The 'official' running thread.

[DustinM]

Running. LOL.

I used to run, in fact, I used to have to run.
Just got to see an orthopedic surgeon today, who got me molded for custom orthotics, so hopefully my retarded, deformed feet won't cause me to be in so much pain I can't sleep after two miles.

I'll tell you, having high arches with a bit of a curve to your inner foot, and then having tarsal coalition on top of that will put you down quick. Hopefully these orthotics allow me to run again, and not be in so much pain. If not, there's the surgery route.

Hoping to get my fat ass back into a 1-2mi run every day, with a 5-6mi run at least once a week. I'm not a marathon runner, and I'm not a sprinter, but running sure does make you feel better the rest of the day.

[DowNnOuTDubin]

Ran today, first time in awhile (few weeks). I hope to start running again more regularly. Winters around here suck 34-42 degrees & rain.

[pdoel]

Ran today, first time in awhile (few weeks). I hope to start running again more regularly. Winters around here suck 34-42 degrees & rain.

Dude, that's nothing. Try doing a long run when it's 5 degrees and snowing. 34-42 and rain is cake.

[DowNnOuTDubin]

Dude, that's nothing. Try doing a long run when it's 5 degrees and snowing. 34-42 and rain is cake.

I always run in a T shirt and Shorts. What do you wear for something like that? I never got into running outer wear because they make all these outer layers work together. If you want to stay somewhat dry and warm it seems like you have to buy 3 different shirts

[pdoel]

It depends on just how cold it is. When it gets that cold, I wear a tank, long sleeved shirt, compression shorts, running pants and a running jacket, gloves and a hat. And of course, the key is to get clothes that allow the moisture to escape. It really isn't bad once you get used to it. This winter I managed to run 5 days a week, 35-50 miles each week, 100% outside running. Didn't have a single day where I ran inside or skipped because of the weather.

[602crew]

Don't ask me how, but I managed to set a new 5k PR just 6 days after my 33 mile birthday run.
I managed to drop it down to 16:18, win the race and $200. Not too shabby for a Saturday morning.

I'm trying to get in a track 5k next month with the hopes of getting under 16:00. We'll see.

[pdoel]

Don't ask me how, but I managed to set a new 5k PR just 6 days after my 33 mile birthday run.
I managed to drop it down to 16:18, win the race and $200. Not too shabby for a Saturday morning.

I'm trying to get in a track 5k next month with the hopes of getting under 16:00. We'll see.

Nice!

[FlashRedGLS1.8T]

Don't ask me how, but I managed to set a new 5k PR just 6 days after my 33 mile birthday run.
I managed to drop it down to 16:18, win the race and $200. Not too shabby for a Saturday morning.

I'm trying to get in a track 5k next month with the hopes of getting under 16:00. We'll see.

Very impressive. Congrats.

[joellehardcore]

Finished up the Atlantic City Half today. I will be running that one again for sure. Nothing more relaxing than running on the boardwalk and staring at the beach. The medals for the finishers I thought were so dope and just wanted to share.

pdoel - you all set for Philly? I noticed the capped the "early bird registration" discount to only the first 1,000.

[pdoel]

Yup! Registered first thing this morning.

I jacked my hamstring this week. Noticed it getting a bit worse throughout the week, so took Thursday and Friday off. Was feeling better, not 100%, but pretty good. Then went and ran in a 30k yesterday, adding an extra 1.5 miles to the end to get a 20 miler in. My hamstring hurt from the moment I started. Still managed to average 8:45 for the first 15 miles, but dropped to about 10:00 minute miles for the last 5. Still having trouble getting around today. Just been icing and resting. 5 weeks till Pittsburgh, so hopefully I didn't totally wreck it yesterday.

[pdoel]

P.S. Nice medal! Here's mine from the 30k.

[joellehardcore]

I did something to my hamstring this week as well. I was a little nervous it was going to screw me up for yesterday's run but fortunatly resting it up seemed to do the trick for me.
I hope yours heals up for you!
Was the 30K for charity? Good job on that! How many full marathon's have you run? I'm sure you've posted that but I may have missed it.

[pdoel]

Nope, not for charity.

I've done 5 fulls, next month will be my 6th, and Philly number 7.

[fast pug]

Running US Half this weekend in San Francisco. The race goes over the Golden Gate and back. It's the 75th anniversary of the bridge this year. This is a chance to check things out a bit for July when I do the SF Marathon.

[pdoel]

SF is on my list of ones I want to do. Take good notes while you're running.

[robhurlburt]

ran 21.5 today and you guys were right about my pace. cut it down to a 9:40 and pulled though it, although painful, i still felt better than the 17 i ran last time, and my final pace ended up being faster. last time i CRASHED at 15 and it was brutal pushing the last couple, i breezed through 17 and didn't start to really feel it till around 19. felt good. was the first LONG run where i finally thought to myself i might actual finish this marathon! thats a good thing too because this is my last long run, taper down time.

[pdoel]

Great job!

[fast pug]

SF is on my list of ones I want to do. Take good notes while you're running.

US Half "The Other Half" Half Marathon

Ran the US Half this morning in San Francisco. The weather was perfect with clear skies and temps around start time in the upper 40s.

We started off just about a block away from Ghirardelli Square, then headed out past Chrissy Field, up briefly into the Presidio, and then over the Golden Gate. Once on the Sausalito side, we looped back underneith the bridge on a dirt/gravel path before coming back up to return to S.F. on the West side of the bridge. Back in S.F., we headed down to Crissy Field, this time running on the dirt/gravel path and eventually worked our way back to the shore front by the MUNI Pier and the Aquatic Center (where we started the race). The finish was just across the street from Ghirardelli Square.

Finished in 1:18:20, which was good for 11th overall, 4th in my A.G. (M30-39), and a new PR

This was easily the most picturesque race I've done. The views of the Bay were spectacular. I just wish I'd had more time to take it all in, especially the view of the city from the Sausalito side. I was very pleased with the way the day went. I don't run hills very often, so while today was a challenge, the results were positive. It was apparent though that I need to work on incorporating more hill training into my workouts before the end of July. It wasn't so much running over the Golden Gate, it was climbing through the Presidio to get up to the bridge deck that was more difficult.

[pdoel]

Congrats! Awesome time!

I'm still nursing my hamstring injury. Took 5 days off, did 5 mile runs Friday and Saturday. Was sore through both, but manageable. And felt ok afterwords. Decided to give our 18 mile group run a shot yesterday. First 4 miles were mostly up hill. Made it to mile 5, and told the group I was turning around. Made it another mile, then walked the 4 back.

The walk helped loosen the leg up, so I felt better after, than I did when I turned around. A physical therapist in our group suggested I get a script for physical therapy to help it heel faster, so did that today.

It's still sore, but not all that bad today. So definitely made the right call by not going the whole 18. This Sunday is our last 20 miler before the taper, so hoping I can make it. Worst case, I do my last 20 two weeks before race day, I know it's stupid, but gotta make it up somewhere if I'm still not ready by the weekend. Otherwise, may have to drop down to the half.

[robhurlburt]

Finished in 1:18:20, which was good for 11th overall, 4th in my A.G. (M30-39), and a new PR

impressive!

This was easily the most picturesque race I've done.

not sure how you can run a 1:18 half and still have time to catch the scenery. I ran a 1:55 for "one of americas prettiest halfs" (Run the bluegrass half marathon) and was sucking wind so hard i didn't have time to check the scenery. I was just pushing for a sub 2hr, my focus was on my watch, my pace, and ignoring the pain.

[fast pug]

I'm still nursing my hamstring injury. Took 5 days off, did 5 mile runs Friday and Saturday. Was sore through both, but manageable. And felt ok afterwords. Decided to give our 18 mile group run a shot yesterday. First 4 miles were mostly up hill. Made it to mile 5, and told the group I was turning around. Made it another mile, then walked the 4 back.

Sounds like you definitely made the right call. A classic case of discretion being the better part of valour.

Worst case, I do my last 20 two weeks before race day, I know it's stupid, but gotta make it up somewhere if I'm still not ready by the weekend. Otherwise, may have to drop down to the half.

I wouldn't worry too much about dropping down to the half if it comes to that. One race (the full in this case) isn't worth getting hurt for, especially if it winds up knocking you out for the Summer. Good luck. Hope things do work out for you to be able to run the full.

Congrats! Awesome time!

Thanks. I wasn't expecting to PR at all with the bridge mid course.

not sure how you can run a 1:18 half and still have time to catch the scenery.

It wasn't like I pulled out my phone to take photos. Just a quick glimpse here and there, then put my head down again to focus on holding my pace and not blowing up.

[pdoel]

Had my first PT appointment today, have another on Friday. She said not to do anything until after that, just to see how I'm coming along. Luckily, I'm not too bad off at the moment. She said she doesn't see me making it to my 20 mile run on Sunday, but didn't seem to think I'm going to be out for more weeks. Sounded like there could even be a chance I can start back this weekend, just taking it easy.

So while it's not optimal, if I can get that last long run in next weekend (two weeks before the race) I'll feel good. At least I can still stick with the full without having to drop down to the half.

Provided all goes well.

[synthsis]

ran an Autism Charity 5K yesterday at a local college. Came in 6th place out of about 30ish people. final time 23:23. I finished behind 2 track students and a couple of older guys who have tons of distance running experience (the one guy told me he's done 55 marathons). I was really happy with my time, I paced out with that marathon runner for about 2.6ish miles before he started to pull away from me. Not too bad for a guy who just started running this winter.

[602crew]

I entered in my first ever track race this past Saturday. It was a collegiate race with primarily D1 schools. I knew I would get my butt handed to me but I wanted to get under 16:00 and I knew this was the place to do it.
Well, i was close. I finished in 16:00 flat. The race was just a bit too quick for me to find someone to latch on to. I was in the slowest of 4 heats with the winning overall time of the day being 14:22. Good news is that I didn't come in last place. There were about 5 times slower than mine. Good news, I have a new PR by 18 seconds and I know I can get under 16:00 in the future.

[fast pug]

602crew: were those 5k times? or some other distance? I didn't run in college, so maybe I'm missing something that seems obvious.


FWIW, yesterday I heard from the San Francisco Marathon that they accepted my application for Sub-Seeded placement (required a demonstrated prior marathon finish of 2:55 or better; thankfully that didn't have to be a 2:55 or better in SF). So come July 29th, I'll be in Wave 1 heading out at 5:30 AM.

Over this past weekend I did my last long run (24 miles) prior to the O.C. Marathon (May 6). So I'm just starting the taper period. This will be my 2nd marathon, so I'm looking forward to seeing how my training modifications work out.

[Visheau]

I run because I am required to for fitness standards, but I haven't been on it like I should have lately...

how would you all recommend knocking 20-30 seconds off of a 1.5 mile run in two weeks? I'm fully ok with puking afterwards if need be

I'm running high 11s now, need to be around 11:20 or so

[FlashRedGLS1.8T]

My son's been playing soccer and suffering some serious heel pain.
The pain goes away after a few days of not practicing.
It appears he's a heel striker, from what I can tell.

Any advice for us until he has his appointment with a DPM on Monday?

[FlashRedGLS1.8T]

ran an Autism Charity 5K yesterday at a local college.

Thanks.

[evosky]

My son's been playing soccer and suffering some serious heel pain.
The pain goes away after a few days of not practicing.
It appears he's a heel striker, from what I can tell.

Any advice for us until he has his appointment with a DPM on Monday?

definitely stay off of the heel as much as possible. sounds like the injury i just had/have from landing on my heel at an angle on a hard surface while playing ultimate frisbee. it's most likely a bruise where the padding/fluid in the heel had been pushed aside, so not enough cushion was there during the constant striking, and thus you hurt that area. make sure he stretches it from time to time and keeps as much weight off of it as possible.

[superslowGTI86]

Is the pain pretty right when he first gets out of bed? I thought I had a severe heal bruise, because when I'd get out of bed, I couldn't touch my heal on the ground w/o feeling like a nail being driven into my heal. It ended up being plantar faciiatis(sp?)

[FlashRedGLS1.8T]

Is the pain pretty right when he first gets out of bed?

No. He actually only has it for a day or two after soccer practice/games and when he was wearing his Vans shoes all day.

We bought him some Saucony running shoes and put the Vans away, that fixed the issue with the vans. From an everyday perspective.

He's still having a lot of pain after soccer.

Actually when he gets out of bed, it's not bad at all.

[602crew]

602crew: were those 5k times? or some other distance? I didn't run in college, so maybe I'm missing something that seems obvious.

Yes. those are 5k times.

[Justin_Eshelman]

No. He actually only has it for a day or two after soccer practice/games and when he was wearing his Vans shoes all day.

We bought him some Saucony running shoes and put the Vans away, that fixed the issue with the vans. From an everyday perspective.

He's still having a lot of pain after soccer.

Actually when he gets out of bed, it's not bad at all.

When I was in 5th grade I had terrible heel pain. I used to walk a lot, I mean probably several miles a day just playing around and being a kid. Well, my heels began to get real sore and I found myself walking on my toes a lot to ease the pain. The parents got me an x ray and it turned out it was just that my heel was basically still growing and forming and all that was needed was a nice gel insert, shoes that had an arch in them, and the occasional Tylenol. After new shoes and gel inserts I was all good! Hope this helps :p

[fast pug]

I raced the San Luis Obispo Half Marathon today. It was their inaugural effort, but the organization was top notch from having plenty of porto-potties at the start and on course, to having well run and well placed aid stations. Packet pick-up was super smooth and the finish at the Madonna Inn was festive too.

I pre-drove the half marathon course on Saturday and decided the hills were a little more aggressive than the map implied. Also the first mile or so from the start was downhill. Since hills have not been my strong suit, I decided on Saturday to go out hard.

One thing I will never forget about the weekend: walking toward the start at 5:55AM and hearing the Star Spangled Banner in the dark with the fog from about 1/3 of a mile away. There was no crowd where I was, just the silence of the morning. It was simply awesome.

My race on Strava: http://app.strava.com/runs/7175876

On to the race. Started at the front, ran with the start group for about 2 blocks, then opened it up and took the race lead through town, tucked in behind a SLO Police motorcycle escort for miles 2 and 3. This was the first time I had been this far out front in a race and it was everything I hoped it could be and more. Then I caught the tailend of the full and the motorcycle peeled off.

Mile 1 | 5:29 | slightly downhill
Mile 2 | 5:50 | slight uphill
Mile 3 | 6:00 | more uphill

Around the top of the first major climb I got caught, which I'd expected since I knew I'd be giving up time on the climb. I was just happy I could hold together after the climb after pushing from the start. From this point forward I wanted to run a little more conservatively.

Mile 4 | 6:19 (more uphill)
Mile 5 | 5:36 (all down hill)
Mile 6 | 6:13
Mile 7 | 6:28

The turn around for the half was a little after mile 7. It was good to be heading back knowing we were (mostly) going to be going downhill.

Mile 8 | 5:57
Mile 9 | 6:20
Mile 10 | 6:23

It was so nice to be going downhill again, although I was suffering from the hills to that point. Still trying to hold it together and not blow-up. Right around mile 12 I was passed again.

Mile 11 | 6:19
Mile 12 | 6:33
Mile 13 | 6:19 (my watch was clicking off pretty far ahead of the posted mile marker by this point)
Last leg | 5:37

Total time: 1:21:04

3rd place overall! This was my 1st top 10 finish and easily my best race placement to date (prior best was 11th overall out of 2800+ at US Half two weeks ago).

Needless to say I was very happy to have finished where I did after gambling a bit on pushing the pace early on. In hindsight, pre-driving the course was the best move I made all weekend.

[FlashRedGLS1.8T]

After new shoes and gel inserts I was all good! Hope this helps :p

That would be nice.