The Running Thread - 2026

[rick1zoo2]

At this point I kept telling myself there was no way I was quitting to just drag myself to the finish. About a half mile from the finish I could tell the fogginess wasn’t getting any better. I actually decided to pop a caffeine gel I had to just get any kick I could out of it. I got to about 300 yards from the finish and decided we were going to jog in the rest of the way, no stop. Heck, there was family and friends taking pics. LOL. Saw the stage on the last 100 yard straight away and essentially had tunnel vision to the finish. I missed ringing the bell for first timers. Doh! Got through the finish and head the words “….you are an Iron Man”.

WOW!! awesome!

 

[jrsharp21]

Having experienced cramps at a few of my HMs and the Springtime Surprise 10 Mile this past weekend, I am trying to figure out why it happens and solutions for it. Best I can figure it happens when it's warm out and when there are hills. The HM and 10 Mile course at WDW don't have significant elevation gains, but those 3 overpasses between miles 7-9 on the 10 mile and between miles 10-12 on the HM course always seem to do me in. I might feel ok going up and over, but then cramps seem to start up after those. This past weekend it started about mile 9 and I tried Pickle Juice, some stretching and walking and I managed to hold the cramps off until I jogged through the finish. Not sure that the Pickle Juice really did much:

View attachment 1066682

So if I can ask: how do you use the precision electrolyte pills? Do you take them before or during? and how much?
Is this them?:View attachment 1066678

The other things I am thinking of are figuring out how to better hydrate before a race and training more hills? Open to suggestions. thanks!

For the pills, I use them on the run. I have my Garmin set to go off every 20 minutes on a run. That is my alert to pop one pill. They are a pain to get out of the foil while running, so I put them in a little sandwich bag and carry them in my pocket or in the pocket of the water bottle holder if I am using one. They really have helped preventing cramps.

A similar solution is BASE electrolyte salt. I do use this also in place of the Precision pills since those can get expensive. BASE gives you a little bottle with a flip top to carry the salt. When you need it, you are supposed to flip the top, lick a finger/thumb, turn the bottle over so the salt sticks your finger, then lick the salt off your finger. I try to save the Precision pills for races or if I am going on a 18+ mile run. If I am doing shorter training runs, I will use the BASE salt.

 

[Dopey 2020]

@jrsharp21 What an epic accomplishment! Congratulations! You are an Iron Man

 

[rick1zoo2]

For the pills, I use them on the run. I have my Garmin set to go off every 20 minutes on a run. That is my alert to pop one pill. They are a pain to get out of the foil while running, so I put them in a little sandwich bag and carry them in my pocket or in the pocket of the water bottle holder if I am using one. They really have helped preventing cramps.

A similar solution is BASE electrolyte salt. I do use this also in place of the Precision pills since those can get expensive. BASE gives you a little bottle with a flip top to carry the salt. When you need it, you are supposed to flip the top, lick a finger/thumb, turn the bottle over so the salt sticks your finger, then lick the salt off your finger. I try to save the Precision pills for races or if I am going on a 18+ mile run. If I am doing shorter training runs, I will use the BASE salt.

Thank you for explaining, I will certainly look into doing that, our next race is the Broad Street 10 Miler in two weeks and I will just assume it will be warm for that.

 

[Naomeri]

@jrsharp21 wow!! That’s an amazing accomplishment.

You definitely do look a bit dazed in that photo op, but it could easily be mistaken for “omg, I just finished my first Iron Man” instead of “omg, my body is frozen and trying to shut down” I’m glad you recognized that it was more than just race-related exhaustion right away.

 

[RuntheMouse]

Congratulations @jrsharp21! What an incredible race you completed. The conditions sound awful and yet you plowed through, well done!

 

[Erika10021]

But hey, not bad for a guy whose first sprint tri race was less than a year ago and less than a year later is now an Iron Man!

Congrats on your accomplishment! That is huge!!

 

[PrincessV]

Amazing work @jrsharp21 - congrats!!!

 

[KCO5988]

Congrats @jrsharp21 - you are an ironman! My Aunt and Uncle were there spectating since they also live in the Woodlands.