The Running Thread - 2026

[TiggerTrigger]

@avondale 's gnat encounter reminded me that we're about to experience wasp and hornet season here.

Does anyone else encounter this where they are and have a solution? Every year, I seem to get chased a couple of times a week from about mid April to early June. It's not an every day thing and I can't even see the nests they're defending as it's all wooded. It's usually the worst shortly after sunrise through mid morning. Last year, I encountered a woman who got stung. I even had a hornet latch itself to my thigh one day. Thankfully, it was on top of my shorts in a pocket area where I had thicker coverage. I could feel it trying to sting me but no venom made it through. Freaked me out when I slapped my hand onto my thigh and felt a larger insect body. And people wonder why I'm good with the snakes I routinely encounter!

I can't exactly go around with a big can of wasp spray. Peppermint oil can deter nest building and I could dab some on like minty perfume, but I don't know if it will stop their nest defense reactions. Any suggestions?

 

[The Expert]

@avondale 's gnat encounter reminded me that we're about to experience wasp and hornet season here.

Does anyone else encounter this where they are and have a solution? Every year, I seem to get chased a couple of times a week from about mid April to early June. It's not an every day thing and I can't even see the nests they're defending as it's all wooded. It's usually the worst shortly after sunrise through mid morning. Last year, I encountered a woman who got stung. I even had a hornet latch itself to my thigh one day. Thankfully, it was on top of my shorts in a pocket area where I had thicker coverage. I could feel it trying to sting me but no venom made it through. Freaked me out when I slapped my hand onto my thigh and felt a larger insect body. And people wonder why I'm good with the snakes I routinely encounter!

I can't exactly go around with a big can of wasp spray. Peppermint oil can deter nest building and I could dab some on like minty perfume, but I don't know if it will stop their nest defense reactions. Any suggestions?

They hate clove oil, and we use a mixture of that with soapy water in spray bottles to deter them from our decks and patio in summer. You could treat a bandana/hat/something you're wearing with that and maybe even carry a small spray bottle or squirt gun in case they still come at you?

 

[The Expert]

I just scored a HUGE deal on my favorite running shoes. I snagged these beauties at REI for nearly half price!



Brooks Hyperion Max 3: $200
-$40 REI member coupon for 20% off a full price item
-$25 REI gift card for taking a survey a few months ago
-$27.29 Member rewards from 2025 spending

Total cost after tax and shipping: $107.71

 

[TiggerTrigger]

They hate clove oil, and we use a mixture of that with soapy water in spray bottles to deter them from our decks and patio in summer. You could treat a bandana/hat/something you're wearing with that and maybe even carry a small spray bottle or squirt gun in case they still come at you?

Great idea! Of course, I’m envisioning myself with a large super soaker and taking them out Rambo style.

 

[Naomeri]

@avondale 's gnat encounter reminded me that we're about to experience wasp and hornet season here.

Does anyone else encounter this where they are and have a solution? Every year, I seem to get chased a couple of times a week from about mid April to early June. It's not an every day thing and I can't even see the nests they're defending as it's all wooded. It's usually the worst shortly after sunrise through mid morning. Last year, I encountered a woman who got stung. I even had a hornet latch itself to my thigh one day. Thankfully, it was on top of my shorts in a pocket area where I had thicker coverage. I could feel it trying to sting me but no venom made it through. Freaked me out when I slapped my hand onto my thigh and felt a larger insect body. And people wonder why I'm good with the snakes I routinely encounter!

I can't exactly go around with a big can of wasp spray. Peppermint oil can deter nest building and I could dab some on like minty perfume, but I don't know if it will stop their nest defense reactions. Any suggestions?

Bees and wasps have better manners than to bother me on runs, but the freaking deer flies are obsessed with my head. They don't seem to want to bite me, but I can feel them landing in my hair and it freaks me out so bad that I have to avoid running places with deer flies all summer..

I just scored a HUGE deal on my favorite running shoes. I snagged these beauties at REI for nearly half price!

View attachment 1055958

Brooks Hyperion Max 3: $200
-$40 REI member coupon for 20% off a full price item
-$25 REI gift card for taking a survey a few months ago
-$27.29 Member rewards from 2025 spending

Total cost after tax and shipping: $107.71

They're beautiful!

 

[fatmanatee]

Remember that blog that leaked out the Brooks DL shoes? Well, they’re getting sued by adidas for trying to extort them over leaks.

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

This is a somewhat interesting article, not only for the age data, but also the percentages of who gets in by what means.
One takeaway: our registrations would be easier if not for those meddling kids.... ;-)

https://www.sportico.com/leagues/ot... New,finishers in a marathon with over 59,226.

 

[RuntheMouse]

QOTD: With MW looming and it being an anniversary year for the half, I wonder what is it about anniversary years that increases demand for races? This is something I’ve wondered about often. I see it mentioned not just for Disney races but out in the wild as well. So what gives? I pick races because of location or distance or fun factor. If it’s an anniversary year has never played into my decision. Tell me what I’m missing!

 

[JediKnightXan]

QOTD: With MW looming and it being an anniversary year for the half, I wonder what is it about anniversary years that increases demand for races? This is something I’ve wondered about often. I see it mentioned not just for Disney races but out in the wild as well. So what gives? I pick races because of location or distance or fun factor. If it’s an anniversary year has never played into my decision. Tell me what I’m missing!

Probably depends on the event and how much marketing hype an race director wants.

Anniversary is a way to celebrate and generate some hype, also some races I think up the sawg for an anniversary year.

I know I'm not immune to it... Our local half/full is having their 50 year next year. I do the half most years never done the full. Next year I'm strongly considering the full as the medals are different between the races (that's a somewhat new thing) and I know they upped their game for the 40th anniversary. So all that to get a medal that will just end up in the box a day after getting it

 

[The Expert]

QOTD: With MW looming and it being an anniversary year for the half, I wonder what is it about anniversary years that increases demand for races? This is something I’ve wondered about often. I see it mentioned not just for Disney races but out in the wild as well. So what gives? I pick races because of location or distance or fun factor. If it’s an anniversary year has never played into my decision. Tell me what I’m missing!

The expectation is that the race organizer may step things up in terms of merch, medals and/or activities. For example, this coming MW is a big anniversary for the Half Marathon and they are leaning into Donald for the whole weekend because of it. If you check the MW 2027 thread, I posted some of the preorder merch, which has some unique Donald items.

 

[fatmanatee]

QOTD: With MW looming and it being an anniversary year for the half, I wonder what is it about anniversary years that increases demand for races? This is something I’ve wondered about often. I see it mentioned not just for Disney races but out in the wild as well. So what gives? I pick races because of location or distance or fun factor. If it’s an anniversary year has never played into my decision. Tell me what I’m missing!

For the most part I don't get it at all. I did 2022 MW when Donald had an anniversary and we got a luggage tag and they may have mentioned the anniversary at pre-race but that was about it. 2023 was chaotic but I got that the theme made it chaotic, the fact that it was the 30th anniversary of the marathon didn't really mean anything IMO, and incidentally I know a few people here didn't care that the medal leaned too MUCH into the 30th.

As for Donald next year, I think they're kinda overdoing it. Not getting the weekend jacket if I get in because the yellow is too loud IMO.