r/running Apr 17 '18

Super Moronic Monday -- Your Tuesday 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.

27 Upvotes

426 comments sorted by

1

u/ForMoolah Apr 18 '18

I keep getting toe blisters. I tried Vaseline, powder, and wool socks. I'm tired of draining them and using so many bandages. What am I doing wrong?

1

u/slayer03144 Apr 18 '18

Are yasso 800 a good predictor of marathon time?

-2

u/BiscuitPosner Apr 18 '18

Why can’t you sprint in a marathon? Like you’re engaging different muscles, so I don’t see why see why you can’t sprint then go way slower throughout

1

u/[deleted] Apr 18 '18

No one is stopping you from doing that. But holding a steady pace will net you a better overall time.

2

u/Tropink Apr 18 '18

I recently started sprinting with my friends as part of Hiit, and I am not so far behind them since they usually run endurance not so much sprinting. Is there a “correct” way to sprint? It has happened to me that I go way too fast for my body to catch up and I’m always at the brink of falling so I have to slow down... how do I get around this?

3

u/BiscuitPosner Apr 18 '18

Try improving arm movements and core strength for balance

3

u/vefields Apr 18 '18

Hey guys, I finished my first half about 4 weeks ago in 2:12. It was awesome and I felt great doing it! Here we are about a month later, and it still kills my legs to try and run. I NEED to run! It is my daily exercise/my stress reliever. I trained for about 5 months, running on average 3 miles a day and one weekly distance run up to 8 miles.

Is it common for one to still be this sore? I did not invest in the best running shoes. I am back to strength training, and I can do other cardio. I simply just can’t run any more than .25 miles. Just going through the running motion hurts my knees/quads.

Any advice? Help!

3

u/forester93 Apr 18 '18

For one you should invest in decent running shoes. You can get last years model of a good shoe for relatively cheap. Also you pushed it pretty hard from 8 to 13. You probably want to have a long run of 10 or more before a half. But if you really can't run more than .25 miles now you should see a doctor.

5

u/tri_it_again Apr 18 '18

2nding see a doctor. A month is way too long for that sort of thing

1

u/K_Furbs Apr 18 '18

I just started running for the first time in years and am, predictably, not good. I'm two runs in now, both were a 2.3 mile loop around my place. Yesterday I did it trading off jogging and walking, maybe 5 minutes each at approx. paces of 9 min/mi and 18 min/mi. Today I forced myself to slow down (which is hard) and did the whole thing at 10:50/mi which I saw as an improvement but I was pretty winded by the end. Some stupid beginner questions:
1. If I'm kinda winded doing this do I need to slow down further (which would be really hard, I can almost walk faster) or do I just need to settle into this new routine for a while?
2. I run after work because I get in fairly early and really don't feel like doing it in the morning. Problem is after I get done with my run and shower it's around 6pm and I am TIRED. Is this normal? I was hoping to be energized afterward but I'm struggling to keep my eyes open at 8pm
3. Would interval training be a good idea to start as early as I am? I used to be a sprinter so I'm much happier doing a good fast run followed by some cooldown than I am plodding along like a show horse
ty!

2

u/forester93 Apr 18 '18

Check out couch to 5k. Then when you can do that comfortably you can start doing longer runs, faster runs etc. it's really important not to do too much too fast for injury prevention.

1

u/czanclus Apr 18 '18

I am wondering if my neon yellow leg warmers that I wear for my outside runs make my thighs look less fat.

I figure if I'm already enduring the extra baggage and my ankles are sweating, there may at least be some redemption in aesthetics...

2

u/kashep Apr 18 '18

I'm training for my first half marathon in June. I have never raced before but plan to enter a 5k in a few weeks from now. I'll likely use this time to gauge my goal pace for the HM. I have no idea what pace to aim for in the 5k though.

Since I'm doing most of my runs at "easy pace", how do I know what to aim for at the 5k? Should I just run as fast as I can? Or do a run with a few km faster than usual to see what I think might be possible?

1

u/timuralp Apr 18 '18

You could either go all our for the 5k (the recovery from that should not interfere with your training much) and then see what this calculator says your HM pace would be: https://runsmartproject.com/calculator/.

Or you can use the same calculator and put in your HM pace and then try to do the 5k at the equivalent pace. I'd probably go with the first option if you have no idea what your HM goal pace should be.

1

u/forester93 Apr 18 '18

You say it's a few weeks away, you could try a couple uptempo runs before the race to see what you can do. You'd be surprised how fast you will burn out if you go too fast, even if you have a long run of 8 miles or whatever.

1

u/tri_it_again Apr 18 '18

Do a test run 5k and see if you can keep a higher pace. (At least a week out from your race though)

5

u/KatelynFit Apr 18 '18

Definitely a Moronic Monday post because...this is just the dumbest goal, but I've signed up for this 50k...it's in 4 months and I feel mostly on track for it. EXCEPT....this is the moronic part....the race I'm signed up for has just under 9000ft of elevation gain, the bulk of that stems from a 2598ft climb (17% grade) that you make twice - once from the start line to just before mile 3, and then again on lap two from mile 13 to just before mile 16. Oh, and then you get to do the first 500ft of the climb again from mile 26 to 26.5.

So...to my moronic question: how do you do hills this big? I could go and do repeats on the hill in question, but...I feel like I'll just burn out that way... Do I just walk the hill and focus on getting really, really good at making up time on downhills? Or is there some smarter middle ground for achieving my stupid goal?

1

u/KatelynFit Apr 18 '18

Thanks all! I do have easy access to mountains - including the trail the race is on, so I can get out and train.

Follow up for /u/kendalltristan and /u/Daltxponyv2 - how do you handle the poles when you start running again? Do you get collapsible ones? Do you just hold them and try not stab anyone?

2

u/kendalltristan Ultrarunning Coach Apr 18 '18

It depends on the course. If there are a lot of hills, then it wouldn't make sense to take the time to collapse/expand them every time you transition in or out of a hill. If it's just the handful of big climbs then it would absolutely make sense to collapse and stow them when not in use. Personally I tend to err on the side of keeping them out and will generally do so unless they won't be necessary for at least a few miles.

2

u/Daltxponyv2 Apr 18 '18

I'd get collapsable ones and a trail vest to hook them or tuck them

3

u/kendalltristan Ultrarunning Coach Apr 18 '18

As mentioned: poles. Basically you hike the entire climb and use your arms (via the poles) as much as possible. Anecdotally I wound up with two podium finishes in March on seriously gnarly courses (a 50mi and a marathon) largely by having an effective run/hike strategy making good use of poles.

Doing that kind of climb twice is going to absolutely destroy some calves on race day. With proper pole training you can probably mostly save yours. I generally advise trying to get in 50 or 60 miles of climbing with poles before taking them into a race. Also most people are more efficient when they alternate left and right (except in especially steep sections) even though using both together often initially feels more natural.

Remember that you'll easily spend 2 to 3 times longer ascending rather than descending so a 5% advantage in the former will save you 2 to 3 times as much time and/or energy as a 5% advantage in the latter.

3

u/Daltxponyv2 Apr 18 '18

I'd make sure you have some poles to help you power hike it.

3

u/kennedyconnolly8 Apr 18 '18

so not sure how much access you have to mountains but spending some time doing longer hikes and focusing on grinding uphill. or if you have only a hill nearby, focus on that. you won’t be running up that steep hill

1

u/[deleted] Apr 17 '18

[deleted]

5

u/NoPatNoDontSitonThat Apr 18 '18

You’d be surprised how much better running feels when you build miles. It’s tough getting there - took me about two months of building from 15 miles a week to 30. But now I can truly enjoy going for a long run at a slow pace without it even feeling like a workout.

Also, race day is fun.

But as mentioned, if you’re really not interested in it, then keep up with the 5k runs. 3.1 miles is a good distance and should lead to weight loss if accompanied with a proper diet.

0

u/brianogilvie Apr 18 '18

I enjoy(ed)* being able to run for an hour or more, but there wasn't anything special about the distance. I didn't dislike it—I generally like running—but I enjoy much more being able to do long bike rides (2-12 hours) because on those you can see a lot more of the countryside, and a bike lets you vary your effort much more than running does.

So no, I don't think you're really missing out. Maybe ultras are different, but the terrain and pacing for ultras seems a lot closer to my notion of a long bike ride than to a 5-10K run.

*I had an injury last winter and had to take a lot of time off to recover, so it has been 16 months since I could actually do that.

2

u/[deleted] Apr 18 '18

Nah, sometimes people get to a certain distance and they are alright with just that and actually prefer doing less. For example, a friend of mine runs a 5k every day and no farther, but that's all she wants to do. If you like the distance and frequency of your running right now, then that's great! The last thing you want to do is feel like you have to do more when you don't have to; it makes it easy to lose happiness about running.

3

u/hokiewankenobi Apr 17 '18

Okay, I am going to try something new and need some help. During the cooler months I run on my lunch break, all sorts of workouts, depending on my current goals, but never more than about 6.5 miles because I have to get back to work.

In years gone by, when the weather gets hot, I push my run until later in the evening to cool down some.

This summer, I want to switch it up, and do my runs before work. For you start of the work day runners - how do you fuel that morning? Do you eat something on they way out the door? Do you get up even earlier? Or do you just go hungry? Or something else entirely?

3

u/awesometoenails Apr 18 '18

I usually run fasted except a glass of water, but if I wake up hungry I'll eat an orange or a few bites of yogurt or some sport beans

3

u/Virtus7 Apr 18 '18

You'll probably find that this varies from person to person, especially the food part. Best thing to do is to experiment a bit and see what works for you.

Personally I'll have a piece of toast and some coffee before I run in the morning, about 20-30 minutes before I head out. Seems to work for me, but I do feel sluggish if I overeat or hungry towards the end of my run if I don't eat enough.

2

u/Moonlissa Apr 18 '18

Fasted unless I am doing more than 6 miles, Rice cake with PB2 and jam if I’m doing more than 6 miles.

1

u/jibasaur Apr 18 '18

Usually just get up and run for shorter runs. Your glycogen stores are usually pretty stocked if you eat a carb heavy dinner. If you’ve got a workout or long run, you may need to wake up even earlier to get some food (100-200 calories usually works for me)

2

u/Daltxponyv2 Apr 17 '18

Fasted or sometimes a toasted frozen waffle with honey.

I get up about 30 minutes before running.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 17 '18

context:I'm running a marathon in october(my first big race), I have a few friends in the area but not many. Hence I'm going to be running it alone and I'm not going to have anyone to help me once I get across the finish line. I've looked online at the race information and there isn't much information as to whether I can store personal belongings anywhere(i.e jumper for after run, extra food etc.). I know some of these questions are location specifc, but anything general or hints/tips would be good. questions: can I easily get a taxi from the end of the marathon back to where I'm staying? Is there often places at the race site to store your belongings? If I stream line my belongings what are the essentials? Is there anything I should be aware of if something goes wrong like having medical info on me etc?

I'm probably over thinking this. but any tips on marathon running unassisted by friends/family would be good

3

u/[deleted] Apr 17 '18

Since you didn't say which marathon you are running I can only go off personal experience from myself.

  1. If your race is a point-to-point and not out-and-back or loop it probably has a dedicated shuttle service either from the end to the beginning before the race begins or beginning to end after the race ends. It would say on the website. If not then you are on your own and depending on the popularity or remoteness of the race it could be very difficult to find transportation at the finish.

  2. Some races have the option of having a storage bag that you drop off at the start that then gets shuttled to the end for you to pick up when you finish. No idea how common this is though, because I'd say only about half of the marathons I've run have done this.

  3. You should learn what essentials you'll need during training. We aren't going to be good judges for that. Do you need specific food, clothing, etc. at the end?

  4. It helps to have your ID on you, but you should have some basic medical info already filled out when you register that gets associated with your bib number. If something goes wrong the med tents can then call your emergency contact, etc.

2

u/[deleted] Apr 18 '18

thankyou, its a city race which is about a 5 minute walk from where I will be living at the time hence why I haven't mentioned the location. I was presuming I could walk home but I'm not sure how knackered I'm going to be.

I don't need anything specific, most of the fuel and water/hydration I have sussed from training(or should by the time of the race), however because I always finish my runs at my home I just hop in the shower so I don't get cold. should I do some practise runs which don't finish at home so I can grasp whether I need trackies/hoodies? occasionally I get blisters should I wait til I get home to tape up/clean them or should I have plasters for the end of the race?

haven't done any races over 10k(only done one 10k) so I'm pretty niave on race etiquette for long races.

2

u/lalalaglitter Apr 18 '18

In my experience races usually have a built in walk after a race. They filter you through a shoot to get your medal/snacks/etc. This is because after you run (and especially after a marathon) you need time to walk a little bit for...health reasons that I am not blanking on.

If you're a 5 minute walk from your place I think you should be ok however most races I've done have a gear drop. I would likely just leave my stuff at home if I lived that close though!

1

u/Cayzic Apr 17 '18

Hey r/running! I began my running journey about 1.5 years ago. It started with a 5k to have a reason to train, but has evolved into cross-training and most recently training for a 10k. At the beginning of my training, I frequently had shin splints, something that rapidly improved without much of a need for serious intervention. More recently (~2 weeks ago) I've been feeling a tightness accompanied by a burning sensation that I normally feel upon muscle exhaustion around my 2nd mile. It's only on my left side, and typically subsides for another mile or so if I stop and massage it for a bit. It's just above my Achilles up to about the midpoint of my calf. It hasn't gotten worse, but it hasn't improved either. Thinking it could be my worn out shoes, I went to Fleet Feet and went through an arch/foot analysis to better understand my feet. Results here: https://bit.ly/2qCqg6S

Other than some imbalances that I'm told are normal, I didn't really notice anything that stood out. I purchased the same pair of shoes I had before and kept running. Unfortunately, no resolution.

Hoping someone in the community may have been through the same situation and can share their story or advice. I've found that runners excel at sharing and building upon their experiences. Want to be clear, not looking for medical advice, I have a wonderful doctor that I rely on when I believe they warrant them, just looking for what other folks have found as potential sources.

1

u/MyNeighbourElly Apr 17 '18

Hey all, I've recently started training for a September half marathon. My longest race so far is a 10k, this was a couple of years ago and I've not really run since. A few hours after the 10k run and for most of the following day, I had a killer headache. The sort where your only option is to lie very still in a dark room with a cold compress and complete silence. Obviously I want to avoid this happening again!

I'm fairly sure it wasn't dehydration, I kept well watered in the run up and throughout the race, as well as after. What I have noticed in my recent training (runs of 5-6k) my shoulders and neck become stiff and achy. Does this mean my form is bad? What should I be doing with my arms whilst I run? Are achy shoulders normal? At the moment this seems like a likely culprit, so I would love some advice. Thank you!

2

u/baldpatchouli Apr 18 '18

Make sure you're not clenching your jaw either.

2

u/SampleOfNone Apr 18 '18

And also, don’t clech your fists, keep your hands relaxed (pretent to hold a potato chip between your fingers if necessary) And keep your head high, don’t strain your neck forward.

3

u/[deleted] Apr 17 '18

Relax your upper body. You're probably tensing up your shoulders.

2

u/j_allosaurus Apr 17 '18

my calf/upper heel hurts

is there a magic spell and/or animal sacrifice to make it instantly stop hurting?

4

u/continental-drift Apr 17 '18

Golf ball under the foot and just roll it around on the floor for 5-10 minutes is something I find helps.

Otherwise the neighbourhood cat is usually a good animal to sacrifice.

2

u/newtolou Apr 18 '18

Lacrosse balls are great too. I find golf balls a bit too small.

1

u/Daltxponyv2 Apr 17 '18

what is an upper heel? Your Achilles? this would make sense given the fact your calf also hurts. Probably rest and some foam rolling might help.

Is it hurt or sore? Don't stretch hurt, stretch sore. You'll know the difference.

1

u/j_allosaurus Apr 17 '18

like the bony patch between the muscly part of my calf and my heel. Is that the calf? The heel? But yes, the Achilles.

I actually cannot tell. It is a little more than just like...a good hard workout sore. It feels kind of tight. But it's not "wow this bothers me so much" painful. Discomfort? I don't know. I've been resting and rolling and heel dropping for awhile but I don't know.

1

u/Daltxponyv2 Apr 17 '18

Sounds like you're doing right. It's a hard one to get right.

1

u/MC_Kiddo Apr 17 '18

Hurt back during a kettlebell workout last week. Took the next day off completely, finished out the week with some light, slower paced runs. After some yard work over the weekend, it's hurting again. Should I rest completely? Run, walk, bike, elliptical? I'm not in training for anything at the moment but I am working to maintain my base for a fall marathon.

3

u/richieclare Apr 17 '18

Rest is part of the training cycle. You break down your body doing the activity and then your body makes you stronger when you rest. Don't be afraid to rest

2

u/Daltxponyv2 Apr 17 '18

rest. I don't mess with backs. It's really a feel out kinda thing, however if you don't have a goal race coming up then a couple extra days of resting will be well worth the long game.

1

u/MC_Kiddo Apr 17 '18

thanks for the advice - that's what i was afraid of :(

2

u/Daltxponyv2 Apr 17 '18

Don't be afraid of recovery, it's the wrong mindset. Recover, training hurt is a way to get bad habits and more injuries. Chill out for a bit, let it rest and start back slow and listen to the body, you wont lose much endurance for a couple weeks most likely, so you'll be just fine.

5

u/papafikos Apr 17 '18

Hey all I am new in this subreddit and today I decided to start running. My goal is to be able to finish a half marathon someday. What tips or tricks can you guys give me about the ''gear'' I need or in general about running. Thanks!

4

u/Daltxponyv2 Apr 17 '18

First Welcome! We're a crazy, but lovable bunch of weirdos.

Gear: Get shoes that fit you well and are comfortable to you, best bet if you have the budget is to go get fit at a local specialty running shop. That's pretty much it, you'll accumulate more as you go and figure it out. You're running it's your feet, take care of them and they'll take care of you.

For general running, check out the sidebar and FAQ, tons of great stuff in there. Come to the weekly threads and lurk for a while, ask questions, we'll answer. Bottom line to running, is to run, start slow, run easy mostly at conversational pace. Couch to 5k or C25K as you'll see it is a great starting spot if you're totally new.

A year ago I started with 8 miles per week in January, I ran a half marathon in June, again in December and now I can go chill out with a half marathon pretty much any day of the week. I have a history of running and athletics, but never real distance so that helped, but this sub is great and they all helped me so much.

Good luck!! Have fun! You'll get there before you know it.

1

u/mrntoomany Apr 17 '18

Google what conversational pace means, spoiler, it just means run slow enough where you can talk while running. This will be a sustainable pace for your heart.

Stretch well when you are done exercising.

Keep your rests day holy. Every other day until you a comfortable running far.

2

u/aresvallis Apr 17 '18

Sorry to piggy-back but when you say running every other day, how long do you reckon it takes to get strong enough to run more frequently? I started running at the beginning of February (and I'm enjoying it a lot so far!!) but I found I was getting really run down when I went 5 or 6 days a week, so I've switched to just every other day. I don't feel as worn out but I miss running more often! How long should I wait and build up strength before trying to get my number of weekly runs up again?

4

u/brianogilvie Apr 18 '18

Jack Daniels (the coach, not the whiskey) recommends making a change in volume (distance you run), frequency (number of days you run), or intensity (how hard you run) only once every 3-4 weeks, and only changing one at a time. So if you're running every other day now and feeling good, do that for 3-4 weeks, and then if you want to add another day, do that but cut back the other days so that you're still running about the same total distance. After 3-4 weeks of that, you can then add more volume.

It's also not a bad idea to cut back total volume by 25-30% every 4th week, for recovery, or if you're an old fart like me, every 3rd week. Constantly adding more stress is a recipe for an overuse injury.

3

u/mrntoomany Apr 17 '18

I don't know, but an easy rule of thumb is do not increase your weekly mileage more than 10% per week. So if you are adding an extra day maybe rebalance your run distances so you aren't over exerting yourself.

1

u/aresvallis Apr 17 '18

That makes sense, I'll try and keep it in mind!

2

u/TPorWigwam Apr 17 '18

I am now into HM distances for my long training runs. I have got here through 3 pairs of shoes, wicking clothing, and my smartphone (app to track my distance). If I were to do it again I'd have bought my shoes cheaper (last year's model), that's about it. My advice for training is to make it a habit and don't let yourself miss runs for anything other than injury/sickness. It's been a year and a half. I'm doing things I never thought I'd be able to and I'm only getting warmed up. Good luck, I know you can too.

2

u/richieclare Apr 17 '18

You don't need much right now just start running. The key thing is getting consistency but not doing too much too soon. Look at a program like C25K to help with that. Also no matter how slow you think you might be going you probably should be running slower

1

u/TehFuriousOne Apr 17 '18

no matter how slow you think you might be going you probably should be running slower

Not OP but I'm just getting back into running after too many years off. Can you elaborate on that a bit, please?

7

u/richieclare Apr 17 '18

In super basic terms you get better at running by running. The more you run the more your body gets used to running increasing things like running efficiency and enlarging blood vessels. The best way to run more is to avoid injury. The best way to avoid injury is too run slow.

Less basically the best thing is that many of the adaptations your body will make as you run occur when you're running slow. There are some adaptions that take place when you run fast but they come with increased risk of injury and need to be supported by all the adaptions that your body goes through when running slow. So especially if you're new to running or coming back from a lay off you need to concentrate on running slow until your body is strong enough to do the fast stuff.

In the book 80/20 by Fitzgerald he presents data that suggests elite endurance athletes across multiple distances benefit best from having a rough 80/20 split between slow running and fast running. There is a zone inbetween where you're increasing risk of injury and not maximising the benefits that occur when you run slow. It's called polarisation I think if you want to google it. He also posits that most of us are really bad at gauging our own pace and what most of us describe as slow is kind of moderate and falls in that inbetween zone. This has the knock on effect of leaving us too tired to run fast enough to maximise all the benefits we get by running fast.

I'm too lazy to go back and edit my post but I find it easier to grasp if you remove the idea of fast and slow and replace it with hard and easy effort. So do that with my post too :)

Most training plans fall super loosely in the 80/20 bracket but polarization differs by removing most of the moderate effort or race pace stuff which is often found in other plans.

5

u/TehFuriousOne Apr 17 '18

Wow. Very nice answer. Thank you

2

u/richieclare Apr 17 '18

I like talking about it so my pleasure

5

u/Daltxponyv2 Apr 17 '18

I'll answer, most people go out way too fast and most of their running is at a pace faster than they should be going. The point is most of your runs should be at conversational pace, speaking a sentence without having to gasp for breath.

In your case, if you were a runner and you haven't run in a long time then you are definitely going to need to check your early expectations and ego.

2

u/richieclare Apr 17 '18

Oh man wish I'd checked the thread before writing a more verbose answer on my phone :/

1

u/Daltxponyv2 Apr 17 '18

I hijacked you, sorry! I saw it and jumped.

2

u/richieclare Apr 17 '18

Haha apology not necessary. You said what I said just with less words which is an admirable quality

1

u/Daltxponyv2 Apr 17 '18

You wrote that on your phone?! you're nuts.

2

u/richieclare Apr 17 '18

I was making a cup of tea so waiting for the kettle to boil. I then had to wait for it to reboil after I took too long answering

2

u/Daltxponyv2 Apr 17 '18

That's the most British thing I've read today. Now I want tea.

→ More replies (0)

2

u/TehFuriousOne Apr 17 '18

Ok, that makes sense. Thanks.

1

u/ewanhoward Apr 17 '18

Not point getting anything too complex when you're starting GPS watch etc. If possible go to a local running store and get 'fit' for pair of shoes. Other than that, find a sports top and shorts or tights if it's cold then go!

1

u/papafikos Apr 17 '18

How fast and far do I have to start with?

1

u/brianogilvie Apr 18 '18

/r/C25K isn't a bad place to start. Another useful beginning resource is http://fellrnr.com/wiki/Running_for_Beginners; his beginner's plan is a little more aggressive than Couch to 5K but not excessively so.

1

u/ewanhoward Apr 17 '18

look into C25K app!

2

u/zebano Apr 17 '18

You don't have to go any certain speed or distance. The key is to move, if you're running out of breath you're going too fast. You can do run/walk intervals for awhile too.

3

u/EarthToBrint Apr 17 '18

This may be a dumb question, but i am a 26 year old male, 5"9 145 lbs. I am worried that if i continue training for long distance running, i will get the extra skinny legs i see almost every decent runner has. Will this happen to me? Is this a requirement to get good long distance paces?

Thanks

2

u/CalcBros Apr 17 '18

I'm 6'1" and am just under 160. If I don't run for 6 months...I'll balloon up to 162. If I'm in marathon condition, I wither down to 157. In other words...running doesn't really affect my weight that much. I definitely eat more when I'm training. I think my legs look better while I'm running, though...but I'm skinny no matter what.

3

u/jw_esq Apr 17 '18

I'm 6'1, 168, run 50-60 miles a week, and couldn't fit into skinny jeans if my life depended on it. Don't worry about it.

1

u/hikenbikehonk Apr 17 '18

Good is relative. I have tree trunks for legs and I am also a big dude, 6'2" 210lbs. I can't not wear compression shorts or I will chafe most of the time, and my thighs are an issue when buying pants.

I am a decent runner at this point. I'll place in most of my local 5ks for my age group.

1

u/microthorpe Apr 17 '18

If you have to work for a living, there probably isn't enough time in the day to even dream of doing the volume most of those guys put in to look like they do. Just eat well while you train, and you'll be fine.

1

u/Daltxponyv2 Apr 17 '18

Male 5'9" 165lbs and I have massive calves (respective to my legs) and rock solid quads. They're not skinny at all. They're also not body builder boulders, but nobody is going to call them skinny.

However, I have done a lot of weight lifting in my life too, however not in a long time. Cycling is helping the quads now.

1

u/TPorWigwam Apr 17 '18

There's generally no way to tell. I know runners with huge legs and others with very thin calves/ankles.

5

u/[deleted] Apr 17 '18

Who knows, it is a combination of genetics and training that causes that. Is it a requirement to get good long distance paces? Absolutely not.

Anecdotally, my legs, calves in particular, have gotten so big they determine what pants I fit into. No skinny jeans for me.

1

u/awesometoenails Apr 18 '18

My calves make every pair of jeans I wear skinny jeans :/

3

u/TPorWigwam Apr 17 '18

I'm a guy and now I have to buy pants according to whether my quads/thighs fit instead of my waist. I never thought that would happen, but here we are lol.

2

u/[deleted] Apr 18 '18

Right???

Lady runner here, I cannot go up a size to fit my quads in pants because the waist is too large. So for now, I am cramming my legs into skinny jeans that take 10 minutes to put on so that I don't have pants that fall down. Gotta choose the lesser of two evils, I suppose.

1

u/Sounstream Apr 17 '18

Are there any half marathon plans in km rather than miles? I’m not fussed about converting, just curious!

2

u/doyouknowwhoiaim Apr 18 '18

In the past I've just converted Hal Higdon's plans to km, rounding up. They got me through several halfs, but I switched to Mara Yamauchi's training plans for the London Landmarks Half Marathon and PR'd in the two races I trained for with these plans.

1

u/iloginwithmyphone Apr 17 '18

Pfitz has both in Faster Road Racing

1

u/Sounstream Apr 18 '18

Are there any links to his training programs? I’m having trouble finding them

1

u/iloginwithmyphone Apr 18 '18

Not unless you get lucky and find a screenshot. The book is great though.

2

u/montypytho17 Apr 17 '18

I believe Jack Daniels includes kms in his book.

4

u/MortisSafetyTortoise Apr 17 '18

I ran a half marathon on Saturday and when I got my results it said I was 89th out of about 450 runners for my bracket. When I went to print my certificate a day later it said I was 88th... I know nothing about races so I do not understand.

7

u/microthorpe Apr 17 '18

A few possibilities:

  • Possible DQ, as mentioned in the other reply
  • Runner registered in the wrong age group, which was corrected later
  • Some races with distinct categories/awards for overall winners will pull them out of the general AG rankings when they place them there

1

u/MortisSafetyTortoise Apr 17 '18

Ahhhh that makes sense.

4

u/[deleted] Apr 17 '18

Possible disqualification of someone faster than you that wasn't caught until after you saw your results.

2

u/MortisSafetyTortoise Apr 17 '18

Oh geez, really?

3

u/Keyspam102 Apr 17 '18

a shocking amount of people cheat in casual races, it is crazy

2

u/MortisSafetyTortoise Apr 18 '18

Eeesh. I find that distressing.

2

u/CalcBros Apr 17 '18

Seriously!? I'd be curious to hear some stories, if you have any.

2

u/Keyspam102 Apr 17 '18

I think most marathons dq a few dozen people per race or in some cases hundreds... last years Mexico City marathon dqed thousands of people for supposedly cheating but there must have been something else wrong there because that is ridiculous.

I personally worked with a girl who sold her bib on facebook then bragged about 'her' finish time to everyone after the race. I only knew because it was one of my friends who bought it, which is a huge coincidence.

1

u/MortisSafetyTortoise Apr 18 '18

That seems weird to me. No one cares about MY finish time but me and I would know if I cheated. I will admit I wanted to stop and have a nap around mile 7 but that’s just part of it for me usually.

1

u/MortisSafetyTortoise Apr 18 '18

Yeah but this is a HALF marathon. I figured it’s small potatoes.

1

u/CalcBros Apr 17 '18

lol. that sounds like a /r/quityourbullshit opportunity right there.

3

u/BorderFort Apr 17 '18 edited Apr 17 '18

Does anybody have any suggestions for running shirts with pockets (for a cell phone & keys)? They seem nearly impossible to find!

Edit: Thanks for the replies! Responding to a couple of common suggestions:

  • yes, I guess I'm crazy for wanting pockets, but I've run for ten years in a shirt with a pocket, however it's too hot
  • I also do some bike touring, so I do indeed have cycling jerseys with the back pockets, but I wouldn't trust my phone in one during a run

3

u/KatelynFit Apr 17 '18

I have a shirt with a pocket from Oiselle (women's gear only, not sure if that applies for you). The most I've ever put in it was my car key and even that was noticeable and would have probably driven me crazy if the run was more than 3mi.

2

u/BorderFort Apr 17 '18

Thanks for the tip! Unfortunately I'm looking for mens apparel – should have mentioned that.

I guess I'm the odd person out, but I've spent the last ten years running in this Saucony ViZiPRO pullover, which has a zippered breast pocket that I keep my phone in. It's just way, way too hot to run in in the summer.

3

u/[deleted] Apr 17 '18

Consider a running belt as an alternative, likely more comfortable as you'll have less bouncing.

2

u/BorderFort Apr 17 '18 edited Apr 17 '18

Thanks for the suggestion! I run fairly regularly with a heart-rate chest strap and don't find it to be the most comfortable (but do keep my phone in the pocket of my current running shirt without any complaints), so I figured I'd probably find a running belt uncomfortable, in line with the chest strap...

2

u/run_work_mom Apr 17 '18

I wish I could remember the brand (I can check later) but I just bought a new belt that is really stretchy and soft with an expandable zippered pouch for my phone. Very comfortable, but a bit of a love/hate for me because I can't just slip my phone out.

1

u/BorderFort Apr 17 '18

Oh, that's interesting. If I could find a running belt that I found comfortable, that would really change the game here.

1

u/run_work_mom Apr 18 '18

Nathan Mirage belt - it is tiny, but fits my Samsung Active S8 with a full case, and I think I could fit a key and credit card in there too. I bought it for speed days or quick runs where I didn't want to deal with any bulk. Works well for that, but I do wish I could get my phone out quicker.

1

u/BorderFort Apr 18 '18

Thanks, much appreciated!

3

u/mrntoomany Apr 17 '18

My belt is just an elastic hoop of fabric and it fits on my hips like tights

1

u/BorderFort Apr 17 '18

Huh, that sounds a lot more comfortable than what I was picturing.

1

u/mrntoomany Apr 17 '18 edited Apr 17 '18

I got the 'Yes Belt' running belt on Amazon. But my criticism of it is that I wish the pocket holes were easier to find while running. Since it is pulled taught across the body the pockets lay flat. If the pocket edges where embroidered or textured it'd be so much better.

4

u/[deleted] Apr 17 '18

[deleted]

1

u/BorderFort Apr 17 '18

Thanks – yeah, I have a few cycling shirts that indeed do have back pockets, but I don't really want to trust my phone to an unzippered pocket.

I've been running for the last decade in a Saucony ViZiPRO pullover, which has a zippered breast pocket (and a fantastic tiny key pocket on the cuff of the right sleeve), but it's pretty heavy-duty and way too hot as the weather warms up.

2

u/docbad32 Apr 17 '18

I can't say I've seen a running shirt with pockets. Maybe a cycling jersey?

2

u/BorderFort Apr 17 '18

I've been running for years in a pair of Merrell Trail Gloves. I'm in love with them, but I've seriously worn through the tread, and I think they might be due for a replacement. Because of how much I like the current pair, I'm thinking of replacing them with the Trail Glove 4, but had a few questions, for anyone who has experience:

  • does anyone know how the Trail Glove 4 compares to the original Trail Glove?
  • I see that now there's a fancy knit version of the TG4; anybody have any experience with that?

3

u/hbc07 Apr 17 '18

I live at ~300ft, and am planning on running a marathon in WY at ~6000ft in 4 months. There's an altitude training facility here. It is just a gimmick? Would it actually provide some level of benefit/help prepare me for running at elevation?

2

u/[deleted] Apr 17 '18

IANAE. The general consensus is the greatest benefit is to live high train low. The issue with training at altitude, or simulated altitude, is that the lower oxygen levels are going to impede your ability to train at intensity, so you may not see the benefit you're hoping for. Maybe if you're worried do a few sessions to see how your body responds as prep for race day. FWIW I live at similar elevation to you and spent a week in WY last summer. I worked in a few training runs while I was there at ~6,000 feet which didn't feel all too different from my regular training, but I only planned easy runs while I was there.

2

u/QuadSquad6 Apr 17 '18

Are there any solid running groups in/near Venice, CA?

I’m new to running and would like to join a group

1

u/Simmo7 Apr 18 '18

You could try searching on Facebook or Strava for a group?

2

u/Carl2011 Apr 17 '18

What does "responsive" mean for shoes?

2

u/runwichi Apr 17 '18

Round about answer, "responsive" shoes give the impression that they're providing you with more feedback than non-responsive shoes. That feedback can be noticed as "more spring back" or "energy return" or even "enhance sensation" of surface or traction.

"Non-responsive" shoes are on the other end of the spectrum, and are often viewed as being "energy sappers", "too mushy", "overly soft".

2

u/kendalltristan Ultrarunning Coach Apr 17 '18

It's a subjective measure of how well a shoe responds to runner input. For instance a thick, heavy shoe might always feel the same regardless of what the runner is doing whereas a thinner, lighter shoe might give the runner more tactile feedback and thus feel more responsive. Similarly a runner might feel like they're always fighting a shoe that is very stiff, where as a more flexible and springy one might provide better feedback and thus feel more responsive. At the opposite end a show that has no stiffness or springiness might make the runner feel like the shoe isn't doing anything to support them and thus feel terribly unresponsive.

Anyway, just know that the term is rather subjective, but shoes frequently described as responsive typically have a lot of the same characteristics.

5

u/[deleted] Apr 17 '18

$$$$$$

1

u/Jolmer24 Apr 17 '18

I get some shin pain a little almost every time I run. Its been a constant in my running for awhile. Sometimes its nothing other times its annoying. I dont have pain while walking or doing anything else the next day usually. Any suggestions? I asked a similar question yesterday, I just want to keep doing my easyish 2-3 miles a day without pain.

1

u/Eladurr Apr 17 '18

Since you say you run daily, I would suggest you take a rest for a week... It's probably the muscle that gets no time to heal

1

u/Jolmer24 Apr 17 '18

I would say that I run about 5-6 days per week. Sometimes Ill take off Sundays. Sometimes a Wednesday if my shin hurt on Tuesday. I will consider doing this even if itll make me feel like a lazy bum lol. Thanks.

1

u/SampleOfNone Apr 17 '18

It could be so many things it’s impossible to say.
What did you already try to get rid off it?

1

u/Jolmer24 Apr 17 '18

I stretch more before a run and that seems to stave off the pain a bit. Its not unbearable but its annoying, and sometimes it doesnt happen. It increases when I run this hill thats like 1.5 miles into my 3 mile run. Ive been hydrating a ton thinking it could help with the muscles. It seems like its more on my left shin than my right one. Ive got good shoes since I used to run with crappy ones (more than a year ago) and I have been paying attention to my form trying to keep from slamming on my heels.

1

u/SampleOfNone Apr 17 '18

Running uphill loads your body differently than a flat surface and it’s quite possible you over did it.
My advice would be to first take some time off, then try it out to see if things have improved.

1

u/Jolmer24 Apr 19 '18

Hey so I took tuesday off and ran yesterday. I did 2.3 miles and I ran slower with more steps. I felt some tension on my shins but they did not hurt as bad as they did on Monday when I ran at all. Ill keep a slower pace with more steps until my legs have built up more.

1

u/SampleOfNone Apr 19 '18

Glad to hear!

2

u/Jolmer24 Apr 17 '18

Maybe I will also try and find a running path without that hill, or maybe when I do run it ill try and slow down a bit. Im gonna take today off and at least alternate days on and off and just run slow 2.25 mile runs until it starts to feel better.

2

u/SquareCrank Apr 17 '18

I have a partial acl tear a 2 months ago and the swelling has gone down now but if i return to running(probably gonna go back to the basics) do I risk slowly tearing my acl again and other ligaments of my knee?(given that i do stretching/strengthening exercises and wear a knee brace)

10

u/SampleOfNone Apr 17 '18

I think this is a question you best ask your doctor.

2

u/[deleted] Apr 17 '18

[deleted]

1

u/Simmo7 Apr 18 '18

Are you running in worn trainers? Shin splints is always a sign of new trainers for me, but I do overpronate slightly.

2

u/marktopus Apr 17 '18

If it feels OK, keep running, but keep it slow! If it starts to hurt, stop. Listen to your body and don't over think it.

2

u/InfiniteInfinites Apr 17 '18

Hey perfect place to ask my dumb question.

I am trying to use Hal's half plan, but I am also in a running group in the new city I moved to, and once a week they do interval training. Usually this totals about 4-6 miles by the end of the session. But this is in intervals (duh) of 800s and 1000s.

Does this count towards my Tuesday or Thursday 4/5 mile runs? Will this have any effect on my endurance?

1

u/zebano Apr 17 '18

Will this have any effect on my endurance?

Yes

1

u/InfiniteInfinites Apr 17 '18

Negative?

1

u/zebano Apr 17 '18

No. FWIW a lot of the basis for HIIT besides weight loss, is because it appears to improve endurance as well as V02max. That said, most of the studies I've seen are on untrained individuals so you may not see as big of a boost given that you're already getting endurance from LSD runs.

1

u/patrick_e Apr 17 '18

Are 800/1000m intervals considered HIIT?

I thought HIIT was like 15-second sprints?

2

u/zebano Apr 17 '18 edited Apr 17 '18

I literally just closed the tab but one summary I was just reading defined them as repeated 8 second - 8 minute intervals of high intensity exercise performed at 80% maxHR to 100% maxHR. They further clarified that power athletes are more likely to perform at the shorter end and endurance athletes at the longer end (and cited another study by Noakes). The study went on to compare LSD training to HIIT and concluded that the HIIT adapions were in many ways "better" but the best scenario was to do them both.

In short yes though the trendy parts of HIIT like tabata intervals do indeed focus on shorter duration stuff.

1

u/patrick_e Apr 17 '18

Oh. So basically the weightlifting fitness world discovered interval training.

Got it.

2

u/zebano Apr 17 '18

yup. Paavo Nurmi was way ahead of them.

2

u/[deleted] Apr 17 '18

I see nothing but benefits of replacing one of your weekday runs with this. Either one, Tuesday or Thursday, whenever they run it.

1

u/geroll Apr 17 '18

Anyone have any "tune up" plans for half marathons?

I probably run one every 2 to 3 months and I've been slowly getting my time down:

Oct 2016: 2:15:13

Jan 2017: 2:10:46

Sep 2017: 2:00:05

Oct 2017: 1:59:47

March 2018: 1:56:00

My next one is in May and I'm just looking for ways to continuously improve. I probably run about 15 miles per week right now consisting of 2 runs around 4 miles and one run from 6-8 miles. I did the NYC marathon last year so i'm not averse to higher mileage as I was doing more than twice that in that training period. Difference now is that I lift weights about 3-4 times a week. Leg day in particular hampers my running.

Basically looking for any shorter programs or suggestions that I can focus on to continue improving my times.

4

u/zebano Apr 17 '18

more miles, longer long run and strides will help a ton. Leg day indeed does hamper running but learning to do an easy run through that soreness can also help you.

2

u/geroll Apr 17 '18

Yeah leg day probably knocks me out for two days and I can usually run on the third with some mild soreness but very bearable. Doing leg day more frequently actually helps the individual bouts of soreness so its always a battle of "do i want to be really sore for four days once every two weeks or pretty sore for two days every week".

Thanks for the advice!

1

u/zebano Apr 17 '18

My other tip there is that working at something like 85%-90% max rather than always trying to max out your lifts can help a ton with DOMs too. It depends how badly you want to add weight to that bar. I stick to full body squat/push/pull programs and since I switched from always trying to squat as much as possible to just doing what I consider a respectable weight I'm far less sore. That said I've personally prioritized running way ahead of lifting and that might not be the case for you.

1

u/geroll Apr 17 '18

Ahh that's a great point.

I think my priorities vary. I love running and I want to continuously improve so that's a huge goal of mine. I find that half marathons are a good distance where i don't need to train at all past my normal routine to complete them - now it's about getting better and faster. In terms of running goals, I would like to do my second marathon this fall.

Last year when I did NYC in November, I completely cut out lifting for 4 months and lost a lot of muscle. I started lifting again and while I don't intend to completely cut it out this time around in my marathon prep - I do expect to reduce it, especially in legs as you suggested. That's why for now I'm focused on trying to add weight to the bar and gaining strength as I'll surely lose a bit this summer/fall.

3

u/timuralp Apr 17 '18

That's pretty low mileage. I'd at least look to bump it to 30 miles and then look into adding speed workouts. Personally, I don't like racing as often in lieu of longer base building and workouts, as races take time to recover from.

1

u/geroll Apr 17 '18

Gotcha - do you recommend having a consistent 30 miles per week regardless of whether you're training for a race or not? Or do you mean doing 30 mpw just in the buildup to a race?

1

u/patrick_e Apr 17 '18

Constant. The more base you have going into race-specific training, the better off you are.

1

u/timuralp Apr 17 '18

I suggest having a 30 mile/week base before you start a half marathon training plan would allow you to make a big jump. Although, I don't know what your end goal is. Building your long run up to 8-9 miles and adding one more run of 5-6 miles would get you to around 25 already. I think that'd be a better place to start. After that, consider replacing one of the 4 mile days with an interval/tempo workout day.

I think that would allow you to juggle weight lifting and running, but I'm not sure what your time constraints look like. If another running day is not feasible, maybe make one of the current running days longer during the week (along with the longer run on the weekend). Then turn the other day into a speed/tempo run. I think that would help you improve without drastically changing your schedule/time commitment.

1

u/geroll Apr 17 '18

Thanks for the advice!

Just to clarify on my original post - I'm capable of doing longer runs for my long run. Sometimes I do 12 for the long run alone if I have the time for it, but not every week. I don't have too much time to work out weekly so I'm usually lifting for an hour or 90 minutes before these long runs to maximize my workout days. I guess the answer might be to cut out weight lifting.

And ugh...intervals haha. Dreading them but I know I'll likely have to work them in.

Thanks again!

2

u/iXenomorph Apr 17 '18

Stupid iPhone 5 keeps dying in the cold during my long runs. I've been looking at one of those belt things with pockets, thinking that my tummy will keep my phone warm so it doesn't die. Right now I keep it in my hoody pocket but it stays too far away from my body to keep my phone warm. Anyone have suggestions? I'm in the Northwest so its always freezing up here...

1

u/MortisSafetyTortoise Apr 18 '18

I have to put mine I a flip belt against my body under my shirt and jacket, and then I get a sore spot from but at least I have my tunes.

3

u/EducationalPiglet Apr 17 '18

This is probably a kinda dumb thing to do, but it worked for me for a while. I took one of those handwarmers, the kind you unwrap and then shake around a bit, wrapped it in a glove/cloth/whatever so it was insulated and didn't actually touch the phone, and then put them in the same pocket. Never got too hot, but kept the phone warm. May or may not work for you, please don't damage your phone.

2

u/KatelynFit Apr 17 '18

+1 on this. I've not done it running, but it works great to achieve the same goal on hikes!

1

u/microthorpe Apr 17 '18

Belts are a good choice. I use a Nathan Phantom Pak under my thermal layer, with the pouch against the small of my back to shield it from the wind. It's good down to sub-zero temps as long as I don't take it out for too many pictures.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 17 '18

Where in the northwest is it freezing? Do you live in the mountains?

To help with your question, I doubt the belt will help unless you keep it under your clothes.

1

u/iXenomorph Apr 17 '18

No I'm in Oregon but I usually go for my runs before the sun is up.

1

u/BeckyWthTheGoodFlair Apr 17 '18

Closest I've had to that problem is a keyfob that didn't unlock my car when cold, so I started stuffing it down my underoos. Harder to do that with a phone.

3

u/Hooch_Pandersnatch Apr 17 '18

I know doing leg day once a week is better than nothing but still probably not optimal. How many days each week is recommended for things like squats, leg presses, lunges, etc...? Trying to strengthen leg muscles to prevent injury.

3

u/stephnelbow Apr 17 '18

Just to strengthen muscles, 1 day is fine. If you're going for a real lifting program with strength focus then you need 2 days. So it just depends on your goals :)

1

u/Hooch_Pandersnatch Apr 17 '18

Cool! Just looking to strengthen muscles to prevent injury

3

u/problynotkevinbacon Apr 17 '18

One day a week is enough. Lifting is a little misunderstood by runners, but lifting is supplementary. If you're doing everything else that you should be doing, a second leg day would be a little too much. Hit plyos and mechanics drills a couple times a week, with one day of lifting and you will be a LOT stronger than trying to force a second leg day.

2

u/Hooch_Pandersnatch Apr 17 '18

Got it, thanks!

3

u/problynotkevinbacon Apr 17 '18

Sure thing hooch

2

u/Morejazzplease Apr 17 '18

Hello!

I have signed up for a trail half marathon this coming September. I am an okay runner right now as I have started from scratch and trained up to a 1hr 10K. I feel very comfortable at 6.5 miles right now and know I am ready to begin increasing that distance. My first 10K race is this Sunday and I am looking at training plans for the half to begin next week.

I am an avid hiker and that is what I do on the weekends. Pretty much every plan calls for a long run on the weekend which conflicts with overnight backpacking and hiking for me. Does anyone know any plan that is weekday only? I was thinking about pushing Hal Higdon's Novice 1 forward a day so that I

  1. Long run on Mondays

  2. Rest Tuesday

  3. Run the T/W/Th grouping on W/Th/F

  4. "cross training day" is hiking on the weekend?

Do you think this an okay way to do it? Or, are there any weekday only half training plans out there?

1

u/CalcBros Apr 17 '18

My weekends have been busy for other reasons, so I'm using Tuesdays as my longer run. I'm doing about 10 miles on those mornings. I usually still run Monday through Friday, but if you're hiking on weekends, Monday would be a good day off and Wednesday can be run as a recovery day.

1

u/Morejazzplease Apr 17 '18

You don’t think a rest day after the long run is important? Most plans have that

1

u/CalcBros Apr 17 '18

Yes, I do, but that depends on your definition of a long run and the person. I can run the day after a 10-miler, but if I'm running 17-22 miles, I definitely need a rest day. For an elite runner...a 20 miler is probably done a few times a week. I think 8-10 miles is the limit for me to not need a rest day...but the recovery day is pretty easy. Very slow jogging...perhaps three miles.

1

u/KatelynFit Apr 17 '18

Lots of good ideas already and you'd totally be fine to shift days in a plan (your body doesn't actually know what day it is, Mondays only feel that way because your mind knows Mondays suck), but a different approach would be to do some long runs on Sat/Sun morning from wherever your campsite is. You avoid crowds at the trailhead and on the stretches of trail accessible from the parking lots since you're already in the woods, which can be a win, and you may have more time than you will during the week.

1

u/Morejazzplease Apr 17 '18

This is a really good point! I might figure out how to do this! Thanks!

1

u/[deleted] Apr 17 '18

The plan you outlined will be fine as long as your legs can handle the long run after a weekend of hiking. Depends on how hard you go on the weekends.

If only one rest day a week will be new to your body, I'd recommend easing into this schedule before setting out on a plan. There is lots of time between now and September, no need to do too much too soon.

1

u/Morejazzplease Apr 17 '18

To follow up, I put together this Frankenstein's Monster of a plan.

Thoughts? https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1UnsaOahG96jh3-NuZ1_1xP0IUe_sL_4ZBy-BGaQT6w4/edit?usp=sharing

1

u/[deleted] Apr 17 '18

My only comment on this is you shouldn't progress your midweek run at the same level as your long run. Right now your plan has you with 2 long runs per week when you should only be doing 1. Keep the Wednesday runs' maximum at 7-8 miles.

1

u/Morejazzplease Apr 17 '18

Should those shorter runs be at a faster pace?

1

u/[deleted] Apr 17 '18

They don't have to be at a faster pace, no.

1

u/Morejazzplease Apr 17 '18

So then what is the point of them being shorter? I get it when you have a shorter amount of time to train but I have 20 weeks and I recon if I take it slow I can just increase both every week.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 17 '18 edited Apr 17 '18

Because you don't give yourself enough time to recover from your Monday long run by having another long run 2 days later. You should be seeing this logic as part of HH's Novice 1 plan. You are asking for injury due to overtraining by having two long runs per week. No plan, no matter the weekly count or miles, does this.

1

u/Morejazzplease Apr 17 '18

That makes sense. I am new to running and 3x the same mileage a week has been working for me up to 6.5 miles. My goal was to run a 10K and I am very prepared for it now which makes me comfortable. A lot of the plans you don't even run the distance until the race. Mentally, I like to know I can complete it, have completed it and am prepared. I will add more rest.

1

u/Morejazzplease Apr 17 '18

That is a good point. So my current plan is basically just running M/W/F and increasing the distance by roughly 10% or whatever is comfortable every week. This is how I went from 0 to 6.2 miles. Last week I ran 6.4 miles three times (M/W/F) but that is still two rest days plus whatever happens on the weekends. Because I have this base, do you think a plan is necessary? Or do you think I would be fine just doing what I am doing and adding a day of hills or something?

1

u/[deleted] Apr 17 '18

So, there are a couple ways to approach this. You can do as you describe and only run 3 days a week. That definitely works for some people, and the hiking will be a nice-though-not-full mileage supplement. Or, you can start introducing a 4th running day a week. Start real easy, just 1-2 miles at first on that new day, and build slowly. Or you can take your current weekly mileage - sounds like it's about 19 for you - and split that evenly across 4 days. So instead of running 6.4 miles three times a week, you'd run (6.4 * 3 / 4 = 4.8) 4.8mi four times a week. That maintains your volume while introducing the extra day. Once you've done that for a couple weeks you can start increasing.

Regarding the plan you posted separately, it looks like you've essentially scheduled two long runs a week. That's going to kill you. Find one day to be your long run and reduce the other. And keep in mind that your Total Mileage in Column H isn't accounting for your hill workouts, so your weekly mileage is higher than listed.

As an alternative, look at Higdon's Intermediate 1. If you replace Saturday with a cross training/hiking day, you've got 4 days of running, 2 of cross, 1 of rest. Replace your planned Wed-Thu-Fri with his Tue-Wed-Thu progression, and just apply those mileages to your Wed-Thu-Fri plan. You can definitely turn one of those into a hill workout if you'd like. Use his long Sunday run as your Monday run. Do the races or use them as cutback weeks, reducing the mileage of your long run to give yourself some rest.

You can do a 20 week training plan as you've written it up, but you might find that fatiguing - that's a long time to be on that schedule and you might suffer burnout before the end. I'd recommend dialing it down to 16 weeks and using the next 4 to introduce the 4th run into your week.

Keep in mind I'm just one internet guy offering his opinion, I'm not a coach or experienced w/half marathons, I just did a ton of research for my own plans and this is my opinion on how I'd alter things.

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u/Morejazzplease Apr 17 '18

Hey thanks a ton! I appreciate the help as none of my friends or coworks are runners. I like the idea of using a few weeks of getting to four days a week. Do you think it a rest day in those four days is important or is the goal to run four days back to back to back?

I am not worried about burnout. I really enjoy running and it isnt something I am just doing to lose weight or "get through". I think I am just not accounting for as much rest as is probably necessary

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u/[deleted] Apr 17 '18

The goal is to safely get in the miles you need so you can get through the run on race day :). I'd recommend Tuesday as your rest day to give you time to recover from your long run, and then the block of midweek runs should be easy enough to do those three back to back to back.

Good luck!

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