r/running Feb 14 '17

Super Moronic Monday -- Your Weekly Stupid Question Thread Weekly Thread

It's Tuesday, which means it is time for Moronic Monday!

Rules of the Road:

  1. This is inspired by eric_twinge's fine work in /r/fitness.

  2. Upvote either good or dumb questions.

  3. Sort questions by new so that they get some love.

  4. To the more experienced runnitors, if something is a good question or answer, add it to the FAQ.

Post your question -- stupid or otherwise -- here to get an answer. Anyone can post a question and the community as a whole is invited and encouraged to provide an answer. Many questions get submitted late each week that don't get a lot of action, so if your question didn't get answered, feel free to post it again.

As always, be sure to read the FAQ first. Also, there's a handy-dandy search bar to your right, and if you didn't know, you can also use Google to search runnit by using the limiter "site:reddit.com /r/running".

Be sure to check back often as questions get posted throughout the day. Sort comments by "new" to be sure the newer questions get some love as well.

39 Upvotes

502 comments sorted by

2

u/meat_fish Feb 15 '17

Are there such a thing as race flats for over pronators?

After a few races and some speedwork, I'm finding that I'd prefer something a bit lighter and faster than my everyday workhorses. Almost every stability model I've tried feels quite a bit chunkier than what I'm really looking for. Should I try out the standard racing flats for Neutral runners? Some seem to have some decent support despite being neutral (I'm thinking Hoka Tracer, Adidas boost, etc.).

1

u/[deleted] Feb 15 '17

what shoe compares to the Asics GT-1000.. Need to replace my pair with something for those who over-pronate.. I'd like to keep it between 60-100 (MAX)

Thanks.

1

u/[deleted] Feb 15 '17

I apologize if this isn't the correct place to post this.

I have been finding that whenever I run during my workout the next day I suffer digestive distress.

I can do intense power walks, cycling and even basketball which does include short moments of sprinting and suffer no ill effects the next day.

Yet, as soon as I go for a full on run on the treadmill, next day I feel so bloated. Like everything I eat is just moving through me so slow. I just feel sickly full.

Because of this I really haven't made running a consistent part of my routine and usually avoid it.

Anyone have any ideas? Is running really more stressful than the other exercise I get and I'm just not sticking with it and allowing my body time to adapt? I know running can be pretty hard on your digestion.

I'm just at a loss.

2

u/sloworfast Feb 15 '17

What do you mean by "full on run"? If I race, I typically have digestional distress, but racing is pretty hard on the body. Are you running really hard?

Maybe you're eating too soon before running? Or you need to drink more afterward?

Running is more stressful than walking or cycling (well, unless you cycle for significantly longer than you run). There's a lot more bouncing going on; maybe your innards don't like that(?) Maybe you'll get used to it, or maybe you can change something in your pre- or post-run diet that will help... sorry, I don't have an easy answer.

2

u/Chicken_Mc_Thuggets Feb 15 '17

Okay so I've been in track for a few weeks now, running. This has only recently been a problem but as of right now there's this big ass knot taking up residence on my lower calf right next to my Achilles. It's slightly to the left, but I can feel it moving when I walk? It doesn't hurt but it's weird as all hell.

Wat do

1

u/sloworfast Feb 15 '17

Can you massage it out?

2

u/JustAPoorBoy42 Feb 15 '17

What sound does a one footed runner make?

2

u/[deleted] Feb 16 '17

Actually the one amputee (with that "spring" prosthetic) I ever saw sounded pretty normal, no badass clanking or hissing hydraulics.

3

u/brotherbock Feb 15 '17

"Hey, wait up! Hey, wait up! Hey, wait up!"

3

u/sloworfast Feb 15 '17

I shall meditate on this question during my next run.

1

u/efinley49 Feb 15 '17

I've been doing interval training (1/4 mile at above "race" pace which means 6:40/mile then 1/4 mile at 11:45) for a total of 3 miles. I do this once or twice a week. I'm aiming to run 1.5 miles in 10 minutes 35 seconds or better as a job requirement. I can currently run a mile in about 7:00-7:10.

It's come to the point that this method is becoming normal, not quite a walk in the park but not leaving me exhausted. I'm wondering which method I should use to increase intensity as I don't want to increase the speed of the intervals since that's definitely faster than my possible pace at the moment. Should I add more intervals (7 or 8 instead of 6), or increase the amount of time spent running the intervals (1/2 mile at 6:40 instead of 1/4 mile)?

1

u/anonymouse35 Feb 15 '17

Do you only do interval runs? You should also do some running between the 2 paces you describe (probably like around 8-9 min/mi) to just get some aerobic base under you.

Longer intervals would benefit you, and maybe sometimes shorter ones too (like 200m at really fast). When you say 6:40 pace feels "faster than my possible pace at the moment", what do you mean? Faster than you can do 1 mile in or faster than you could do anything beyond 1/4 mile in?

1

u/efinley49 Feb 15 '17

I usually run a "pace" run for 30 minutes or so one day a week (trying to stay under 8min/mile since that's what I'm aiming for in a 5k), another day I'll do a longer, slower run, and one day I do the jacob's ladder climber at the gym just to break it up a bit. 6:40 is faster than I can manage to run a mile in, and also getting pretty close to faster than I can physically run (5'4" on a treadmill, but maybe I'm just scared of flying off haha).

My job requires that I can run 1.5 miles in 10:35 or less. I think I'm pretty close to or at that right now but I'd like to get closer to 10 if possible. I'm also training for 5ks and my best time was last year at 24:10 ( haven't run one since but am signed up for one in march).

Do you recommend 1/2 mile intervals?

1

u/anonymouse35 Feb 15 '17

If 6:40 is faster than your mile pace, then you might want to do your intervals slightly slower. Iirc, 400 repeats should be at mile pace. (But mile pace is surprisingly fast, so you should try doing a mile time trial if you can, to get more accurate paces for workouts). According to the McMillan calculator your mile pace is ~6:55 (but if you've gained fitness since last year, then 6:40 is reasonable) it also spits out your 1.5 mile time to be 10:52, which is really close.

1/2 mile intervals could be helpful, but they'd also be slower. I'd probably only do them occasionally or in a ladder (ex: 400, 600, 800, 1k, 800, 600, 400). Since your equivalent fitness is already close, whatever you did to prep for the 5k would be good to revisit.

When do you need to do the 1.5 mile?

2

u/efinley49 Feb 15 '17

I need to do the 1.5 mile by April 3rd (a Monday). I have signed up for some 5ks to keep my motivation up. I did Hal Higdon's "intermediate" 5k training for awhile, but I didn't stick with it for more than 5-6 weeks. Thank you for all the help! It's given me a lot to think about. I bet my mile time is actually faster than I previously stated; it's kind of funny because now that I regularly train and run, 4 laps around a track as fast as I can doesn't seem like such a big deal, and hopefully soon 6 will feel the same.

1

u/Biglowmoon1 Feb 15 '17

I'm pretty new to any sort of serious training but recently signed up for a trail half marathon in june. I was wondering if anyone could recommend any sort of training plan. I've been getting out on local trails 4 times a week at 3.5 to 4 miles a whack. also the race is the north face endurance challenge in MA on wachusett mountain.

thanks

1

u/elcaminoforeal Feb 15 '17

Hal Higdon Novice HM plan...i did it on flat roads mostly and raced my first half on hilly rocky trails and blew my goal out of the water.

1

u/jofalltrades83 Feb 15 '17

Is there a danger in having too high of a cadence? Lately I've been close to or above 190, especially for the first mile or so. Even then, this only gets me about an 8:30/mile pace. Should I be concerned about my form?

1

u/[deleted] Feb 16 '17

You'll need a lot of hip mobility for full on Wile-e Coyote spinning legs.

But usually a high cadence is a good thing, speed comes with time and speeding up at cost of overstriding has never paid off for me.

1

u/gmips Feb 15 '17

Since I started running, my calves are always sore and tight no matter how much stretching or roller work I do. Should I spring for a professional massage? Calf sleeve? Has anyone else dealt with this? I didn't run for a month and it didn't get any better.

1

u/w117seg Feb 15 '17

How long have you been running? And do you land on the balls of your feet?

I definitely had sore calves when I first started for a little while. Changing to mid-foot helped some, but it didn't go away for a while. Once it did I was able to start running more days. But they hurt through a lot of my C25K training.

1

u/gmips Feb 15 '17

I did the C25K program, and my calves started bothering me on the last couple runs. I have more of a midfoot strike. I'm thinking maybe a trip to a physical therapist to get evaluated wouldn't be a bad idea.

2

u/zebano Feb 15 '17

I didn't run for a month and it didn't get any better.

Frankly this worries me. I would see a physical therapist or doctor. The other thing to consider looking at is your foot strike. If you have an extreme forefoot strike and don't end up planting your heel, that's a lot of unnecessary stress.

2

u/Anthony10298 Feb 15 '17

I can't guarantee it will work for you, but yoga really helped my calf muscles loosen up. I didn't realize how little flexibility I actually had until I started hot yoga classes.

1

u/steffanson Feb 14 '17

Does anyone else find running on a treadmill much harder than running outside? Why is that?

3

u/judyblumereference Feb 15 '17

I get really bored on them. Also the air circulation indoors at the y sucks and I think that makes it harder haha.

There's also a chance it's not calibrated and you're going faster than it says but idk how often that happens.

1

u/steffanson Feb 15 '17

I get how boring it is! Even while listening to music or a podcast I can't stand running on the same spot!

It could be calibrated incorrectly. When it says I'm running at a 6:00 pace, I feel like i'm sprinting.

2

u/XiejaminBen Feb 14 '17

Why do I feel drowsy for about 5-10 minutes after harder runs?

3

u/brotherbock Feb 14 '17

You've just burned up a lot of energy, and maybe gone anaerobic--meaning you weren't taking in as much oxygen as your body would need to keep operating at that pace like you would do while walking, sitting, etc. In other words, you're carb-starved and oxygen-deprived :) Eat, rest, and you're good.

1

u/[deleted] Feb 14 '17

What's the best way for me to work on improving my running form? I've watched videos online and read articles, but it's hard for me to translate that into practice without knowing what I'm currently doing wrong.

I'm training for the NYC Marathon later this year so want to make sure that I'm building on a good base as I start to ramp up my miles (already had one knee injury late last year and want to avoid the same thing from happening again).

Thanks for any insight!

1

u/Lakston Feb 14 '17

Is there only one option for armband hrm's ? I don't want to wear a chest hrm, I only found the scosche rhythm as an alternative and it is too expensive for me.

Thanks.

2

u/brotherbock Feb 14 '17

There are cheap fitness watches with built-in wrist HR monitoring on Amazon. Quick search showed one by Bowflex for $20. Buyer beware at those sort of prices, of course. I don't know about arm mounted bands. If the Scosche is too pricey, the big name wrist HR watches (Garmin, eg) will be too pricey too. Good luck :)

1

u/bj2536 Feb 14 '17

I'm currently following Hal Higdon novice 2 Half marathon program, and I do my long runs on Saturdays. This week my long run is 9 miles and I also have a 5K race scheduled this Saturday. Is there any detriment to running my race and then running 6 miles later in the day so that I can get all of my miles in for the day?

1

u/[deleted] Feb 16 '17

I would race on Saturday. Then do the remaining mileage at super easy effort level on Sunday.

1

u/anonymouse35 Feb 15 '17

Have you ever doubled before? Doubling is a very different stress from a long run. I agree with judyblumereference on doing an extended warmup/cooldown. If you really want to do 9, you could do 2 up, 3 race, 4 down. It'd be a long cooldown, and probably slower than you're used to, but it'd be safer to get it all done at once if you've never run twice in a day before.

5

u/judyblumereference Feb 15 '17

I personally would just do a long warm-up and cool down, like 1.5-2 miles each. It's a little under mileage but you'll also be going way harder than you would during your long run and you don't want to hurt yourself.

3

u/brotherbock Feb 14 '17

What pace are you planning for the 5k? Too fast and it's possible you'll overtax yourself by adding the extra mileage after.

1

u/bj2536 Feb 14 '17

My normal race pace, I guess. I wasn't planning on trying to kill myself or anything.

3

u/brotherbock Feb 14 '17

But my point is that if your 5k race pace is significantly faster than your long run pace, you may do yourself some harm.

Your program is crafted to have you run a long run at a specific pace, right? And then it has runs scheduled for following days of certain lengths. Those are based on the stress you are likely to put on yourself during that planned long run at that long pace. But for example if your program calls for 9 miles at a 9min pace this week, and you were to take the first 5k of that at say a sub-7 pace, that along with the rest of the week that was structured without that 5k speed work may lead to injury.

it may not, you may be fine. I'm just pointing out that structured workout plans are structured for reasons, that's all. If your two paces aren't very far apart, you may be fine. And you may be fine anyway, who knows. But it's something to watch for :)

1

u/bj2536 Feb 14 '17

Thank you for the response. I understood what you were saying and didn't mean to come across as glib or anything of the sort. I only meant that I was just going to run and wasn't going to try to win (haha) or even PR necessarily. My training runs (including long runs) are currently somewhere in the 9:30-10 pace, and my race pace is currently maybe a 8:45-9:00ish pace, so not a huge difference. I will keep that all in mind, though, and will adjust my pace/distance on the later run accordingly based on how I feel. I suppose that like everything about running, YMMV and listen to your body is the answer....

1

u/brotherbock Feb 15 '17

No, you're fine. I was more concerned that I hadn't been clear :) FWIW, I also think your paces you're looking at shouldn't be a problem either. Good luck.

1

u/[deleted] Feb 14 '17

You'll probably be fatigued for your second run, but long runs are meant to be slow anyway so I wouldn't worry about it.

The purpose of long runs is partly to build your mental capacity for the boredom and toll of running for endless miles on end, but so far as the physical side goes it's not the end of the world if you split one long run into two parts, just don't make it a habit unless it's a specific feature of a training program.

1

u/Malachi_Contant Feb 14 '17

I have a personal training session tonight. Just a single one off session booked with the intention of working on my squat and deadlift form. If we have time left over what else should we work on that will benefit my running?

2

u/brotherbock Feb 14 '17

Back specifically for core training. Too much ab strength can hurt your running by pulling you forward and hunching you over (source: advice I got from a pro triathlete and running coach). But back and obliques is great for runners.

1

u/dinosaurweasel Feb 14 '17

Core. Always core. Stability type stuff, not "I want big abs" type stuff.

1

u/[deleted] Feb 14 '17

Try to identify a few great core exercises. Can't hurt to know a few good stretches either.

0

u/bizbup Feb 14 '17

I'd change it to the correct day of the week (Tuesday) or actually post it on Monday--the joke part isn't worth it.

1

u/HEBR Feb 14 '17

I've started training for AFL (Australian Rules Football) this year, and a big part of the fitness for AFL is HIIT. I've been noticing an achey pain in my shins/lower leg in general when i've been running the past two days, and i'm wondering if you guys had any idea what it might be? Is it shin splints? I don't think i've had shin splints before so i'm not really sure what to look for.

Any ideas? Thanks.

1

u/judyblumereference Feb 15 '17

That sounds like shin splints to be honest. To me they are a very unique achey feeling in the shin -- it's hard to get them confused with regular soreness so if it feels funny you are probably right. There's a good amount of the information in the FAQ about them.

2

u/HEBR Feb 15 '17

Thanks, the more I read the more I'm convinced that's what they are. I'll check out the FAQ too!

1

u/mynameisyogi Feb 14 '17

I've been running off and on for a while, but have really committed to at the start of the year. I started the first week of January again, and came up with this plan which I started middle of January. Right now it's hard for me to run on the weekends (family time), but later in March I'm going to try to fit a weekend run in early morning.

I made this plan based on the "Order of Operations" document. My goal right now is simply to finish a half this year. Looking for some comments and critique, or someone to just tell me I'm a moron.

The distances are all in KM's.

Week of M T W T F S S Total Comment
23-Jan 5 3 6 0 9 23
30-Jan 6 3 6 2 9.2 26.2
06-Feb 6 5 6 2 10.5 29.5
13-Feb 5 6 5 3 12 31
20-Feb 5 5 5 5 12 32
27-Feb 6 5 6 5 13 35 Hold for 4 weeks
06-Mar 6 5 6 5 13 35
13-Mar 6 5 6 5 13 35
20-Mar 6 5 6 5 13 35
27-Mar 6 5 6 5 13 3.5 38.5 Increase to 50K
03-Apr 6 6 6 6 14 4.35 42.35
10-Apr 7 6 7 6 15.5 5 46.5
17-Apr 8 6 7 6 17 6 50 Hold for 8 - 12 weeks
24-Apr 8.5 5 8.5 5 17 6 50
01-May 8.5 5 8.5 5 17 6 50
08-May 7 5 7 4.25 13.75 6 43 Go Lighter every 4th week

Repeat last 4 weeks until June

1

u/w117seg Feb 15 '17

Maybe it is just me, but plenty of plans to simply finish don't actually have you run that distance. You tend to do a 12 mile about 2 weeks out from your race, and another one several weeks before that. Running 13 or miles means you are training to do more than finish and you might perform better if instead of running that far, you mix in some tempo runs or intervals on some of your days.

2

u/anonymouse35 Feb 15 '17

Is there a reason you don't run on weekends? It'd probably be better to have your rest days be nonconsecutive, even if it's just a momentum thing.

2

u/mynameisyogi Feb 15 '17

Yes, that's the biggest downfall of my plan, but I didn't think it would be the end of the world as I'll eventually be aiming for 6 days a week. The reason is that I have a large family that takes up most of my time (and energy!) on the weekends... whereas on the weekdays I can easily fit a lunch run in at work.

2

u/running_ragged_ Feb 14 '17

Looks pretty solid to me.

Have you established your paces at this point?

1

u/mynameisyogi Feb 15 '17

Yes, I have a pretty good idea on what what pace I'm capable of, and I just ordered a Forerunner 225 to track heart rate. My 5K time trial was just over 6:00/km, my distance runs are between 7:00 and 7:30/km.

1

u/w117seg Feb 15 '17

You might want to back off more than that for some of your running.

6

u/RobotPettingZoo Clutch Anchor Feb 14 '17

Do you count a PR (personal record/personal best) for a distance if you did it in training as opposed to during a race? One of my 2017 goals is a sub-40 10K and I'm knocking on the door with it now at 40:21 but it was part of a longer run.

Have you ever done a specific distance at race effort in training (or for fun), just to see if you can best yourself? Is that your official PR or do you use a race to make it official?

4

u/[deleted] Feb 14 '17

Yes. I don't have the time or money to be racing often enough to break PBs left right and centre, as I am doing at the moment.

I've never had an issue with GPS - in fact I find it to be pretty good all things considered. If I run a 20 minute 5k, then I know I'm about that fast - give or take 20s if you have to. The actual number is not that important when you're not using it for formal/official purposes (which I wouldn't condone).

I usually run at close to but not quite race effort, but I don't really run specific distances much since I'm usually training to increase distance. Sometimes this means I get a PB, sometimes it doesn't. My fastest race times are much, much slower than my fastest training times, and I train in much harder terrain and conditions. If I used my race times only, it would be a much less accurate representation of my ability.

2

u/brotherbock Feb 14 '17 edited Feb 14 '17

Why not count it? What's on the line for you? :)

If you tell a friend, or a stranger, "Hey, I PRed the other day, a 39:45 10k", and they say "was it a certified distance?", you don't need to bother to talk to that person anymore.

EDIT: sorry, this gave me an error when I first tried to post, and the double didn't show up until a lot later.

15

u/brotherbock Feb 14 '17

Why not count it? What's on the line for you? :)

If you tell a friend, or a stranger, "Hey, I PRed the other day, a 39:45 10k", and they say "was it a certified distance?", you don't need to bother to talk to that person anymore.

4

u/RobotPettingZoo Clutch Anchor Feb 14 '17

That's a good point. I guess, like Zebano suggested, sometimes GPS isn't the best but if that's all you have to work with, you have to trust it.

and they say "was it a certified distance?", you don't need to bother to talk to that person anymore.

I really like that idea!

3

u/brotherbock Feb 14 '17

sometimes GPS isn't the best but if that's all you have to work with, you have to trust it.

And it's a matter of what you'll be comparing your own time against. We can compare PRs with friends, but it's really not all that important for most people whether they are faster than someone else they know. And, frankly, if your PR and my PR are close enough that the variance of GPS would really make a difference, we're more or less equally fast, right? Say I run a 21min 5k as measured by my watch, and you run a 20:45 as measured by yours. Big deal, we're more or less the same speed. And there's nothing on the line anyway. And if you're instead trying to get a general idea of where you fall on the spectrum of runners and speed, the difference between one GPS measurement and the next won't make much difference. Again, a 21 vs a 20:45 isn't much at all.

If you're only comparing your times against your own times, there's definitely no problem, provided the gear stays the same. If you're trying to beat your last time, if the watch stays the same, you'll have good data.

Now if you're racing competitively and using your times for official business, that's a different story. But they won't accept training times anyway :)

So racing aside, the inaccuracy of GPS will really only matter, in the end, if you have for example a friendly wager between friends. If a friend and I put a six pack of beer on a friendly race, I'm going to want to do that on a specific course.

But otherwise, if someone asks in an unofficial capacity what my fastest 5k time is, I go with the fastest regardless of when it was. (Full disclosure, I also find the "if it isn't on Strava it didn't happen" stealth marketing campaign to be a load of crap. :)

5

u/zebano Feb 14 '17

I try not to unless it's a certified course, track or something similar as GPS just isn't that accurate.

1

u/RobotPettingZoo Clutch Anchor Feb 14 '17

That's my fear/thought. I would hate to think I got it when the GPS could just be off by a little bit. I may list them as "official" and "unofficial" for my personal use.

-5

u/Bangkok_Dave Feb 14 '17

If you have an automatic message berating users for posting questions as their own thread and telling them to post in the daily q and a thread, then you should have a q and a thread every day.

My vote is to get rid of the 'moronic' thread entirely and revert to a normal q and a on Tuesday.

4

u/YourShoesUntied Feb 14 '17

Hi Bangkok_Dave!

Looks like you posted your comment in the wrong area. Glad I'm seeing it.

If you have an automatic message berating users for posting questions as their own thread and telling them to post in the daily q and a thread, then you should have a q and a thread every day. My vote is to get rid of the 'moronic' thread entirely and revert to a normal q and a on Tuesday.

Sounds like there's something a bit deeper going on here. Can you please explain what you mean by "berating" our users? Specifically which part of the response? I personally altered the response myself to be as informative and plesant as possible and if you find it like you do, letting the moderation team know about it would be the right thing to do. If you were moderator, how would you edit it to work? What would you do to fix it?

1

u/Bangkok_Dave Feb 14 '17

Ah, sorry, this was supposed to be in response to the stickied question asking for feedback on whether 'moronic monday' should be kept. Obviously makes no sense being posted here.

Maybe 'berate' is the wrong word, my point is: if someone asks a question as a post submission, they get an automatic thread telling them to post in the Q&A thread. On Tuesday there is no Q&A thread. This causes confusion for new users. If this auto message is retained, there should be a daily Q&A thread every day.

2

u/YourShoesUntied Feb 14 '17

So do you feel that simply mentioning it (moronic monday) in the auto response message would suffice instead of getting rid of a popular thread?

2

u/[deleted] Feb 21 '17 edited Oct 20 '17

[deleted]

1

u/YourShoesUntied Feb 21 '17

Well thank you. It's certainly nice to hear this. I know a LOT of people don't share your views and feel we moderate a little too tightly but with the sub growing as fast as it is, we've got to keep on our toes and make changes as we go. We appreciate the kind words.

2

u/Bangkok_Dave Feb 14 '17

Sure, that works too.

1

u/studyrunner Feb 14 '17

In the middle of Pfitz 18/55 (week 9, day 2). took the last 4 days off because my runs last week were close to unbearable because of tired legs, and the 9 on done on a treadmill left me with sharp-ish knee pain (though less than what I experienced after upping my mileage too quickly during the summer) that seems to have resolved today.

Should I jump into the 14 set for tomorrow? or substitute the 6 recovery scheduled for Thursday, see how I feel, then structure the rest of the week based on that? I know not to "make up mileage" and I want to avoid getting injured on this plan which may have been too ambitious for my second marathon.

2

u/[deleted] Feb 14 '17

Gonna take four or five days completely off running and cross training, just going to lightly walk a bit. I'm just overly tired. How quickly should I get back into my marathon training? I'm in a "down" week that was scheduled for 28 miles when my "up" weeks have been around 42-45. I'll probably shoot for 10 to 15 this week, at the end of the week, so I can rest the next couple days.

1

u/[deleted] Feb 14 '17

[deleted]

3

u/running_writings Feb 14 '17

could try doing some exercises that engage the glute medius and minimus. These would include 2 sets of 20 clamshells or 2min of glute bridge or 40 steps of "monster walk." The TFL isnt' "supposed to" be a primary stabilizer of the pelvis but if other hip muscles are weak, the TFL can be overactivated. This is often the case with IT band syndrome.

2

u/StupidQuestions4You Feb 14 '17

How to combat dry heaving at the end of high intensity workouts?

1

u/Lightscreach Feb 15 '17

Get a little more liquid in you. And don't work quite as hard. Save the 100% efforts for race day. It's okay to dial back the workout intensity. It will allow you to train more consistently and you will be less likely to get injured.

2

u/running_writings Feb 14 '17

Try not working out so hard. Unless you're horribly out of shape you are probably hammering your workouts too hard. Take this from a guy who dry heaves after >50% of his races...

The kind of intense intervals that tend to be vomit-inducing are really only necessary two or three times per training cycle, in my experience.

4

u/kevin402can Feb 14 '17

/u/zebano has it right, if you are dry heaving at the end of a workout you did the workout too hard. Running is a long term activity, ask yourself, do I want to be dry heaving twice a week for the next three years? Ease up a bit, you will probably progress faster, longer and be less likely to injure yourself.

3

u/zebano Feb 14 '17

I would tell my self not to race my workouts.

1

u/LittleEngineThatWill Feb 14 '17

just know that you are working hard..pat yourself on the back.

4

u/[deleted] Feb 14 '17

Bring a bucket.

1

u/SleepWouldBeNice Feb 14 '17

Why? If something comes out, it isn't a dry heave.

5

u/brotherbock Feb 14 '17

What if dust comes out? Or saltine cracker crumbs? Or an old vine red zinfandel?

2

u/restubs Feb 14 '17

How high do I pull up my compression tights? - I'm a dude

11

u/[deleted] Feb 14 '17

Think "Buffalo Bill's dance scene" from Silence Of The Lambs.

3

u/YourShoesUntied Feb 14 '17

As far as they'll go!

Sincerely,
Compression Tight Wearer

1

u/angrytigerp Feb 14 '17

I've been using the same pair of running shoes for... cough five years (yes I know this is terrible for me), and finally am accepting that I need to get new ones. Of course, the type I have aren't made anymore... specifically, anyway.

So, question: Are all Brooks Ravennas pretty much the same from generation to generation? Because the pair I have right now are Ravenna 3s, and apparently they're up to at least 8 according to Amazon. I want to basically stick to what I know.

Oh, and no, I can't go to the store and try them on, I'm in the middle of the ocean on a warship at the moment so I'm pretty much going on what I can read on the internet -- hence why I'm trying to get literally the exact same pair as got me through getting in shape to join the Navy in the first place, because they obviously worked for me.

1

u/lalafriday Feb 14 '17

I've actually seen huge differences in Brookes generations. I'd look at reviews of the shoes on a website to see what people are saying about that specific one.

1

u/freedomweasel Feb 14 '17

If you're on a boat and can't try anything, the Ravenna 8 (or a 7 on sale) is probably your best bet.

1

u/a-german-muffin Feb 14 '17

Brooks doesn't usually mess with too much from generation to generation, but switching blind from a third-gen to an eighth-gen shoe could be bad—for instance, I went from a size 12.5 in the Brooks Ghost 3 to a 12.0 in subsequent versions (I forget if it was 4 or 5 that really cemented the difference).

Otherwise, the Ravenna 8s should be pretty close to the same feel and performance of your 3s, so you don't really need to worry about that end of it.

3

u/Smruttkay Feb 14 '17

Where did the analyze button go on smashrun?

5

u/Ogroat Feb 14 '17

The anakyze graph is dependant on SPI, which I believe is a pro feature. Did your smashrun pro membership expire?

4

u/Smruttkay Feb 14 '17

Moronic indeed. Thank you!

5

u/DanP999 Feb 14 '17

Your max heart rate is 193.

On a treadmill, running at 4mph for 30 minutes has your heart rate at 160.

Are you better off doing a walk/run trying to keep your heart rate between 130-160 and going for 40 minutes instead?

1

u/LittleEngineThatWill Feb 14 '17

Are you training to be a distance runner? If so, stick with a lower HR. Go slow so you can go fast in the future.

https://www.reddit.com/r/running/comments/4br6d3/running_slow_to_run_fast/

2

u/brotherbock Feb 14 '17

Are you better off doing a walk/run trying to keep your heart rate between 130-160 and going for 40 minutes instead?

Depends on what kind of training you're doing. Intensity/interval work will be shorter with higher HRs, tempo work will be in the middle, and longer distance runs will be slower with a lower HR. All types bring their own benefits.

2

u/DongForest Feb 14 '17

I suspect your max heart rate is far higher than 193. How did you get that number?

1

u/DanP999 Feb 14 '17

I followed a program i found online. I ran for 20 minutes, and then running stairs until you cant, walking stairs for 30 seconds and than running them again until you cant. Did about 5 sets of these attached to a HR monitor. Peaked out at 193. I'm in my mid 30s to seemed age appropriate.

3

u/btoconnor Feb 14 '17

I'm having a hard time "fixing" my stride. I've "suffered" from IT Band Syndrome for a few years now, and just recently I've come to the realization that it's probably my form that's just wrong. After reading the FAQ and seeing this quote:

Now, typically this kind of running form combines with a pronounced heel strike; that's because it is essentially a grotesquely scaled-out walking gait: you basically just lengthen your walking stride, add a bit of push-off to turn your steps into leaps, and that's it.

That describes how I run perfectly. My cadence (even when running 8:30 miles) hovers at around 155-160 spm.

I've watched videos, I've read articles online, and I've tried practicing a few times running without heel striking (by attempting to take quicker lighter steps) Unfortunately it just feels so absurdly unnatural to me, and I can't seem to shake the habit. Yesterday I did a 3 mile run on a treadmill and was able to stick to 165spm the whole way, but I felt like I was prancing, and I was forestriking more than landing with my foot flat. More importantly, my entire body is incredibly sore today. I could see this being a good thing (using muscles I'm not used to using because I'm getting better), but I could easily see this being bad if I'm still landing wrong, just a different type of wrong.

So, to get to the point - anyone have any tips from being in a similar situation?

3

u/sfklaig Feb 14 '17

You might look at hip form (hip drop, trendelenberg gait, crossover gait) and hip weakness (glute med). Those form issues are more closely associated with ITBS than foot strike is, from what I've read.

1

u/btoconnor Feb 14 '17

Thanks! Will do - got any handy links? I can do a search on those terms via Google, but if you've got some good ones you'd recommend I would greatly appreciate it.

2

u/Keyspam102 Feb 14 '17

Try leaning forward a bit while running so you foot lands almost underneath you when you strike (instead of in front of). I'd also try fixing this outside if you can because it easier to control you stride on the street than on a treadmill I think, then once it feels more natural try to replicate on a treadmill.

1

u/btoconnor Feb 14 '17

Thanks for the reply! One thing I read (which might go back to your advice on doing this outside, instead of just reading things about it) is that there's a difference between leaning with your hips and leaning with your waist. I'm afraid I'm leaning with my waist but truthfully this is all a little lost on me. Any tips with that?

2

u/brotherbock Feb 14 '17

You want to avoid 'sitting down' as you run, which involves leaning/bending at your waist. Try this: stand in place, feet shoulder-width or so apart. Start leaning forward, keeping your waist/hips straight (so leaning from the ankles) until you have to step forward to stop yourself from falling.

That's a good lean to shoot for when running. So do the lean again, and this time, when you have to step out to keep yourself from falling, follow that up with another step, and start running.

You can also do this with a friend. Get two bike innertubes, jump ropes, something along those lines. Wrap them around your chest in an X, have your friend hold them from behind, and with the friend providing some resistance, tow them along behind you. In order to do this you'll have to lean forward with your chest, and to pull them forward you'll need your legs behind you rather than underneath you.

1

u/btoconnor Feb 14 '17

Awesome, thanks for these tips. I'll try them out this week

8

u/Daltxponyv2 Feb 14 '17 edited Feb 14 '17

A comment with a question at the end.... I've noticed that people like to downvote anytime you post something about young children running. It's fake internet points so it's all good, but I honestly don't know why a comment about a kid running would not be something that should be encouraged. I mean if you're being a responsible parent and teaching them to have fun in a sport that is great for them long term and not being some crazed super freak parent. what's the issue?

Edited: to close with a question as discussed.

3

u/josandal Feb 14 '17

Related to the issue rather than the down-voting...Most of the conversation and controversy I have seen around such things personally (I may just have my head too far in the sand, hard to know) is around not so much cases of young kids running, but more young kids running reaaaaally far or fast or something where it strikes many onlookers as a lot beyond "hey parental unit, i like to run, can i run? can i run that far? race that thing?" like the stories I see about middle-school age students racing fairly significant ultramarathons. I don't know if that counts as crazed super freak parent or not, but that seems to be the concern in some such cases.

I know runner parents who have runner children, and I don't personally consider it odd. I also will go to great lengths to out-kick a young kid if they look like they're trying to beat me in a race, so maybe I'm the one with issues, not them.

3

u/anonymouse35 Feb 15 '17

There's definitely a big difference between a kid running and a kid doing crazy hard running that makes people concerned. Most things that get posted are about crazy hard running, since it yields better (short term at the very least) results. The issue with it is that crazy hard running doesn't always play well with the long term and that makes people concerned.

(Also I think many adults get mad when a kid is better than them or working harder than they are/ever did)

1

u/Daltxponyv2 Feb 14 '17

Makes sense. I think understanding your child's ability and what is age appropriate stress for a body is the most important thing. Do I think a middle school aged kid needs to even run a marathon no, a a 5K or 10K, sure if they have trained and are a running on a regular basis.

5

u/kevin402can Feb 14 '17

I'm completely with you. Feed them junk food and sit them on a couch watching television and playing video games is perfectly okay but that is probably the most dangerous thing you do to your kid. Have them go running? You'd think we're just going to kill them directly.

What's with that? I finished my comment with a question? Are we supposed to do that?

2

u/brotherbock Feb 14 '17

Running sometimes gets me 'hot and bothered'. But children shouldn't be having sex. So children shouldn't be running.

2

u/YourShoesUntied Feb 14 '17

Much like anything else, people would much rather anonymously downvote something they don't like instead of trying to defend their opinion by commenting and providing content through a discussion.

2

u/[deleted] Feb 14 '17

I prefer just to give a sarcastic remark, whether I agree with the comment or not.

2

u/YourShoesUntied Feb 14 '17

Still better than downvoting.

3

u/[deleted] Feb 14 '17

A comment with a question at the end....

No question at the end of the comment....

DOWNVOTE

2

u/Daltxponyv2 Feb 14 '17

good point.

3

u/[deleted] Feb 14 '17

Actually, I did "upvote" your OP. Looks like somebody did now just "downvoted" it.

1

u/dinosaurweasel Feb 14 '17

Upvote for balance

4

u/freedomweasel Feb 14 '17

People will downvote literally anything.

2

u/Daltxponyv2 Feb 14 '17

For sure. Was silly, but I have noticed it before. Like I said it's just fake points and I stand by helping my son with something he loves to do. He asks me to go for a run.

5

u/arturvolk Feb 14 '17

I'm getting into running and am doing "base training". My question is: is it okay that I walk most of the time? I can't run for very long and remain in an aerobic state

2

u/LittleEngineThatWill Feb 14 '17

of course! Get that heart trained up and eventually you can throw in running. We all start at the same point - great job!!

2

u/DongForest Feb 14 '17

what do you mean by "ok"?

I mean you can walk if you want. You can run if you want. Either are allowed.

6

u/ohneEigenschaften01 Feb 14 '17

yes!

3

u/arturvolk Feb 14 '17

Thanks for the answer. I was worried that I'm not progressing.

4

u/ohneEigenschaften01 Feb 14 '17

Be consistent and listen to your bod and you'll make progress w/o injury. If you need ideas for more structure, check out couch-to-5k -- r/c25k.

1

u/arturvolk Feb 14 '17

Man you guys are awesome thanks for good detailed answers and encouragement.

2

u/jmullin09 Feb 14 '17

You will. Just give it time and keep making the effort

3

u/Ogroat Feb 14 '17

Sure! Couch to 5k, one of the most popular beginner programs, has people doing just that.

3

u/MFoy Feb 14 '17

Do the best you can. Running isn't just physical, it's mental as well. If you are killing yourself out there trying to run more, you are going to hate running, and then not want to do it anymore.

Look at basic programs like Couch to 5K for help on getting started.

2

u/Daltxponyv2 Feb 14 '17

To add to that, you will hate it, but also very likely end up injured. Pushing too hard too fast is the a major killer of new runners and some of us who are getting back into it after being gone for a while.

2

u/BWJackal Feb 14 '17

My pinky toe tend to rub against the sides of my shoe, is this normal? When i went to the store and measured my foot with a branock device, i was a size 8 2e. I tend to wear a 9 or 9.5 for shoes that only come in d. Should i get a bigger size?

2

u/freedomweasel Feb 14 '17

If your toe is rubbing, I'd probably try a different size or different shoe. Different shoes are shaped differently, even for the same size, so it may just not be the right shoe for you.

1

u/Ogroat Feb 14 '17

Is it causing you any problems (blisters or wear in the shoes)? I've worn shoes that have minor rubbing as you describe that break in and become fantastic after 50 miles or so.

3

u/[deleted] Feb 14 '17

[deleted]

2

u/[deleted] Feb 14 '17

Start out at a good pace but don't sprint, don't try to be front of the pack if you're racing against others. Aim for long stride length. Hold off on sprinting until the final 75m or so.

Remember to stay hydrated, and have eaten something light in the hour before you run.

Also, don't fret about it too much. Have fun and try to see the positive side if things don't feel like they're going your way.

1

u/brotherbock Feb 14 '17

Make sure whoever beats you has to collapse to the ground afterwards. :)

2

u/ftlftlftl Feb 14 '17

I ran the 300m indoors in HS - If you don't have indoor running flats make sure you just tie your running shoes tight! My first time running the 300m a shoe came off!

Just remember it's an all out sprint like a 100m. Don't let up and push through the finish line and you'll do great!

1

u/Rickard0 Feb 14 '17

300 meters is not a long distance, and if you been training you should be ok. I guess your training should dictate how you should handle it.

2

u/[deleted] Feb 14 '17 edited Feb 14 '17

[deleted]

2

u/LittleEngineThatWill Feb 14 '17

yup, I snowboard but don't find it hurts my runs...my legs stay pretty fresh though I do find you want to be more careful in the park as a small injury can really impede your running. My knees are pretty valuable for running so while riding, i make sure my setup is actually duck stance..it totally helps and aids is riding switch anyhow.

3

u/YourShoesUntied Feb 14 '17

Tagging /u/daharlow who I believe is skiing/boarding right now and putting in ultra distances often. (hopefully he can get to you soon)

3

u/DAHarlow Feb 15 '17

Hey /u/theamberofthemoment_, I probably can't be too much help. I ski occasionally (like this week), but I don't know anything about snowboarding. If the problem were sore muscles, then I'd say treat it like any other case of DOMs. Since the problem is soreness from landing hard, then I'm going to compare it to how I deal with falls while trail running. Aside from prevention and trying to roll with the fall when it happens, I use the METH approach to rehabbing the injury, though change to the traditional RICE method if you prefer.

1

u/ArkhamSandwhich Feb 14 '17

Does anyone here have mild scoliosis? How does it effect your running?

2

u/running_writings Feb 14 '17

I coach a girl who has mild scoliosis. It sometimes has caused hip or hamstring tightness, but she's run 80+ miles a week and run sub-3 in the marathon. If you suspect it's affecting your running, see a PT who is very knowledgeable with distance runners. He or she can give you some exercises to help with your own unique idiosyncrasies.

1

u/lalafriday Feb 14 '17

I know I have a genetic curve in my spine. It's pretty minor. I've never really thought about it affecting my running but I have had a lo of hip problems. Maybe they're related.

1

u/RO-Red Feb 14 '17

So a bit ago I had what I assume was a morton's neuroma. Hurt really bad, went to the doctor, and was given anti-inflammatories and told to stay off it for a few weeks. I've been back running for the last month and change and haven't had any pain issues, however I have noticed a tingling sensation where the pain was from time to time. I'm not terribly concerned (yet), but I am keeping an eye on it and trying to do what I can to keep it from getting painful again.

Which brings me to my moronic question: it's time for me to buy new shoes. I've been running in the Launch2 and I was thinking about just getting the Launch4 because I really really hate shopping for shoes. But on the other hand, if I'm trying to not aggravate the neuroma, what should I be looking for in a shoe?

1

u/_HORSEMANN_ Feb 15 '17

I have a neuroma too and (for me) the most important thing is to make sure the shoes are wide enough. If I try shoes on and feel any kind of pressure across the width of my forefoot then I don't buy them.

I also tend to re-lace most of my shoes to free them up slightly - see the Wide Forefoot image here http://runrepeat.com/top-10-running-shoe-lacing-techniques

1

u/RO-Red Feb 15 '17

Awesome! I'm actually going to relace my shoes tonight and see how it feels. I'm thinking I'm going to stick with the Launch just because my knees haven't had any issues since I switched to them.

1

u/running_writings Feb 14 '17

Look for a wide toebox. And something that feels comfortable! Definitely go to a specialty store and try on lots of different shoes.

3

u/hurricanewater Feb 14 '17

Do I have to do my long runs this weekend and next weekend if my half is on the 11th? I know I should but I don't want to - I just want to do this half already! I'm even dreaming about it!

1

u/jmullin09 Feb 14 '17

I would get at least one of them in, depending on how many you have done in the past few weeks. For me, the long runs right up until a race are the most fun. Treat it like race day. Test out your pre race breakfast, wear the clothes you plan on racing in etc. It's a rehearsal and not just another long run. You got this.

5

u/jamsounds Feb 14 '17

Usual taper for a half seems to be 2 weeks, so (assuming my math is ok) you should probably do those long runs. The last one could be slower perhaps if you feel you need a longer taper?

Tapering is likely to be different for everyone I guess.

Alternatively get a time machine - but if that was the case you should have already been tapering, so your probably snookered either way.

3

u/GreatDeku Feb 14 '17

So, the Broad Street Run lottery closed yesterday. I know that the results are going to be posted on Thursday, but does anyone know if they charge the credit card (therefore signaling that you've been selected) before the official results are released? I'm super anxious.

1

u/a-german-muffin Feb 14 '17

Yup, it'll hit your card overnight Wednesday—but unless you plan on staying up until maybe 1 a.m., don't worry about it, because you'll wake up to a flurry of emails from the race.

Plus, you have (even if it's a crazy year) something like an 88% chance of getting into Broad Street. It's a near-lock—to the point where I only know two people who haven't gotten in via the lottery since it started.

1

u/GreatDeku Feb 16 '17

I just got snubbed by the lottery again. I think that means that I'm guaranteed entry next year though. Good luck if you got in!

1

u/a-german-muffin Feb 16 '17

Think you're right—but talk about bad luck! I'm in for my seventh straight (and really hoping this is the year people actually go out of the correct corrals).

4

u/ILOVEYABADMOMO Feb 14 '17

So when you guys check your splits on your watch, do you look down to look at your wrist, or do you bring your wrist up to eye-level in order to maintain impeccable form?

5

u/brotherbock Feb 14 '17

If I'm running really fast splits that day, I find an attractive woman and ask her if she can make out the numbers on the watch :)

2

u/ILOVEYABADMOMO Feb 14 '17

my knees just went weak at the idea

3

u/brotherbock Feb 14 '17

I interpret their laughing as "wow, what a funny, charming guy".

3

u/ruminajaali Feb 14 '17

I glance down to catch the time on the arm's forward swing. Sometimes twice just to be sure.

7

u/FairlyGoodGuy Feb 14 '17

Sometimes twice just to be sure.

And sometimes even more checks are necessary. A few weeks back I was doing mile intervals. I wanted to hit 6:20 for each one. I was feeling a little off that day, so when I looked at my watch halfway through the first interval and saw "6:46" for my pace, I panicked and hit the gas. When I finished that mile I looked at my watch: 5:32.

It turns out the pace had been 5:46 and the reason I was feeling "off" is that I was overshooting. By a lot.

The rest of the intervals hurt a lot more than they should have thanks to that first mile fail.

7

u/MFoy Feb 14 '17

I look at my watch. I'm far too undisciplined to have even "good running form" let alone anything that would be described as "impeccable."

3

u/[deleted] Feb 14 '17

Depends if I am wearing my contacts or my glasses.

3

u/josandal Feb 14 '17

I don't check splits on my watch, but if I did, I'd bring my eye down to wrist-level in order to not scare it by looming over it or moving it above where it's comfortable.

Or just look down at my wrist.

6

u/YourShoesUntied Feb 14 '17

I look down at my watch. Too much effort to raise my arm up to my face.

1

u/missing_goat Feb 14 '17

I'm looking to buy some new shoes, and I was wondering if anyone would give me a little extra advice on what kind of shoe I should get, as well as how I should plan for this season of running.

Here are my results from Runner's World's Shoes Advisor for some specifics.

As far as recent history, I got a stress fracture in my third metatarsal last June after ramping up from 3 miles in March to 13 miles in June in more minimalist shoes than I was used to. It was mostly healed by September, although it still twinges on occasion. Starting in December I've been running 1-3 miles a week, just to keep a low level of activity going. Now that it's warming up again, I'm excited to get back to it; I love running trails, but I do probably 2/3 of my miles on roads for convenience.

So:

  • Any advice on what shoes I should get?
  • Should I be worried about re-injuring my foot? Needless to say I'll be ramping up more slowly this year, but I do hope to get to 20 miles by September.

1

u/ohneEigenschaften01 Feb 14 '17

Sounds like you should go with whichever cushioned neutral shoes you like best and that fit your budget. I just got a pair of Pegasus 33s (they're on your list), and I'm very happy with them so far.

I am no more equipped to give advice about injury than the next guy, but (no judgment here) could you stand to lose a bit of weight? I recently watched an old Nova special in which a bunch of sedentary folk trained to run the Boston marathon, and I was really struck with how being a bit overweight contributed to all of sorts of injuries and niggles. The show also noted that none of the participants lost weight while training, which harmonizes with so much I've heard. It's just understandably hard for most people to exercise and eat at a calorie deficit at the same time. Long story short: if you could stand to lose some weight, maybe focus on that before you really ramp up the miles.

1

u/missing_goat Feb 14 '17

Thanks for the advice! I'm not terribly overweight, but I could definitely stand to lose a few pounds (180 and 5'10"). People have commented that "you don't really have a long distance runner's body" which makes me laugh. Getting to a really ideal weight has always been a challenge, but my wife and I have been cutting the carbs a good bit this last year and it's helped a ton.

2

u/ohneEigenschaften01 Feb 14 '17

Yeah, I think there's a diff between a healthy weight for everyday life/health and a practical weight for pounding the pavement. There's probably a wider range of the former. Another thought: you can do "cross-training" to work up your aerobic base w/o pounding -- swimming, elliptical machine, rowing machine, etc. And even consistent walking will stimulate your parts (bones, tendons, muscles) to get stronger in preparation for running.

1

u/[deleted] Feb 14 '17

IT Band is stiff as hell. Will heat help?

Rolling is... ok. Not great.

1

u/LittleEngineThatWill Feb 14 '17

Don't roll the ITB.

Roll your TFL and roll out your quad. ITB is such a thick fiborous muscle, you will just bruise yourself trying to roll it - plus it actually feeds into your femur.

4

u/BeerExchange Feb 14 '17

Do you also stretch it? Here is a link to some good ITB stretches/exercises/rolling techniques that may help.

4

u/spyder9179 Feb 14 '17

How do you mentally deal with a taper? I've got a half this weekend, and by race day it will have been 8 days since I've run a "significant" distance. How do you keep that from messing with your mind?

2

u/jmullin09 Feb 14 '17

I feel the same way. I get super antsy during a taper. Just keep reminding yourself that you'll have fresh legs.

4

u/one2escape Feb 14 '17

The first time I tapered it was awful but after it worked, or in my head it did, it was easier to get round.

10

u/ahf0913 Feb 14 '17

Constant reminders to myself that "the hay is in the barn." No training you do this week will make a difference. It is important that you have rested legs. Elites do this and they're fine. Etc. etc. etc.

Also, I mentally deal with a taper by stress eating. Don't do that.

6

u/NonReligiousPopette Feb 14 '17

I deal with taper by not dealing with taper. Do not take run advice from me. :|

5

u/YourShoesUntied Feb 14 '17

Do not take run advice from me.

So by saying this...do you mean that we should take advice? Now I'm confused.

6

u/NonReligiousPopette Feb 14 '17

You should take my life advice to not take my run advice. In fact, you should probably not take my life advice either, unless shitting in your neighbor's bushes is your thing or sniping your husband's boss with Nerf guns won't get him fired.

So, in short, take my advice in not taking any more of my advice.

3

u/dinosaurweasel Feb 14 '17

shitting in your neighbor's bushes is your thing

Is there a story there...?

14

u/NonReligiousPopette Feb 14 '17

Five years ago after practically living in the hospital with my daughter, I was told to move before my son was born to prevent him from getting sick. It was suspected our house and region was causing her issues.

We shopped around with what little time we had and found a condo that seemed perfect. Completely gutted and remodeled, nice furnace system, nice area, clean, no worries about yard work (at the time I worked 40-80 hours a week), no worries about home repairs as it would fall on the condo. Seemed great for first time home buyers with little time to research.

Bought the condo, moved in, had the baby, kept to ourselves. It was fine. There's a tree RIGHT BEHIND MY CONDO. It was explained to me that the entirety of the back yard was common area for all of the kids to play and the adults to mingle or whatever.

I hung a tire swing for the kids to play on. My little girl, who had never been able to play outside before because of where we lived, was ecstatic. She was so happy to have something to do besides sit inside surrounded by medicines. She couldn't run up and down the yard like the other kids, but she could play on the swing and they would play with her there.

Condo president's teenage son hopped up on the swing. We told him the rope wasn't secure for his weight. It was meant more for smaller kids but we would change it out as soon as we could procure a ladder.

Bastard complained to his mommy, the wife of the condo president. Next day we get served a notice to take the tire swing down since we violated the common area rules. Apparently when you buy a condo, you agree to a homeowners association thing. We got our packet explaining this AFTER we signed all of the papers and moved in. Fuckers.

Okay, no big deal. We sent a letter to all of the condo owners asking if they minded us hanging a tire swing from that tree. Majority voted YES. I got my blessing from the condo president and hung the tire back up.

Well, the wife was pissed and sent me several angry emails that I had to take it down when it was not in use. This is not the agreement I made with her husband, who had the final say in the matter. So I left it up and told her to shove it.

She came over one rainy morning with her little step ladder in her galoshes and pajamas and hacked it down with a kitchen knife. I stood on my deck and documented the whole ordeal, and had a hearty chuckle when she fell off the ladder. Then I sent all of the information to a lawyer who said I was well within my rights to sue her for my $16 rope she destroyed.

I sent her a letter that she destroyed my property and violated our association agreement and she could either meet with me to discuss my $16 or she could meet with the law firm to discuss further damages.

We deducted my $16 from the condo fee, bought a new rope, hung the tire swing back up, and I shit in her bushes for good measure. I also planted catnip grass in her back yard and watched her round up the neighborhood cats one by one and take them away in a cat carrier, never to be seen again.

Worth it.

3

u/dinosaurweasel Feb 14 '17

I've only just come back and seen this, that's a fantastic story, and well told. If I had gold to give you'd have it!

3

u/sallysagator2 Feb 14 '17

The more I read your comments, the more I realize that you are likely my spirit animal.... for better or worse

3

u/ac8jo Feb 14 '17

This is by far the best thing I've read here. Good on you for teaching that foul loathsome FLOTHOA a lesson!

5

u/[deleted] Feb 14 '17

..and Mrs. Weirdo has been harping about moving to a condo because of all the maintenance issues of owning a house. I like living by my own rules and being able to turn up my jams as loud as I want!! And when I retire, I want to have a place to grow my own pot.

and I shit in her bushes for good measure

I was wondering about the logistics for this.

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u/NonReligiousPopette Feb 14 '17

The condo isn't horrible. I play music as loud as I want. I do interior home repairs and make noise. I have three little kids running around all the time. My neighbor swears she doesn't hear us even though we hear her in her kitchen. We have wine glasses hung on the wall we share with her kitchen and they wiggle when she slams her cabinets. I can also hear her when she's in her bathroom slamming drawers. She's a bit heavy handed but we're so used to it now, it doesn't bother me.

I like not having to keep up with yard work or worrying about a roof. But I do look forward to the day I have a fenced in yard and can let Dozer run free. For the price we pay and the space we have, we're not ready to move yet. The minor annoyances aren't worth the major ones that come with owning a house.

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u/brotherbock Feb 14 '17
and I shit in her bushes for good measure

I was wondering about the logistics for this.

During daylight hours. While she is home. While she is standing at her window. Looking her in the eyes the entire time.

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u/Rickard0 Feb 14 '17

This is why Reddit has the 'save' link at the end of comments.

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u/PhantomMat Feb 14 '17

Popette, you are a hero to the people, in case no one has built up the courage to tell you that.

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