ILX running running thread

Shoes for racing on flat mountains? Those look nice! My off-road shoes are Inov-8 too, they're great. You're right that they're minimal, a couple of folks I know can't get on with them because they're really low at the heel.

how often do yall replace ur running shoes btb

I don't really have a scientific way of doing this, I just change them when they start feeling dead. Some folks say you should do it when the midsole (i.e. the foam bit between the upper and the tread) starts looking wrinkled, cos that's a sign that it's breaking down. Dunno if that's right or not.

Just got back from a really shitty run by the way, 22 miles in the fucking dark, up and down the seafront twice, so tedious and it was pretty cold and windy too. Had run out of gels and all we had left in the house was chocolate biscuits, which might sound great, but they're pretty indigestible when you're running, I could hardly swallow them at all. Blew up so badly after 20, legs were cramping all over the place, had to walk the last mile. Damn.

At least you have the feeling of being incredibly hardcore to comfort you, right?

I tend to replace my running shoes when one of the seams starts giving me blisters (I always get the same pair), last ones lasted 9 months and I've had the current ones 8 so far. They're pretty heavily cushioned though, I'm wondering if it would be good for my form to get something lighter or if I just shouldn't mess with what's working.

ive had mine for like 18 months?

I don't do trails, but I wear these:

http://di1.shopping.com/images1/pi/dd/91/bd/80893392-250x250-0-0_Adidas+Adidas+adiSTAR+Ride+Men+s+Shoes+Wh+Phan+Sun.jpg

I pretty much love them. I am not a fan of minimal, low cushioning shoes. These make it feel like I'm running on marshmallows. In a good way. Currently these are at 383 miles, and I'm itching to get a new pair. Probably will do so soon. More distressing though is my custom insoles are starting to break down. My health insurance only covers one pair a year and I've only had these six months.

22 miles in that weather is fucking fantastic. Well, it sounds miserable, but great that you knocked it out.

It was a balmy 38 degrees out today and I got 6.2 miles in. My February mileage total is higher than I was in December and January, but still too embarrassing to mention. I feel like I'm going to have a strong March.

the weather today was dreamy! this is my ideal running weather. no gloves necessary, but cool enough that i don't get overheated.

This week I did 3 runs of 7-8 miles each, which was OK. 55-65 minutes each time. 38 degrees, snow in the park. Felt workmanlike, and I was more pleased to have completed the run than I was happy at the time. Felt a little heavy / burpy / sloggish. Sometimes it's just like that. Ipod got me through.

I keep my shoes for longer than I should. 2 years? But I have 3 pairs that I rotate (with no good logic or system). As important to me are socks: I only use Therlos, and have maybe 8 pairs. For winter I run in Nike full length trousers, some kind of wicking shirt, then a sweatshirt over that. Hat n gloves. 2nd set of gloves in my sweatshirt pocket. I never carry a drink or gel, since the length of my run (up to 90 mins) never seems to require it. Is this similar to other northern hemisphere winter runners?

how often do yall replace ur running shoes btb

It's hard to "replace" them because I'm currently rotating through I think seven pairs -- three INOV-8s for trail running (one's lightweight, one more rugged for rocky terrain, and a third with huge sticky rubber lugs for muddy/wet weather), three road shoes (New Balance and Pearl Izumi pairs for longer runs, and a super-light INOV-8 road shoe for speedwork) and then a pair of Vibram Five Fingers that I bust out every week or so. The INOV-8s I wore today are at 12 miles, the NB road shoes are hovering around 500-ish, and the rest are somewhere in between. I don't ever replace my shoes, I just wear them less frequently and on shorter, less demanding runs as they get older. Imagine if a pair broke down completely or started to fall apart, I'd put 'em in the trash heap, but I've not had that happen yet, really. Eventually my shoes just fall into very infrequent rotation and that's that!

As important to me are socks:

I'm not picky on runs up to half-marathon distance, I'll just throw on a regular old pair, but on anything over 15 miles I'll generally wear Injinji toe socks. Very good at preventing blisters -- I've worn them on my two full marathons this year and walked away completely blister-free after each.

I never carry a drink or gel, since the length of my run (up to 90 mins) never seems to require it.

I carry a handheld bottle over 5-6 miles, don't use gels unless I'm going 2 hours or longer... but I likely sweat a good bit more down in Texas than you northerners.

They're pretty heavily cushioned though, I'm wondering if it would be good for my form to get something lighter or if I just shouldn't mess with what's working.

Maria, I think you should mainly stick with what's working well for you... but if you do decide to get a lighter, less cushioned pair, I would suggest rotating them into your runs once a week, or every 4-5 runs, so that your legs can adapt properly.

I only wear smartwool socks. Love them, wear them for business/casual/sports.

I hydrate frequently. In the winter when all the water fountains are turned off, I'll run with a 4 bottle belt if I'm going anywhere near 8 miles. I get so parched.

I wore shorts on my run today! First time in months I haven't done the tights.

thorlos tennis socks are really great. i have abt a dozen pairs but im really lazy abt doing laundry

10K yesterday - shit time, but feel good today.

tonight 3.5 miles, with an upper target of 45 mins. you are all kinda awesome, with yr 8 miles this and 22 miles that. some day!

Good luck!

Still feel wasted today after my long run, so horrific. Had some water when I got back, then threw up, had a bath, fell asleep on the bathroom floor. Planning on doing a couple more like that before the marathon in April, oh what joys await...

i'll be training for the next 3 months to run half of one of your training runs!

First 30k of the season in four weeks. Leg soreness going away from this weekend's 18 miles running (6 Sat, 12 Sun). Planning to go 4, 6, 4 the next three evenings, take Friday off, then likely do 6 Sat, 14 Sun or so. But it's all variable depending how I feel when I'm actually out there on my feet.

In other news... I'm considering the possibility of a 50 miler this fall/winter season. Wonder if I could train for one, given about six months of building up to progressively longer runs...

It's taken me over a year to build up to that though, and I'd done a fair bit a few years ago...

x-post

Fell asleep on the bathroom floor?? Wow.
Ran for the first time in four months or so yesterday. Plan on taking running seriously this time round (last time I regularly trained was 2.5 years ago...). Did 3.5 km. Man when you start running again after such a long time you really feel where the weight on your body has been added :)

In other news... I'm considering the possibility of a 50 miler this fall/winter season. Wonder if I could train for one, given about six months of building up to progressively longer runs...

I was kind of thinking about that too and um... what about raising some money in memory of Bimble??

Interesting idea, and possibly great. Also involves me actually taking my 50 mile pledge seriously, and I'm still in my infancy as far as seriously considering putting myself through the training.

What do you think?

Also involves me actually taking my 50 mile pledge seriously

^ this, but also it's good to do stuff for a bigger cause. It's a shame to put in all that effort with only a t-shirt and a space blanket to show for it, eh? In August, it'll be a year since Bimble died - maybe it'd be good to raise some funds for a mental health charity? Like you though, I'm still hesitating on committing myself.

Will gladly sponsor Jeff for Chicago though.

(no pressure!)

i'm sorry but i laughed at the post where you wanted to raise money for a mental health charity and also hesitated to commit yourself

really, though, this is a nice idea. i am way not into racing/setting goals for myself, but i would donate some money and clap a lot.

Ha! Think I'm gonna mull it over, but if anyone else wants in for any kind of distance goal...

hate to think itll be a year so soon

Yeah, I know. The Cocteau's came on the iPod on the run home - it's a sign!

4.8km in 38 mins, but kept up a slow jog for 80% of it this time. enough of an improvement that i'm looking forward to tomorrow night already.

V. nice!

the hope is that in 3 months time i'll be cringing at these times, but feel pretty f-in amazing right now just to be able to go near enough 5k at a jog and not really be out of breath. long run at the weekend (hope to get in maybe 5 miles) will be a teller. starting to believe that the half marathon in july is a realistic target, which is great.

back to back mon/tues 45 minute/4 mile-or-so jogs with the dog through melting snowbanks ankle to knee high; feet soaked through by the first third each time. memorable moments! good times!

i've got my mutt out there with me too -- he is SO excited to be back doing his dog jogs.
i hear the weather is going to be 40-50 in chicago this weekend! excited.

the hope is that in 3 months time i'll be cringing at these times

Well you shouldn't, cos doing 40 minutes of running in week two is bloody great. Top man!

:) Ta. If I can keep that pace tonight I'll be delighted.

Legs still sore from Sunday's 12 miler in what are essentially trail racing flats, I headed out for 4 easy miles last night. It's amazing how one can be sore before a run, sore after a run, then wake up the next day and feel fantastic. Never ceases to amaze me. Sore from running? Well, shit... go run and you'll feel better!

signed up for a 10k on may 1st, nice little tester.

Rock 'n' roll!

tumble, roll, get back to feet, examine for damage, wheeze onwards tbh.

You speak too soon. I have a feeling it'll be a great race for you. I advise you run comfortably, don't kill yourself, just enjoy the distance and let the chips fall where they may. Distance first priority, speed second.

yeah that's the plan in a big way. i've put it in the schedule as a good halfway point tester and something to go for in the short term to keep me focused, and finishing it won't be a problem by that stage (i hope).

Yeah, should keep you motivated and it should help take the edge off any nerves too.

Good luck!

ilxor is correct regarding the priority. I have a hard time with 8 and 10K's. Even though I run that distance frequently in training, every time I get in a race situation I always want to go as fast as I can and end up being miserable the whole race.

cheers guys. It's on my local patch, so I know to conserve energy for the last 2.5 km, which is no joke gonna be a mad sprint past vicious sheepdogs. i reckon this will catch many by surprise.

Marathon training question. So I will start my official marathon training in June. Should I run an half marathon race sometime before the big one? There are two in Chicago, on 8/1 and 9/12. I know I will frequently be running that distance in training, but is it advisable to throw in a race?

well i feel fully qualified in saying i dunno

a mad sprint past vicious sheepdogs

Now we're talking.

these sheepdogs know my scent of old, this may or may not be a factor on the day

Marathon training question. So I will start my official marathon training in June. Should I run an half marathon race sometime before the big one? There are two in Chicago, on 8/1 and 9/12. I know I will frequently be running that distance in training, but is it advisable to throw in a race?

I've done this before and it works great, as long as you don't overextend yourself and get injured and sidelined. This past season I ran a half in October, 25k (15.5 miles) in November, then a marathon in January, and it worked great for me -- but I was careful not to kill myself in the shorter races.

The year prior, I ran a half in January, three weeks prior to my first marathon, and ended up with a strained quadricep (the half was mostly downhill), so I was sidelined for two weeks and rested most of the third anyway (marathon week). Restrained the muscle in the full marathon and had to walk in the last five miles or so.

So, in answer, it can work both ways, in my experience. I'd recommend running the half easy, as if it was a training run.