The Official Thread for Runners

[Eddie]

By the way, I have decided that I'm not going to race with music again. I ran this race without so much as a note from my iPod. Instead I listened to the rhythm of twenty thousand feet around me, of the parks as we went through, of the mexican cultural dancing and music with bright dresses at mile 6, of the Hawaiian sounds at mile 8, of the announcer in Angels Stadium, and of more cheerleaders and heart-felt but off-key high school bands than I can count. That musical track was much more energizing than anything I can put on a playlist. I am glad I chose to do that this time.

I'll still train with my music but racing is a different thing.

Strongly agree. I left the iPod in the hotel room and didn't regret it for a moment. Listening to all the sounds and high-fiving dozens, probably hundreds, of cheerleaders, dancers and scouts while running through Anaheim and Angels Stadium, provided a huge and hilarious boost.

Particularly on shorter runs - maybe anything under about 5-6 miles - I've run quite a bit without music. Running early in the morning, I tend to enjoy the silence and just the sound of my feet on the road. But as the distance lengthens, I like the music to distract my mind from being tired or sore.

The only races I've run - like Ogden - have very few spectators outside of the half way mark and the last quarter mile or so. A couple of the aid stations had music - but most did not.

I may try running some longer distances without music to see how it goes - but I don't see going without entirely unless some day I'm in a race with music and spectators along the length of the course.

My last race I had a play list specifically for the last 6 miles that was the perfect tempo for my cadence. It was awesome - both knowing I was on the last six miles and having the tempo help maintain and even push cadence.

I guess I'm just saying I admire those that run without - but I'm not sure I could do it.

[BigPiney]

Particularly on shorter runs - maybe anything under about 5-6 miles - I've run quite a bit without music. Running early in the morning, I tend to enjoy the silence and just the sound of my feet on the road. But as the distance lengthens, I like the music to distract my mind from being tired or sore.

The only races I've run - like Ogden - have very few spectators outside of the half way mark and the last quarter mile or so. A couple of the aid stations had music - but most did not.

I may try running some longer distances without music to see how it goes - but I don't see going without entirely unless some day I'm in a race with music and spectators along the length of the course.

My last race I had a play list specifically for the last 6 miles that was the perfect tempo for my cadence. It was awesome - both knowing I was on the last six miles and having the tempo help maintain and even push cadence.

I guess I'm just saying I admire those that run without - but I'm not sure I could do it.

I have been debating what I will do for my upcoming venture into the world of marathoning. I tend to run with music all the time, and I can't imagine going over 3 hours and some odd without. But I do like being able to talk to people if they are being conversational.

[ERCougar]

PR'ed in my half marathon today. 1:32!

And 59 seconds. But I'm rounding down.

[Joe Public]

PR'ed in my half marathon today. 1:32!

And 59 seconds. But I'm rounding down.

Nice!

[OhioBlue]

PR'ed in my half marathon today. 1:32!

And 59 seconds. But I'm rounding down.

wow, that's crazy fast. Nice work!

[ERCougar]

wow, that's crazy fast. Nice work!

Thanks, but you know Cedar Canyon. The race organizer said this is the 2nd fastest course in America. If I flatten it out and put it at sea level, it changes to about a 1:36.

I'm still happy with it though. I ran the Red Rock way too hard last weekend and have been sore all week. With a smarter taper and a few more form tweaks, I could cut a little more off, but not much--this is about what my body can do.

You really need to move back down here. Or at least, run this race--I think you'd smoke it.

[SteelBlue]

PR'ed in my half marathon today. 1:32!

And 59 seconds. But I'm rounding down.

Excellent!

[Parrot Head]

Impressive, ER!

My wife decided she might want to consider a half marathon sometime soon so she's been increasing her distance and I decided to do the same, though I don't know that I'm ready for a half yet. So last Saturday, she bumped up from 7 miles to 8 and then to 9 yesterday.

I finally ran 10k last Saturday (with my previous best being 5.5). That felt pretty good and I could have gone further if not for a primary meeting that she had to attend. So today I was felling pretty good too, and pushed that 6.2 to 8.5 and knocked 2 minutes off my 6.2 time without even trying.

It's amazing to me how much of it is a mental game and trying not allow myself to think about the distance or the potential aches. I tried to zone out and did that as much as possible by trying to name the teams in the major leagues. I'm still missing an NBA team and a couple of NHL teams. I do love the nice high afterwards, though!

[OhioBlue]

Thanks, but you know Cedar Canyon. The race organizer said this is the 2nd fastest course in America. If I flatten it out and put it at sea level, it changes to about a 1:36.

Oh, well, in that case I'm unimpressed. That 3 minutes and change you gained from the downhill just can't be overstated.



Whatevs, ER. You're awesome. Own it.

I'm still happy with it though. I ran the Red Rock way too hard last weekend and have been sore all week. With a smarter taper and a few more form tweaks, I could cut a little more off, but not much--this is about what my body can do.

You really need to move back down here. Or at least, run this race--I think you'd smoke it.

I would really like to one of these years. Right now I'm just trying to get myself healthy again in time to make the Snow Canyon Half in November. I'm already registered, but I'll be missing some time with a repetitive stress injury in my left leg. Maybe next year on the Cedar City one. Would definitely be fun to do.

[Sea Chicken]

PR'ed in my half marathon today. 1:32!

And 59 seconds. But I'm rounding down.

Well done!

[PaloAltoCougar]

I've dialed it down a bit with the running, having done the half two weeks ago. But I went this morning for a short 5K and was surprised/pleased to have done it at an 8:39/mile pace. That's hardly noteworthy among all the runners around here, but for a geezer who hadn't run much at all until the past two years, it's pleasing to see some improvement.

Question for the runners: I do some form of exercise six days a week. I'm trying to balance running with weight training and cycling. If I run only twice a week (say, a 5K and a 10K), would that be enough to at least maintain the modest level of running fitness I've attained?

[Eddie]

I've dialed it down a bit with the running, having done the half two weeks ago. But I went this morning for a short 5K and was surprised/pleased to have done it at an 8:39/mile pace. That's hardly noteworthy among all the runners around here, but for a geezer who hadn't run much at all until the past two years, it's pleasing to see some improvement.

Question for the runners: I do some form of exercise six days a week. I'm trying to balance running with weight training and cycling. If I run only twice a week (say, a 5K and a 10K), would that be enough to at least maintain the modest level of running fitness I've attained?

I would think that running a couple of times a week would help you maintain something. Particularly if you are still exercising the other days - including cardio on the bike.

When I trained for the marathon this past spring I started out with an aggressive program that included running 5 days a week. I pulled something the first month and ended cutting back to a program that was just 3 days a week. And in spite of that I had a great race.

If I can race on 3 days of running a week, I would think that two days a week would be OK for maintenance.

[cowboy]

After reading Born To Run I decided that I wouldn't stress about new shoes every 300 miles, and as a result, I have been running on the same three pair of shoes for over two years now. In that time, I've trained for three marathons, and I've run all three races in the same pair of shoes. Considering my slower than normal recovery, I'm starting to thing that was a mistake. Over a week later, I can still feel it in my calves, and I wonder if I should have broken down and bought a new pair of shoes for the run. The pair I ran in is super comfortable, but there is a noticeable lack of cushion in them, even when I walk, and the tread is nearly worn through. I think it's time to buy a new pair, at least for races.

[falafel]

Did you also modify your strike?

[Moliere]

Leg is still good. I ran 3 miles tonight and am on pace for a 10 mile week. I need to get a good base under me in the next 3 months so I can start the Hal Higdon training program for the Ogden marathon.

Does anyone here use compression when they run? I wore a Zensa leg compression thing tonight on my left leg and it seemed to help a bit. I've been having some pains in the muscles/tendons (not sure which?) even with stretching so I thought I'd try it out. The leg felt great after the run so I'm considering using it all the time.