SOSH Running Dogs
- Thread starter Catch Me Bruno
- Start date
Two huge milestones for me this week:
1. I ran a 5K on Saturday, and I never stopped running. It was challenging, but I was able to keep pushing as I knew I'd regret it if I stopped to walk at any point. Plus, this particular course was through a state park, so it was on a dirt / sugar sand path, with various elevations and obstacles (roots, fallen trees, etc.). My official time was 36:03. On a regular 5K course, I imagine I could shave off quite a bit of time, but I was just so damn excited and proud to have not stopped during this run.
2. On Wednesday, I ran a mile in 8:10. This was 58 seconds faster than my previous best. To me, what's amazing is I couldn't even run a mile in November, and I'm almost breaking 8 minutes in February.
I don't practice running. I started CrossFit at the beginning of November, which has vastly improved my endurance. I do not like to run, but I want to be better at it, so I keep pushing and running whenever I feel the need. I think my limit is gonna be a 10K, if that, and possibly some sprint triathlons.
Anyway, thank you all for the support and advice. This thread has been awesome!
1. I ran a 5K on Saturday, and I never stopped running. It was challenging, but I was able to keep pushing as I knew I'd regret it if I stopped to walk at any point. Plus, this particular course was through a state park, so it was on a dirt / sugar sand path, with various elevations and obstacles (roots, fallen trees, etc.). My official time was 36:03. On a regular 5K course, I imagine I could shave off quite a bit of time, but I was just so damn excited and proud to have not stopped during this run.
2. On Wednesday, I ran a mile in 8:10. This was 58 seconds faster than my previous best. To me, what's amazing is I couldn't even run a mile in November, and I'm almost breaking 8 minutes in February.
I don't practice running. I started CrossFit at the beginning of November, which has vastly improved my endurance. I do not like to run, but I want to be better at it, so I keep pushing and running whenever I feel the need. I think my limit is gonna be a 10K, if that, and possibly some sprint triathlons.
Anyway, thank you all for the support and advice. This thread has been awesome!
That's huge: awesome work.
And I entirely agree that it's amazing how fast you can scale up: I ran my first 5k since college December before last, and ran a 20mile race this morning.
Whatever you decide your distance is, you can get there and do well in it, and it's almost always closer than you think. 10k is a great distance to practice: you can do that a bunch and keep aiming at getting better.
And I entirely agree that it's amazing how fast you can scale up: I ran my first 5k since college December before last, and ran a 20mile race this morning.
Whatever you decide your distance is, you can get there and do well in it, and it's almost always closer than you think. 10k is a great distance to practice: you can do that a bunch and keep aiming at getting better.
I think this is the second version of this thread. Anyhow, if you scroll back far enough, every poster in this thread has written this. Welcome. I look forward to reading a post on your first marathon.Poulsonator said:
I'll be VERY happy when the weather warms up a little. 15 miles in 0 F took a lot out of me.
Although it had risen to plus 7 or so by the time I got home
Although it had risen to plus 7 or so by the time I got home
Respect. I did 15 on Sunday, but waited until it got above 20 degrees. March is usually one of my favorite running months, but all the sidewalks, road edges, and trails are still sheets of ice. Cannot wait until we get to 40-45. Perfect running temp.Jerrygarciaparra said:
This week has really gotten to me for some reason. I mean it's been cold for months but something about flipping that calendar page make me really want it to warm up 10 degrees or so
No kidding. I'm super happy I picked this winter to train for my first marathon. Boston, its air, and its sidewalks have been super cooperative. :smithicide:
That said, man-o-man how good 40 degrees feels right now. Saturday before last, when it was 45, I was out in shorts and a tshirt. It felt glorious. (the slushy sidewalks, on the other hand.....)
That said, man-o-man how good 40 degrees feels right now. Saturday before last, when it was 45, I was out in shorts and a tshirt. It felt glorious. (the slushy sidewalks, on the other hand.....)
It was -15 F at my house this morning : 40 dgrees feels like it'll never get here!!
Which marathon are your running Spelunker?
Which marathon are your running Spelunker?
Boston. So, I'm hoping for March to warm up a tad, but late April to be coolish. 
Like I said, it's my first- we'll see if it's my only one, but I doubt it- but I got into running last year, and I've always said if I were to ever run one it'd be Boston. And, after last year, it feels right to run this one. Actually a few of us here- myself, TallerThanPedroia, bosoxgrl, and Preacher- are running it for a collection of charities.
I'm super excited, but the training time has flown by. I can't believe it's so close.
Like I said, it's my first- we'll see if it's my only one, but I doubt it- but I got into running last year, and I've always said if I were to ever run one it'd be Boston. And, after last year, it feels right to run this one. Actually a few of us here- myself, TallerThanPedroia, bosoxgrl, and Preacher- are running it for a collection of charities.
I'm super excited, but the training time has flown by. I can't believe it's so close.
My running mix is starting to get stale. Any suggestions for new music or old favorites? Here are a few songs from my current mix:
Johnny Be Goode - Chuck Berry
The Kilburn High Road - Flogging Molly
A tale they won't believe - Captain Tractor
Legs - ZZ Top
Death to my hometown - Bruce Springsteen
Fields of Athenry - Dropkick Murphys
Johnny Be Goode - Chuck Berry
The Kilburn High Road - Flogging Molly
A tale they won't believe - Captain Tractor
Legs - ZZ Top
Death to my hometown - Bruce Springsteen
Fields of Athenry - Dropkick Murphys
180 BPM or so would be ideal, but I also listen to a lot of slower songs that just have good lyrics/rhythm. This is especially important toward the end of long runs. I am training for the Maine Coast marathon in May and mostly just looking to try some new songs on the 15-20 mile runs coming up.Spelunker said:
Congrats on your accomplishments Poulson.
I finally got back on the trails yesterday. They were an awful mix of granular snow, ice, water, hard pack, slick mud, and wet rock, but it was wonderful to be off the roads for the first time in 3 weeks. Looking outside now, I think I am going to be spending a little more time on roads again. I agree with Jerrygarciaparra- this winter has been brutal on me for some reason. The cold and snow normally do not bother me; however, this year has seemed worse than almost any I can remember. Maybe I am just getting old.
GreenMountain- seeing as you have Flogging Molly and Dropkick on your list, give "Whiskey Scotch Whiskey" by The Real McKenzies a try. At just under 2 minutes it is rather short, but it always give me huge burst of energy when it comes up on my playlists.
I finally got back on the trails yesterday. They were an awful mix of granular snow, ice, water, hard pack, slick mud, and wet rock, but it was wonderful to be off the roads for the first time in 3 weeks. Looking outside now, I think I am going to be spending a little more time on roads again. I agree with Jerrygarciaparra- this winter has been brutal on me for some reason. The cold and snow normally do not bother me; however, this year has seemed worse than almost any I can remember. Maybe I am just getting old.
GreenMountain- seeing as you have Flogging Molly and Dropkick on your list, give "Whiskey Scotch Whiskey" by The Real McKenzies a try. At just under 2 minutes it is rather short, but it always give me huge burst of energy when it comes up on my playlists.
Poulsonator said:
Great job! And don't set limits for yourself. You have no idea what you're capable of or how much you might get hooked on running. I could barely climb one flight of stairs without breathing hard when I started running (eight years ago!). My first run, I made it about .65 miles before the firestorm in my chest stopped me. But two days later I was out there again. At first my only goal was to get healthy, but I knew I needed long-term goals to keep me going. The first was to run a road race with my sister and her husband - their favorite was the defunct Ollie 5-miler in Southie. Then it was a half-marathon. Surely that would be enough to just keep me going and get me in decent shape. But the goal kept evolving, to a marathon next, and by the next Patriots Day, I knew I wanted to qualify for and run Boston. I'm about to do hopefully both, but it's been a long time since the goal was the motivator. I am well and truly beyond hooked, and the 2006 me would absolutely not believe it.
I was given a last minute entry to the Rock 'N Roll USA Marathon in DC yesterday. I wasn't fully trained up, but I struggled through in 4:04:25. Not awful, but the worst of my five marathons. Luckily, I had been training for the George Washington's Birthday Marathon that was cancelled in February, so I wasn't completely out of shape. It had been 6 weeks since I'd run 20 miles or more and the hills from the 19 mile marker forward just killed me. I'm glad I did it even though I struggled. I appreciate the need for proper training!
You know, i was perfectly happy with a 49:36 10K on Sunday. I've been sick and didn't run much (or even at all) for the past couple of weeks. Really it could have been much worse
But goddamn, when I went to the webpage and saw I was 13 out of 17 for my age group it really pissed me off.
Time to put my nose to the grindstone no matter how cold out it is
But goddamn, when I went to the webpage and saw I was 13 out of 17 for my age group it really pissed me off.
Time to put my nose to the grindstone no matter how cold out it is
Half marathon yesterday... 2:05:44
New PR by 160 seconds... was just my second 13.1, so... it was a good day. Living in Track Town USA has benefits, but being a gigantic person (about/maybe a foot taller and a c-note heavier) compared to the elite waifs around here is not one of them. Struggling to pick a 26.2 to complete before August (my goal). Was supposed to run on May 31st but missed the registration limit by a handful of days (sold out 1,000 spots, won't be expanding their permit). Now I have reasons not to run basically every other option through the end of July. It's a terrible conundrum.
Was a 25 year smoker until 18 months ago. Just figured I would toss that in as an introduction.
New PR by 160 seconds... was just my second 13.1, so... it was a good day. Living in Track Town USA has benefits, but being a gigantic person (about/maybe a foot taller and a c-note heavier) compared to the elite waifs around here is not one of them. Struggling to pick a 26.2 to complete before August (my goal). Was supposed to run on May 31st but missed the registration limit by a handful of days (sold out 1,000 spots, won't be expanding their permit). Now I have reasons not to run basically every other option through the end of July. It's a terrible conundrum.
Was a 25 year smoker until 18 months ago. Just figured I would toss that in as an introduction.
TallMan - Why not sign up for the Eugene Marathon? It's at the end of July, and it's right in your backyard. I ran Eugene last year for my first marathon and had a lot of fun, and it's definitely an awesome experience to finish at Hayward Field. Plus, it's flat.
Why not run Eugene? Well... I never thought of that!
Actually, jest and sarcasm aside, I am annoyed about the race organizers moving the race to July, from April. Imagine if the BAA moved the Boston Marathon to Memorial Day because the Red Sox and Yankees had a 4-game set... Besides that, at the end of July, by 10:30-11 in the morning (roughly my expected finishing time), here, it's going to be hot... like, potentially dangerously hot. People are going to get hurt. They moved it to coincide with/to fall between the other big Track Town events of the World Juniors and the NCAA Nationals and whatever else they have going on. I mean, half the race is right outside my door and the other half is a few blocks from my office. I know the course well. I just don't like the idea of miles 20-through-26.2 in 80-90-degree heat on black top. If I wasn't finished by 10AM last summer, I waited until sundown.
I have a few other ideas... two, maybe three options in greater-Portland, one across the river in Vancouver, WA, one outside of Salem (but Salem sucks)... maybe even San Francisco the same weekend that Eugene is scheduled. There's reasons for me to do and/or not to do each one.
My question is this: How did you all choose and train for your first 26.2?
Actually, jest and sarcasm aside, I am annoyed about the race organizers moving the race to July, from April. Imagine if the BAA moved the Boston Marathon to Memorial Day because the Red Sox and Yankees had a 4-game set... Besides that, at the end of July, by 10:30-11 in the morning (roughly my expected finishing time), here, it's going to be hot... like, potentially dangerously hot. People are going to get hurt. They moved it to coincide with/to fall between the other big Track Town events of the World Juniors and the NCAA Nationals and whatever else they have going on. I mean, half the race is right outside my door and the other half is a few blocks from my office. I know the course well. I just don't like the idea of miles 20-through-26.2 in 80-90-degree heat on black top. If I wasn't finished by 10AM last summer, I waited until sundown.
I have a few other ideas... two, maybe three options in greater-Portland, one across the river in Vancouver, WA, one outside of Salem (but Salem sucks)... maybe even San Francisco the same weekend that Eugene is scheduled. There's reasons for me to do and/or not to do each one.
My question is this: How did you all choose and train for your first 26.2?
Catch55 said:
Catch,
For me the motivation is purely personal. It's an athletic Bucket List thing. Training up to the 13.1 wasn't terrible... a long slow ramp up to 10-11-12 miles and then race day throw a capper mile on it and voila! Training during the winter is ridiculous especially depending on where you live. Here in Oregon, I just have to deal with rain (with rare exceptions). We have an adage here about running in the rain: You can only get wet once. I try as hard as possible to avoid the Hamster Wheel... Now that I am really running, the treadmill is the last resort and I can only do about 3 miles before I want to take a sledge hammer to the thing.
How do I get up and do it? Especially on the days when gravity and/or soreness has me mentally defeated (for the moment)? I try to remind myself that I always feel way better after I run. I keep a pretty diligent and detailed running log so I get to watch the miles and hours pile up (over 700 miles since I started and about 285 miles this training year already). These are all motivating factors for me.
The end goal... "to run a marathon before my next birthday" is still pretty daunting. Having just finished my second 13.1 I still can't really imagine basically turning around and doing that run again for another 2+ hours. I know that it's different and I will push through that threshold just as I have all of the others along the way (5K, 5 Miles, 10K, 10 miles, and so on...). 12 and 13.1 miles were pretty substantial "veils" for me to pass through, and I have. It's just a matter of Me... I need Me to want to get this done and to just do the damn thing.
I also remind myself that I was a friggin' lump of plomby smoker laze for so long and now I can do this... that helps, too.
GreenMountain said:
There's a live version of Dire Straits "Sultans of Swing" that is tremendous... (from "Alchemy Live")
I also love a bunch of Zepplin from their BBC sessions CD... Communication Breakdown and Immigrant Song are the two that hit my playlist.
I also agree with the 180bpm tempo... watching my splits and pace graphs, I can pretty much see where the slower tunes come on because I ease back just slightly, but enough to see. Sometimes that is a welcome respite, but often, it's just unnecessary.
There are plenty of sites out there where you can pump in a BPM and they'll spit out songs. E.g. http://jog.fm/workout-songs/at/180/bpm
To wit: I just realized that UB40's "Red Red Wine" is 178. Joy!
To wit: I just realized that UB40's "Red Red Wine" is 178. Joy!
My eight year old daughter ran two miles at Girls on the Run.
Nice program, I think it's going to be fun.
Nice program, I think it's going to be fun.
Okay, folks... so I've gone and done it. I registered.
My first (and perhaps only) 26.2 will be... (drum roll sound effect)... The San Juan Island Marathon on June 22nd. I'm just glad that the route appears to mostly run around the hills as opposed to running over them.
I'll get to essentially repeat weeks 7-8-and-9 of Higdon's Novice 1 training program for the next couple weeks to be on schedule for the race (was initially planning a May 31 race). I'm pretty much a ball of excitement and nerves this morning as the gravity and reality sets in.
The bonus is that I will get to hobble around Safeco Field the day after for the Sox v. Mariners.
My first (and perhaps only) 26.2 will be... (drum roll sound effect)... The San Juan Island Marathon on June 22nd. I'm just glad that the route appears to mostly run around the hills as opposed to running over them.
I'll get to essentially repeat weeks 7-8-and-9 of Higdon's Novice 1 training program for the next couple weeks to be on schedule for the race (was initially planning a May 31 race). I'm pretty much a ball of excitement and nerves this morning as the gravity and reality sets in.
The bonus is that I will get to hobble around Safeco Field the day after for the Sox v. Mariners.
If anyone's coming to the marathon Monday, let us know:
http://sonsofsamhorn.net/topic/82742-marathon-monday/
http://sonsofsamhorn.net/topic/82742-marathon-monday/
TallManinOregon said:
I have about 20 songs that make every pre-race play list and most are just designed to keep me motivated
99 problems by Shawn Carter
I'll be here a while by 311
From nothing to nowhere by pinback
when they come for me by linking park
for whom the bell tolls, seek and destroy, harvester of sorrow and creeping death by Metallica
When the levee breaks by some British band
harder, better, faster, stronger, power, monster and The Glory by Kim Kardashian's baby daddy
Indestructible, life won't wait and time bomb by Rancid
Dog days are over by Florence +
The Seed 2.0 by Jimmy Fallon's band
Calm like a bomb by RATM
Welcome to jam rock by one of Bob Marley's kids
How can I just kill a man by Cypress Hill
waiting room by Fugazi
I want to conquer the world by Bad Religion
Bangarang by Skrillex
heads will roll by Karen O and her band
Reach for the Sky by Social D
Hotel yorba by Jack & meg White
Vibram to pay class action lawsuit
http://www.runnersworld.com/general-interest/vibram-agrees-to-settle-class-action-lawsuit
http://www.runnersworld.com/general-interest/vibram-agrees-to-settle-class-action-lawsuit
Anybody ever run the Steamboat Marathon in Scranton, PA and/or the Erie Marathon? Considering these two for a debut this fall. Both fast courses, in the top ten annually for highest percentage of BQ times. Any feedback to help decide would be appreciated.
Completed my second marathon this morning. Maine Coast Marathon from Kennebunk to Biddeford Maine. Beautiful course and good weather (though more cloud cover would have been appreciated). I followed a training plan for the past three months and really put in the time on speedwork and long runs. I felt really good for the first 18, suffering through 23 and just brutal for the last 3 as the course turned uphill to the finish. I was on pace to PR until 24, then it slipped away on the final hills. Finished at 3:05:30, 15 seconds off the time from my last marathon (which was on a course in Plymouth Mass). I was still pleased with the result, though I think I can do better if I pace myself better at the start and maybe follow a better nutrition plan in the week leading up to the race. Interesting that the times were so close when I didn't follow an organized training plan for the other race though. My wife also ran the race with one of our friends. They mixed running and walking and finished in 5:45, which was about half an hour better than they expected. They ended up running about 20 miles of the course.
Great run, GM!
I didn't know they brought back the Maine Coast Marathon, which was one of my favorite races back in the day. Awesome news, and a fantastic marathon on a beautiful course that you SoSH dogs should consider in future years.
I didn't know they brought back the Maine Coast Marathon, which was one of my favorite races back in the day. Awesome news, and a fantastic marathon on a beautiful course that you SoSH dogs should consider in future years.
Thanks all! They brought back the MCM last year and are actively looking for people that ran the race in the '80s before it was discontinued. I think discounted registration for race alumni and possibly other loot. It's a beautiful course and has the added advantage of starting 1 mile from my front door. So there's that. Hilly on the second half, but still a fast course overall.
I just want to say that trying to get back into shape after 2 months of not running due to various reasons, when it is 90 degrees out, sunny and windy, in the middle of New Mexico.... is not a lot of fun.
Awesome Jerry! How did the run feel? I am thinking of doing that race next year so any insight into the course/atmosphere would be appreciated.
The race itself is really great. Tons of fans come out. It's a sort of cloverleaf shape so you go through the center of Burlington four different times.
There's a tough hill at mile 16 ; that's where the Taiko drummers hand out.
Lots of relay teams ; only about 2000 marathoners but I think they said on Sunday there 800 runners total
It's a really great race.
Personally it was about 10 minutes slower than my Fall marathon ; I was quite disappointed in my performance. It was my first out of five marathons where my time didn't improve, so it's a bit of a setback for me
There's a tough hill at mile 16 ; that's where the Taiko drummers hand out.
Lots of relay teams ; only about 2000 marathoners but I think they said on Sunday there 800 runners total
It's a really great race.
Personally it was about 10 minutes slower than my Fall marathon ; I was quite disappointed in my performance. It was my first out of five marathons where my time didn't improve, so it's a bit of a setback for me
Hey all.
So, I think I came down with IT Band Syndrome recently; I start out running fine, and then a couple miles into it I get a sharp pain on the outside of my right knee. If I stop and walk it kind of fades, but it comes back. I rested for a few days, ran again this morning, and it came back again.
I had signed up for a marathon in early October; never run one before. My Novice training program was set to begin next week, but now it looks like I have to put that on hold for at least a week while I foam roll, stretch, and do some resistance band workouts to strengthen my thighs.
What's the minimum amount of time I need to train for the marathon and not have it be a fool's errand? I was running 5 miles pretty easily until my IT Band flared up last week.
I really hope I'm not boned on this; I was really looking forward to a summer of training and running the fucking thing. It would be my first.
So, I think I came down with IT Band Syndrome recently; I start out running fine, and then a couple miles into it I get a sharp pain on the outside of my right knee. If I stop and walk it kind of fades, but it comes back. I rested for a few days, ran again this morning, and it came back again.
I had signed up for a marathon in early October; never run one before. My Novice training program was set to begin next week, but now it looks like I have to put that on hold for at least a week while I foam roll, stretch, and do some resistance band workouts to strengthen my thighs.
What's the minimum amount of time I need to train for the marathon and not have it be a fool's errand? I was running 5 miles pretty easily until my IT Band flared up last week.
I really hope I'm not boned on this; I was really looking forward to a summer of training and running the fucking thing. It would be my first.
Drleather ; I had a bout with IT band syndrome a few years ago. If you have a foam roller that can really help. I'm not a fan of massages but a lot of IT sufferers swear by them. And stretch, stretch, stretch. You can find a bunch of really good stretches to target the problem online.
For example : http://b-reddy.org/2012/03/04/the-best-damn-it-band-stretch-ever/
For example : http://b-reddy.org/2012/03/04/the-best-damn-it-band-stretch-ever/
So two things happened yesterday that seem noteworthy enough to toss out to the fellow Running Dogs...
I completed the dreaded 20-miler training run - the apex of my marathon training. It was fairly miserable but not terrible... by that I mean there are times in a run that are just plain misery and covering 20 miles is chock full of those moments. I did find myself "through the veil" several times where my mind and body were just going at a decent clip for big chunks of time and distance. That made me happy. And by "not terrible," I really mean that I am pretty sure I'll be able to muscle through another 10km in three weeks, come race time. I was beat at the end of this run, but not defeated... had it not been for the 2 R.E.P.s at miles 8 and 20, I probably could have (maybe even would have) gone another mile or two just for good measure.
Secondly, that 20 miles put my total (since I started running and tracking my progress after quitting smoking in Sept. 2012) miles over the 1,000 mark. Now, I don't profess to being Forrest Gump by any stretch, but it's a nice round, milestone number any way.
My knees feel like they're bruised on the inside today (because they basically are, right?)...
I am thrilled to officially be in taper-mode... 5-8-4 & 12 will seem like a damn vacation compared to the 40+ miles I ran last week.
I completed the dreaded 20-miler training run - the apex of my marathon training. It was fairly miserable but not terrible... by that I mean there are times in a run that are just plain misery and covering 20 miles is chock full of those moments. I did find myself "through the veil" several times where my mind and body were just going at a decent clip for big chunks of time and distance. That made me happy. And by "not terrible," I really mean that I am pretty sure I'll be able to muscle through another 10km in three weeks, come race time. I was beat at the end of this run, but not defeated... had it not been for the 2 R.E.P.s at miles 8 and 20, I probably could have (maybe even would have) gone another mile or two just for good measure.
Secondly, that 20 miles put my total (since I started running and tracking my progress after quitting smoking in Sept. 2012) miles over the 1,000 mark. Now, I don't profess to being Forrest Gump by any stretch, but it's a nice round, milestone number any way.
My knees feel like they're bruised on the inside today (because they basically are, right?)...
I am thrilled to officially be in taper-mode... 5-8-4 & 12 will seem like a damn vacation compared to the 40+ miles I ran last week.