The Running Thread

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
121

I’m glad to see some activity here. I’m entered in the Spirit of St. Louis Marathon this Sunday - wish me luck.

I’d like to get some ideas/advice on how to decide when or whether to run another marathon. I’ve gotten the travel bug, and have the itch to go places to run marathons. Trouble is, there are clearly more places that I’d like to go than would be good for me.

I’m 44 y/o male, and this will be my third marathon. My previous one was 1 year ago, the first was 4 months before that. My best time is 4:34, and this time I believe I can get into the 4:15 to 4:30 range.

So, how soon is too soon for another one? How many should I plan for, say, a year? The prior interval of 4 months seemed like plenty of time to recover, and get back up, so I’m thinking maybe less time. I know nobody can answer this for me, but I’m loooking for suggestions for things to look for, or runs to try, to see how I’m recovering and be ready to go for another.

122

I ran 3 marathons in 12 months: Jan, Jun, and Jan again.

I was burnt out afterwards, but mentally, not physically. But then, I’m 29.

But then again, I run with a chap who turned 60 last year, and he’s run probably 4 marathons in the past 6 months. (all slower than his “real” pace, so I guess it’s easier - as easy as a marathon can be, anyway)

If you’re in good health and don’t have any injuries, I don’t see why 1-2 a year wouldn’t be fine. You could press for more, but might risk getting burnt out. Or hurt.

My 2 cents, anyway.

Good luck this Sunday - kick butt! My best is 4:22 - maybe you can aim to beat that!

123

Hey this is a great idea! I’ve been running since I was in 7th grade and am currently running on my high school’s varsity track team. I have a question though. Last week I was running a relaxed 40 minute run and all of the sudden the inside of my foot started hurting. I didn’t twist it or anything, it just started hurting. It hurts whenever I twist it certain ways, worse when I’m wearing sneakers. Usually during workouts it hurts only during warm ups, cool downs, and recoveries.

My coach says that it might be sore ankles from improper form, but it seems to me it is too painful to be just sore, and affects only my left ankle. I have been iceing it and my coach says to do heel raises and stretch it out. Does anybody have a clue what this might be, or what I can do to help it go away?

Just for some background, I did get new shoes recently but they’re exactly the same brand as my old ones and are very comfortable. I also got new sneakers just to wear to school, and wore them to track twice and found that they have an uncomfortable high spot in the inside on the left side, but that shouldn’t affect me should it? I wore them to practice weeks ago and have since only wore them to school. Help me! :confused:

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Canadagirl - Is it your foot or your ankle? Did it start after you ran in those new, not for track sneakers? An uncomfortable arch can definitely affect you by putting added pressure where it isn’t needed.

Could be a touch of tendinitis (I’m not a doc, and I don’t play one on TV). If it’s in your foot, especially in your arch, get a one liter plastic soda bottle and fill it with water, then freeze it. When frozen roll it under your foot a few times a day…it helps to stretch your arch while icing it. Very niiiiiiicccceeee. Try to do it as soon after running as possible.

125

I can’t help with specifics Canadagirl, but I can suggest that since you’re still a teenager, your body may be changing. Getting the exact same shoe may not be in your best interest. Have you tried either getting inserts that will support that area, or perhaps remove the existing inserts, and replacing them with some that give less support in that area? I have also worn shoes that had a spot in the arch of one foot that just felt “lumpy”, and while I did eventually adjust to it, I see no reason to if you can get a shoe that fits better. When you try shoes on, do you lace them up, and jog a bit in them in the store? If not, I suggest that you do. Most good running stores will let you, even encourage you to do that. Maybe try a wide fit in your same size. Good luck, and I hope you feel better.

126

I used to have the same problem when I was younger, Canadagirl. It sucked because nobody could tell me where it came from. It turned out inserts could take care of the problem, though. When I got older it disappeared, so like Atrael suggested, it might be temporary.

127

Thanks Einmon, Atrael, and rundogrun. It’s my ankle, not my arch, and I don’t think it’s tendonitis because I’ve been running for years and have never experienced any trouble.

It seems to be getting better, even though I have been running on it all week, and maybe it will just go away.

Tip for shin splints- stand on the edge of a stair or other raised object, let your heels drop down, and then raise up to your tippy toes. Do this about 10-15 times, doing 2 sets if you like. It works, trust me.

128

It does seem like I can be comfortable running in the +70% zone for 10 year olds! If that is OK then I won’t worry!

129

Race Report: Spirit of St. Louis Marathon, 6 April.

This was my 3rd marathon, and a homecoming experience for me. I lived it St. Louis for 15 years, and moved away 6 years ago. I miss the place. I would have entered if they only promised aid stations, traffic control, and a guy with a stopwatch. As it is, the organizers are really trying to make a headline event. They combined a USA Track & Field Women’s championship on Saturday with some other running events and made a Family Fitness weekend of it.

Unfortunately, as it turned out, almost none of the planning and events would make up for the awful weather. At race start the temperature was 34 degrees, and within minutes of the starting gun, a light drizzle started falling. It intensified over the 1st hour into an honest sleet/rain mix, then let up. I had come prepared for rain, or for cold, but having the two together made it miserable. (Actually, I had been more worried that early April in St. Louis could catch a warm trend, which I would be really unprepared for).

So, I ran with three shirts (two synthetic and one cotton), shorts, running gloves (not waterproof - gotta look into that) and for the 1st hour I wore a cheap raincoat, then pitched it.

My plan was to run 9:40s until mile 20, then try to muster 11:00 minute miles. I was three minutes ahead at the halfway point (which was in sight of the 1904 Olympic venue). At mile 20, I was one minute ahead. The last 6.2 was a real killer, with a couple of sadistic hills, and I finished in 4:24 (a PR by 10 minutes, despite the conditions).

In my other marathons, I relished the last quarter mile, knowing I’d accomplished something special. In this case, at mile 25.5 the course passed right by my hotel, and all I could think about was how I was going to survive the end of the race, plus walk back the three-quarter miles and get into a hot bath. It really was a concern, because my fingers had gone numb, and (after finishing) I began shivering quite a bit. I couldn’t linger and enjoy the other finishers for fear of hypothermia.

But later, two ales and a Bison burger at the Route 66 Brewpub, I could share my stories of heroic endurance.

130

Okay, I admit I just read the first page of this thread, but I’ll read the rest later.
I’ve been running since I was 22, which - agggg! - I just realized is more than half my life. I’m not a fiend by any means and have taken breaks during that time. Did the Mission Bay Marathon in San Diego once in the early 80s and beat 4 hours, which was my goal so I marked that off my list (though I love 10K races and do a couple of half-marathons a year). Now I just run for fun, to be fit, to be outdoors, and to see the world. I travel a lot for work - mostly all over the Caribbean - and the best thing is to get up at dawn and slog down jungle trails, along the beach, through back streets in towns, watching and listening to the world wake up.

I have always been a late night person and have amazed myself by becoming an early morning runner. It took having a running partner show up at my door every morning to do it, but now I wake up at 4am even on non-running days.

131

Way to go Race Bannon!

A PR is always great but one in the wet and cold should feel even better. Congrats on a well-run race.

132

Yo Scylla, did you get that Fitsense for Father’s Day last year?

I’m getting one for my birthday; what do you think of it?

133

Hi! Just checking in; happy to have found this board. I have been running for about 1 1/2 years and have done 3 5ks and an 8k. Wet winter weather has kept me off the roads for about two months and I am ashamed to say that I have been slacking terribly about getting to the gym to treadmill. I actually like the tread, so that’s not the problem, but I kinda tapered to the point that now I don’t go but once a week or so. And it’s not like I don’t have the time. I have tons of time. I’m just slacky.

BUT! I have just registered for an anniversary run of one of my favorite 5ks, in early March, so hopefully this will give me the oomph I need to get it together again and really go. I know my hub appreciates it when I get my running done; besides weight loss, the exercise keeps my ADD in check.

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I’m glad this thread was revived.

Now, I have a question. I’ve been running for a long time. Just 4-5 miles 3-4 times a week. It keeps me sane, thin, etc. etc. I never get injured (knock on wood tfu tfu tfu). Everything is great.

But I can’t seem to run races. I’m fast, real fast but races are usually in the morning and I am not a morning person. I’m about 2/3 of what I am in the afternoon.

My husband, on the other hand, runs 10ks and minimarathons and is training for the NYC marathon. I envy all that.

Does anyone run and NEVER run 5Ks 10Ks and the like?

135

Glad I found this thread. I never ran before, but since the Mini-marathon is soo popular in Indy I wanted to try it. I just started training this week too. That interval training sounds interesting. At least that will help me mix things up a bit. I’m too lazy to get a dressed up to run in sub freezing tempatures, hopefully the tv and some music will keep me interested enough during the winter.

136

Wow, this is a great thread!! I’m getting back into running after the half marathon I ran last October. I’ve actually been getting back into running for about 3 months. I can still run for about 4-5 miles with few problems, but I’ve had some major burn-out lately, but I’m hoping that I can build myself up a little over the winter through a combination of running, weights and cross-training, then start speed training in the summer. I’m a slow runner - lately I’ve averaged around 10:30 per mile - and I want to change that. My goal is to do a sub-55 minute 10K in the fall. I’ve always been mainly a distance runner. I completed my 3rd marathon last year, but I’ve never been able to be fast.

I’m really glad this thread was revived. Especially since I’m about to leave for the gym now. :smiley:

137

I bought a new pair of running shorts the other day. I wore them yesterday on a four mile run, and was digging them out of my crotch the whole time. The legs kept bunching up. And they were so floaty it looked like I was wearing a sack cinched at the waist. Horrible! So I want to take them back to the store.

Here’s the thing: They’re all funky from sweat and being in my gymbag, so I would like to wash them before returning them – no salesclerk is gonna want to handle my stinky sweaty shorts. BUT I also know that most stores don’t take things back once they have been washed.

What do I do? What is the correct etiquette in this situation?

138

Sounds like your “stuck” with the shorts.

139

BridgeFest is next weekend. It’s a 5k run/walk thing that benefits the Lake Houston YMCA. I’m told it is a lot bigger than you’d think; nearby streets are shut down, including the bridge that they run on, and people bus in from all parts of Houston to do this thing. For about a month from December to January I ran hurt and painfully and therefore slow and hurt, or just did not run at all, but I’ve gotten back into training again. Unfortunately, missed more distance days than I should have and that’s going to hurt me and I’m not going to be anywhere near as fast as I was in the fall, but what the heck. I think I’ll do it.

140

I have a question for you guys - does it ever hurt you not to run or otherwise aerobically exercise? If I don’t work out for about 3 days or more, my hips, thighs and calves start throbbing on more or less a constant basis (it’s usually worse when sitting or lying down, though), but as soon as I do work out, it goes away. The solution is obvious - exercise at least four times a week and I won’t have to worry about it. And it’s not usually an issue since I try to keep races on my schedule so I have a goal to work toward (one of the biggest motivators for me to work out regularly), but when I take a few days off, unless I just ran a marathon, it HURTS. A lot - enough to keep me awake at night sometimes. My theory is that perhaps my blood isn’t being circulated as effectively when I don’t exercise as it is when I do exercise, and maybe that’s causing my blood vessels to compress and causing me pain (sort of like when your blood vessels in your head compress, causing a headache). Anyway, is this at all normal? Does anyone else experience it? And if so, do you know why it happens?