The Running Thread - 2018

Too Gauche? I am considering making the running store with its water cooler and restroom a part of my winter (i.e. public water fountain-less) route. I cannot decide if this is OK or not. It also passed through my mind that I could go 3 miles to running store A, the 2.5 miles to its sister store, and back home to create a loop with facilities, but that may be a bit much..... They do group runs out of both stores, but never at times I could actually go.

Both my running stores in FW and here in NOLA have water coolers and cups outside the store front (they're both along very popular running routes), so I think the water is totally fine. As far as facilities? I'd feel weird, unless I'm in there all the time buying stuff or I make an effort to run with the group ... I'd hate for them to only know me because I come in use their bathroom.
 
10/21/18 Hershey Half Marathon 0730 starting gun

Starting temperature: 42 Wind Chill: 34 Winds: 18
Ending temperature: 44 Wind Chill: 35 Winds: 22 w/gusts to 36

Packet Pickup:
Organized by bib number. I got mine Saturday, about an hour after they opened. Walked in, walked up, and walked out. Far easier than 2017, when we arrived prior to pickup opening. The expo, which has always been small, seemed smaller this year. It also seemed like the merchants had less merchandise for sale. The Hershey Half Marathon commemorative booth was disappointing.

Race Day Arrival:
We arrived around 0625, and made sure not to repeat our 2015 mistake, when we parked near the tram spike in the parking lot. This pointed us in the wrong direction for attempting to exit. We also got blocked in by folks parking anywhere they wanted. Not this year: row before the last one on the other end of the same lot, pointed towards a feeder exit artery.

Stadium restrooms were heated, and many were taking shelter from the wind and cold in there. After I entered the runners only area around 0715, I noticed that the porta-potties all had huge lines that stretched the width of the area. My work complete, I tracked along the far western edge, and was able to get a lot closer to the starting line than I did in 2015.


The Start:
I’d been advised by DopeyBadger to find anybody I could to use as a wind block. I saw several wearing loose bags and jackets. Those same items became like parachutes behind them during the race. I was in tights, a quarter-zip, a vest, and winter running cap. The cap was chosen instead of a baseball style running hat, so I wouldn’t have to worry about a gust pulling it off my head.
I was reminded immediately after the start that it had rained hard in the hours right before the race, as I had to quickly dodge a puddle (missed it). Down the side of Hersheypark Stadium, and already into the wind, which was blowing mostly from the north, I’d say. I’d planned on more of a westerly wind, and this meant I’d be fighting headwinds even more than planned. I also had throwaway gloves and a throwaway scarf. Nutrition was a bottle of Tailwind Lemon 300mL.

Race:
The first 2 miles consist of running to the Giant Center, where the AHL’s Hershey Bears play and then on to Hersheypark Drive. The wind really picked up as we ran through the tunnel under the road that feeds into Hersheypark.
I was surprised at how quickly the field spread out. I tried to keep in the middle of the group, so others could block the wind. DW saw me during mile 1, but I missed here on the left side of the course. I skipped the first water stop around mile 2 and decided to save my bottle for later in the race, when the stops were 2.5-3 miles apart.

The beginning of mile 4 put us in Hersheypark. The topography of the park does not do well with the knees of DW, but I seemed fine yesterday. The surfaces seemed extra wet in spots and slippery. Buildings and elevation changes brought a welcome wind shield. Mile marker 4 brought us out of the park, and into a series of turns and hills. I got lucky here, as the hat choice bit me: with no bill and now headed into the sun, I couldn’t see right ahead of me very well. I JUST missed as pothole that would not have been good for anybody’s ankle.

I knew this section from the 2015 race, which DW and I did as a relay team. At the relay exchange point I checked my Garmin, which showed about 0.2 miles shorter distance than 2015. I gave myself a pep talk for (clearly) doing a better job hitting tangents when my primary goal was to always have someone shielding me from the wind. “It’s all new now” I mumbled as I passed the relay point, which brought fresh energetic legs to the pack. DW was right: 422 went uphill not too long after the relay point. I remember a bakery handing out surprise snacks at this point. (there was also a surprise Gatorade stop in someone’s driveway shortly before the relay point) When we turned left off 422 into the grass of a golf course, I slowed down. Though flat, there did seem to be some holes and either lost balls underfoot or something uneven. Next up was a golf cart path, which led to some congestion, but manageable.

At this point, the course heads through the various residence homes for the Milton Hershey School. DW was ebullient in her description of the support and joy she felt in this section in 2015. Despite the wind and cold, I’d agree. At each home, students and home parents were out cheering us on. I’d removed my scarf around mile 2 and was still carrying it. I’d decided to give it to someone along the course. On the left side of the course, at the end of a line, I found a young woman with a sign. As she reached out to high-five me (a popular source of energy during the race), I handed the scarf and told her to enjoy it. I could hear her and her friends yelling happily about it as I ran down the next hill with a little more spring in my step.

This section of the course brought (more) wind, elevation changes, and curves. I wondered when we’d ever get back into Hershey. I’d noticed a lot of police along the course, more than 2015. Next thing I knew, I saw an office and SUV from our hometown, an hour away. The Hershey smokestacks were getting bigger and we navigated the left-hand turn onto 422 and what I immediately dubbed “the hill of woe”. The percentage of runners who slowed to a walk at this point felt like 50%. Laying just over the top of the hill: the famed chocolate stop. Yes- they hand out miniature Hershey bars around mile marker 11.5. This sounds like a good idea, but with the cold and gloved hands, I saw a ton of unopened bars on the ground all the way to the finish. And trying to bite down on a cold chocolate bar isn’t always easy; plus, how it all crumbled in the mouth. Next time, I think I’ll hold onto the bar until after the race.

During mile 13, we got to turn head-on into the (now) stronger wind and run across the park’s parking lots. I tried once again to tuck in behind others. Once we made the right turn into the tram spike path, I hugged the inside of the turn and tried to keep up a good pace. I’d been running blind with my Garmin covered for the last 2/3 of the race, only knowing the gun time at the 2-3 clocks on the course in that time. I knew from the last clock that I was close to PR time, once I deducted the delay in me getting to the starting line. But I also knew I couldn’t know for sure until the end. It seemed like the finish was further around the corner inside the stadium than I could remember, but I saw my old PR time tick by as I came to the line. With the differential in mind, I stopped my Garmin, which promptly started to congratulate me on my new half marathon PR.

Epilogue:
My post-race backpack was defective, with the zipper stitched to the fabric. I was able to easily swap it out for a different one. DW found me then and gave me a fleece blanket from the car. The mylar blankets, in that wind, were ineffective. Once at the car, I tried to get out of my sweaty clothes as fast as I could. Cirque du Soleil would’ve been proud of my contortions.

A few times in the last 2-3 miles, I thought about taking a walk break, but I was able to keep my legs chugging along, even if it was much slower. It didn’t feel any worse on my legs than my DopeyBadger training. My knees were sore Sunday afternoon. A little less-so this afternoon.

What I learned:
I learned I can get myself out of bed and get in 3-4 miles before work, and that I can do 4-5 after work and not mess up the family’s evening schedule. I also found I could get in back-to-back weekend runs that totaled > half distance, and that my weekly and monthly mileage could go up without injury.

And- even if I didn’t remember to hit the “like” button on our behalf, I learned a ton from everyone on the DIS running boards. And I thank you all for that.
 


QOTD: Do you pause your watch during training runs? If so, what in an acceptable reason to pause? Drink stop? Restroom? Stoplight? Short rest?
ATTQOTD: Before this summer, I never stopped at all during a training run but now I am stopping for water breaks and I do pause my watch when I do. The reason I pause it is I am trying to measure my pace more than I am trying to measure my total time and not pausing the watch really throws off the pace. If I start to walk during a training run (also a first) I have not been pausing because I consider that as part of the pace. One positive side note - once I started being "ok" with stopping for water breaks and pausing my watch, I started to be "ok" with stopping for red lights and pausing my watch. It is alot safer waiting for a red light than trying to weave in out of traffic to get across the street!!
 


... but I'm gonna be honest and say that I stretch out the bathroom breaks during long training runs because I can. So instead of just running in and out, I will refill my water, take some nutrition, text people....

I used to have (pre-marathon training) hot tea and warm boiled potatoes on some of my breaks, so I get making a stop as entertaining as possible.

Now I try to keep them under the Garmin 'resting HR buzz', which I'm guessing is 2 minutes.

I always pause the watch during training; never during a race.
 
For anyone running NYC Marathon in a couple of weeks, I finally got my spectating plan down! I'll be wearing a hot pink shirt with a large heart-eyed cat emoji balloon ... and I'll be on the left side of the road around Mile 4, 18 and between 23-24!
 
ATTQOTD: I do pause my watch during training runs, but it's not often that I have to do it. I'll pause at red lights (seldom an issue), to take pictures or, like today, resolve a hair emergency for my 13yo daughter. During races I do not pause my watch for any reason. That clock is ticking whether I'm moving or not.
 
winter (i.e. public water fountain-less) route.
I ran into the same kind of situation last weekend. I ended up at the grocery store where I usually shop and used their bathroom with the intention of purchasing a water/Gatorade bottle but they were to big to carry. I’ll go back if I am stuck again but will buy a pack of juice boxes, drink one and give the rest to their staff.

ATTQOTD: I very rarely pause in training because my average pace is already altered by the terrain, by running with others, by doing some speed intervals or long run. Exceptions to this are long breaks (like in the example above) or sets of consecutive red lights downtown. I never pause during a race.

This brings a question: For those who use the Nike+ App on their phone. If you set your goal as Speed, is there a shortcut for going to the next interval or hitting pause then resume the only way?
 
And exactly what are you doing while visiting your neighbor for that long? ;)
Usually someone is walking the dog or pulls up beside me in the car and HAS to share the latest gossip. And being from a small town we all NEED to know all the juicy details. This week a county commissioner was ticketed for a DUI, a small boutique that has been open for three generations is closing, and the new Taco Bell is supposed to open by the end of November!
 
Funny byproduct of me not pausing my watch at races: During Disney races, I've been known to come out of a character stop not knowing if I'm supposed to be running or walking. (During non-Disney races this occasionally happens with water stops, since I walk those if I'm stopping)
 
I bought new running shoes today. I tried in a couple different pairs of shoes and ended up getting pretty much the same shoe that I have been wearing for 8 years. Anybody else go out to buy shoes with the intention of moving to something different but end up staying the same?
After five pairs of Asics Nimbus 19, I just bought an Asics Nimbus 20... :sad2:
 
Both my running stores in FW and here in NOLA have water coolers and cups outside the store front (they're both along very popular running routes), so I think the water is totally fine. As far as facilities? I'd feel weird, unless I'm in there all the time buying stuff or I make an effort to run with the group ... I'd hate for them to only know me because I come in use their bathroom.

I was thinking that you could ask them if it's OK to use the bathroom during your runs. If they're a running store, they'll at least understand the request. If you don't make a mess and you're not disruptive to current customers, I don't see why it would be an issue. Hopefully it's a place that you do patronize occasionally.
 
I bought new running shoes today. I tried in a couple different pairs of shoes and ended up getting pretty much the same shoe that I have been wearing for 8 years. Anybody else go out to buy shoes with the intention of moving to something different but end up staying the same?

Last time I went to buy shoes, I ended up going with my younger son. He picked out a pair, I poked around and found one that looked interesting...only to find they were exactly the same as his, except half a size larger.

I ended up getting a new pair of what I was already wearing. (Saucony Omni 15.)
 
ATTQOTD: Yes, I pause my Garmin during training runs. This is mostly for stopping at traffic lights or crosswalks where I have to wait for traffic. I identify a lot with those who have said that this can add a lot of time to a run - yes, depending on the luck with the lights and the length of the run, 20+ minutes. I will pause for things like shoe adjustments or if I have to drink from a bottle (instead of my hydration vest). I take some pictures, depending on scenery. I also pause for bathroom breaks. Pausing during the training runs lets me keep track of my actual running pace, as others have mentioned, which is what I'm training for. I do try not to take excessive numbers of breaks, since I'm not getting the full training effect by pausing, but I am deliberate about this not compromising safety (i.e., crossing against lights).

To be fair, I've never had to stop for anything during an actual race, except for traffic lights during my Ragnar. In traditional HMs or marathon races, I've never stopped for any of the above reasons. I would be way too upset about adding the time on to my finish time. Fortunately I've never had anything happen (like a stone in my shoe) that I have had to stop for.
 
I was thinking that you could ask them if it's OK to use the bathroom during your runs. If they're a running store, they'll at least understand the request. If you don't make a mess and you're not disruptive to current customers, I don't see why it would be an issue. Hopefully it's a place that you do patronize occasionally.
Or, or, and hear me out, Offer to buy TP for them, too.
 

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