The Running Thread - 2026

[Dopey 2020]

Just finished the month with a morning run, pretty happy with getting in more speed work but had to skip three runs because I was feeling like an overuse injury was coming on. Trying to balance that fine line between gains and pushing too hard.

 

[WillRunForPizza]

February 2026

Running: 21h 6m, 120.6 miles*
Indoor bike: 6h 43m
Strength/mobility: 8h 33m
Total: 36h 24m

Still working my way back to normal running (so the distance is still off from not capturing incline).

 

[Herding_Cats]

My garmin is suddenly going dead in a day. I used it for MW, and finished the marathon in just over 7hrs with around 30% battery remaining. During basketball season I took it off and left it in my bag for about a month and charged it once I got back to FL for PW. And as I stated, it’s going completely dead in less than 24hrs.

Any thoughts? Help?

 

[avondale]

My garmin is suddenly going dead in a day. I used it for MW, and finished the marathon in just over 7hrs with around 30% battery remaining. During basketball season I took it off and left it in my bag for about a month and charged it once I got back to FL for PW. And as I stated, it’s going completely dead in less than 24hrs.

Any thoughts? Help?

With all Garmin problems, the customer support will suggest resetting. First, a hard reset of your watch (power off, leave for awhile, power back on). Then if that doesn't work, they'll suggest a factory reset. I was having some battery issues and they suggested that. (I didn't want to do a factory reset so I haven't tried that. My battery problem isn't as bad as yours.)

You might also want to find out what software version your watch is on. Maybe you got a new update that is screwed up? It happens. I usually check on the Garmin forums to see what people are saying about the latest update for my watch if I'm having a problem.

https://forums.garmin.com/ you may have to do some digging around to find the forum for your watch.

 

[sandam1]

With all Garmin problems, the customer support will suggest resetting. First, a hard reset of your watch (power off, leave for awhile, power back on). Then if that doesn't work, they'll suggest a factory reset. I was having some battery issues and they suggested that. (I didn't want to do a factory reset so I haven't tried that. My battery problem isn't as bad as yours.)

You might also want to find out what software version your watch is on. Maybe you got a new update that is screwed up? It happens. I usually check on the Garmin forums to see what people are saying about the latest update for my watch if I'm having a problem.

https://forums.garmin.com/ you may have to do some digging around to find the forum for your watch.

If the hard reset doesn't work, I would highly suggest just calling Garmin customer support. I was having an issue with my older Garmin (235) and they were extremely helpful in working out the problem.

 

[FFigawi]

The steps I use when my watch is acting funny:
1. Hard reset
2. Update to latest firmware
3. Hard reset
4. Read the forums if still wonky

 

[AaronB]

Anyone else see the wild situation for the Women's Atlanta Half Marathon (USATF Half Championship) with the the 3 lead runners well ahead, but going off course and dropping like 8 spots? What a disaster, but I assume nothing can be done about it. The announcers were saying maybe they could appeal, but I assume the response would be it is the athletes responsibility to know the course, even if the pace/lead car goes the wrong way.

*Edit - Just saw the USATF posted the appeal was actually successful (the course was not adequately marked), but they have no way to overturn the results. They then lay blame on the Atlanta Track Club since they are the host of the race and provide the lead vehicles. Since this is a qualifier for the World Championships, you now have the three athletes who should have qualified dropped. Really bad look for the USATF; if you are going to use a race as your Championship, then they should control all aspects of that race (at least for the elite athletes).

 

[Naomeri]

Anyone else see the wild situation for the Women's Atlanta Half Marathon (USATF Half Championship) with the the 3 lead runners well ahead, but going off course and dropping like 8 spots? What a disaster, but I assume nothing can be done about it. The announcers were saying maybe they could appeal, but I assume the response would be it is the athletes responsibility to know the course, even if the pace/lead car goes the wrong way.

I did see that!

Are competitive runners actually expected to memorize every turn of every course they run? That seems like a lot, and could be solved by having a well-marked course and competent bike escorts.

 

[fatmanatee]

Was reminded that this is not the first time there has been a catastrophic mistake made by race staff in Atlanta: last year for the marathon they accidentally measured it too short (due to construction messing up part the course after the initial measuring) so a bunch of people who thought they qualified for Boston actually didn't.

 

[GollyGadget]

Anyone else see the wild situation for the Women's Atlanta Half Marathon (USATF Half Championship) with the the 3 lead runners well ahead, but going off course and dropping like 8 spots? What a disaster, but I assume nothing can be done about it. The announcers were saying maybe they could appeal, but I assume the response would be it is the athletes responsibility to know the course, even if the pace/lead car goes the wrong way.

*Edit - Just saw the USATF posted the appeal was actually successful (the course was not adequately marked), but they have no way to overturn the results. They then lay blame on the Atlanta Track Club since they are the host of the race and provide the lead vehicles. Since this is a qualifier for the World Championships, you now have the three athletes who should have qualified dropped. Really bad look for the USATF; if you are going to use a race as your Championship, then they should control all aspects of that race (at least for the elite athletes).

I was wondering what happened. I was cleaning up the kitchen and all of a sudden Jess McClain dropped from first to 8th-ish. I assumed she just blew up. Yikes.

 

[FFigawi]

I did see that!

Are competitive runners actually expected to memorize every turn of every course they run? That seems like a lot, and could be solved by having a well-marked course and competent bike escorts.

Technically, yes, it is their responsibility to know and follow the correct course. In practice, they’re almost fully reliant on the bikes and lead vehicles to guide them through the course. As the race director said, “Athletes should never have to make a split-second decision between following a pace vehicle or trusting the official course.” What a mess.

 

[Naomeri]

Just saw this statement on FB about the events in Atlanta

 

[FFigawi]

Not sure how they’re going to wiggle their way out of this. The published criteria for selecting team members is the order of finish at the championship. If I’m one if the women who was on the podium, I’d claim my spot and fight hard if they tried to take it away. Sure, the women who went off course probably would have beaten me, but that’s not a given.

 

[jmasgat]

Not sure how they’re going to wiggle their way out of this. The published criteria for selecting team members is the order of finish at the championship. If I’m one if the women who was on the podium, I’d claim my spot and fight hard if they tried to take it away. Sure, the women who went off course probably would have beaten me, but that’s not a given.

I guess it’s too much to ask for those who podiumed to reflect on their record/performance vs the women who went off course and consider whether they would be the best selection for the team, or whether they should try to defer to one of the other women. I know they don't have to, and even with that comparison, they may come out ahead, but it has happened in other sports. I get that team selection is subjective under most circumstances, and you have to grab your opportunities when they arise. Wonder if the thought will even cross their minds.

 

[fatmanatee]

Found a video of what happened and I’m stunned. Issue was that they all made a turn when they were supposed to go straight ahead. And why did they think they should make that turn? They were following the cones! Eventually fixed that and you see that when they finally get back on track.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2028640292518129786

 

[Naomeri]

Found a video of what happened and I’m stunned. Issue was that they all made a turn when they were supposed to go straight ahead. And why did they think they should make that turn? They were following the cones! Eventually fixed that and you see that when they finally get back on track.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2028640292518129786

That’s some serious BS. You’d think one of the people standing around that intersection would’ve known what direction the runners were supposed to go, and could’ve waved or something

 

[MissLiss279]

Not sure how they’re going to wiggle their way out of this. The published criteria for selecting team members is the order of finish at the championship. If I’m one if the women who was on the podium, I’d claim my spot and fight hard if they tried to take it away. Sure, the women who went off course probably would have beaten me, but that’s not a given.

I know at least Molly Born (winner) has said that if she was offered a spot on the World team, she does not plan to take it. Carrie Ellwood (2nd place) also offered similar sentiments that she thought the original 3 should have the Team USA spots - even though she also ran off course for a short distance. Same for 3rd place Annie Rodenfels.
It is a terrible situation where no one was able to celebrate.

 

[Marebear_runs]

Returning after a long hiatus—life has been crazy the past year and I couldn’t keep up!

I could use some help with a question I probably already know the answer to but am having trouble accepting.

I was supposed to run the LA marathon on Sunday. I had been training consistently and got up to a 20 miler about a month ago. I ended up getting hit with pneumonia and the flu, thought I was better after 2 weeks and tried running again and couldn’t get very far. Turns out the antibiotics didn’t work so I got a new prescription. I have done almost nothing for the past 4 weeks largely because I was advised not to exercise while on the antibiotics because there’s an increased risk of joint damage. I feel better now but obviously have lost almost all training and conditioning. This would have been my 10th marathon and this would have been my third consecutive year running LA.

Just how bad of an idea would it be to go out there and try to walk the marathon (maybe with some intermittent very light running just to get it under the time requirement)? Pretty stupid right?

 

[KCO5988]

Returning after a long hiatus—life has been crazy the past year and I couldn’t keep up!

I could use some help with a question I probably already know the answer to but am having trouble accepting.

I was supposed to run the LA marathon on Sunday. I had been training consistently and got up to a 20 miler about a month ago. I ended up getting hit with pneumonia and the flu, thought I was better after 2 weeks and tried running again and couldn’t get very far. Turns out the antibiotics didn’t work so I got a new prescription. I have done almost nothing for the past 4 weeks largely because I was advised not to exercise while on the antibiotics because there’s an increased risk of joint damage. I feel better now but obviously have lost almost all training and conditioning. This would have been my 10th marathon and this would have been my third consecutive year running LA.

Just how bad of an idea would it be to go out there and try to walk the marathon (maybe with some intermittent very light running just to get it under the time requirement)? Pretty stupid right?

Are you off antibiotics? Does your chest feel clear? Energy levels okay? If yes to all those I say run it. You can look at this as you basically just had a very long and aggressive taper. Will you do as well as you would have if you had not been sick, probably not. But if your goal is just to finish, I don't think it's stupid at all.

 

[RuntheMouse]

Today is a good day!

Woke up to temps above freezing, sun is out, ice is gone, had a great tempo run AND it’s registration day for TC 10 mile.