The Running Thread -- 2022

[Baloo in MI]

I'm running a 25K trail race in Traverse City on Saturday (April 23). I know there are some Michiganders here - anyone near that area and interested in getting together for lunch or dinner on Saturday? I'm solo on this trip...if the weather is good, I'll walk around TC some on Saturday, but probably will spend most of my time grading student projects.

Work has been busy lately, so if you may be available, please send me a DM so that I get a notification.

Good luck at the run. I would love to have an excuse to head up to Traverse City! Unfortunately, I will be at my daughters dance competition all weekend in Detroit. What is the race?

 

[Herding_Cats]

I'm running a 25K trail race in Traverse City on Saturday (April 23). I know there are some Michiganders here - anyone near that area and interested in getting together for lunch or dinner on Saturday? I'm solo on this trip...if the weather is good, I'll walk around TC some on Saturday, but probably will spend most of my time grading student projects.

Work has been busy lately, so if you may be available, please send me a DM so that I get a notification.

I’m about a 30min drive from downtown, but of course DS/DH have a baseball tournament that day. When I know more about the timing I’ll let you know if I can make something happen. And (fingers crossed) that the forecast dries out some for Saturday!

 

[xjillianpaige]

At the marathon!!

 

[azrivest]

So I currently work part-time and have been offered a full-time position in my same company. I'm debating taking it as I have three small(ish) children and I don't necessarily NEED to work full-time right now. One of my big concerns, though I realize it's kind of silly, is how this would impact my ability to train especially for longer races. So I want to hear how you make it work if you have a full-time job and kids. When do you fit it in? How hard is it in winter if you live someplace with not a lot of light? How many days a week to you train if you're doing a half? Thanks!

I manage because I have a very supportive husband. I have 2 ADHD kids of 6&9. In a week, I work 40 hours and I run 4-6 hours, 5 times. So it's super tight to fit it in, and I won't hide that I sometimes feel like I'll crack under the pressure of keeping up a demanding job, demanding kids and demanding runs. But my running in the end is what keeps me sane (I have had a mental health issues up and down since my kids were born) and that's why my husband understands that I'll go out running, no matter what.

DopeyBadger made me a great plan for the Challenge taking into account my limitations and I PR'd my 10k time by 3 seconds. So for a plan that was mainly done in the coldest winter months, transitioning to hot weather in 2 days' time, was a big win for me.

In the week, I'll go running early morning (wake-up around 4:45-5:00) so that I'm back around the time kids wake up. If I can't manage the early morning, I'll go around 8pm. I've bought some super bright blinking lights to be visible at night, since I live in a city where people don't care about pedestrians and I've almost been run over too many times to count. I also got a treadmill this year for the first time, since I was serious about training for the Princess Challenge and didn't want to miss any runs because of bad winter weather. Oh and I'm usually in bed by 9:30 at the latest. But it's never been a problem for us, because we're an early-riser kind of family.

My 90-180 minute long run on the weekends is non negotiable and DH understands that. So it's doable for me, because I have a support system.

(Kudos to all the single parents out there...)

 

[LSUlakes]

Hope if anyone is running Boston today they are having a great race! just checked weather and looks like a good one today. I also caught the finish of the women's race and it was a great finish.

 

[kevin75]

As a teacher, I'm off school today, so I was able to get a nice 10K in, and even shaved some off of my PR. The weather was about perfect (about 60 degress and a light breeze). Living in northeastern Texas, those days are about to go away, because the humidity and high temps are coming soon.

 

[Kerry1957]

Race Report: Tippy Trail 10-Mile, Winamac, Indiana

The forest preserve is in north central Indiana, about 2.5 hours from my home in suburban Chicago. The best way to say it's a bit out of the way is that there is no cell phone service. Weather was cool; about 40 at the gun.

This was my second time running this race and it seemed like de'ja vu all over again. There were less than 100 runners on a hilly trail with lots of turns and roots. For only the second time in dozens of trail races I managed to end up off-course and had to bushwack my way back to the course. (The other time was the last time I ran Tippy Trail). And for only the second time in the last five years I took a nasty spill. (The other time was the last time I ran Tippy Trail). My Garmin said 9.9 miles at the finish so I thought my bushwacking was pretty good. Then the director announced after the race that the course had been mis-measured and posted paces would be based on around 11 miles. I have no idea where I missed a mile of running. The race was Saturday and it's now Monday afternoon with no results published yet.

Although the race is an amateur effort, the organizers, volunteers, and other runners are so friendly that it makes up for it.

I beat my previous time but just missed my goal of under 2 hours.

Edit to add fun wooden medal.

 

[avondale]

Good luck at the run. I would love to have an excuse to head up to Traverse City! Unfortunately, I will be at my daughters dance competition all weekend in Detroit. What is the race?

It's the Traverse City Trail Running Festival, or something like that. They have several distances available to race. I'm doing the 25K in the pursuit o upping my trail race distances, having previously done a 10-miler and HM.

 

[avondale]

I’m about a 30min drive from downtown, but of course DS/DH have a baseball tournament that day. When I know more about the timing I’ll let you know if I can make something happen. And (fingers crossed) that the forecast dries out some for Saturday!

Thanks - let me know!

 

[lookingforsunshine]

You Michiganders should join me for the Detroit half in October. I’m from Ohio but I don’t bite (grew up in the mitten actually).

 

[Baloo in MI]

You Michiganders should join me for the Detroit half in October. I’m from Ohio but I don’t bite (grew up in the mitten actually).

It is a really good race! I am waiting to here on a spot I might get into a charity team for New York, but I might do Detroit if that falls through.

 

[kps7795]

I have a question for @DopeyBadger and those with math skills and/or training experience: I live in South Florida which is bereft of hills. The closest I can come to a steep incline is a bridge which is a 45 minute drive from my home. Therefore, I would like to utilize the treadmill to simulate the inclines that we experience during the Disney World marathon. What should one set the incline on the treadmill in order to simulate the inclines at Disney World? I looked at the last course map and the elevation chart, but I am uncertain if my math is wrong because I believe that I would only set the incline on the treadmill to 4%. That seems to not be steep enough. Thank you in advance.

 

[Herding_Cats]

I have a question for @DopeyBadger and those with math skills and/or training experience: I live in South Florida which is bereft of hills. The closest I can come to a steep incline is a bridge which is a 45 minute drive from my home. Therefore, I would like to utilize the treadmill to simulate the inclines that we experience during the Disney World marathon. What should one set the incline on the treadmill in order to simulate the inclines at Disney World? I looked at the last course map and the elevation chart, but I am uncertain if my math is wrong because I believe that I would only set the incline on the treadmill to 4%. That seems to not be steep enough. Thank you in advance.

Looking at my elevation map on my garmin, it looks like most of the overpasses have around a 20-30ft elevation change. And those are probably what....0.25mi? 0.33mi from the start to the peak? That's not a bit %.

 

[camaker]

I have a question for @DopeyBadger and those with math skills and/or training experience: I live in South Florida which is bereft of hills. The closest I can come to a steep incline is a bridge which is a 45 minute drive from my home. Therefore, I would like to utilize the treadmill to simulate the inclines that we experience during the Disney World marathon. What should one set the incline on the treadmill in order to simulate the inclines at Disney World? I looked at the last course map and the elevation chart, but I am uncertain if my math is wrong because I believe that I would only set the incline on the treadmill to 4%. That seems to not be steep enough. Thank you in advance.

The inclines on the Disney marathon course are so few, far between and mild, I wouldn't worry too much about training for them. You're going to be hard pressed to find a flatter course. Just my opinion, though.

 

[kps7795]

The inclines on the Disney marathon course are so few, far between and mild, I wouldn't worry too much about training for them. You're going to be hard pressed to find a flatter course. Just my opinion, though.

Keep in mind though that when you train in an entirely flat area, even those inclines seem steep. I know that it’s rather sad, but I felt the difference during the marathon and I just want to prepare my body to be ready for them next time.

 

[Bree]

Keep in mind though that when you train in an entirely flat area, even those inclines seem steep. I know that it’s rather sad, but I felt the difference during the marathon and I just want to prepare my body to be ready for them next time.

A local running club in my area uses a parking garage on weekends. I would only do that if there was a sidewalk area though. I would be too terrified of getting hit by a car.

 

[HangWithMerida]

Keep in mind though that when you train in an entirely flat area, even those inclines seem steep. I know that it’s rather sad, but I felt the difference during the marathon and I just want to prepare my body to be ready for them next time.

Coming from a thoroughly flat area, yes, even those minimal hills are noticeable. Most of my runs have an elevation change in the single digits. I started running on hills some this year and my experience with the HM course at Princess this year was light years easier and I was flying past people huffing and puffing on those inclines. That said, they aren't very steep, but are sustained. I wouldn't be surprised if 4% was plenty steep enough.

 

[michigandergirl]

So I currently work part-time and have been offered a full-time position in my same company. I'm debating taking it as I have three small(ish) children and I don't necessarily NEED to work full-time right now. One of my big concerns, though I realize it's kind of silly, is how this would impact my ability to train especially for longer races. So I want to hear how you make it work if you have a full-time job and kids. When do you fit it in? How hard is it in winter if you live someplace with not a lot of light? How many days a week to you train if you're doing a half? Thanks!

I have 3 kids and have always worked full time. What's always worked for me is getting up at 4:30am to get my runs in (either outside or on treadmill). Yes, it sucks and it's always dark, but I get it done early & out of the way, because if I wait, there are just too many things that will come up and get in the way.

I have a gift card for Amazon and I need some new (warmer!) gloves for running next winter. For those of you in colder climates, what gloves do you prefer? I can never seem to find gloves that will keep my hands warm.

I live in Pennsylvania, so we get our fair share of cold days.

I have a pair of Brooks mittens that I love - unfortunately they don't make them anymore, but I've also used those Hot Hands inserts into gloves or mittens when it's really cold and those work great.

I'm running a 25K trail race in Traverse City on Saturday (April 23). I know there are some Michiganders here - anyone near that area and interested in getting together for lunch or dinner on Saturday? I'm solo on this trip...if the weather is good, I'll walk around TC some on Saturday, but probably will spend most of my time grading student projects.

Work has been busy lately, so if you may be available, please send me a DM so that I get a notification.

I am not in the TC area (I'm in Grand Rapids), but just wanted to say GOOD LUCK!!! It looks like it's going to be nice weather this weekend.

You Michiganders should join me for the Detroit half in October. I’m from Ohio but I don’t bite (grew up in the mitten actually).

That's a great race, I ran it in 2017. I'd like to go back someday and do the full, but I'm running Chicago this year.

 

[PrincessV]

I have a question for @DopeyBadger and those with math skills and/or training experience: I live in South Florida which is bereft of hills. The closest I can come to a steep incline is a bridge which is a 45 minute drive from my home. Therefore, I would like to utilize the treadmill to simulate the inclines that we experience during the Disney World marathon. What should one set the incline on the treadmill in order to simulate the inclines at Disney World? I looked at the last course map and the elevation chart, but I am uncertain if my math is wrong because I believe that I would only set the incline on the treadmill to 4%. That seems to not be steep enough. Thank you in advance.

Fellow Floridian here and I do the bridge thing in cooler weather, but need an alternative for the heat. I've found that any incline on the treadmill is good for uphill work - vary it and have some fun! But what really prepares my legs best is stair running. I'll do a short warm-up run - maybe a mile or so - and then run up and down stairs for 5ish minutes. Works the quads really well to make the overpass downhills a bit less painful.

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

The inclines on the Disney marathon course are so few, far between and mild, I wouldn't worry too much about training for them. You're going to be hard pressed to find a flatter course. Just my opinion, though.

Ditto. From what I've heard about the Gasparilla, it may be flatter, but not by much.