runners | Weekly check-in on a Friday? Inconceivable!

In June I ran a total of 50K (walking portions of run/walks not included!), which I realize is ridiculously little for most runners, but it was the highest total for me ever, spread out on highest total of runs ever as well, 11!

And a PR on 8K (still the longest stretch I've run without stopping to walk), 00:47:40.

Also very recently I learned yet another exciting running lesson on my own body: NOTHING NEW ON RACE DAY.* Huh, people weren't just joking about that - who knew! Very relatedly, runner's trots, not so nice to meet you, for a while it looked like we might become a little too well acquainted! Crisis averted by accepting I had to stop and walk and get a terrible finishing time. Oh, well, prettier than the alternative.

* Of all the stupid things a person could eat 1½ hour before a race, how does fish strike you…

Haha, the nothing new on race day is a well-known rule; too bad you had to learn it first-hand. And congrats again on your monthly records.

I ran for the first time in three months yesterday! 15 minutes walking, 5 minutes running, 5 minutes walking, 5 minutes running, and then walked home, for a total of just under an hour. It really sucked to see how out of shape I am despite all the xt I've been doing while injured (metatarsal stress fracture, for those who have forgotten). But I am (slowly) back on the road to recovery.

I know it's a well-known rule :oD - I just had the notion it didn't really apply to me on that day, *headdesk*.

Injuries are so depressing - but on the road to recovery is better than … the road of not recovering.

A bit of fish doesn't seem like a horrible choice that amount of time before the race; I'm sorry your digestive system didn't think so!

Congrats on the personal bests :)

*applause*

It really is inspiring to me to see other people making slow careful progress. Thanks for commenting!

Well, I thought about running.

Which ain't nothing. Especially since I've been thinking hard about how I set goals for the sort of things one does regularly or (ideally) daily like meditation and qigong and practicing my breathing. I don't do those things daily. Well, there was a period when I did qigong and yoga daily, but my mornings sort of revolved around managing to do those.

So, I'm thinking about how I can get back into running without giving up as soon as I set a goal. And I think the way to do it would be to wait longer. Especially wait to get my meds to the right dosage, because then both my mood and my energy will be better and more reliable.

Also, the weather is in the high 80s/low 90s during the day and humid. Uuuurgh. And I hate treadmill running and don't belong to a gym right now and can't afford a gym membership at the moment - hopefully that'll also come when the meds are doing their thing I can work again.

So, I remain a once-and-future runner.

I've finally gotten into a decent running groove (during the hottest month of the year -- yuck). I run at least 3 miles every other day before work. I've just transitioned from a PM runner to an AM runner, which is great for my boss, (I no longer want to chuck my tea/instant oatmeal at her when she passes my desk). Ah, exercise high.

Recently, I vacationed in a locale with hills (the closest thing to a hill in my neighborhood is a crawfish chimney). I ran the incline for two days (short vacation) and came away with some seriously pissed calves. I ran through the soreness yesterday, (went away after the 2nd mile), but took the day off today in preparation for a long run tomorrow. The soreness has subsided (after vigorous stretching), thank goodness! Can anyone relate? I don't want to cause myself injury -- I could use your advice!

Your lament about runner's trots had me teetering at the edge of a "OMG WTF STFU" moment. The horror! I can absolutely relate to that "stop and walk" aversion strategy. There are times when I purposely scout out public restrooms along my route in case of just such an emergency. I realize this comment is totally gross, but trots are so rude!

Bravo on 50k! I'm pretty envious of your 8k. Aside from seafood, is there something you'd recommend eating before a long run to help keep your energy levels high?

I know it's frustrating to have to recoup so much of your conditioning, but it sounds like you're making great progress! With another 5 minutes running, you'll be 50/50! I admire you for not allowing your injury to discourage you.

I ran about 20 miles last week. Which, considering that it's routinely been high-80s low-90s, with comparable humidity, here in Kyoto, I'm proud of. Particularly since I've been doing about 4 miles in about 35 minutes.

I know many people who push themselves too hard and end up failing to achieve their goals. I'm guilty of that myself. I think it's especially easy to do this with exercise. It sounds like your meds are your priority, which makes sense to me. Maybe once you get your meds on track, (and once the season changes from Hades to Somewhat Normal [and you don't have to worry about breathing boatloads of water while running -- I also live in a pit of humidity]), you'll be ready to hit the road! Whatever you decide to do, we'll be here to cheer you on.

A bit of fish had probably been fine - I had four (a lot so close to race time) prefabricated "fish meatballs" with all the additives that entails.

Either way, those fishy burbs really aren't very charming when you're running in the heat - just for that, I don't imagine I'll have fish before a race again :oD

Thanks!

I'm glad I stopped and walked - I shudder to think what would have happened if I'd kept going. I hope it's entirely due to the crap (ha ha…) choice of dinner + amount + too close to race time, and not something I'm bound to experience on most for-me-longer runs.

is there something you'd recommend eating before a long run to help keep your energy levels high?
I have a somewhat vague understanding that runners don't really consider runs up to about 10K long enough to worry particularly about energy levels (or fluids, for that matter), but

ilanarama will be able to weigh in with more authority.

When I do for-me-longer runs, it's mostly on the weekends sometime before lunch - my breakfast is a sizable portion of müsli with a whole banana chopped and mixed in + 2% greek yoghurt. It's what I have for breakfast every day, and I love it, and it's very filling and fulfilling.

Waiting until your meds are properly sorted out sounds like a good idea.

I hate treadmills, too - I'm all clumsy and uncomfortable on them. And I too often see people assume everybody can afford gym memberships or, even more ridiculously, personal trainers, and it annoys me, to put it mildly!

I'd love to get into running every other day, but it seems like so much work D:

Last summer I ran in the mornings a fair amount, but I've gotten out of that habit. Considering how not-well I do with running in the sun in summer, I should get back into that habit. Right now I'm toying with the idea of going for a relaxed but 12K 4/1 run/walk around 4 pm this afternoon, when it'll be sunny. That's probably not going to work at all :oD !

(But I would like to test whether it would be at all realistic for me to walk/run a ½-marathon in under 2:30 by later August. When I look at my current running numbers, it seems like it should be doable, but I have an inkling theory and practice may be very far apart in my case. So whether I can even run/walk 12K at this point would be a better indication.)

I live in a completely flat area, too, with just a very small artificially created hill in a nearby green area. I'm working up to doing some hill ~~sprints~~ runs on that, as it's supposed to be good for you - but yes, I'd pace myself and not do too many to begin with, since I'm not used to hills at all.

I think it's perfectly possible to do oneself injuries on hills if overdoing it, but since my main problem with running is pushing myself enough, I'm not a likely candidate for it. You may be more competitive, and so should be very aware of pacing yourself :o)

20 miles in one week - I can't even comprehend that; go you!

If I really really wanted I could spring for a YMCA membership, but this month I decided to do a Theatre of the Oppressed workshop. As for a personal trainer: I wish! And maybe someday I'll have the time, money, *and* the spoons.

Treadmills are just so friggin boring, is my thing. I'd like to try intervals on them, though.

Thank you for this comment. Like, really, a lot.

Hurray for making running a habit! And for getting it out of the way as soon as possible ;)

Well done for running through the heat, and congrats on 20 miles in a week :)

I would love to run in Kyoto! Do you follow any interesting routes? Way to go on completing 20 miles in a week. Your pace is kick ass!

Well, I live up in the northeastern part of the city, so basically I make a triangle: east down Shirakawa Sosui-doori to the river, south down the Takano-gawa and around to where it joins the Kamogawa, north back up the Kamo-gawa to Kitaooji, and east up Kitaooji back to my apartment. Most people I know run the river at whatever part of it for all or part of their route, it's always a bit cooler than the streets and it's mostly unpaved, plus there's tons of wildlife. Also small dogs who sometimes try to run at you, but what can you do.

Thanks! I was impressed myself.

NYC is hot, sticky, and humid right now. Even early in the morning, the sun is a total killer. I was pretty ill for several months in the spring and didn't run very much (twice, thrice a week overall) and so now when I'm trying to do it every day, it's a struggle in the summer sun. I feel like I never got used to it warming up and now it's too hot for comfort. I like running in freezing cold better!

I fly out to San Francisco quite often and love running there - the weather is pretty consistent year-round, 50s-60s (somewhere around 10-15 C) and yeah, there are hills there, but it's not humid and the sun doesn't make you want to melt into a puddle of goo on the sidewalk. :)

Twice, thrice a week is more than I run when I am well, so I'm impressed!

I much prefer cold weather to hot and humid, too!

Yeah, you really don't need to eat anything special (and in fact, should just follow your usual eating plan). In general you want complex carbs, some protein, not too much fiber or fat.

Weekly check-in on a Friday? Inconceivable!

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