ILX running running thread

what shoes are you all on these days? thinking of buying a new pair as my current ones are starting to be a bit worn. is examining the heel a reliable way of assessing your gait? i originally got it analysed in the shop and judging by the heel (the outside is worn on both feet) i'm a supinator. from what i've read a neutral shoe is fine for supinators?

given it's just come up in the post above, do any of you do much trail running? quite like the idea of getting out to see some countryside.

For gait assessment I think examining just the heel is not enough. It's also the way you transfer your weight after you've landed on the heel that's important for determining what kind of correction/support you need from your footwear. I think almost every running shop has the opportunity to analyse gait so it'll be part of the buying process anyway.

I'm wearing Mizuno's, not sure about the model though. They're very light and the support is solid. I had to run them in a bit more than my previous pair (Saucony's), not sure if that's because of the shoes or me/my feet becoming less 'flexible' with age..

Got a beer mile this afternoon. I will destroy it. Or destroy myself trying.

Unofficially 8:49, which is 6 seconds than I ran last year. Not quite what I was looking for, but I'll take it. These are hard.

6 seconds faster.

Race time temp, 30 degrees.

Made it hard to open the can and difficult to chug.

Officially time was 8:44, 11th place. I wish we could have an ilx fap of a beer mile.

wait, was this drink a beer then run a mile? if so, good work jeff!

4 beers, 1 mile.

Chug, lap, chug, lap, chug, lap, chug, lap. Glory.

quickly followed by the bi-annual post-beer mile Shit Your Pants Time Trial

*RSVPs for beer mile fap*

14 days in a row of running. Seems to be going well. I've found that the secret for me to run faster is to not be training for a marathon. Last week I did 31 miles at average 8 min/mile pace, which is amazing for me.

Ran an 8K race today. 36:00 even, a 5 min 7 sec PR! That's what you get by only running an 8K every three years.

Awesome. Jealous of your 14-day streak. Wish I could get my knees and feet to play along with that. Just finished my 30+ mile week in a couple months and feeling good for now

I actually ended my streak at 17 days. It was fun, but I'm more of a 4-6 day runner.

i ran a marathon in my dreams last night. it was a very realistic dream - i was like "i can't fucking run a marathon, my personal best is only 6 miles!" and every step was incredibly painful, blisters and open bleeding.

Time?

never made it! i dropped into the middle of the race, woke up about 10 minutes of runtime later. one weird aspect was that the course was only 22 miles long - 11 miles in one direction, then 11 miles back, in a straight line.

5K race yesterday, set a 12 second PR - 21:32
Today, went over 1000 miles for the year.

Good week.

The other night I caught my foot on a curb while going at a relatively high speed. Was face down on the pavement before I knew it. Banged my head/face pretty good and had a cool welt to show for it. So in summary, pick up your feet when you run.

yikes! glad you're relatively ok, though, it sounds like.

Yeah, not much harm done. Mostly embarrassment and some cool scrapes.

Ran 13 miles yesterday. It was tough because I've been doing all these shorter distances recently. Also it is cooooooooooold.

Speaking of cold, I wear this as my base layer these days. It's awesome and I wish I had more. But it is $$$$.

http://www.directbaselayer.co.uk/Images/Large/craft_warm_crewneck_mens_ls_top_black.jpg

These are my favorite tights. Pearl Izumi.

http://dsp.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pG01-12559098p275w.jpg

My gloves. Have the foldover to make them mittens. I put hand warmers in the mittens section.

http://www.fleetfeetchicago.com/filebin/images/product/nonshoes/full/Manzella-Windstopper-Hatchback.jpg

In other news, I've hired a running coach. Basically someone to create training plans, training paces, and realistically tell me what my goals should be. I've wanted to do this for awhile but haven't been healthy enough that I could give it a good effort and make it worth it.

Shooting for a 45 min 10K and 1:40 Half in January.

Man, I hadn't run in a long time. I went out this morning on a four and a half mile loop through some once-industrial landscapes. Must confess I walked almost half of it, but it's a start, and it felt good (erm, mostly).

Can take awhile to come back, but it's awesome to keep seeing improvement.

I'm going to have pay my dues, that's clear.

It's funny how external, mostly visual factors, can affect my energy level while running. If I'm running along a long fence just inches from my right elbow, for example, that visual impression of the posts just whizzing by me makes me feel so fast and...dynamic! ...and this in turns gives me a boost. Similarly, interesting landscapes (like the aforementioned 19th century riverside factories) inspire me. Your average suburban residential street, on the other hand ... plod huff plod huff plod

I need this snow and ice to melt NOW. It's so annoying to run in and I can't get in a real quality workout. All my time is spent trying to not fall on my ass.

Yeah, that's the worst -- it's why I reupped my gym membership. I love running in the cold, but I strongly dislike slipping/tripping/falling down.

running on snow and ice is good for balance

I'm reading this book anatomy for runners who's main thesis is runners aren't generally v good athletes and then it talks about how to become a better athlete in a way thatll help yr running, it's p intersting

that looks good. i think the same tendency is true for other "specialists".

some of my best-feeling runs have been on snow (trails). it gets tricky if it's deeper than 3 inches or mixed w/ ice and slush. but in general i like getting creative and dodging stuff so my tolerance is high.

i've been doing rounds of sprints on a track indoors and it's really helped pace and stamina on (short) runs that i'm doing only on the weekends because i dread going outside when it's dark and cold. morning yoga in the living room instead. running and yoga = cooking with oil imo. except i've totally fallen off this week. amazing how what used to feel like a much-needed break is now maddening. i think it's a good sign that i'm finding the right balance.

i only sprint now a days haven't ran over a mile in a long time

agree on running+yoga, tho ive never been able to maintain for any meaningful stretch, running is p much the only exercise ive been able to stick w consistently, tho recently ive been good abt doing plyometrics pull ups and a lil core routine, def seeing results from even that fairly minimal branching out

Running in snow can be fun and challenging, but it just isn't conducive to what I want to do right now, which is just get faster for my two races in January. I need to do speed work and a slippery path is no good.

Tonight I'm supposed to run hill repeats, but I'm not even sure I'll make it up the hill. Or the two miles I have to run on slippery sidewalks to get to the hill.

get some yak trax bruh

ok those look awesome

I have some. Hate them. Feel like they fuck up my form.

Least favorite sidewalk conditions to run in. I'd rather it be a couple of inches of fresh snow than this. It's not too bad if I keep running but if I have to stop at a light, I slip almost every time.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8215/8317316115_a7fbc87d85.jpg

it's tough to WALK in that ice tbh - snow isn't ideal but fine because it's not slippery. pretty sure my first major running injury was the result of running in icy conditions and having to constantly twist to dodge ice patches.

just completed my first post-xmas run, probably my favourite of the year because it feels so needed.

interview w the guy who wrote that book http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/strength-training-for-runners-how-to-do-it-right.html

Yeah, I read that a few days ago, very interesting. I've started doing some non-weight bearing core exercises three times a week. Not exactly sure what I'm going to accomplish, but I am certainly sore from them.

soreness accomplished

signed up for my first official half-marathon today (first official run ever) - do you guys follow training regimes or just generally start building distances? i found this and it seems like it might be useful: http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/racing/rws-10-week-sub-150-half-marathon-schedules/97.html

i've probably done 11/12 miles maybe three or four times before in my three years of running. i'd average about 12-16 miles a week, though I think I could push myself harder really as I've been doing it for quite a while.

Seems like a reasonable plan as long as you current base is already near 20 miles a week. Interesting it has lots of interval/speed/hill work.

Not sure why it is billed as a sub 1:50 plan though, especially when it doesn't list any specific paces that you need to train at. Very much a perceived effort plan.