The Running Thread - 2020

[MommaBerd]

Today I am going to go for an outdoor run. I am grateful that as a runner, this is an outlet that I can continue to take advantage of

THIS!!! I am especially thankful that running is a part of my life right now vs. relying on group fitness classes or gym equipment.

 

[roxymama]

The Chicago Shamrock Shuffle got cancelled late yesterday; which I kind of thought would be inevitable at this point. Kind of bummed since I had a 5 year streak going, but they are fully refunding us. Next official race isn't until June. Not gonna sign up for anything in between until we see what's happening with races past this month.

ATTQOTD: not too many running dreams for me lately but I had a bunch of travel related dreams prior to races (like airport or parking fiascos.) Usually I get more worried about all the logistics surrounding a race than the actual running.

 

[DopeyBadger]

I am new to running. Given my HM at the beginning of April was officially postponed, how should I maintain my training, i.e., how long should my long runs be going forward until a new race is in sight? As info, I am currently using Galloway. TIA!

It's a great question and I'd say it depends. The goal of a training cycle is to make improvements over the course of several weeks and peak for your event (in this case your HM in April). But it's important to note that it is very hard to hold the peak for long and soon it leads to stagnation. So it depends on when you think the next race might occur for you.

-If you believe that next race is occurring in May, then you'd simply go into a holding pattern repeating a few weeks in the middle of the plan.
-If you believe that next race is occurring in July, then you'd probably ramp down the training right now for a few weeks and build up again.
-If you believe that next race is occurring in September, then you'd probably do a time trial of sorts in April, take a short break, and then restart a brand new training plan.

So it somewhat depends on where you want to aim the next peak of your fitness and training. As a personal example, I had a marathon scheduled for April 11th and was just about to have peak week of training next week. My next race (HM) is June 20th. So I'm either 14 weeks away from the HM today, or 10 weeks away from the HM on the day of the M. So I could do a marathon time trial of sorts on April 11th, rest for 2 weeks, and then race a HM 8 weeks later. I could do a HM time trial on April 11th, and then jump right back into even more training for 10 weeks. Or I could ramp the training down right now, and then resume training for the HM on June 20th as the sole focus. Lots of possible approaches to the next few weeks.

The easy answer is that something in the range of 60-90 minutes is a manageable timeframe for someone who does racing at HM and M distances, but which if appropriately prepared for a race that was to occur in a few weeks shouldn't necessitate an aggressive recovery routine.

 

[MommaBerd]

Thanks @DopeyBadger! The next race on my horizon isn’t until August, unless I can find one during the summer that won’t be crazy-hot here in the south. I think I’m the meantime, I will work on increasing my run/walk ratio and learning about/improving my cadence.

 

[garneska]

It is official. Boston is canceled. They are trying to make all reasonable efforts to have the marathon on Sep 14. I can make that work so not an issue for me. I do think i am cutting down my scheduled 15 miles on sunday. no reason to burn out. I think official training will begin May 25 memorial day. That should be 16 weeks out. @DopeyBadger expect an email shortly.

 

[jmasgat]

It is official. Boston is canceled. They are trying to make all reasonable efforts to have the marathon on Sep 14. I can make that work so not an issue for me. I do think i am cutting down my scheduled 15 miles on sunday. no reason to burn out. I think official training will begin May 25 memorial day. That should be 16 weeks out. @DopeyBadger expect an email shortly.

Was just going to post this, as I was reading the Globe. Glad you will be able to do the race in September.

 

[PrincessV]

Question of the day: What is the weirdest running related dream, or nightmare, you have had? Do you have them often, or just before a race?

I almost never have race dreams, and the rare times I do, they're boring - literally just a normal, nothing goes wrong, peek at a race morning. But I'll tell ya - I didn't realize how much the constant COVID-19 talk was getting to me (it has sadly become the primary topic of my marketing job, so it's literally aaaallll day for me) until I couldn't get into a deep sleep the other night.. because my brain kept running through a list of canceled races, over and over and over.

I am new to running. Given my HM at the beginning of April was officially postponed, how should I maintain my training, i.e., how long should my long runs be going forward until a new race is in sight? As info, I am currently using Galloway. TIA!

Summers are my off seasons and during that time I go to a 6-week cycle: I keep my usual mid-week workouts in place, but do weekend cycles of 6 mile cut backs with a progression of 8, 9, 10 mile long runs. It keeps my base long distance around 10 miles, but reduces cumulative fatigue and heat stress.

 

[rteetz]

It is official. Boston is canceled. They are trying to make all reasonable efforts to have the marathon on Sep 14. I can make that work so not an issue for me. I do think i am cutting down my scheduled 15 miles on sunday. no reason to burn out. I think official training will begin May 25 memorial day. That should be 16 weeks out. @DopeyBadger expect an email shortly.

I know this may be petty and you did say it but it’s not cancelled it’s postponed as of right now.

 

[PrincessV]

Thought this was worth sharing, from Runner's World:

How to Run Safely Amid Coronavirus Concerns

 

[TheHamm]

Thought this was worth sharing, from Runner's World:

How to Run Safely Amid Coronavirus Concerns

Thank you. I have actually been thinking about this, and it is more related to my dreams than races. I am not an amazing runner, but I was looking forward to seeing some spring improvement. I know my next planned race is cancelled, and probably the one after that. I'm not thrilled about today's 20mph winds and have finally made my peace with the treadmill only to have the office gym close up. I anticipate the YMCA will also be closed but trust its cleanliness less so than the office. As we now have a 3 week spring break for the kids and I still have to put in my hours at work, what started off being a great month of running is probably going to be tanked. So, I am considering having my kids pace me on their bikes in circles around the block, but it will be either too fast or too slow, and not nearly long enough.

 

[GreatLakes]

Question of the day: What is the weirdest running related dream, or nightmare, you have had? Do you have them often, or just before a race?

I have a dream where I am late to a race and have to start after everyone has left quite a bit. I also have the dream where no matter what I can't go faster than a walk no matter how hard I try.

 

[OldSlowGoofyGuy]

Question of the day: What is the weirdest running related dream, or nightmare, you have had? Do you have them often, or just before a race?

I have race dreams (nightmares) regularly. They don't seem to be related to my racing schedule.

Common themes:

Wrong gear: I get to the start and I have on thick cotton socks and sandals.

Can't find/marshal my gear: I find my shoes but not my socks. When I find my socks, my shoes are missing. If I manage to get my shoes and socks, my shorts are missing.

Course: Like @jmasgat, I am often running through buildings. Parking decks, malls, amusement park rides, and open-house homes are a common theme. My usual problem is that I've made a wrong turn somewhere and can't get back to the official course.

Slow motion: No matter how hard I try, I am running in slow motion (much like real life) and can't go any faster.

Weird ones that are not repetitive: The race expo where you made change by tearing dollar bills in half, subway ride in the middle of a race where you had to sort through 50,000 tickets to find the one with your name on it, hotels rooms with clear glass walls, Garmin watch face falls off and it's an analog Timex underneath, ...

I'm trying to remember if I ever had a good running dream, but none are coming to mind.

 

[Angelica123]

The London marathon has been postponed until October. I am surprised they made the call so far in advance given the fact a lot of cancellations or postponements have been last minute while organisations see how events unfold. Disappointing for all involved, but hopefully gives some time got people from abroad to adjust travel plans.

 

[avondale]

THIS!!! I am especially thankful that running is a part of my life right now vs. relying on group fitness classes or gym equipment.

Yes, our tennis leagues just got cancelled for a month. League tennis isn't exactly a large gathering (no more than 4 per court) or high-contact, but mostly it's just going along with a lot of public venues closing.

Glad to have running and glad we're moving into spring with better weather and pretty flowers!

 

[Bree]

Race dreams....

The only one I remember having is right before 2019 Dopey, and I remember one part. Getting pedicures during the marathon

 

[sky13]

I had signed up for a race end of this month - it's one of the more interesting local races since it goes through the zoo. Did it a couple of years ago and it was fun running past giraffes, tigers, elephants...

I still haven't heard anything from them about it yet but I'm assuming it will be cancelled/postponed. All the other local races here (Singapore) have been cancelled/postponed since February...

 

[rteetz]

Let's share some good thoughts.

Favorite runDisney memories or moments

 

[OldSlowGoofyGuy]

... vs. relying on group fitness classes or gym equipment.

All my runs are outside and by myself so I'm OK there.

I'm still trying to decide what to do about exercise classes. I regularly attend 2 classes a week (cardio/strength and yoga) then work out after. The classes are small with no close contact, so they might be OK. I'm skipping the workout since I touch 25 machines or weights that a gazillion other people have touched. I've got enough stuff in the basement that I can make do.

It may be a moot point: I wouldn't be surprised if the Y shuts down for a couple of weeks.

 

[dis_or_dat]

I've been struggling to sift through all my emotions about Boston. Ultimately I'm incredibly appreciative that there's another chance to run it vs canceling it. Even without the current climate, I wouldn't have been able to train to BQ again for years. However, I wrestled with my anxiety, knowing it was selfish considering the real ramifications of COVID-19. I have so much more to say, but can't quite articulate it.

Anyways, stay safe out there everyone!

Race dreams:
I had one where the race started a day earlier than I thought. It was a Disney race and it ran though something like Tom Sawyer Island / Big Thunder Railroad. It was just starting when I arrived and I thought I still could run it, but my special race shoes were across a building. I was still determined to get them and race but then I had to cross a pool to get back to the starting line! I think I gave up at that point as people were already at least 0.5 miles into the race and woke up. But then I went back to sleep to enter and finish it.

 

[Chaitali]

All my runs are outside and by myself so I'm OK there.

I'm still trying to decide what to do about exercise classes. I regularly attend 2 classes a week (cardio/strength and yoga) then work out after. The classes are small with no close contact, so they might be OK. I'm skipping the workout since I touch 25 machines or weights that a gazillion other people have touched. I've got enough stuff in the basement that I can make do.

It may be a moot point: I wouldn't be surprised if the Y shuts down for a couple of weeks.

I know it’s not the same but if you can’t do your classes, I like Yoga With Adrienne on you tube. And there’s a website called fitness blender that has good hiit and strength routines. You can filter by equipment/none, length of time, type of workout, etc. I think most of them are free.