The Running Thread—2023

[mmm_texas]

Has anyone Ubered? I'll be staying with family who live near the Pentagon.

The one time I stayed off site (W&D 2021) I actually used Lyft to get to the most convenient Disney resort, then took the runDisney bus. Probably not for everyone, but it worked well for me.

Edit: Sorry, I'm so caught up in the upcoming WDW and DL events I missed the context that this question was about a DC-area race. I doubt the runDisney buses will be running there....

 

[nancipants]

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate! I got a massage gun, Janji shorts, Constantia shorts, and socks from my husband.

 

[DisneyParrothead]

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate! I got a massage gun, Janji shorts, Constantia shorts, and socks from my husband.

Merry Christmas to you too! I got bib boards, a Gymboss, the Crowned Athletics reversible Sleeping Beauty jacket, and a pair of Rabbit running shorts!

 

[Naomeri]

I got a new pair of Goodr sunglasses!

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

Merry Christmas guys. Besides some clothes, I received "The Science of Cooking", which I hope to make good use of soon. And a kitchen towel with one of my mom's recipes on it, in her handwriting. I learned cooking from my mom while growing up, but lost her to cancer 27 years ago. Seems my DW and my sister conspired to pull this off. Had me in tears in the middle of unwrapping gifts. That was so not on my bingo card for today.

 

[Scootin'By]

No tear jerseys for me, thankfully. But I did get some running gear. A few pairs of nice running socks, one of those light up running vest sorta things, and a new running tee that says "Mordor Fun Run." Gotta love some LOTRs!

Happy Christmas to all who celebrate

 

[SheHulk]

I didn't get many running-related gifts, except a gift certificate to Stretch Lab. I can't wait to try it! The best Christmas gift I got was, I had to squeeze in an hour long run yesterday because I didn't have time to the day before, and nobody gave me grief that I had to duck out of the festivities for an hour plus to do it. Hope everybody had a peaceful holiday.

 

[Herding_Cats]

On the last day of Christmas my toddler gave to meeeeeee:

the cold she brought home from pre-school.

I'm attacking it with water and vitamin C, so at least I'll be well hydrated going into race week.

 

[The Expert]

I got bib boards and this book, written by a friend and former colleague who is a nutritionist. I'm not plant-based, but very curious to read and try some of the science in here. https://www.amazon.com/Vegan-Athlete-Nutrition-Plant-Based-Performance/dp/1578269040

My birthday is Saturday, so there may be another pre-MW surprise in there yet!

 

[nancipants]

I also got running shoes and shorts from my in laws!

 

[dobball23]

I got a Noxgear 2 running vest (for the dark), with a light. I have been happy with my current light, but this was an extravagant want (definitely not a need) and my parents came through. Thanks, Mom and Dad!

 

[superchime]

I "got" an apple watch, but the box was empty! Someone must have opened the box and taken out the watch and band. All that was in there was the charging cord. Luckily my husband ordered it from Amazon so they are sending another one that should be here by tomorrow, but what a surprise that was to open!

 

[AZMermaid]

I "got" an apple watch, but the box was empty! Someone must have opened the box and taken out the watch and band. All that was in there was the charging cord. Luckily my husband ordered it from Amazon so they are sending another one that should be here by tomorrow, but what a surprise that was to open!

I got the 100 Disney experiences book and it looks like someone drop kicked it in the rain and then sent it to my husband as a new Amazon book! He didnt notice . So we had to exchange that- but that’s crazy!

My only running gift was UA capris which I wanted but they dont have pockets. Boo. I got a bunch of cash and Amazon cards from my students so that may get used for Oofos, capris with pockets and new Feetures.

 

[GollyGadget]

Hi y’all, as we near the end of the year, I thought it’d be fun to do a little recap of our running this year. How’d it go for you this year? What’s your favorite memory? What are you most proud of?

For me, the year started on a high note with the WDW Marathon Weekend. I got to cheer on my mom during the 5 & 10K and then she returned the favor during the marathon.

My favorite memory though was watching Nikki Hiltz win the USATF Road Mile Championship.

The thing I’m most proud of is my consistency. I put in more miles than ever before and kept going all year minus the planned breaks. The hard work paid off as I earned a few new medals and PRs along the way.



Hoping to do the same in 2024!

 

[SheHulk]

@GollyGadget I have coveted your PR board since you first posted a photo of it long ago. I have sent pics of it to loved ones as a hint for Xmas gifts and am still waiting. Love it. And congrats on a great year of running.

 

[GollyGadget]

@GollyGadget I have coveted your PR board since you first posted a photo of it long ago. I have sent pics of it to loved ones as a hint for Xmas gifts and am still waiting. Love it. And congrats on a great year of running.

Thank you! My sister made it for me back in her crafty/homemade gift phase. She even included an extra board which I was finally able to put to use with my first mile race this year.

Keep at it with the hints, and if all else fails treat yourself. You can find similar on Etsy.

 

[PrincessV]

2023… I mean, in all honesty, it’s been the worst year of running in my life, bar none. It started with me unable to finish marathon training due to severe, chronic joint and soft tissue pain, I spent around 8 months seeing specialists and trying things with no real positive outcomes, and I’m ending the year never knowing from one day to the next if I’ll be in too much pain to run-walk more than a couple miles or if I’ll be able to do 13.1 because it happens to be a “good day” for no apparent reason.

Which I realize sounds like a gigantic downer, and it really mostly is. But there are a few positives in the mix and I’m trying really hard to appreciate them…

Somewhere along the way, we did find an Rx that‘s cheap, has no side effects, and actually reduces the nerve-associated pain significantly. That’s been a big boon to daily life and a help with still maintaining some amount of running.

I’ve inadvertently found that I don’t really need to pile on mileage to maintain some endurance fitness, and the reduction in mileage has given me back time in my life that I really value for other things.

I’m going to save SO much money going forward by not needing as many running shoes and not registering for as many races!

Proudest running moment? I think it has to be actually finishing the WDW Marathon, against a whole lot of odds. Undertrained. Undernourished. Demoralized. Not at all at my best. Started with the goal of getting to 13.1 and calling it a day… but felt okay at that point and kept going. The pain really hit HARD on Western Way, which is a perfectly terrible spot to try to end your race, so I texted a friend for some tough-love support, pulled over to stretch, dug deeper than I’ve had to ever before, and finished. Seeing that same friend in EP with a fresh, cold beer for me was momentous - I tear up even now when I think about it. I’m so glad my 7th and likely final marathon was complete and I didn’t have to bail out!

 

[GuinnessRunner]

Hi y’all, as we near the end of the year, I thought it’d be fun to do a little recap of our running this year. How’d it go for you this year?

Great idea. Overall I would say I am happy with the year although as usual it didn't go as planned. Started out with completing Goofy last year and coming out of it healthy and happy, which were my primary goals.

My attempt for a POT in May got derailed with kidney issue week before the race, but that was probably a blessing in disguise as it gave me more time to train and I got a much better time than I expected when I was finally able to race a HM in November.

Since that race, running hasn't been great with old hip issues seeming to raise their head again right before MW, but since I've dealt with them before, I have been vigilant in doing all the things I know help the issue to hopefully get myself in a place to once again complete Goofy next week.

I will end the year with more miles than I have done in a long time, with more lessons learned and still upright and moving forward so I would say it was a successful year.

 

[Naomeri]

Hi y’all, as we near the end of the year, I thought it’d be fun to do a little recap of our running this year. How’d it go for you this year? What’s your favorite memory? What are you most proud of?

Running has been really up and down this year. I had a great plan for getting mileage in during the summer—adjusting my work hours so I could run before work on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but, as it turns out, early mornings are too hard for me and I skipped way more runs than I ever completed on those days. I had my first DNF during a half marathon in the summer because the field was tiny and I was all alone by mile 3, with no cheering sections or anything.

Then the second half of my Loony Challenge weekend at Twin Cities Marathon weekend was cancelled due to truly barbaric heat conditions (for MN in October, at least).

But then winter running started and it was great! I felt super fast, and hit a new PR for the 10K at the beginning of November, and I was hitting most of my training runs.

Then December happened and life got crazy and I missed a bunch of runs again, and I spent Christmas Eve down with food poisoning.

But, I think I’m going to be able to cross the line of most miles run in a month if I can manage all my mileage this week, so that’ll be a nice high note for the year.

 

[Dopey 2020]

2023 Was a great year for running. Started with Dopey which ended with a marathon PR. After that not much for racing but consistent running five days a week with at least 100 miles per month injury free. Didn’t get any other PRs that I wanted but does anyone ever win them all? I certainly won’t complain. Just a few more runs for the year to end with around 1350 miles with a goal of 1200.
I’ll start 2024 with Dopey and go from there.