The Running Thread - 2018

Has anyone experimented with pickle juice as a solution for cramps during races? Your verdict?

It helped with the random charlie horses I used to get just laying around watching tv. I had a pounding headache after my first half and for my second half I ate giant pickles afterwards to stave off the headache, but now I just pop some nuun tabs into a water bottle to replace my electrolytes and chew on a salt tab too.
 
hi, all!

Did the Garden Spot Village half yesterday...well, I had to cut it short on account of the ankle not being healed yet, so I'll have to edit the medal to say "half half marathon." It was quite hot (even when we left the house early in the morning, there wasn't the usual early morning coolness to the air), and nearly no shade, through a lot of rolling hills, so it was a bit brutal. When I talked to the timing guys after I finished (wanted to stay on course for safety but not take away medical resources from someone who needed them more, so instead of hitching a medical ride, I just short-coursed myself; since this would put me finishing ahead of others, I asked the timing guys to remove my time), they said that a lot of marathoners made the decision mid-race to just turn at the half turnaround point, screwing with their results. Oof.

Aside from my issues...it's a fabulous race. Did it last year, was looking forward to it again this year. It's all throughout Amish farmland in Lancaster county. Tons of rolling hills, plus one huge hill right in the middle, it's not an easy course. But it's put on by a retirement community, who do a wonderful job. Water stops every 2 miles (each of which has water, gatorade, pretzels, bananas, some first aid supplies, and a portapotty), awesome swag (a tech shirt, a cotton shirt, and a sweet bag), full smorgasbord as the post-race food, complimentary massages, and you can use the community's shower/pool facilities afterward. Plus the time limit is super generous, and as a solid back-of-the-packer, I can't gush enough about a race that still has everything stocked and supplied until the end. Can't recommend this one enough. Definitely feeling the hills in my legs today, though (and a bit worried what the orthopedist will say after the MRI this Thursday...)

Questions!

QOTD: Lets discuss another part of the running gear... hats/visors. With spring/summer eventually on it way (It was in the 40's this weekend here and I have heard the north is still getting snow). Do you wear a hat, visor, or some other form of head gear on your runs?

Bonus Question: Since wine was discussed yesterday, today we should turn our attention to craft beer. lol

I'm so pale as to be practically translucent, and sweat like crazy. A hat + sunglasses is absolutely necessary. For now, I've been using an O's giveaway (it's white, so not too hot; and free, so I don't care as much about how gross it gets). But the race this weekend gave out hats as well, maybe I'll use that one :)

Also, re: sunscreen -- I use either Neutrogena or Blue Lizard, they've been generally good. I just need to reapply way quicker than most people (my record for developing a sunburn was having been outside for 10 minutes). Blue Lizard can be harder to come by, but it's worth tracking down if you need it.

Craft beer: not into IPAs (I'm a wheat beer girl), but there's some decent choices around Baltimore. Brewer's Art is the big one around here with Resurrection, but they've got others as well...I believe Heavy Seas and Flying Dog originated close by? And it's not a craft beer, but you gotta have a Natty Boh (nothing quite says b'more summer than some Boh's and O's ;) )

QOTD: Music or no music while running? (music could be pod cast or something similar)

Lately, yes. My sister got me a pair of these for Christmas:
Have those of you who don't run with headphones due to safety concerns seen the Aftershokz Trekz Titanium and Trekz Air headphones? They use bone conduction technology to transmit sound through your cheekbones and sit in front of the ear, leaving it free to hear your surroundings. These were a game changer for me and especially welcome as I hate having earbuds stuck down into my ear canals.
Love them. Earbuds hurt my ears, I definitely feel safer being able to hear ambient noise, they're sweet. I know they're pricey, though.

QOTD: Do you feel guilty if you go on vacation and do not bring your running stuff?

No. I deal with enough guilt about things on a daily basis; vacation is not for feeling guilty. Besides, I tend to walk more on vacations anyway.

As a ignorant northerner, I ask: There's a difference between sweet tea and sweetened iced tea?

As a northerner who first encountered sweet tea around here (you wouldn't think it, but Baltimore is technically south of the Mason-Dixon line, it's a different world down here), YES. For me at least, sweetened iced tea is just enough sugar; sweet tea is instant diabetes. Holy cow it's sweet.

Sorry for the length, everyone...and good luck to those running Boston in the morning!
 
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Happy Friday Everyone! It's time for another edition of the Fun Friday Question of the Day.

QOTD: Keeping with this week's beverage theme, what is your favorite thing to drink at Disney?

(Ghiradelli milkshake? Violet Lemonade? A certain German Beer?)

If I could drink Strawberry soup I would but I will go with whatever that juice is they serve at Boma for breakfast.

Good luck to all the runners in Boston, it's going to be a tough race today for sure.
 


Good morning (or whenever you're reading this), runners!

As most of us know, today the state of Massachusetts is celebrating Patriots' Day. While Massachusettsians remember this day as the start of the American Revolution, for runners, Patriots' Day means something else entirely - it means the running of the Boston Marathon.
The Boston Marathon is one of the six races that make up the World Marathon Majors. The other five are the Tokyo Marathon, London Marathon, Berlin Marathon, Chicago Marathon, and New York City Marathon.

QOTD: If you were to get free entry into a World Marathon Major race of your choice (including airfare and hotel), which one would you choose? Is this a race you've run before or one you'd be running for the first time?

Bonus QOTD (continuing with our beverage theme): Coffee. Let's talk coffee. Do you drink it? How much? How often? What's your favorite coffee?

Also ... I nominate @rteetz for tomorrow's QOTD.

I'm already running late (stupid mornings), so I'll be back later to answer the question.
 
ATTQOTD: This is a tough one because I would really love to run them all one day, but of course it would have to be Boston for me.

Bonus QOTD: I love coffee! I would love to drink more of it, but unfortunately I have a bladder condition that flares when I have too many foods & beverages that are high in acidity. I have found a coffee maker that makes a decent low acid coffee and that is what I stick to most days, limiting my intake to a cup and a half, and occasionally I'll get a real coffee somewhere and savor it.
 


QOTD: If you were to get free entry into a World Marathon Major race of your choice (including airfare and hotel), which one would you choose? Is this a race you've run before or one you'd be running for the first time?

Bonus QOTD (continuing with our beverage theme): Coffee. Let's talk coffee. Do you drink it? How much? How often? What's your favorite coffee?

ATTQOTD: Without doubt, I would choose London. I am not a big city person by nature, but I absolutely loved London in the brief visit I had there. There's so much history in that city and the marathon course runs by a lot of the iconic locales. This year would have been especially memorable, with the Queen as the official race starter. I've been in the lottery twice and haven't gotten in, but I plan to keep trying. Honorable mention goes to Berlin and its finish at the Brandenburg gate. I'll just have to dream and content myself with Chicago later this year.

BQOTD: Coffee is almost as bad as beer in my books, so nothing to add to the discussion. If we want to talk about tea blends, then that's a different story. Perhaps another day...
 
ATTQOTD: Tokyo. Not that I know anything about the race itself. But: Tokyo Disney Resort is there! And since airfare and hotel are included, I can go and celebrate finishing (my first and only - and imaginary!) marathon finish at Disney! London would be a runner up because cheering my flat mate when he ran it was what actually got me interested in running in the first place. It was such a fantastic atmosphere!

BQOTD: I recently was given quite a lot of high quality coffee from various small roasters and have started to have it in the morning made in a moka pot (I hope that this is the correct term) and am really enjoying it. Until recently coffee was for the afternoon slump at work...
 
TV is on and I'm ready!

ATTQOTD: If we are including airfare and hotel, I would have to go for Tokyo. If was in charge of paying for everything but the free race entry, then Boston all the way. :)

ATTBQOTD: Former barista and public school teacher here, so yes I drink coffee. All the coffee. Normal daily consumption is two or three cups with just a splash of cream - no sugar! I love a good French Press or cappuccino or macchiato. When I was in Italy, it was espresso. My coffee treat of choice is usually a double tall mocha of some kind.
 
This is a tough question. It would be a toss up between London and Boston. London would be amazing as I used to live there and met my DH there so that would be truly special. But Boston is my home so probably that would win out.

I like coffee but coffee doesn’t like me. I get major Gi issues so I stick to tea and just grab a sip every now and then.

Heading into Boston shortly. Weather is terrible. Have my B.A.A. approved poncho ready and will be cheering everyone on from around mile 25
 
ATTQOTD: I'd have to go with London or Berlin since those are the two places I have never been.

Bonus QOTD: I drink probably way too much coffee. I'm on my third cup this morning and may have 1 or 2 more cups in the afternoon. We normally keep Starbucks at home because that's what DH prefers. I keep different types of k-cups on hand if I want anything different. I usually drink it black, but if I buy a cup at a starbucks store I have to add sugar and half & half. I don't know why, but I find the store brew to be more bitter than when I make it at home.
 
ATTQOTD: its a tie for either Boston or New York for me.

Bonus question: Finally a beverage question that I can contribute to! I love coffee! Never drank it until I had kids. Over time, it has truely developed into a love of the taste of it instead of the need for caffeine due to sleep deprivation. I make it at home some but I’m in the car pretty much every morning for carpool so the two Dunkin’ Donuts close to my kids schools know my order when I show up. I will drink hot coffee all year long and love drinking it especially after a cold race. As I am typing this, realize I probably drink too much coffee but oh well!
 
ATTQOTD: Berlin. I studied in Germany when I was younger and at one time had the ability to understand German even if I wasn't great at speaking it (my social anxiety makes it hard for me to converse in English, so another language just takes things to the next level). I think it would be cool to be running in the same race where the WR is set or, possibly, the first sub-2:00:00 marathon is run. ETA: I haven't run Berlin or any of the majors at this point. Maybe one day.

Bonus: I hate coffee. I don't get the appeal of a beverage that requires copious amounts of sugar and cream to somewhat (and only somewhat) mask the flavor of burnt bitterness. I'm also not a fan of hot drinks, in general. I'll slink away now before :duck:.
 
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Sitting here day 2 of no power (and no estimate of its return) and probably most pissed off at not being able to watch the marathon. Won't desert my dog to find a spot.

Attqotd: I'd pick Berlin. Never been there and my daughter is running this year. I love London- but I go there aomewhat regularly, and I am fortunate to have done Boston and have a BQ for 2019.

As for coffee, I am a decaf girl, so the choices are more limited. I do grind my own beans and use either a French press or pourover.

Okay, time to escape the 55 degree house and take the dog for a ride so we can get warm, recharge my phone and use my car's Wifi.
 

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