k. I wouldn't plan on going for a PR.