The Running Thread - 2018

[OldSlowGoofyGuy]

ATTQOTD: Publix Georgia Marathon: awful hills and it poured buckets of rain, both before and during the race.

Runner-up: Atlanta Thanksgiving Half Marathon, cold, windy, and our support team didn't make it to the finish in time, so we had no warm clothes after the race.

Bonus: bacon, at least you know what's in it.

Thought: When I check in to the Dis in the morning, I start seeing the ATTQOTDs before I see the QOTD. So today, I started seeing bacon and can't wait to get to the question.

It might be fun to have a Jeopardy-style day: Someone gives a ATTQOTD, and we all come up with a QOTD.

 

[GreatLakes]

Today's QOTD: After watching Boston yesterday and seeing several elite runners struggle or drop out, what are the worst conditions you have ever ran a race in?

Bonus QOTD: Bacon, sausage, or neither?

Just this weekend I ran in pretty much the same weather for a 10 miler. It was miserable before and after but during the race I don't mind a little rain. I have two that were worse. One was a November race I did one year with sideways rain and sleet. It was brutal and since I didn't drive I had to wait around, still in my running stuff, until the person who did finished quite a bit later. I also did the Cleveland half in 2016 that was terrible. Again it wasn't the race that was bad even though it was sleeting, it was the 30 minute walk back to the car soaked and in shorts that was miserable.

I don't each much of either bacon or sausage but prefer sausage when I do.

 

[Chaitali]

Ugh... I'm going to take a moment to be a negative nelly... but I'm really discouraged with running at the moment. I started running in 2014, was always slow but saw improvements in my speed through 2016. My first half marathon was 2:57 and my half marathon PR in December of 2016 was 2:50 (about 13 minutes per mile average). I also had a 5k and 10k PR in 2016 so it was a good running year.

But since then, I've just been getting progressively slower and slower and I'm not sure why. I didn't train consistently in the beginning of 2016 but starting in June 2016, I upped my running from 3 times per week to 4 times per week. I do speed work and I run hills. I strength train. And I still just keep getting slower. I started training for my first marathon (WDW 2018) and training went fairly well. Got in my 20 miler and everything. But I was swept a bit past mile 20 since I was behind pace due to knee problems. My half marathons last year were 3:10 and 3:19, a pretty drastic difference from the year before.

I had some tendinitis at the beginning of this year after the marathon so I haven't run for 4 weeks. I tried again this past weekend, just 2 miles, and it was an average of 17:30 per mile. Plus my heart rate was high. 40% was in zone 4. I can walk faster than that! I don't understand why I can feel like I'm working so hard but barely moving forward. It makes me wonder if there's something physically going wrong that I'm unaware of. I do have thyroid problems but I've been on medication for that for a long time and those numbers are normal on my blood tests. My most recent blood test did show high cholesterol and low vitamin D. I have started taking a Vitamin D supplement.

I guess I'm partly venting and partly looking for any tips. Can anyone think of other reasons that people may have a drastic slow down like this? I did turn 40 last year and I had gained some weight (7 pounds since my half marathon PR). Obviously I am working on losing weight, mainly for the purpose of getting my cholesterol down. I guess I should probably re-evaluate my running form too since clearly, the effort I'm putting in is going somewhere but it doesn't sound like it's going forward. It's just frustrating to feel like I'm working hard and doing the right things but continuing to get slower, to the point where I can walk faster. And if I can walk faster, what's the point in running?

 

[michigandergirl]

ATTQOTD: I have had extreme cold (-8 temps and snow for a half) and pouring rain (first 10K), but never cold and rain together. It was evident yesterday that even the elites struggle with weather conditions and mental toughness during marathons.

Bonus: Bacon, extra crispy

@roxymama I think you should still run it. Don't put any pressure on yourself for time, just run at an easy, comfortable pace -at first anyway. I find that when I don't care about time, I really enjoy my time out there and notice more, really soak up the atmosphere (even if I feel undertrained).

 

[michigandergirl]

@Chaitali Have you had your iron checked? I've had low iron before and it made running feel so hard.

 

[Miranda]

Sorry you are having all these frustrations, @Chaitali I have also been getting slower since my PR in 2015, although I'm pretty sure there is no mystery for me... inconsistent training in 2016, injury in 2017, and ~25 lbs in the wrong direction.

 

[PCFriar80]

Ugh... I'm going to take a moment to be a negative nelly... but I'm really discouraged with running at the moment. I started running in 2014, was always slow but saw improvements in my speed through 2016. My first half marathon was 2:57 and my half marathon PR in December of 2016 was 2:50 (about 13 minutes per mile average). I also had a 5k and 10k PR in 2016 so it was a good running year.

But since then, I've just been getting progressively slower and slower and I'm not sure why. I didn't train consistently in the beginning of 2016 but starting in June 2016, I upped my running from 3 times per week to 4 times per week. I do speed work and I run hills. I strength train. And I still just keep getting slower. I started training for my first marathon (WDW 2018) and training went fairly well. Got in my 20 miler and everything. But I was swept a bit past mile 20 since I was behind pace due to knee problems. My half marathons last year were 3:10 and 3:19, a pretty drastic difference from the year before.

I had some tendinitis at the beginning of this year after the marathon so I haven't run for 4 weeks. I tried again this past weekend, just 2 miles, and it was an average of 17:30 per mile. Plus my heart rate was high. 40% was in zone 4. I can walk faster than that! I don't understand why I can feel like I'm working so hard but barely moving forward. It makes me wonder if there's something physically going wrong that I'm unaware of. I do have thyroid problems but I've been on medication for that for a long time and those numbers are normal on my blood tests. My most recent blood test did show high cholesterol and low vitamin D. I have started taking a Vitamin D supplement.

I guess I'm partly venting and partly looking for any tips. Can anyone think of other reasons that people may have a drastic slow down like this? I did turn 40 last year and I had gained some weight (7 pounds since my half marathon PR). Obviously I am working on losing weight, mainly for the purpose of getting my cholesterol down. I guess I should probably re-evaluate my running form too since clearly, the effort I'm putting in is going somewhere but it doesn't sound like it's going forward. It's just frustrating to feel like I'm working hard and doing the right things but continuing to get slower, to the point where I can walk faster. And if I can walk faster, what's the point in running?

I have no expert advice, but would like to offer some encouragement and other things to consider as factors for slowing down. You mentioned blood tests for your thyroid, but was wondering if you need a more comprehensive blood analysis to check for anemia and other deficiencies in your blood stream. There are also some outside factors; lack of sleep, stress, diet, etc. that could be a factor in your situation. Have you considered some cross-training to give yourself a break from running? Maybe a different route with less hills and new scenery? A running partner or coach that can help with your pace?

Whatever it is, try to be patient in your approach. Don't give up. Modify your schedule and build in some checkpoints to track progress. It may take some time but the benefits will come. Most importantly, health checkup first and go from there. Good luck!

 

[jennamfeo]

ATTQOTD: I haven't ran in any terrible race conditions. My last Turkey Trot it was kind of windy. I felt like the Wine & Dine last year was humid, but that's because I was coming from the West Coast. But back when I was in the Navy, I had to do a wreath laying ceremony on Memorial Day in my Dress Whites and it started POURING rain on me. I was soaked. You could see through my uniform. Not fun...

BTTBQOTD: Bacon. Crispy. Oven baked. And it can't be from any other animal than a pig, otherwise it isn't really bacon. I'm looking at you "turkey bacon". I like italian crumbled sausage on my pizza sometimes. (All these bonus questions just make me hungry or thirsty. Where do I go from here tomorrow?!)

Congrats @BikeFan and @Wendy98 on completing that monster of a race in those weather conditions!!!!

Lastly, do any of us really have a point when we post on here?

Nope. Haha.

 

[Sailormoon2]

Today's QOTD: After watching Boston yesterday and seeing several elite runners struggle or drop out, what are the worst conditions you have ever ran a race in?

Bonus QOTD: Bacon, sausage, or neither?

My local "Hypothermic Half-Marathon" appropriately named 2 years ago was the worst. It was -22 degrees F ( I did the conversion from the -30 celsius) with the wind chill. It was 4x up and down an out and back course (with a small 1.1K addition to the finsih). The "out" portion was into the wind, which were gusting 40KM/hr. The return was sunny, so gave you a little reprieve to "warm up". It still stands as my best 1/2 finish, simply because I was so eager to be done!

BACON all the way!!

 

[Chaitali]

@michigandergirl @Miranda @PCFriar80 Thanks! Duh, I didn't even think of iron. I guess I should ask my doctor for a more comprehensive blood test. I feel like I haven't been sleeping as well in the last year or two and have been wondering if I'm coming up on peri-menopause or something. I have no idea but I'm thinking turning 40 probably is coming with some hormonal changes, but I'm on hormonal birth control due to PCOS so I don't even know if that's possible. I guess that's another question for my doctor. And diet is definitely not on the right track, though I've made recent improvements there. Unfortunately, last year I fell into the trap of I'm training for a marathon, I can eat anything! Thanks for the ideas of things to look into.

As far as cross training, it's generally been running and strength training (body pump) at the gym with some yoga vidoes here and there. Last year, as marathon training increased, I have to admit that cross training decreased. Any recommendations from people for cross training?

 

[Keels]

Today's QOTD: After watching Boston yesterday and seeing several elite runners struggle or drop out, what are the worst conditions you have ever ran a race in?

2017 Disneyland Half. It was SO DANG HOT, and they delayed the start so tha didn’t help anything either. I run in the middle of the day in Texas, but even this race crushed me because of the heat.

Bonus question - neither. I don’t really like breakfast unless it’s a breakfast taco, a chicken biscuit or brunch.

 

[FFigawi]

2017 Disneyland Half. It was SO DANG HOT, and they delayed the start so tha didn’t help anything either. I run in the middle of the day in Texas, but even this race crushed me because of the heat.

Bonus question - neither. I don’t really like breakfast unless it’s a breakfast taco, a chicken biscuit or brunch.

Who said anything about breakfast? Bacon is bacon and is good any time of the day. It's especially good in a maple bacon smoked Old Fashioned.

 

[Sailormoon2]

It's especially good in a maple bacon smoked Old Fashioned

It is exactly this magical versatility of bacon that makes it top of my list

 

[KevM]

Who said anything about breakfast? Bacon is bacon and is good any time of the day. It's especially good in a maple bacon smoked Old Fashioned.

Bacon wrapped scallops.

 

[Keels]

Who said anything about breakfast? Bacon is bacon and is good any time of the day. It's especially good in a maple bacon smoked Old Fashioned.

That’s brown liquor ... #nope

 

[JBinORL]

Worst race weather would be one of three options: 1) 2014 Navy Nautical 10 Miler. Never been so hot and humid during a run before in my life. Just awful. 2) 2014 Bluff City 10k: horrible storms and downpours led the race director to almost cancel completely, but it went on and we all got absolutely soaked; at least it wasn't cold. 3) 2011 First Flight 5k: Very very cold and windy/rainy, definitely wasn't dressed appropriate. My age group ended up only having five runners and I finished 4th, yet had I not run with the girl I was dating at the time, I could have easily come in second. Grr...

 

[Krandor]

ATTQOTD : Hot Chocolate Atlanta. It was so brutally cold. It was supposed to be so cold that the day before the race they increased the time requirements for the 15k from 15 min/mile to a 13 min/mile to get people off the course quicker (and yes many many people complaiend about that). brrrr. Winchill was in the teens which for georgia is really really cold.

 

[FFigawi]

That’s brown liquor ... #nope

But #teambrown

 

[PrincessV]

ATTQOTD: Hmm... for me, the worst was W&D 2014, aka Splash & Dash. The race itself was fine: I had fun running in the rain! But the temp drop was too much for my FL blood and I absolutely froze from the finish to an EP restroom, where I finally was able to get into warm, dry clothes. And I have Raynaud's Syndrome, so the hives were an extra layer of fun. But I'd guess the conditions at TOT 2012 were the worst I've run in in general/for other people. The heat was okay for me because I was acclimated, but I've never seen so many others so messed up during/after a race.

Bonus: Neither - blech! No breakfast meat. Unless it's veggie bacon, and then I'm all in.

 

[Krandor]

ATTQOTD : I have another bad one as well. Innaugural Avengers. A noreaster wind came through day of the race and the wind was horrible. Mile markers down on the ground. One mile marker they took the clock out and just put it on the ground. Volunteers couldn't even pour water into cups. Then the section of the course that was beside this river with sand. That sand became projectiles and hurt like hell. When I finished and go the festival/reunion area they were kicking people out of there and into the parking lots. I think I saw a porta potty getting blown accross the lot which was likely the reason. Just insane winds and conditions.