The Official Thread for Runners

[Pheidippides]

Are you planning to stop running altogether for a while or just back off for a while?

Stop altogether but swim for as much time as it would take me to run the scheduled mileage.

[Eddie]

I'm out of running for the next month at least. Ran 20 on Saturday and destroyed my left lower calf. Nothing major - still thinking soleus strain - but I'm going to swimming until the marathon just to be sure. Body needs some time to heal after what I've put it through.

That SUCKS! Though it sounds like you've got a good plan in place to be ready for the race.

I have to admit that I still get nervous that something is going to happen in my leg to mess things up when it is going well. It seems like I always feel some kind of ghost tightness where I've had injuries in the past that make me question if they are coming back.

It has got to be a bonus that through the last couple of years of running you seem to have gotten to know your body well enough to know what it needs, how serious the hurt is, what to do to remedy it, etc. Takes a lot of work to gain that kind of awareness.

[Sea Chicken]

Last year I rolled my ankle less than two weeks before Top of Utah. I was a nervous wreck. I think the wife and kids were ready to kick me out of the house.

[Pheidippides]

Ankle is feeling much better today. Still some soreness but greatly reduced. I could run 5 miles on it. It would be really stupid, but I could do it.

I swam a mile straight last night (I'm kind of proud of this, as I'm a crappy swimmer) and that really loosened it up.

[Eddie]

I'm starting to feel better and better about where I am and continuing to improve.

Went 10 miles this morning.

First 8 I went at 8:30 per - I kind of decided that this would be my race pace, so I've been training with that in mind.

I like to finish up with a kick, so at mile 9 I sped up to a 7:30 pace. Still felt good, but breathing a little harder.

Then finished with a 6:25 pace for mile 10.

Breathing heavy at the end, and I can feel it a little in my legs right now - I'll need to stretch out good tonight. I've got a 20 mile run ahead of me for Saturday - but I'm feeling really good about where I'm at and excited for the upcoming race.

[Sea Chicken]

I'm starting to feel better and better about where I am and continuing to improve.

Went 10 miles this morning.

First 8 I went at 8:30 per - I kind of decided that this would be my race pace, so I've been training with that in mind.

I like to finish up with a kick, so at mile 9 I sped up to a 7:30 pace. Still felt good, but breathing a little harder.

Then finished with a 6:25 pace for mile 10.

Breathing heavy at the end, and I can feel it a little in my legs right now - I'll need to stretch out good tonight. I've got a 20 mile run ahead of me for Saturday - but I'm feeling really good about where I'm at and excited for the upcoming race.

Well done. Good luck on Saturday. My last long run will be on Wednesday evening.

[OhioBlue]

5k today--30 degrees and snow at the start. Rad.

Ran a good race and came in 8 overall out of 521. Figured for sure I was gonna take home some hardware...


...until I noticed I was 5th in my age group. Turns out a bunch of other 35-39ers dominated the top 10 as well. One was third overall, so I technically slid up to 4th. There were literally just two of the overall top 25 who didn't take home any prize--me and another guy in my age group.

Oh well, it's not about that it's about beating your own times and goals, and I did that today. Feeling good.

[Eddie]

5k today--30 degrees and snow at the start. Rad.

Ran a good race and came in 8 overall out of 521. Figured for sure I was gonna take home some hardware...


...until I noticed I was 5th in my age group. Turns out a bunch of other 35-39ers dominated the top 10 as well. One was third overall, so I technically slid up to 4th. There were literally just two of the overall top 25 who didn't take home any prize--me and another guy in my age group.

Oh well, it's not about that it's about beating your own times and goals, and I did that today. Feeling good.

Nice Race! In all honesty - I've noticed that once you hit about 35-40 all these dang mid-life-crisis folks start working out and racing - and killing it. In the local sprint tri's that I've gone to it is about like you describe - half of the top 10 finishers overall are all in that 35-45 age range.

Maybe that's why I like hovering right about 200 lbs - then I get to be fat too and stand a chance...

[Eddie]

Niku - I noticed on the biking thread you mentioned maintaining a 90/minute cadence when running and increasing/decreasing speed with stride length.

At that cadence, what is your most comfortable slow speed and your most comfortable fast speed? Just curious about range when maintaining a candence.

Did my longest training run today - tapering starts next week. It was tough keeping it slow enough the first half of the run, and I kind of gave in to it a little the second half. Just isn't completely comfortable running too slow.

[Pheidippides]

Niku - I noticed on the biking thread you mentioned maintaining a 90/minute cadence when running and increasing/decreasing speed with stride length.

At that cadence, what is your most comfortable slow speed and your most comfortable fast speed? Just curious about range when maintaining a candence.

Did my longest training run today - tapering starts next week. It was tough keeping it slow enough the first half of the run, and I kind of gave in to it a little the second half. Just isn't completely comfortable running too slow.

Honestly, it's all the same to me now. I keep that cadence without even thinking about it - every so often I count, but I'm always right there. At first, though, it was hard to do both at fast and at slow speeds. Harder at slow speeds, though. I didn't do it naturally at any speed, but I first started working on it at about an 8:30 pace, which was my marathon pace at the time.

[Eddie]

...At first, though, it was hard to do both at fast and at slow speeds. Harder at slow speeds, though. I didn't do it naturally at any speed, but I first started working on it at about an 8:30 pace, which was my marathon pace at the time.

That's what I was thinking. I haven't worried much about it, but counted a couple of times today while I was running. I noticed that it is very natural/comfortable at an 8:30 pace - which is my target. And it feels pretty good from 7:30 up to about 9:15. but I struggle to keep that same cadence if I'm running 9:30.

And if I'm going much faster than 7:30 I start the heavy breathing and can't track my cadence anyway.

[Joe Public]

For anyone who runs in Kinvaras:

I tried on a pair at the store on Saturday, and they felt great. However, the toe area was too tight. The tightness is below the lace area, so adjusting the lacing didn't do anything. I tried on a 12, and the store didn't have a size 13 to try. I think it would be too big of a jump, and the manufacturer doesn't make half-sizes in that range.

My question is this: does the Kinvara stretch at all? Based on the materials, I don't imagine it would very much. They aren't leather basketball shoes. The shoes were exactly what I am looking for, so I thought it's worth a shot to ask.

Also, are any other shoes out there comparable in feel and heel/toe drop?

[Pheidippides]

For anyone who runs in Kinvaras:

I tried on a pair at the store on Saturday, and they felt great. However, the toe area was too tight. The tightness is below the lace area, so adjusting the lacing didn't do anything. I tried on a 12, and the store didn't have a size 13 to try. I think it would be too big of a jump, and the manufacturer doesn't make half-sizes in that range.

My question is this: does the Kinvara stretch at all? Based on the materials, I don't imagine it would very much. They aren't leather basketball shoes. The shoes were exactly what I am looking for, so I thought it's worth a shot to ask.

Also, are any other shoes out there comparable in feel and heel/toe drop?

I have also complained about the Kinvara toebox being too narrow. I think they need to widen it a bit. I haven't had major issues running in them - it's just a feel thing at this point.

[falafel]

For anyone who runs in Kinvaras:

I tried on a pair at the store on Saturday, and they felt great. However, the toe area was too tight. The tightness is below the lace area, so adjusting the lacing didn't do anything. I tried on a 12, and the store didn't have a size 13 to try. I think it would be too big of a jump, and the manufacturer doesn't make half-sizes in that range.

My question is this: does the Kinvara stretch at all? Based on the materials, I don't imagine it would very much. They aren't leather basketball shoes. The shoes were exactly what I am looking for, so I thought it's worth a shot to ask.

Also, are any other shoes out there comparable in feel and heel/toe drop?

I have a pair, but I've only done a few short runs in them. The toe box feels good to me, and I've got what I consider to be a pretty wide toe "area". But if it feels too tight for you, then its too tight.

Maybe look at the new balance minimalist?

[Joe Public]

I have also complained about the Kinvara toebox being too narrow. I think they need to widen it a bit. I haven't had major issues running in them - it's just a feel thing at this point.

I have a pair, but I've only done a few short runs in them. The toe box feels good to me, and I've got what I consider to be a pretty wide toe "area". But if it feels too tight for you, then its too tight.

Maybe look at the new balance minimalist?

Thanks for the thoughts. If it's just a matter of feel and my toes can spread fully, then I am still interested in the shoe.

I went to the Saucony website to verify the salesperson's information on half sizes. She was right about the Kinvaras. However, she didn't mention (maybe she didn't know) that the Kinvara 2 launches this month. Coincidentally, the Kinvara 2 comes in a size 12.5. I think I will wait a couple of weeks - or whenever it is the Kinvara 2 hits the stores - and see if the 12.5 is a better fit.