Running • Page 50

Yea, it’s already pretty much winter here in Massachusetts. Low temperatures and snow.

 

Since my marathon in in October, the MCL on my right knee has been gving me issues so I've only run a handful of times and it's killing me. I ran twice in Florida over the holiday weekend while visiting family and had to walk halfway through my second run. Suuuuuuuucks.

 

i tried to go out this morning and shin splints are flaring up. i feel your pain. running during the dark winter months is the only thing that helps keep my mood up so i'm hoping it's not long term.

 

I feel that super hard. I love running in winter months for my brain as much as my body.

 

Yeah I completely get that. Running keeps me (just about) stable through these dark months. I'm hating this winter, first time in a while I've had a 9-5 and just seeing so little daylight. I run home from work most evening to keep me sane but not seeing the daylight is still killing me. Makes weekend runs even more precious.

 

I feel you on this. I got a new job this summer so instead of getting out at 3, I now get out closer to 5. It feels crazy to leave work and have it be pitch black out. Plus November has been so cold in Massachusetts, it’s making it even harder.

I posted a few back about an injury though, so I can’t even run. Just trying to make sure I stay consistent with the gym.

 

i went to the gym yesterday and lifted annnd i can barely lift my arms today... i was not made for this.

 

Everyday is leg day

 

The Good: I pushed myself exactly a week ago going for a distance PR and got it: 8.6 miles at 8:16 per.

The Bad: My foot has been a little angry since. I have some pain in the top left half of my right foot and feel the sting when I walk. I really want to start running again (my 400 miles goal for the year is in sight) but I don't want to make it worse. Does anyone have the best stretches or tips? I've been icing it and stretching it but it has been lingering. Bad idea to push it?

 

Don't know much about stretching but I'm a big fan of resting until things feel 100% and not rushing. Better to wait a few extra day than have another few weeks layoff.

 

hows everyone's running going? been going through a brutally cold and snowy stretch of winter where i live but i'm still trying to get out there consistently. might do a polar 5k later this month. my pace has slowed considerably since the summer which has been kind of a bummer but i'm just trying to keep that base for now.

 

Does anyone have any suggestions for pushing through that "ugh, it's cold outside, I have to put stuff on, agh, the wind, agh, I can't do this" feeling that I seem to get every morning before deciding to ultimately not run?

 

I'm spoiled with San Diego weather and its been a little chilly here at times this winter....like 38-45 degrees haha. I'm originally from the midwest and contest to the winter weather running motivation. It's difficult, but what's always helped me out is knowing if its going to cold, wet, snowy, dark, or what have you....is always having my gear out and ready in the AM or PM depending on the time im going for a run. I place it somewhere I can't ignore. Once I have it on there's no turning back.

Its usually those first few steps that are miserable, but it always gets better. You just gotta do it. Like jumping into cold water lol.

 

I live in Minnesota, so you have to run outside in the cold pretty much. I'm part of a running club here, run out of a running shoe store, that has provided good motivation to meet there and run outside with other people, versus just myself. I get to see a couple friends from college there every time, so it's a great place to reconnect with them and run right along the river next to downtown Minneapolis.

As for running outside in the cold by yourself, or just outside in the cold in general, knowing what to wear is key. I like to go on the side of caution and wear maybe an extra layer too much, just in case, as you can always take a layer off. I wear a running cap on my head, to retain heat, so when I get too hot, the cap is the first thing I take off. Right now I'm usually wearing three layers, when it's 20-40 degrees F out; two technical shirts, one of them being long sleeved, and then a Nike running jacket. And then a pair of gloves. So as long as I keep my pace up, I stay plenty warm, and usually by the end of our group runs I'm so hot that I take off my jacket at the end and there's steam rising off the body, haha. These are evening runs though, which makes it easier to convince myself to do the run outside. I'm not a morning person, and the idea of running outside in the morning, in the cold, sounds way worse than doing it in the evening, haha.

 

As for my running, this weekend is my last long run before my 50 mile race on the 12th. I sort of started tapering this week, but the real tapering begins next week. My training block has been very good, but I had to miss 3 weeks around month 2 because I had a nasty fall down a fire road. I tore my knee up, my back looked like i got attacked by an animal, and I sprained the AC joint in my shoulder. All because of the damn fall. I walked away a lucky dude. Anyways, I got back into the training block after the fall and nursed some plantar fasciitis in my right foot. Got some new shoes and all was good.

Aside from a couple injuries that led to missing a few weeks, I haven't missed a single day and I'm proud of that haha. 13 out 16 weeks isn't bad!

 

I know I could research somewhere else but does anyone here have any recommendations for long sleeve shirts/pants for running? I just get too cold and find I can’t continue if I’m in shorts and a T-shirt

 

I love winter running. Knowing my body has gone from “goddammit why am I outside?” to “this is the perfect sweating temperature but I know if I stop I will turn to an ice cube” is bliss. The cold helps me keep moving.

 

Hit my goal for 2018 (it was 400+) which was exciting, though I ended up just above it at around 411 miles. Holidays and Phish New Years run definitely threw a wrench into my final third of December. Did my first run on Thursday since 12/23 and it was painnnnnnful. Just super duper winded, but I understand it with the layoff.

Also happy to report that I have retired my Altra Torins since my girlfriend got me a pair of Asics Gel-Nimbus 20's for our anniversary! I have the GN 17's and loved them, was debating going back to Asics anyway so they were a great gift. Cool color too...it's black and some of it is like a blue/green/neon reflective in the light.

Goal for 2019 is to up my distance on a per run basis. Generally I've been in the 3 to 4 mile minimum zone on a run, would love to get that back up to 5-6+ per run by being cognizant of my heart rate (keeping it below 140~), then working up my speed once I get the distance base going again.

 

You’ve been killing it on your miles. I envy people who just go out for run of the mill 8 milers every day

 

I did two 5ks on New Years Day but haven't been out running since. In December I managed 124 miles which is a new personal best, and I was really starting to feel it in my shins and hamstring, so I've had to take a few days for recovery which is annoying. At least it's coincided conveniently with getting a cold so I wouldn't have done much anyway!

This year I want to do another marathon. I have my eyes on Reykjavik in Iceland if my best friend also signs up with me. It's in August so the weather should be very moderate.

I'm also reading a really good book at moment called 'Running with the Pack' by Mark Rowlands. The author is a philosopher and he grapples with the purpose of running. It's really engaging.

 

I think I'm the opposite of most here, in that I'm trying to focus on 5k's, haha. I come from a sprinting background in high school and college, 100's and 200's, so 5k's are now my ideal length. I did 20:02 somehow in high school cross country, like 13 years ago, and a week ago I did a 21:36 on the treadmill, so for 2019 ideally I'd like to break 20 minutes, but we'll see. Next treadmill run I want to start at 8.7 speed and hope I can last the whole time.

 

You can totally do it. I was around 5-6 a day before making the jump. My training block called for 6-8 on weekdays.

 

Luckily it hasn't been too cold here this winter so far, but when I have to get the run in when its cold I try to warm up inside first and dart out the door straight into it; that is if I'm running from my house. Lungs, leg swings, "standing butt cheek kicks", short static stretches, hip flexor stuff..... Getting HR up a bit while I'm in a 68-70 degree F house seems to help me.

I have some North Face tights I love. Usually only worn when its cold on easy runs(45 degrees max or so depending on the length of the run), or REALLY cold during a race(in the 20s or lower). For a shirt I have some North Face, Nike, Patagonia(sorry I'm a name brand whore sometimes) thin to medium long sleeve tech shirts, some with 1/4 zip necks that allow to unzip when it gets a bit toasty. A very thin windbreaker outer layer works wonders to knock the chill off on top of that long sleeve. If you heat up just tie it around your waste. Easy. Look at Patagonia's Houdini jacket for an idea(you can find it on sale for sure). Heck, TJ Maxx is a good place to look for some cheap tech stuff. My favorite running shirt is a Nike long sleeve I found at one on a bargain. RunningWarehouse has a ton of good stuff to check out.

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Man I really do love reading all the updates here. I took a nasty tumble about a month ago not unlike @AlwaysEvolving21 . AND on a fire/jeep road too. Mile 1 of a 13.1 trail race my foot catches something as i'm pushing down a hill at 6-7 something minute pace, I do a flip slamming to the ground and cut my leg up good as well as badly bruise(maybe slightly cracked) a rib on my side. However, I finished strong. It didn't start really hurting until 1-2 days later. Had to take a week off. Then had a good training week after that off time THEN got sick. Was able to plug away at some miles but not where I wanted it to be(I'm still coughing a bit). This weekend I had a 25k trail race in which I came in 3rd male and 4th overall. 14.5 miles by mine and my friends watch, but it was marked for 15.5. 9:49/mile avg pace with 1560 elevation gain on the 2 loop course. I came from out of state to take their trophies which felt good. Today I did 8.2 easy on the trails after work to cap the week at 41.2 miles. This week will be 45 or so miles then 50 the next week. Still building to my 50k on Feb 23rd. I'm scheduled to hit the gym tomorrow which I'm honestly hit or miss on. I'm going to make myself go I suppose.

 

@Supernova

saw your race on strava. nice work dude!

 

Thanks man! Its crazy when you think about the progress. This time last year I could have ran that same race and been no where close to that time with also my body being destroyed for a few days. This year I did 8 miles the day after the race and still feel mostly 100%.

As far as my 2019 goals go, I've got my first 50k in Feb on a mountain close to home. I've got a 2nd 50k in May out in Virginia at a very cool spot "Grayson Highlands". Not really sure of a goal time on either. Sub 6 hour is pie in the sky goal as the elevation gain is a kicker on both. Probably 6:30-7h on my first. Goal really is to finish. I want to break sub 20 mins in a 5k at some point as well. That is if I can make myself do an official 5k again. Trying to blow a gasket for that short of a distance isn't appealing to me as much anymore haha. Later in the year I plan on a 50 miler somewhere September-December time frame. November 2020 I look to do a 100 miler. Anything can change until then, but that's my mindset.