Running • Page 79

Mt Cheaha 50k. Central Alabama. It was my first ultra in 2019. I won’t have a proper training block going into it, but I can have a quick/respectable build up. I just want to do it again.

 

oh damn, that’s right around the corner in February then! (If I’m looking at the right race on UltraSignUp). And here I was wondering if my training for a marathon on 3/19 was a quick/tight 12-13 weeks from when I really started training haha

 

12-13 weeks is reasonable for a marathon as long as you have a solid base weekly miles you're hitting. Even if the base miles aren't good, man its good to sometimes just go for it. I will absolutely be under trained lol. Coming off my 100 in November I've only ran prob 18 miles per week (3-4 days /week); peaked at 32. I've been dealing with a tight IT band, but I have been hitting the bike at the gym for a couple of hours a week as well as strength work. I felt strong on my 10 miler last night on the trail even though the first half of it was very chill. I feel I can build up a bit and just see what happens! Build this week and next, then have a down week. Then build for 3 more weeks then race week. What could go wrong!?

 

I’m taking my March marathon as a “tester” of sorts. I’ve been tinkering with my training and aiming for more time on feet versus getting faster so most of my runs have been slower paced so I’m averaging around 6-7 hours a week running versus looking at the mileage of each week. I might run the marathon in 5-1/2 hours idk, that would be fine with me. I also have a marathon in May that will also be a tester of sorts. The San Fran marathon in July is the one I want to really aim for to maybe try and qualify for Boston or just run in 3:30 or so, but again, if not no biggie. Im not a big speed guy I just enjoy running lol. Biggest goals are the basic ones: finish and stay healthy!

As for you, do the same! Take it easy and enjoy the experience. I sometimes wonder for people who are speedsters like, “damn, you went fast and blazed through that, did you even notice the beautiful scenery or anything?” lol

 

A few days late, but I got these for Christmas and they are by far the best winter running gloves I have ever owned: https://gazellesports.com/products/merino-sport-fleece-wind-mitten-black?variant=39358620729443

I live in northern Michigan, so I frequently run in 20-and-below temperatures. I've had a few days recently where the real feel was hanging around 0-2 degrees. I've always struggled keeping my hands warm more than anything else, and these gloves do the trick on all but the coldest days. And even on those days, I find I can wear a thin pair of gloves underneath them and still manage pretty well without the aching cold hand problem.

 

I may have to look into those but idk maybe my hands are weird as the gloves I have are just some basic Nike’s that were $20 or so at Kohl’s and they do a great job so maybe I just lucked out. I live in Wisconsin and deal with some bitter cold as well and they’ve done a great job the last few years. Sometimes I have to actually remove them for the last mile or so because my hands get so warm.

 

These are my go to gloves and I think they work pretty well I’m temps between 20-40 degrees.

Men’s Power Stretch Gloves - Runners Gloves

 

Turns out I have shin splints. Damnit.

 

Join the club…ugh

 

I’ve got a 5K in two weeks and a half in 70-some odd days. Not ideal timing!

 

I always attribute shin splints to incorrect footwear. Obviously not always the case, but I know when I had them it was.

 

I don’t think that’s the case here. I’ve got over 1,000 miles in this style of shoe (On Cloudswift). The two pairs I’ve currently got have about ~175 miles in them each. I’ve been replacing around 300.

 

@Garrett what does your post-run stretching routine look like?

 

Depends on the day, which isn’t the greatest of answers. Usually 5 minutes or so of calves/hamstrings/quads/glutes.

I do foam roll pretty regularly in my warmup and I have a TheraGun that is my best friend post-run shower.

 

You might want to bump that up. I usually do 10-15 after a run, and then I stretch pretty regularly throughout the day if I have any tightness/soreness.

I also can overestimate the importance of this particular stretch for helping prevent shin splints: Wall Push Calf Stretch

 

Yeah… my PT wanted me to get to 30 minutes. That’s just so much extra time. I know exercise isn’t the thing to rush through/it’s always worth it, but I’m always racing sunset or work starting on my runs. I hate my current schedule/commute a lot because it messes up pretty much everything else timing wise.

That is the stretch I do no matter what every time.

 

damn, i dont think i've spent more than 5 minutes stretching post or pre run in my life. probably due for some massive injury.

 

Yeah, this is what I was always told.

 

I don't think I ever do 30 minutes straight of stretching after a run, but I'm sure I get that much stretching time in throughout the day. I try to build it into other activities: I'll stretch while reading articles for work, checking email, making lunch, watching TV in the evening, etc.

 

Shin splints and a stress reaction usually have similar pain. It’s possible it’s more of an overuse injury and stretching or the lack thereof could be a factor. If it’s not the shoes you probably want to treat it more like a stress reaction so you don’t end up with a stress fracture or continue down that path.

 

In the second week of marathon training for my partner. She is doing her second marathon in April. She ran 3:46 in Columbus last October for her first marathon. We are targeting a Boston qualifier time of 3:30 this time around. She is bringing me back as coach/trainer/other insight again.

I went bare bones on her first training program. Only did mileage and only did a couple twenty mile runs. No core, strength, yoga, or diet focus. No speed work, races, tempo runs, progression runs, or fartlek. This time around we are incorporating those things and I’m excited to see where she can go.

 

Going for a 15 minute PR seems totally manageable with what you have cooked up training wise!

 

I agree! She casually has run but the Columbus was her first time taking it serious. She is pretty much fresh clay to mold from a training standpoint. I wanted to get a baseline for where she was at without overloading the training and I think mileage is king in that scenario. This time around I’m adding two additional twenty milers. Mixing in some core and strength. Not going to overdo the speed or races but I want to introduce it. Trying to keep things sustainable, but I think she is excited to she where she can go and I don’t have to worry about her not doing the work. If it’s on her daily list to do she will do it, which is nice haha.

 

I am a weird case in regards to stretching. I do hardly any before or after. I’ll do so quick calf/quad stretches before with no stretching at all after. I know that might seem crazy especially since I’m on day 382 of a streak. I’ve found that there’s no real benefit for me.

 

I used to never stretch before / after or did it very little and now I make sure to always do it. It doesn’t help with actual running bug has helped remove some niggles and soreness I’ve found so hoping to keep it up but always hard to do when I have to run at lunch and then try and get back to work. Luckily working from home gives me time to stretch and no one knows so it’s like taking a 90 minute lunch every day instead of 60, oh well lol