2014 Running Thread

Luv - my experienced marathoner and Iron Man co-workers have told me horror stories about bad training runs they've had - from what they say there's always at least one horrible training run that makes you question the whole idea.  But apparently that's part of training too - get through that and you'll know that no race could ever be that bad!  I still remember the bad run I had training for my half last year - it was cold and sleeting off and on.  The temps were in the 20's with wind chills in the teens, and the course I'd picked to run was a lot more hilly than I'd thought it would be.  I basically sobbed the last two miles - and sobbing is not a good thing to do in sub-freezing temps!!    

About walkers/slow runners putting themselves in faster corrals - the same thing happened to me in my half.  It was a target race for a charity, with lots of walkers.  I'm very slow, yet I passed lots and lots of walkers, and yep - they tended to walk 3-4 abreast.  It was irritating to me, and I can't imagine how much more irritating it would be to faster runners who were trying for a PR.   I monitored social media for a few days after that to see if I could figure out what was going on, and based on comments I saw, I think I figured it out.  It seems that walkers were afraid that they could not maintain the15:00 minute per mile maximum pace.  Because they didn't want to have to ride in the straggler van, they simply moved themselves into faster corrals.  The waves went off every 5 minutes, so by skipping ahead 4-5 pace groups, they bought themselves 20-25 minutes of extra time to finish the race.  I think they really had no concept of how much this would inconvenience other runners.  Organizers need to do a better job of publicizing race etiquette, especially with charity runs where there are a lot of walkers.  I do a lot of little 5Ks, and if it's a charity 5K, there are always a lot of issues with walkers putting themselves at the front of the start line, then walking 3-4 abreast.  I think they simply just don't know any better.    

Running clinic track workout tonight - they have a 4 mile workout set - first and last mile are warm up and cool down, but the two miles in the middle will be intervals - half mile speed running, quarter mile cool down, and repeat.  Thank goodness it's cooler today than it was last week - cloudy with temps in the 70's as opposed to last week's 90's!  I hate intervals and cannot force myself to do them on any consistent basis, so that's one of the big reasons I registered for the clinic.  I have no heat tolerance since chemo and AIs, so I'm grateful for the cooler weather. 

Run - you're absolutely right how lucky I am to have the running clinic available to me.  I of course gripe about doing it at the time, but I know it's exactly what I need to do. Course they darn near killed me Tuesday night!!!!  But I did it, and I think the increased running is already helping - I had to do three miles this morning.  The heat and humidity are back with a vengeance, which means I had to do my run in the pre-dawn hours to avoid the heat.  Instead of struggling like I usually would, my splits were actually faster each mile as I went along - not something that normally happens to me, especially at the crack of dawn!

 Are there any sort of virtual or on-line roadrunner groups you could join, with a scheduled structured program? Even if you're doing things solo, if you have to report back to the group about whether you stuck to the schedule or not, that'd be an incentive to get it done.  

Ellicott City is quaint, isn't it? 

Race Report:  I ran a 6k last Sunday and I finished it!  I had jammed my toe into a concrete step in my utility room while I was running through my house two weeks prior … and was so worried I wouldn't be able to finish the race.  The night before I got a foot massage which I think was the life saver for me.  The tendons and muscles in that foot were so tight … and it felt so much better after the massage.

But still … all I wanted to do was finish the race.  It was a 6k … and when I ran it two years ago … I started out too fast and I knew it was important this year to pace myself … so I started off more slowly … it was cool outside … and it was simply beautiful … and I not only finished but I beat my time from two years ago by 40 seconds!    Couldn't believe it!  I was SO HAPPY!    I have chronic knee issues … and I only run now about 3 races a year … this was 'only' a 6k … but wow … so, so happy!  I ran/walked it and it really helped my knee … not only did I knock off time from two years ago but I was a lot less sore as well.  I've been working with a personal trainer on hip strength and I think it really helped!  

So, so happy!  

Way to go Estel!  It sounds as though you triumphed over that jammed toe and knee issues and rural isolation.  

NatsFan, I never actually saw the quaint part of Ellicott City!  He lived in a bland suburban development and that's all I saw.  Good question about online runners groups, not counting this one. I did join a group on Facebook last fall & winter and it motivated me to BUY a lot of cold-weather running gear, because many people in the group were running all through that polar vortex, but not to USE it.  And I had to quit, because I was spending a great deal of time every day keeping up with them, although I was really sad to leave.

Hi ladies, I did my once a year run today, NOCC (National Orvarian Cancer Coalition) Pittsburgh 5K. Had my personal best time: 29:23, better than what I did 9 years ago, Pre-BC.  Great to read your runs here.

Goldlining- try a chiropractor. I always get cracked (they prefer the term adjusted)  before races which helps with hip joint/low back/ it band pain. and then if needed ill use the kt tape as well. right now i have a tender spot from tossing around a 1 1/2 yr old for hrs yesterday..biofreeze to the rescue but sure.. losing weight (congrats !) can change the mechanics of how things work together and thigns will be sore until the parts are use to the new form 

Thanks goldlining. I am more of a walker, but now that I have a couple of friends willing to hit the pavement with me, I might run more often. I used to hangout on the 2013 thread and I changed my screen name. 

Mary (NatsFan), it's really great to hear that your co-worker is still here. I ran (slow jogged) the NOCC Pittsburgh race last year (it was 5 miles) when I found out how many BC previvors/survivors had their ovaries removed due to the high mortality rate of ovarian cancer. That was shortly after my first revision post DIEP. This year, they made it 5K and I was in much better shape so I was able to run the entire distance. My legs are really sore today

I'd tracked calories in a notebook in the past, periodically, but not for almost 20 years. I just couldn't get motivated for one reason or another with my mood, but with the link between Garmin Connect and My Fitness Pal, it clicked. The key was the magic tie-in that I get more calories to eat if I do more steps. So now, I will say "if I want to eat what I want, I have to go for a run!" That has helped both my training and my food consumption. I think it accounts for the improvement in my training level when I did the Disneyland Half weekend. Running to eat: just what I needed to keep up with my training commitment! Anyone with a Garmin that uses Garmin Connect might take a look at the MFP app. I think it was free, it has a ton of ingredients and prepared foods in the database and you can add recipes, and it tracks nutrient breakdowns like carbs, fat, sodium, protein, if you're tracking those. That helped when I was carb loading.

I set a pretty reasonable daily allowance too, so I have not had to really deny myself much. And I have not gone over my allowance, other than intentionally while carb loading. I used to tell myself that maybe the reason I'd been unable to get rid of the baby weight was that my body knew I would need it later for the DIEP, but after they used that part, I still had a bunch elsewhere, and now it was migrating to my legs because there was nowhere on the abdomen for it to be. Yuck. Now, I can wear a skirt (granted a 24" length), and I'm having a few suits taken in so I don't look like a deflated balloon when I lecture. When I lose another inch, maybe new suits.

(During the school term, I tend to miss lunch, but I also tend to miss exercising, so it's a wash. And I end up eating crackers out of my drawer or whatever. Hope I don't have to let the suits out again!)

I snack vs meals at work (school) and chase kids all day. yet during summer/spring break/xmas break.. i pretty much move less and only have dinner. feels much better moving and snacking.  Only 60 days til Disney Avengers Half Marathon...might have to chase the kids more for training

I lost 20 of my 22 chemo pounds a few years ago using Loseit.com, but gradually I've put back about 10 of those pounds.  Soooo, I logged into Loseit.com for the first time last week to start again.  I was pleasantly surprised to find that it now syncs nicely with my Fuelband.  Modern technology is amazing!!!

Thanks LuvLuLu!  I do enjoy my clunky notebook.

Good reminders, Loves.

I use the RoadID bracelet - my dh and I always check with each other to make sure we've both remembered to wear them whenever we run - we have not only our home phone listed, but each other's cell phone.  I have LE, so I also have "No IV/Needles/BP Rt Arm" on mine as well, so it serves as a kind of medical alert bracelet for me as well.  

Dh and I will always let the other know what route we plan to take if we're going out for a run by ourselves.  We also have given each other rights to the "Find my iPhone" app, so if one of is running alone, the other can occasionally check on where they are to make sure everything looks OK.   

And yep, slap bands and reflective garments are inexpensive and a potential lifesaver now that the days are shorter and we're having to run before sunrise and after dark.   

I admit I'm guilty of running with earbuds in most of the time, but I lower the volume so I can hear the noise around me unless I'm in a really busy place with tons of people.  If I find I'm running through an isolated place with few passersby, I'll ditch them completely. 

What kind of job do you have, goldlining, you get to travel all the time and to interesting places too? I am asking with every fiber on my turning green. happy trails everyone.

Goldlining.. I almost got to go to London as a study abroad interpreter since they use BSL and the students needed ASL..but the couple decided not to go.. darn it. Have fun on your trip. try sudafed for the plane ride and emergent-C saves me often. 

heres a tip that they told us back in elementary school.. ALWAYS.. walk/run/bike/skate FACING traffic so no cars can come up behind you and snatch you. Ive always have followed that rule. also gives me something to watch (count the red cars..etc)