The Running Thread - 2018

[cburnett11]

ATTQOTD: Speed day

 

[QueenFernando]

I second (or third) the tempo runs too. Just had to do one yesterday.

 

[roxymama]

ATTQOTD: When it was 5 days a week running, always Wed. Because my brain would often forget that Wed wasn't an off day and then I'd go AWWWW MAN! For actual workout type: probably straight tempo runs, so certain Thursdays. Once I'm doing them, I'm fine but it's the anticipation and procrastination that get me. I am thankful for the warmup mile(s) as they kind of "talk me into" doing my tempo because I'm already running.
Flip side: I love Sunday long runs...love them!

Now that it's officially Dec, next month is WDW race weekend! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh (that's an excited Ahh btw)
Training right now to make sure I can enjoy my race, meaning I'm not shooting for a PR but I don't want to feel like crud. It's a lot less pressure but also takes a lot more "get your butt out the door" yelling at myself.

 

[cavepig]

The one where weather is the least ideal which is all the time now

Seriously though this cold weather is really making me not want to run.

Exactly with you on the cold!


I look forward to all runs, even tempo & Speed work, when the weather is nice. When it's freezing/snowing I dread in a way almost all of them. Like today the roads are sloppy, it was lightly snowing, snow everywhere to see, but the wind was low and temp was 27 so it wasn't bad out there, just not something to look forward to. And seeing all week will be the same or colder/windier is running depressing. But, once done & thawed/warmed up, it feels good to have done it.

 

[Sanchez]

Mile repeats. Angst, distress and pain.

 

[JeffW]

ATTQOTD: In general, I really like long runs and have a harder time with speed work. But the Daniel's I-Pace workouts from DopeyBadger hurt (that's a good hurt!) Anything that is in the 800-1200m interval range has always been my nemesis. I'd much rather do a 6-8 mile progressive tempo run than intermediate distance intervals.

 

[Slogger]

ATTQOTD-I tend to dread the long runs because they are so............loooooooonnnggggg!!! They seem to take forever. I want to go faster!!

I enjoy the speed workouts. Hard but a great feeling when you are done.

 

[huskies90]

QOTD: Which run during your week do you not look forward to doing, but do it anyway because it will make you a better runner?

ATTQOTD: Well, in general, I would say I dread any run when it is below freezing and windy out.

But if we are not talking about weather, the long runs bother me the most which is why I am struggling with the idea of another marathon after January. The long runs just eat up too much of my time to the point where I am scheduling my weekends around my run. I would rather it be the other way around.

 

[Bree]

ATTQOTD: I don’t have anything in my training plans that I truly dislike. I do have speed workouts that scare the pants off me until I’m in the middle of it and realize it’s not that bad and I can do it. All the answers with tempo runs are worrying me. I have a marathon tempo run this Wednesday. I’ve done one so far, but it was on a treadmill.

November Totals
121.44 miles
22:52:18 hours
11:18 average pace
1285.17 miles YTD

I’ve been doing well with my cross training. I lift weights three times a week and I’m getting my muscles back! I try to get to a Les Mills BodyFlow class once a week. It’s been a struggle balancing the time to run and lift weights and manage day to day household & parental duties. I ran for 80 minutes today then spent another 75 in the gym. Add in the drive time to the gym and back and that’s about 3 hours of my day taken up by exercise alone! I bought a roomba on Black Friday. I named her Rosie and having her vacuum for me everyday has been a big help.

 

[camaker]

QOTD: Which run during your week do you not look forward to doing, but do it anyway because it will make you a better runner?

ATTQOTD: Speed repeats and tempo runs. It doesn’t help that I’m invariably doing them after a long day at work so my legs are pre-fatigued.

 

[michigandergirl]

Wow, I had no idea so many people dislike tempo runs! Clearly I'm in the minority in liking them...

 

[flav]

ATTQOTD: It is stop what you are doing and get out of the door part of any type of run that I dislike. Once warmed up, I like any type of run. I adapt my tempo to extreme conditions (heat or slippery snow) if need be. I could almost say that races with firm time objectives are the ones that I dislike (the only moments where I seriously question my sanity about running).

 

[OldSlowGoofyGuy]

ATTQOTD: I mostly dread/like all runs equally. As others have said: I dread (a little too strong of a word) it until I get out the door and get moving.

I like speed/tempo runs. I don't really dread any type of run, except the cool down after speed/tempo. It just seems SO SLOW.

If we're talking weather, I absolutely hate wind. I can deal with hot/cold/rain, but really dislike wind.

 

[Baloo in MI]

November Miles: 21.5 miles
Ok, I just have to smile! The total is low and there was (and will continue to be for awhile) more walking than running, but the ankle is continuing in the right direction and I have actual numbers to report!

ATTQOTD: I have never been a fan of speed work.

@LSUlakes I am so sorry to hear about Dixie and the tough decisions that lay ahead. It is especially hard with children. Thinking about you and your family.

If you guys could send some good running vibes to my husband that’d be awesome. He’s currently running his first “official” 100 miler (Devil Dog Ultra in Triangle, VA); just got the update he passed the 55 mile checkpoint in a little over 12 hours. It’s going to be a dark, cold, wet night for him.

Congrats to your husband for toeing the line for a 100 miler! I am sure next time he will finish the distance. In that kind of cold, sounds like he made a good decision. A DNF is always better than a DNS! Next time the buckle is his!

 

[camaker]

I'm a little late to the November summary party, but here's how my turkey month went. November was mostly an exercise in reestablishing training rhythm after the two long races in October chopped that month up. Training at this point is all about bridging October's marathon fitness into a December ultra and January Goofy. That's put me a bit outside my normal plan zone, and I've had to design this portion of my training myself. I guess we'll see if it worked in the next month or so. I can already report, though, that I'm hitting my target paces more comfortably now. Whether that's due to the fact that the heat has finally gone away, my fitness has caught up, or the fact that I adjusted my pacing down slightly so that I wasn't overreaching, I'm not sure. Probably a bit from each category if I had to guess.

I also ran the Holly Springs Half Marathon this month as a training run. That's notable, not so much for the race itself, but as it was the 20th half marathon for me since I started distance running in 2015. Running my 20th half was one of my goals for the year, so check. Also during November I crossed 1,000 miles for the year for the third year in a row. I won't hit quite as many total miles this year as the last two due to the 6 week injury layoff at the beginning of the year, but given how the year started I'm happy just to get to 1,000.

November Summary
Running Miles: 121.0
Avg Running Pace: 10:43/mi
Avg Heart Rate: 150
Total Time: 21:16:33

 

[DopeyBadger]

QOTD: Which run during your week do you not look forward to doing, but do it anyway because it will make you a better runner?

Honestly, I look forward to every run if my body allows me to do it. Which is a big no at the moment.

But I think if the question were more centered around not looking forward to a certain type of run because it's the hardest and usually the one I fail at the most, then that's going to be Progressions and Daniels I paced runs (or 3k pace). Just haven't ever really gotten the hang of Progressions and going from Easy pace to LR pace to M Tempo pace to HM Tempo pace and finishing off with 10k pace. Something about that slow and ever increasing ratcheting in pace usually forces the wheels off by the time 10k pace comes. But I feel it's probably one of the more important runs for getting better because undoubtedly it seems my racing follows this pattern far more than my blind tempo runs were my pace is +/- 3 seconds beginning to end. So partially I need to work on better racing tactics so I'm not doing what I do worst at, but also practice the Progressions since I'm not very good at them. I always say do more of what you're not good at because there's probably a reason you're not good at it (that's not to say to completely avoid the things you are really good at, just don't completely avoid the bad types). The Daniels I pace is just plain tough. I felt like right before I hurt my ankle in August I was making serious progress with the Daniels I pace. I maintained several sub-6 minute I intervals on a hot day and was over the moon. I can't wait until I get to build up and try to do it again.

 

[LSUlakes]

QOTD: Lets discuss purchasing running gear online today. What do you buy online for running? If you buy shoes, is it the same pair so your not worried about trying them on? For something important like shoes, and new types how do you make a decision to purchase them? How about other things like shorts and shirts? What other things have you purchased online for running?

ATTQOTD: My online purchases for running a usually very safe items. I've purchased things like GU, body glide, and that 360 light up vest thing. I've never purchased shoes, shorts, or a running shirt online because I feel like I need to see and feel them. In fact I try on running shorts before purchase. I dont like really short or really long shorts and every brand fits a little different so I try them on before purchasing. I'm 6'-5" so shorts are a challenge.

 

[FFigawi]

QOTD: Lets discuss purchasing running gear online today. What do you buy online for running? If you buy shoes, is it the same pair so your not worried about trying them on? For something important like shoes, and new types how do you make a decision to purchase them? How about other things like shorts and shirts? What other things have you purchased online for running?

I buy nearly all of my running gear online. I use Shoekicker to find the best deals on my running shoes and pick up most of the rest of the items (Tailwind, shirts, shorts, etc.) from Amazon or the manufacturer. If I need a jacket, I will buy that at my local store to make sure it fits and to take advantage of my discount.

 

[rteetz]

QOTD: Lets discuss purchasing running gear online today. What do you buy online for running? If you buy shoes, is it the same pair so your not worried about trying them on? For something important like shoes, and new types how do you make a decision to purchase them? How about other things like shorts and shirts? What other things have you purchased online for running?

If I buy shoes online it’s a brand/style I already know.

Otherwise I have no problem buying anything online for running.

 

[ZellyB]

ATTQOTD: I buy most of my running stuff online. I wear the same shoe all the time typically and usually try to buy the model or two behind the current one in stores. I buy some stuff locally especially if they are having a sale or something or if I'm trying something for the first time and want to try it on first. I buy nearly all my running clothes on line because of the brands I favor and they aren't available in local stores. (INKnBURN, SparkleSkirts, etc)