ILX running running thread

I've been really lazy the last 3 weeks. Running in the cold has made it really not fun for me. I joined a cheap gym but I hate the treadmill so much. I've been down to 1-2 runs a week.

Any advice on getting back on track?
Making outdoor runs fun in the cold?
Adjusting to/enjoying running on a treadmill?

What do you all think is my better option: toughen up and get used to the outdoor runs, or find a way to make the treadmill fun?

you might just need the right gear for yr cold runs or while youre at the gym why dont u mix up yr workouts since u have all that equipment lift some weights use the stair machine do some interval routines on the treadmill etc etc

yeah that's definitely a good call

yeah doing a long run on the treadmill is so zzzzz

i think the longest ive ever gone is like 30mins

the only good thing about a treadmill is if it has a TV attached. i hate them.

youve got to suck it up and get used to the cold. for me, it helped to get the lightest possible clothes i could get away with wearing, plus decent hat and gloves make a big diff. and the proper underwear helps alot too!

thanks - what do you all wear for winter runs then, if you don't mind my asking? are those compression things worth the $? also, do you wear different shoes for winter? I've heard some wear trail shoes for stability, even if running on pavement. I'm paranoid about slipping and falling or twisting something.

i have compression shirts/pants for when it gets really cold + various layers, i used to run in totally untechnical gear like thermals/sweats too tho and it was fine except for its tendency to retain moisture not much difference, main thing is just to be warm and have yr range of motion imo

idk abt shoes ive never fallen, just take little steps when its slick lol

don't know about shoes either but in the coldest weather i wear sporthill pants (not tights), a lightweight long underwear shirt under a midweight zip-up, a beanie, and cotton running gloves. I'm in DC where it never gets below 10 degrees or so.

10 is pretty cold man

Anything above 30 I'm usually in shorts and long sleeves, maybe a wind breaker.

Below thirty I usually break out the tights, wool base layer compression top, jacket, hat, gloves. BTW, these are my new gloves: http://www.zappos.com/burton-gore-tex-under-mitt-true-black

My hands get the coldest of anything, and these seem to be helping A LOT when it gets down to 20s and below.

Oh ICYMI on WDYLL, my winter running gear from my turkey trot. Not wearing my heavy mittens for this, they would be too much to put forth a race effort in.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8636/15745019747_fd2b6b09ba.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/rRQ01MY.png

welp

was pretty fine tbh

It's been in the upper 30s here, which I can stand if it continues all winter.

My beer mile on Saturday was a failure :(((((((((((((((((((( 8:01, 3 seconds over my PR. First time in 14 races that I haven't PR'ed. Must be the beginning of my decline.

I read this book called "Becoming an Ironman". Not that I would do anything close to an Ironman but it has really good writing by people who competed in Ironman triathlons and it inspired me to workout more, especially work on my running since I already love to swim and bike.

Was surprised from this book to find that reading about running can make you want to run.

lol

I have no desire to do an ironman because I can't swim, and biking for that long seems like it would hurt my ass, and running a marathon by itself is hard enough. But I do like looking of Ironman finish line videos, especially those that just make the cutoff. 😭

u cn do shorter triathlons tho

The swim would have to be the length of a bathtub. And even then I'd doubt my chances of survival.

U CAN DO IT JEFF GO GO SWIMM

I love swimming in a lot of ways but damn it can be boring.

I have only just read about beer miles; what a terrible idea

lol i know sounds terrible

Not going to disagree with that. Not at all.

I love swimming now it is v soothing

yeah its makes ur body feel good in such a unique way

TAKE IT TO THE SWIMMING THREAD FISHES>

After a month and a half off (for a variety of dumb reasons), I started marathon training on the treadmill (at a slight incline) this week. It's simply way too cold and icy in Ottawa for me to even consider doing it inside. (Also, boxing classes twice a week for the cross-training.) Doing four runs a week, M/T/W/F, Thursdays and weekends off because I run on shooldays at the school gym. This past week: 3/5/8/5 miles. The downtime really hurt - averaging awful, 10.5 min miles, even on the shorter runs. I have till May 25 to get that time down - I would really, really like to do a sub-3.5hr marathon on my first go.

Does that sound feasible or insane?

Also dieting a bit during this period because I figure being lighter should make things a bit easier, and also just because. (Currently an awful post-holidays 197lbs at only 5'7")

were you running at pace/distance recently that wld lead u to believe u cld run a 3:30

like if u have a good base to run that race then fine otherwise it seems pretty nuts

i have never run a marathon

also the the known extreme goal oriented training skeptic of this thread

u will prob injure yrself tho

why not try for a sub 4 on yr first go

I did a 2-hr half in late October, if that helps

sounds like u shd go for the >4, my uneducated opinion, plenty more marathons to run after that

it's not lost on me that I might have to settle for 4hrs this time lol

My first marathon goal was sub 4. My actual progression: 5:40, 4:31, DNF, 3:36.

But if you think you got it, go for it. You'll certainly have a better grasp of your capability once you start your 18-20 mile training runs though.

daaamn, what happened on that third one?

(props for persistence btw)

I don't think a 3:30 marathon is a realistic goal based on a 2:00 half tbh; 4:00 would still be quite tough but not impossible. The first marathon should be more of a learning experience than a near-death one, once you get a feel for the race and your limits you can set a more ambitious target.

agree with seandalai, though i would say you should definitely schedule in a half-marathon in march or april and use that as a guide instead, it'll be much more relevant and it'll be a good dress rehearsal too.

did my first long training run of the year today after a couple months off. bit of a windy day but it was just lovely being out there again. i am so tired now though, it's only three in the afternoon and i can't wait to go to bed already

i took a week off cause of a lil pulled muscle and now i am a coward about the cold apparently

Xpost my DNF was most likely caused by improper fueling. It has taken me a while to figure out what actually works for me, and I'm still trying to perfect it. So many variables in running a marathon, many of which you have no control over.

The McMillan calculator (http://www.mcmillanrunning.com/index.php/calcUsage/calculate) says the equivalent of a 2 hour half would be a 4:12 full. This is assuming you do all the proper training for that distance and run in similar conditions. Seems like that would be a more reasonable goal.

Although, when I plug in my 1:36 half, it says I should run a 3:22, so your mileage may vary.

I haven't run in a couple of weeks, my plantar fasciitis finally got bad enough that I tried complete rest. I'm not sure it's better though, but I'm going to do a test run tomorrow.

I'm pretty depressed about it all, my body just feels like a sloth when I'm not putting in the miles. I need to have a goal and a methodical plan to work towards it. I thought maybe this year I'd run another full and see if I could position myself to go for a BQ in 2016, but seems unlikely now.

oh jeff that sucks. is there anything that can be done to treat it?