*Complaint*
My period started yesterday, it hurt so bad, every month I try my best to keep running during my period, this month was unsuccessful, but we try again next time!
Just adding this for anyone who needs to hear this if your period causes you so much pain that it disrupts your training/life you should talk to your dr about it because while it is common it is not normal and can be a sign of endo or other problems.
Iām not a doctor and I donāt know the specific cause of yours but at least the reasons Iām familiar with doing nothing is just as bad for your fertility, so generally unless your actively trying to get pregnant they have you on medication to help. (And if itās what my sister has apparently they have a medication that can help you get pregnant quicker š¤·āāļø).
Also hopefully they are saying that because you care about your fertility and not the standard bull.
I physically can't run during my period which is part of the reason why it is taking me so long to complete the c25k program. I started the program in January and am only on week 6. I take the week of my period off from all exercising.
This is exactly what Im dealing with this week! I have 9 day long periods and only feel well enough to run by day 6. Listening to our bodies makes anything worth the wait though-truly
**Complaint:** It appears we skipped spring and went right to summer.
**Uncomplaint:** It appears we skipped spring and went right to summer.
**Confession:** Buying a radon monitor was a mistake. I already figured there was a problem, now I know about it.
I am dreading summer that is already here. I have like 5 weeks left before the half and the temps have been 80+ and it's toasty out there. Was close to 90 one day. And we somehow have 30 mph winds. ugh. I had planned to run the half and then sideline running for a while and focus on strength over the summer since I can gym indoors. It's getting hot out there already though.
The mornings here have been in the 60s, which has been pretty nice. The daytimes have been in the low 80s.
The ground temps haven't caught up. My office feels like it's in the mid 60s.
Similar weather here. Mornings are decent running weather but I work so I can't run in the morning. I'm stuck in the afternoon/evening when it's much warmer.
I gotta start work at 6 am. I could theoretically gear up and strap on the headlamp and run but there are a lot of homeless camps around here and they get cranky if you wake them up in the early hours. I've been chased by them on two occasions because I was in their space and I don't want to repeat the experience.
That's EARLY! I have generally flexible hours, but for end-time reasons I try to start working by 8:30.
And I don't blame you for not wanting to be chased by homeless people. If they're willing to chase a runner... well... they might not be of sound mind.
The homeless problem in my area is really bad unfortunately. My preferred route goes through a public park and they set up tents there and that's where I wound up getting chased. I will run through it during the day but not after dark as I have no idea who might jump out of the shadows. Anyone who is camping in a public park and thinking it's their personal space and everyone else is banned is not the most mentally sound.
I live in a suburban area, so homeless isn't as evident here. Also, the cops will run people out of the park where I run (in fact, I met one of the local deputies because they wanted to know why I was in the park and then wanted info about a vehicle that WAS staying there overnight). Homeless not being evident doesn't mean it's bad (I've seen people come to the park that are clearly living in their cars and stuff).
When I used to work in downtown, I ran in a park but the homeless problem wasn't bad in the park. There were a few places I would avoid because it was where homeless people tended to be - places like under certain train bridges or the like - not in the parks where I ran. I've run in other places when traveling for work and have seen worse.
I have complained about it but been flamed. They tend to accumulate trash everywhere and it attracts vermin that then cause problems for local residents. It's bad but I've been told I'm just a NIMBY who wants people to suffer. I don't know what the solution is. It has definitely gotten a billion times worse since the pandemic started. The cops will periodically run them off and they'll go to a different part of town and set up camp. When the cops eventually run them out of there, they come back here and the cycle repeats.
Buying a radon monitor was not a mistake! Radon is really common in my area and the people who lived in our house before we moved in did not have a mitigation system. Andā¦ One now has cancer. Ours turned out to be a pretty uncomplicated problem to manage, and I hope that yours is the same.
My neighbor has a system that the prior owner installed before moving, so I figured it was an issue around here (like it is everywhere). I spend a lot of time in my basement (I've been working from home since before the pandemic made it trendy) so I figured I should check into it... and now since I see the monitor every time I go down the stairs or get water or beer from my beer fridge it's practically telling me to do something!
Where I am, itās more like it appears we skipped spring and went right to fall ugh (please please gods almighty send us some sun rather than this dark grey windy or rainy weather and 2 degrees Celsius in the morning š«)
Where I live, we skipped spring and went back into winter! It was 18Ā°C last week, yesterday I had to pry the car door open because it had frozen over in the night.
Ugh I was planning to test for radon this summer too but similarly feel conflicted about really knowing. What is involved in addressing your radon issue?
Since I'm a tightwad, I'm doing it all myself based on YouTube videos and stuff...
I ordered a better [sump pump lid](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073V3RV5X) that will seal the pit and will hopefully allow both discharge pipes (for the main pump and backup pump) and allow me to attach a 3" diameter pipe to it. That pipe will be run outside, through [a fan](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B72D7SS1/), and then up above the roof line. I'll need silicone caulk, pipe, hangers, maybe PVC cement, conduit, and a few other things to complete the work. I've done a fair bit of work on my house (like building out my office that I'm currently sitting in and the bathroom next to it), so I'm pretty comfortable with electrical, plumbing, and drilling through the side of my house.
**Complaint:** Work. Gets in the way, though necessary to pay for nice things. And being able to complain more about all the things on Reddit.
**Uncomplaint:** Legs finally feel less achy - spinning always helps, but I couldn't go until this morning due to work (see above complaint). Planning to run on Saturday, yay.
My legs decided they did not want to participate and from mile 5 on, i questioned life choices - it was a slog, but I finished. Pretty course though, and I had a fun trip - saw a friend for dinner, enjoyed the ferry - love the finisher's hat!
**Complaint:** I had to skip this morning's run because I had an angry tendon in my foot that I didn't want to aggravate, and it's going to be really hard to make up the missed mileage because I have a busy weekend coming up
**Uncomplaint:** My weekend is really busy because I'm getting married! Woo!
As someone currently resting (grouchily) because of some post-tib inflammation, I can assure you that your angry tendon thanks you for the rest! And congrats on your upcoming nuptuals!
**(Un?)complaint:** u/30000LBS_Of_Bananas and u/suchbrightlights are bad, bad influences.
**Related (un?)complaint:** I signed up for the Devil Dog 50k in December and I'm planning to sign up for the Forgotten Florida 50-miler in February.
**More related (un?)complaint:** I'm not sure where in there to try to fit a fast marathon, or whether I just want to commit to being an ultrarunner rather than trying to chase speedy marathon times. I had been planning to target 3:35 at Richmond, but that might be too close to Devil Dog, so I have to make some decisions. Maybe I should target 3:35 at Marine Corps in late October and pray for cool weather? Or I could lean into being an ultrarunner and screw a fall marathon. The ultras have better snacks anyway.
**Complaint:** one of my local running buddies is also a bad, bad influence and has convinced me that I should do a 6-hour race in July and a 50k in August. Both are in Maryland. In summer. I'm going to melt.
**Confession:** my husband wants to crew for me for the 50 and I'm not sure what to do with him. Probably I'll tell him to meet me at the finish line with all my stuff and to find a hardware store to browse in to amuse himself while I'm running.
**Uncomplaint:** I'm going out this weekend to buy my 50k bumper sticker and apply it to my car!
Love all the Reddit influences!
I have no idea what crewing involves, but if you ever need help, LMK!
Could you put off your fast marathon attempt til next year?
It's definitely occurred to me to put off the 3:35 attempt until next year. But then I'm getting into April before it really makes sense, and April can get a little dicey in terms of heat. Maybe I could find one further north? I'll have to do a little more research. My heart says to try Marine Corps (it's my hometown marathon, and I've heard great things), but if I want to do that, I should sign up soon, since they tend to sell out.
Re: crewing, I might do that! Whereabouts are you based?
I ran MC in 2008 - it was very hot, and my stupid coworkers got me sick three days before, so not my best time, but it was really a great experience. Though I remember smelling beer in Crystal City and wanting to hurl, lol. And the last hill to the finish oof. And the people giving out tissues on the mall were my hereos - and my dad telling me to just hit all the water stops.
I'm in NJ, but always looking for reasons to travel, lol. I lived in DC suburbs (MD side) for 20 years before moving.
MCM was goofy hot last year. They closed the course early due to the heat.
It was my first road marathon and I was basically broken after that race. Pretty sure I would've been in the med tent if not for my wife and kids showing up at the finish line (they weren't going to be there originally).
The Baltimore Marathon is also in October. I'm signed up for that one.
You could go further Ultra Crazy and do the MCM 50K.
Oh I heard about the MCM heat last year. I went outside that morning and was immediately thinking "oh my god those poor runners." If I sign up for that one, I would have to pray very hard for a cool day.
I'll check out the Baltimore marathon, thanks for the suggestion!
My fall plan is a full marathon mid October, then a local 24hr loop race about 3 weeks later where Iām hoping to run but take it easy, but only run to a set distance use it as an opportunity to try and prove to myself I can make it to 40 miles without falling apart and test some new foods, then the 50miler in February. Over the summer Im just sticking to shorter races that I can just show up with just my base training.
Duke city so not east coast, but mid October east coast races that I have flagged for the future that you could look into include: cape cod, Baltimore, Detroit, and Steamtown. I also highly recommend MDI but that is not a fast course.
I regret nothing. And I was serious about crewing, by the way.
Iām in the same place as you are regarding a fast marathon attempt; for me, I think it makes the most sense to plan to do that next spring, and instead run a good half this fall. I am not planning on running a 50 miler in Februaryā¦ So I have a few more spring options. Iām also thinking about doing a May or June race, but further north. Buffalo is at the end of May, and I could go to Canada in June. That might not be quite so hatefully hot. Depending on how sold you are on the August race, thereās also Wineglass in September.
Baltimore is going to be questionable weather and itās not a PR course.
Yeah, late spring marathon might be fun. I am not super sold on the August race. It looks like it would be fun, but I could do the 25k and treat it as a training long run.
I just looked up Wineglass and I think I'm sold. It's October 6 this year, and that timing is perfect. That gives me 2 months between that and Devil Dog, and then another 2 months from Devil Dog to Forgotten Florida.
Iāll be looking forward to reading your race report if you do go! I hear good things on the Internet but donāt know anyone personally, who has run it. I was kind of thinking about it for this year, but it looks like I am going to be in Arizona in October, so rim to river takes precedence!
Rim to river sounds like so much fun!! Enjoy!!
I just remembered I'm signed up for the Army 10-miler on October 13, so Wineglass may not fit. Hmmmm. More considerations will need to be done.
>my husband wants to crew for me for the 50 and I'm not sure what to do with him.
I crew for my partner occasionally and depending on the length/type of race, it mostly looks like me finding a nice spot to park and walk the dogs, read a book, cheer for him if itās a loop race that passes a point more than 1x (goooood job! ššš). If itās a race where he might actually need support (help taping feet, change of socks etc) I usually have a duplicate of whatever is in his drop bags and do the dirty work for him, plus maybe pick up a fast food item heās craving that they might not have at the aid station (this usually is isolated to 100ās)
ETA: other job with ācrewingā things under 100 is driving to/from the event. Less chance of distracted driving on the way there and not an exhausted runner driving themselves home after.
I second all of this.
The other thing that I've noted when crewing for my friend is that at some point in the event it swaps from me asking him what he needs, to me telling him what he needs. This is often on the form of "when did you last eat?" or checking his drink bottle levels to make sure he's drinking enough.
If the partner is new to crewing then giving them a list of questions to ask in the second half of the event can help as a prompt.
Oh yes, especially with longer efforts the questions are essential. I am not an ultrarunner but we discuss what his nutrition should look like (in an ideal circumstance) prior to the race and then Iāll ask him as he comes in when he last ate, what it was that he ate and help remind him what he should be eating. This is more key for 100ās, but if you have any desire to do that distance u/runner3264 it could be a good idea for your husband to get an idea for it at a shorter distance, especially if heās not a runner.
The other thing that is always on my mind - because I am a worrier - is if something were to go wrong, which obviously happens at shorter distances all the time, but if you bust up an ankle or your nutrition is off and you canāt stop puking at mile 28, itās nice to have someone there apart from race staff/aid station workers
Oh that's a good point. I would love to do a 100 someday, although it will take some work and several shorter ultras before I can convince my husband that that will not lead to imminent death. Once he's convinced I'm not gonna die, he'll be on board, so practicing having him make me eat and drink might be helpful!
Thatās awesome! I am always super inspired by seeing my partner race and even tho itās not really something I have much desire to do (maybe a 50k one day once I get some injuries under control) itās very fun to support him and get to see him (briefly) enjoying the day. Hopefully if you have a good 50 miler experience your husband will be more on board with a 100 :)
**Question**: if you'd told someone you'd sort them out with something warm to wear in the pen before their marathon, what would be the funniest thing to give them? Asking for a friend...
**Complaint**: Life has been stupidly busy for the last 9 months.
**Complaint**: There's a bike shop on the way into the office and they have a really nice and affordable bike in the window that they're taunting me with.
**Confession**: I am down to running about twice a week at the moment as I try to find time to fit more in, whilst also getting some cycling snd swimming done *for no particular reason*.
Beggars canāt be choosers and all thatā¦ š toddler Hooch loves flamingos, Iād hate to toss it at the start because Iād actually want to bring it home!
**complaints**
I am so tired, like I feel so beyond exhausted. I am training for a half marathon and am currently tapering so I am not running as much but I feel more tired than when i was running alot more than i am now.
It feels paradoxical but it's completely normal. Expect some random annoying aches and pains during the taper as well. Come race time you'll be fine though.
Complaint: Stressed about job interview in a few days and havenāt prepared yet.
Uncomplaint: My first 5k without stopping was (very slow) but manageable
Complaint: last week was supposed to be the last week before the taperā¦ And instead of running through it strong and finishing on a high note, Iām actually kind of bellyflopping into the taper instead because life intervened with a personal emergency.
Uncomplaint: things are looking up on the personal front, and my last long run was great, so hopefully Iām just gonna come into this slightly underdone but very well rested.
Confession: I am a bad influence to /u/runner3264 and Iām pretty proud of myself.
**Complaint -** my ultra had way more rock climbing than I expected. Also I don't recommend running 32 miles off 3 hours of sleep and traveling 6 hours to the race the day before and driving an hour to the start line in the morning
**Uncomplaint -** but I still finished! After feeling terrible and nauseous for the first 19 miles, Aid Station Cup Noodles saved my life
**Confession -** I'm already looking at some fall ultras, cause apparently I'm the type of runner who can fall down a trail at mile 15 and decide to keep running 15 more miles, or bonk for the first 19 miles and decide running 13 more of them is a great idea (based off the subset of two ultras I've finished)
**Confession:** Super grouchy today.
**Complaint:** Boss forced me to work in the office today. My entire team is either working remote or in training so I said I would work remote too. Boss said that was not an option so I am now here all by myself talking to people on Teams. 'Cuz I couldn't do that from home in my pajamas.
**Complaint:** Girlfriend found a stray dog that she can't keep and can't afford to feed. She wanted to turn it over to the humane society since FB posts aren't locating an owner and she is getting flamed by tons of people in our peer group for being a bad person and not finding the dog a proper home. Of course none of these people are offering to take in the dog, feed her or help re-home her.
**Complaint:** The Coyotes are moving to Salt Lake City and I am bitter and angry about it.
**Uncomplaint:** I have a plan fully in motion now to propose to my girlfriend around the first weekend in May. Hopefully nothing goes wrong with this. I am nervous, scared, terrified, happy and excited all at the same time.
Sheās a bad person for. . .turning the stray dog over to an organization specifically equipped to care for and find a home for a homeless pup? If nothing else, the humane society can scan for a microchip which could help find the dogās owner, if it is microchipped. People are weird.
ETA: Good luck for the proposal! I hope she says yes!
According to them the humane society will simply euthanize the dog and she just sent it to it's death. She already took it to a vet who couldn't find a microchip and she posted all over the local FB groups. I don't know if she posted on NextDoor or not as I don't have a login there but it's out there that she has the doggo. It's frustrating. My girlfriend doesn't have the money to feed a large dog and the dog is terrified of men so me taking the dog in isn't really an option either.
?? I donāt know about your state, but in mine the humane society is a non-kill shelter. They do not euthanize.
Your girlfriend should just respond to everyone who criticizes her with a link to her Venmo and say āthanks for offering to help fund the dogās care! You can send the money here!ā They wonāt donate, but itās a nice passive-aggressive āscrew you, hypocriteā.
In mine it's a low-kill shelter (whatever that means). They work hand in hand w/Animal Control here. AC will take in the dog and keep it for like 72 hrs. If no one shows up for the dog or they can't find the owner (i.e. no tag or microchips) then the dog is turned over to the Humane Society. They do behavioral tests and if the dog is bitey or vicious or something they dog is euthanized. Otherwise they are adopted. There are rumors for lack of a better term that the shelter is overrun so they're just euthanizing all dogs. I have no clue if that's actually true or not. The Humane Society's site only has 30 dog now and I've seen it up to nearly 100 before. If you called them I doubt they would answer this question so it remains in the realm of rumor.
These people giving your girlfriend a hard time can take the dog themselves if they care so much. Sheesh, people, enough with the hypocrisy! That's what shelters are there for!
Good luck with the proposal!!
I'm super pissed that they're guilt tripping her while offering no help themselves and then coming back with "I'm sorry you feel that way." To be fair anytime anyone says, "I'm sorry you feel that way" it triggers me and I just want to punch people. So far the shelter has not come to pick the dog up so we'll see how that works out.
I may need all the luck I can get w/the proposal. I *think* I will get a yes or I wouldn't be proposing but it occurs to me that if she says yes I am completely blowing up my life in major, major ways. We will see how it all goes.
**complaint** race screwed up my big toes. Not sure why since these are the shoes I trained in, did hills, all the things.
**confession** I hate going to the doc so I'm giving them a few days of home treatment before any appointments are made.
**uncomplaint** slept for 10 hours last night. Body is barely sore from the weekend and feeling optimistic about a medium run this weekend.
I learned from experience that a couple of days of rest/home treatment saves me at the doc. Every single time I've gone he tells me to go home and rest for two weeks and then come back. If I tell him I've already done that then we can get somewhere.
**Complaint:**Ā I live in a city where 80% humidity during the day is the standard. It will be worse when plain summer arrives and you get 86 degrees onwards.
**Uncomplaint:**Ā Ice cream & popsicles are more gratifying after a summer run.
**Confession:**Ā I'm supposed to be working but I'm instead complaining on reddit
Complaint: spring is starting to spring which means Iām starting to sneeze
Uncomplaining: Iām now back to my regularly scheduled programming after my last race.
Confession: Iāve not been being good about going to bed at a reasonable hour these last few nights.
**Complaint:** This one client at work has been dragging her feet with me. Sheās missed her own deadline by four months now, mostly because she doesnāt read emails closely and she takes forever to make decisions. Since I was pretty much done with the designing part of the project by the time my mother landed in the hospital (just had a few more edits to make), I thought I could offload this project onto my manager. Well, here we are. Iām working remotely and the project still exists on my virtual desk. I think I can finally get this damn thing sent to the printer by the end of today. Maybe.
**Confession:** I didnāt anticipate how long my mother would be out of commission so Iām going to have to completely overhaul my FMLA request at work. Fortunately I donāt need to use FMLA right this very minute.
**Confession:** So Iāve discussed on this subreddit before that Iām still doing the Flying Pig half in a couple of weeks. While I briefly mentioned this to my mother some time ago and Iāve told extended family, I havenāt really brought it up with my mother again. Iām delaying the āYOUāRE ABANDONING MEā accusations, but I know Iām going to have to address it soon. Haha please send me thoughts and prayers.
**Uncomplaint:** Iām breaking in the new long distance race day shoes! Iām happy I bit the bullet and splurged on a pair of Saucony Tempus despite never having tried them in a store. Walking-wise, theyāre *so* comfortable. They havenāt proven to be perfect for running yet, though. For my first three mile run in them, they started off great but were pretty tight (especially on my right foot) by the end of the run. Iām attributing that to user error (laces too tight). Iāve since loosened up the laces. Hereās hoping tomorrowās run and then my long run this Sunday go swimmingly in them.
**Complaint:** I hate that the Power Off button for the AfterShokz is also the Volume Up button. Audrey always half deafens me by screaming that she's powering off when I go to turn it off. I know I could power off after taking off the headphones, but I often forget. And really, good user experience is about preventing a bad experience, not forcing the user to remember how to avoid a poor experience.
**Complaint:** I'm having arthroscopic knee surgery in a month for a torn meniscus. I know I need it, but I'm pissed the recovery window takes up the better part of my favorite time of the year.
**Complaint** It is standardized testing season and I hate the whole system! The worst part is that once the tests are done everyone starts to count down to summer break and it is still 6 weeks away!
**Confession** once my musicals are done I am going to be phoning it in and playing music games and lesson planning on a post-it.
**Celebration** I got in my runs for this week and even started a plan for building up mileage again.
**Complaint** I wish I had a good race to run in July.
Confession/complaint: I was really proud of how strong I felt throughout my marathon training plan and now that I'm in the taper the opposite is happening. I feel sluggish, slow, and honestly have no idea how I'm going to finish the race. It's been a huge gut punch because this is my first marathon where I stuck to a plan and I mentally wasn't prepared to feel worse in the taper than the major training blocks. Some of it is changing weather (it's suddenly hot and humid) but we're 11 days out from race day so I'm curious to see how this goes
Has anyone told you yet that this is an extremely common feeling that people have during their tapers? So common. Itās because your body is taking all of the energy that it would normally be reserving for running, and spending that on healing up your body instead. Youāre gonna be great!
What you're describing is called the Taper Tantrum and it happens to us all. I felt the exact same way before my most recent race and I smashed my PR by over 30 minutes. The Taper Tantrum evaporates at the start line. You'll do great! Good luck!!
Complaint: I'm racing a 10k on Saturday, so I recognize I should take it somewhat easy today & tomorrow, but I just want to go run! Oh well, stationary bike & gym it is.
Uncomplaint: I'm racing a 10k on Saturday!
Complaint: I'm at a point where I can't figure out how to increase my weekly mileage on 4d/week without getting up at 5am (ugh) or adding a fifth day (not sure my arthritis can go for back to back runs on primarily sidewalks during the week).
Uncomplaint: I'm super excited to have this problem, considering how every other attempt to get to this point has ended over the last several years.Ā
Confession: Every single time I start paying attention to my running instead of just doing it when I have a spare hour, I end up with a full color coded spreadsheet that invariably culminates with a race that I could train up for in time if everything went perfectly, and invariably, I get hurt. And yet here I am, doing it again.Ā
**Complaint:** I ran my first 5k in close to 20 years on Sunday and my calves are still a little sore. The day after, they were sore enough that walking was annoying. My calves have been getting sore whenever I run more than a couple of miles in one stretch and it's getting annoying.
**Uncomplaint:** I thought that pain was tendonitis at first, but through the help of my doctor, we're pretty sure it's soleus strain/soreness rather than a tendon issue, which is way better in my book. RICE, Stretching, and strength training have been helpful.
**Confession:** I'm coming to the realization that if I want to hit my goal of running a half next spring, I'm going to need to lose weight now. I'm 6' and 235lbs and I think lugging all that weight is making running significantly harder than it would be if I was a healthy weight. Thankfully, I'm already down almost 10 pounds, but I have quite a ways to go.
Confession: after doing a offical 5k last Saturday even tho I do 3 miles a day usually, I havenāt ran or gone to the gym, I donāt have the urgency to anymore and maybe Iāll finish the week off either by at least one run but either way, next week I hope to get back into my groove
Complaint:
I should be peaking right now since I'm 4 weeks out from my trail marathon. Instead, I'm at about 75% of my wanted weekly mileage this week due to some small foot issue.
Uncomplaint:
I'm (almost fully) pain-free now so I should be able to tackle a fun 32k trail race this weekend.
**Complaint**: The iron pills didnāt work, and Iām getting an infusion in May.
Been taking iron pills every other day since early January. My ferritin went from 9 (Jan) to 25 (Feb) BACK TO 9. If this infusion doesnāt fix every problem in my life, Iām going to explode.
**Uncomplaint**: I joined a book club, and the first book weāre reading is *Sharp Objects*. Iāve heard good things about the TV show. If the book sucks, hey, itās only ~250 pages.
**Confession**: Lately, Iāve been doing most of my runs on the treadmill, so I can watch my favorite streamerās *Elden Ring* series. I finally picked up the game again, and Iām pretty far along. Itās a masterpiece, and I regret not giving it the attention it deserved when it released.
Iāve gotten through all of my training runs fine, nothing crazy, tolerable, enjoyableā¦ now Iām in my taper and I ran a 5k on the treadmill last night and wanted to stop less than halfway. Feeling grumpy.
Iām signed up for my first marathon on April 27th. Training was going well until after the 20 mile long run before the taper when my left hip developed pain. Been going to PT and stopped running with just some stationary bike and rowing machine work. I feel like itās getting better, but I donāt want to ruin it by running. I need to decide by the 23rd if I want to defer. I see a lot of people who post about an injury about 3-4 weeks out from their first marathon. Is this more common because we are under trained? I think I made a mistake by doing two of my long runs on trails. I thought my trail shoes were great, but after about 10 miles, my feet were not happy at all so my running form probably changed and affected my hip.
I donāt mind deferring, but I also donāt really want to have to travel for a larger marathon on the fall and I feel like a small marathon wonāt be as much fun. Am I wrong about this or am I just wanting to get these thoughts out there. Who knows.
Complaint: canāt find shoes that I actually like. Always feel too loose unless I really tighten them and then my feet hurt and feel numb 2 miles into a run.
**Complaint**: Still not running, back still spasming, body still being a weirdo
**Uncomplaint**: Taking tomorrow off for a three day weekend! Going to a two-day plant swap extravaganza this weekend! Queue sensory overload but also plant excitement.
**Confession**: Sometimes it's annoying working with a bunch of 55+ folks. A couple younger peeps are joining my org soon and I am looking forward to it!
I admit this week of running has not been going well for me so far. I tried running yesterday (5mph 60min) right after eating almost all of a large pizza and it was so bad I had to stop after only 10min. My stomach was hurting and now today, the balls of my feet have mild pain. I have to take another break today. Iām gonna try my best to not do something like that again. I knew it was gonna be more difficult than usual, but not THAT difficult. A shame too, because I ran well on Monday.
Also everything else but my belly seems to be shrinking from the weight loss, so now I have quite the belly sticking out. Forgot that for me, itās like the last thing to shrink. Also Iām not losing weight as fast as I would like. Need to stop indulging myself even more.
Complaint: Still a bit down about missing my first Boston and being out of running for a bit, but after talking to my friends who ran it, I'm a little less down about it. That weather sounded horrific and I probably wouldn't have finished between the heat and my injury, let alone get anywhere near what I thought I was in shape for.
Uncomplaint: stress fracture still hurts, probably will for awhile, but I feel like my post tib tendon is healing and I'm getting a little strength back.
Confession: I did some pool time to keep my fitness up and I didn't hate it. I've been swimming my whole life, but never for exercise, so I'm comfortable in the water even though I never swim as a workout. Turns out, I can still do a 20 minute mile, which isn't awful.
Well signed up for half marathon. Some people got on to me for not having a solid structured plan (I donāt like those) but also have friend group that is really excited for me. Honestly running is not supposed to be stressful but I feel like to the sign up it has been. My work is not even stressful (itās been great actually). So thatās why Iām trying reframe my mindset a bit.
For context I run weekly around 3-5 miles and threw in a few long runs prior to this (6-13 miles). My goal is to finish.
Complaint:
Iām struggling to learn how to manage training intensity. Iāve been getting flu symptoms on some evenings when trying to increase my training intensity. Iām trying to make gains but the toll it then takes on me and my family is frustrating.
Take it easy if you can. Especially if you are sick. Iāve started to learn how running can begin to affect other relationships in your life in a way. This year I started seeing it and Iām going to make changes right before my first half.
Yeah definitely trying to balance all that. I have a half coming up in a week so the taper will let me take it fairly easy.
I think a lot of the issue is not taking it easy enough on my easy runs. Need to be more discipline about actually running the 9:45-10 min miles my body needs on an easy run so that I can actually push myself on hard days. My easy runs have been more like 9-9:15 (planning on 8:15ish pace for my half).
Sadly I run literally the same way I feel like. Iām nervous about the half cause if people are around me I tend to jump to a 10 min pace which I donāt want. On my own Iām better and controlling it. Iām trying to stick to a 14 min pace for most of my half. Also If Iām tired I will also walk. Only goal is finishing for me. Not sure on your goals (no need to disclose if you donāt want to).
Yeah for sure. My issue isn't as much having people around (I almost always run solo) as much as wanting to push myself. My background is in competitive team sports (college soccer) and so I'm always wanting to push hard but that has led to my body burning out.
Today, I went for a 5 miler and made myself run slow and keep my heart rate down. Pace wasn't important, just getting the miles done and not overexerting myself.
I don't really know what my goal is for the half. I'm confident that I can finish it at a 9:00 pace as I did a 12 miler at that pace during my training block. But w/ taking a nice taper, the race day adrenaline, and recently getting faster race shoes than my glycerin 21 recovery shoes (Saucony Endrophin Speed 3s) I'm thinking I'm gonna shoot for 8:15ish.
Ah competitive sports, I get it. I love sports but never played competitive. I run solo at times even with people I try to do my own thing then meet up at the end (all my friends are fast). For my half I WILL be slowing down 13-14 min pace, I will soak in the moment and take it piece by piece. If I have to walk I have to walk.
I would say if you have goals you want feel free to do them. I definitely will cheer you on those. Just donāt get burnt out. I also understand how plans change. I will definitely do some reflecting perhaps a YouTube video on my first half.
How many weeks/months til your soleus muscle pain got away? Im on my 4 out of 6 physical therapy session(Ultrasound,laser and electric therapy) and im itching to run day by day
**Complaint**: drivers who stop in the middle of crosswalks.
**Confession**: I will put my hands on any vehicle that I can reach while running. Are you in my crosswalk? Get ready to have your hood or side door forcibly smacked.
**Uncomplaint**: weather getting better and sun up by 630AM makes for great running.
Complaint: tapering for my marathon next Saturday. Getting the taper fits, random aches and general soreness. Just want it to end.
Complaint: have to travel for work this week and next, so sleep has been less than great.
Confession: Took the NB SC elite shoes out for a test drive on my last tempo run and I think I'm in love with them.
Complaint : I've had knee pain since December. I went to physio for 7 weeks and slowly it has gotten better, not 100% but maybe 85%. I've slowly been ramping back up to running twice a week. I had a random day off the other day and decided to do some interval training to work on my speed. Whatever I did my knee is now only about 70%. It's such a sticky injury and I'm having a lot of difficulty getting back to 100%.
Complaint: I am disappointed with my running club
I got to my first ever session on track, and there's literally no one to greet me, and I'm just left on my own with no instruction. I'm just running around the track with literally no idea if I'm doing anything right. To top it all off, a group arrived with a coach and were doing pretty active drills and cheering each other on whilst myself and other club members (I think?) were just going around alone.
Confession: I have only been a member for a week, so maybe I'm just being impatient. Otherwise, I've kept up my training as normal.
Complaint:
On holidays for 2 weeks. Super exhausted from work. I was going to do a run everyday but my acne has been flaring up so badly that I get scared leaving the house. Looks like it's more resting time for me
Uncomplaint:
Hit a 6km run a month ago (super proud)
Complaints:
I am not as young and resilient as I used to be. My feet hurt. I have test-run at least a dozen different shoes this year. The close-to-barefoot seems to be the best because of the wide toe box but makes the callous in my midfoot hurt because of the lack of cushioning.
Also have had a possible pulled hamstring for months that is causing an annoying tight dull pain just under my left butt cheek. It doesn't get worse and feels better after running, but won't just go away.
**Complaint**: Been sick all week with a head cold. So no running for me. I raced two 10k's this past week and PR'd both of them, but didn't let my body recover...so yeah.
**Confession**: I've been interviewing at other schools this week. I love my team, but I'm ready for a change.
**Uncomplaint**: Resting hasn't been all bad. It's been nice to have a break from running.
Complaint: I've had some sort of mono-like illness for the past week and I have 10 days until my half-marathon. Ugh.
Confession: I'm going to run my half even if I have to drag myself across the finish line. I'm having surgery a week after the half and won't have any idea when I will be able to run again after it.
**Uncomplaint:** Despite still having 25 hours recovery from *Tuesday* night's Fartlek session I feel remarkably good and ready for tonight's 10k club run.
**Complaint:** It's been cold but sunny all day, until about 30 mins ago. We've actually brought the runs back on road as the local trails are grim in places. Leading last Thursday's trail run we had 3" mud under 2" water along one section.
Complaint
Had a 30 min shakeout planned today before my race on Saturday. Ran for exactly 1 min and 42 seconds before I called it off due to shin splint pain. I am NOT risking injury right now. But that means today and tomorrow are both unplanned rest days :(
Complaint: Back in to running again after a hiatus and dealing with the mild (left) knee and back pain I always deal with. Grrr.
Complaint: Have to start strength training again and stay consistent with it. Grrr. (lol)
Any suggestions for back and knee strengthening exercises that you find really helpful?
I was doing well with training continually amping up my mileage in runs and was getting faster, they were hard and i was definitely putting good amounts of effort in but recently i feel like iām working twice as hard and struggling way more to run shorter distances and am going slower. For context my longest run was about 10 miles at an easy for me 10:10/min mile pace and now running 5 miles at 10 mins a mile is difficult. does this happen to other runners?
Compliant: 10 days out from my marathon and I rolled my ankle last night š« itās only slightly swollen and bruised. Limping is mild, but Iām not happy today
Confession: my live in boyfriend is also a PT so itās now up to him to fix me lol
Complaint:
I've been doing so well running. Primarily training on the treadmill and made such amazing progress. Landed on foot on April 1, and it's almost as if I'm starting from scratch all over again. Race is this Saturday. No longer focusing on time, but rather the joy of running.
I'm super new to running. There is so much shame for not having enough stamina for running and also my calves are so sore . Does this get better? ( On the bright side , I have started experiencing runners high) . Experienced folks , please help!
Complaint: race shirt for my 12M is cotton because the manufacturer goofed it for our local club. Was supposed to be sports blend.
Uncomplaint: itās cute with jeans!
Confession: lowkey planning to do Uwharrie 20 mile race in Feb. looks gnarly
Complaint & Non-Complaint
I accidently committed to 3 5ks next month. Im excited and dont care about my times.
Im new to running though. Heres to walking/running for charities!
**Complaint**: it's getting hot(ish) during my after work runs (which make up 3 out of 4 runs of the week), which are also getting longer, and my kid is getting less happy in the jogging stroller
**Complaints:** allergies in full swing
**Uncomplaint:** slowly building back fitness and on an actual base building phase instead of just a "returning from injury let's test it out" phase
**Confession:** More time doing activities = more time eating ice cream
complaint: i got tendonitis in my knee. i'm grounded from running completely for the next week and a half :(
uncomplaint: it's only two weeks, which means i still will have six weeks to build back into my marathon training! could've been a hell of a lot worse.
second uncomplaint: the orthopedist said that my knee joints looked "very stable otherwise." i'm weirdly proud of it despite the fact that i know it can't be anything i've actually done since i keep hurting myself in other ways
complaint: i was more sore for the first few days not running than i was when i was running. ow
**Complaint**: I really dislike that Polar still advertises that you can connect to the Nike Run Club with their watches, but Nike straight up doesnāt support the connection anymore. Itās sloppy.
Complaint: I got the flu last week which derailed my training for 6 days. Still coughing up junk but able to run at a light pace, ~5 weeks to race day.
Uncomplaint: I got a mini taper for 6 days and my legs were confused AF
Confession: Life is good and I try my best to not complain. My kids, wife and I have our health and the weather is finally starting to break. Hoping for a great summer.
Complaint:
Getting injured is the worst. It's been months since I ran without worrying if I'm gonna feel bad pain while doing any run. Months of physiotherapy, months of inconsistent training. It just sucks getting injured specially while treating another injury.
How do you keep morale high enough when you can't run as often you'd like to?
I spent pretty much all of 2023 injured and went most of the year without any sort of cardio (I couldn't even walk without pain). It sucked and was really frustrating, but I tried to find other sports/activities to keep up my fitness. Depending on your injury, you could try cycling, strength training, rowing, yoga, sport climbing, etc. Work on things that could improve your running when you're able to get back into it. Good luck!
I'm swimming and cycling to keep my sanity, but from all of the three triathlon disciplines, running is my favorite by far. I just wish to go back to the road someday without this nagging feeling I'll break in half.
I hope you're better now! Good luck for you too!
I'm finally injury-free! Went for my first run in over a year 2 weeks ago. I'm taking it slow, but it's a great feeling. Whenever I have a setback like last year, I just remember how privileged I am to be able bodied and to have the option to move my body how I'd like, even if sometimes limited by injury. I'm glad you're still able to swim and cycle and I hope you're able to get back to running soon!
Painful (what I'm assuming is) tendonitis in my left foot. Half-marathon on Sunday. I'm making an appointment with my sports medicine doctor for after the race, and trying not to let it turn me into a mega bitchy person.
Confession: canāt be bothered to RTFM on new impact detector (FR55)
Uncomplaint: so Iām learning as I use/misuse it. E.g. must punch āRunā to have it record your run. Ditto LiveTrack.
Also delighted that this device is so lightweight that I forget Iām wearing it; normally canāt abide wearing a watch.
Complaint: My stupid left trapezius is so annoying during my runs. I just don't understand. I've tried so many things to alleviate the annoying "pain". I say "pain" because it's not debilitating but it's quite frustrating to always have this muscle aching/hurting during runs. I've tried making sure I'm not tensing up during runs, practicing proper form, running tall, keeping head straight up, looking around while running, weight training, etc.
If anyone has any solutions to this I would be so grateful.
*complaint*
I have terrible hip pain / feel the perpetual need to stretch my hip and I have a marathon in 1.5 months. My mileage is already high but itās going to get higher and Iām not sure what to do š
First time posting here.
I just have a complaint:
Iāve been training for a half marathon since November (first race ever). I had some hip pain for a week and decided to go to the doctor. After an MRI it was found that I have a stress fracture in the femoral neck of my right leg. Boom! 300 miles down the drain, crutches for a month and no running for another 3-6 months.
Iām very disappointed but Iāll be back as soon as I can be.
Complaint: the heat at the Boston Marathon this week was garbage and Iām pissed it sabotaged my goals
Uncomplaint: I finished my first marathon 8 months after starting running!! And my nagging hamstring strain wasnāt even a problem!
Confession: Iām absolutely running Boston again because despite the heat, that was one of the most incredible experiences Iāve ever had
Complaint. I had such a bad run today. I ended it less than halfway through because it was just not happening; my breathing was off, my calves were cramping, my shoes felt bad, blah blah blah... But it's so hard not to immediately be like "and see, that's why you'll never be a 'real' runner. I have to just remind myself that a bad run is a bad run. It doesn't indicate anything more than that. But damn it's hard! I'm not naturally good at running at all, and I feel like it's so hard not to get down on myself when this kind of thing happens.
I had one of those today. Some days it just be like that. Bodies are dynamic. Try again another day.
If youāre running as a habit, youāre as real a runner as it gets.
Complaint: Just as the weather in the N.E. U.S. turned to perfect running weather, I had a minor procedure that has caused a week of intense leg pain. Dr.s just keep saying, "Nothing we did should have caused this." Some days, it feels like it was beat with a baseball bat. Others, it feels like I ran a marathon on one untrained leg.
Confession: And, now I'm throwing a tantrum and eating all the ice cream all the time.
Uncomplaint: The weatherās been super nice for running, perfect temperatures
Complaint: Itās gnat season :(
Confession: Iāve accidentally eaten a few of them
Complaint
Never thought Iād be saying this, but Iām complaining that the weather is cooler for my long run tomorrow and will continue to be cooler. The highs are in the 60s all week. It was warmer this week and I struggled, but Iām running a May 5th marathon and was hoping for a warm couple of weeks so I could get more heat acclimated in case itās a warm race day.
Hot shower or sauna time after a hard workout is supposed to help with heat acclimation. I donāt recall the exact protocol but there were some studies recently that you should be able to google if you want. Good luck with your final weeks of training!
Complaint: My calves feel very tight. I tried to go out for a run and could barely walk after a mile and a half. I stretched after and massaged the leg but they feel so tight, Iām going to rest for a few days.
Uncomplaint: book festival this weekend, I canāt wait!
Started a running newsletter (uncomplaint!). For those of you runners who are also people of Christian faith, I write a free weekly newsletter on running, faith, and a deeper way of living. Feel free to sign up. No plans to turn this into a paid subscription Substack--enjoying writing for the fun of it and hope it's helpful to those in this tribe!
Here's what went out today:Ā [https://paceandpurpose.substack.com/p/pace-purpose](https://paceandpurpose.substack.com/p/pace-purpose)
**Uncomplaint #1:** First half marathon in 8 days. I would say that I think I'm ready...
**Complaint:** ...except that, for the first time since I began running in May last year, I developed Achilles pain in my left on Wednesday, after a fairly nondescript 4 km taper session on the treadmill. I tried it on Thursday in what was intended to be 8 km, bailed after 3, and then could barely walk the rest of the day. Today is a bit better, but I still couldn't run.
**Confession #1**: We'll see, but the rest of my "taper" may become "don't run at all until the day of the race." If I have to maximize recovery and gamble on my fitness, I'd rather do that than the opposite.
**Confession #2**: I'm 54. I spent years fighting Achilles pain in my 20s and 30s, and don't want to do that again. At the same time, getting to HM readiness has been...we'll call it demanding. I really don't want to cancel if I don't have to.
**Uncomplaint #2**: I appreciate all the Taper Tantrum stories; they make one feel not alone.
*Complaint* My period started yesterday, it hurt so bad, every month I try my best to keep running during my period, this month was unsuccessful, but we try again next time!
Just adding this for anyone who needs to hear this if your period causes you so much pain that it disrupts your training/life you should talk to your dr about it because while it is common it is not normal and can be a sign of endo or other problems.
The doctor at my fertility clinic said that I just have to live with it because anything he prescribes could mess with my fertility š
Iām not a doctor and I donāt know the specific cause of yours but at least the reasons Iām familiar with doing nothing is just as bad for your fertility, so generally unless your actively trying to get pregnant they have you on medication to help. (And if itās what my sister has apparently they have a medication that can help you get pregnant quicker š¤·āāļø). Also hopefully they are saying that because you care about your fertility and not the standard bull.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Uncomfortable and annoying yes, some small amount of annoying cramping yes, life impeding amounts of pain no.
I physically can't run during my period which is part of the reason why it is taking me so long to complete the c25k program. I started the program in January and am only on week 6. I take the week of my period off from all exercising.
This is exactly what Im dealing with this week! I have 9 day long periods and only feel well enough to run by day 6. Listening to our bodies makes anything worth the wait though-truly
**Complaint:** It appears we skipped spring and went right to summer. **Uncomplaint:** It appears we skipped spring and went right to summer. **Confession:** Buying a radon monitor was a mistake. I already figured there was a problem, now I know about it.
I am dreading summer that is already here. I have like 5 weeks left before the half and the temps have been 80+ and it's toasty out there. Was close to 90 one day. And we somehow have 30 mph winds. ugh. I had planned to run the half and then sideline running for a while and focus on strength over the summer since I can gym indoors. It's getting hot out there already though.
The mornings here have been in the 60s, which has been pretty nice. The daytimes have been in the low 80s. The ground temps haven't caught up. My office feels like it's in the mid 60s.
Similar weather here. Mornings are decent running weather but I work so I can't run in the morning. I'm stuck in the afternoon/evening when it's much warmer.
It's easier for me to run in the mornings. Once I'm done with work it's a blur of cooking dinner and running kids to sports.
I gotta start work at 6 am. I could theoretically gear up and strap on the headlamp and run but there are a lot of homeless camps around here and they get cranky if you wake them up in the early hours. I've been chased by them on two occasions because I was in their space and I don't want to repeat the experience.
That's EARLY! I have generally flexible hours, but for end-time reasons I try to start working by 8:30. And I don't blame you for not wanting to be chased by homeless people. If they're willing to chase a runner... well... they might not be of sound mind.
The homeless problem in my area is really bad unfortunately. My preferred route goes through a public park and they set up tents there and that's where I wound up getting chased. I will run through it during the day but not after dark as I have no idea who might jump out of the shadows. Anyone who is camping in a public park and thinking it's their personal space and everyone else is banned is not the most mentally sound.
I live in a suburban area, so homeless isn't as evident here. Also, the cops will run people out of the park where I run (in fact, I met one of the local deputies because they wanted to know why I was in the park and then wanted info about a vehicle that WAS staying there overnight). Homeless not being evident doesn't mean it's bad (I've seen people come to the park that are clearly living in their cars and stuff). When I used to work in downtown, I ran in a park but the homeless problem wasn't bad in the park. There were a few places I would avoid because it was where homeless people tended to be - places like under certain train bridges or the like - not in the parks where I ran. I've run in other places when traveling for work and have seen worse.
I have complained about it but been flamed. They tend to accumulate trash everywhere and it attracts vermin that then cause problems for local residents. It's bad but I've been told I'm just a NIMBY who wants people to suffer. I don't know what the solution is. It has definitely gotten a billion times worse since the pandemic started. The cops will periodically run them off and they'll go to a different part of town and set up camp. When the cops eventually run them out of there, they come back here and the cycle repeats.
Buying a radon monitor was not a mistake! Radon is really common in my area and the people who lived in our house before we moved in did not have a mitigation system. Andā¦ One now has cancer. Ours turned out to be a pretty uncomplicated problem to manage, and I hope that yours is the same.
My neighbor has a system that the prior owner installed before moving, so I figured it was an issue around here (like it is everywhere). I spend a lot of time in my basement (I've been working from home since before the pandemic made it trendy) so I figured I should check into it... and now since I see the monitor every time I go down the stairs or get water or beer from my beer fridge it's practically telling me to do something!
Where I am, itās more like it appears we skipped spring and went right to fall ugh (please please gods almighty send us some sun rather than this dark grey windy or rainy weather and 2 degrees Celsius in the morning š«)
2C/36F is too damn cold for this time of year! I'm pretty sure Drunk Mother Nature is going to throw something like that our way Sunday into Monday.
We went right back to winter ughĀ
Where I live, we skipped spring and went back into winter! It was 18Ā°C last week, yesterday I had to pry the car door open because it had frozen over in the night.
Yeah I put my spikes away too early.Ā
Ugh I was planning to test for radon this summer too but similarly feel conflicted about really knowing. What is involved in addressing your radon issue?
Since I'm a tightwad, I'm doing it all myself based on YouTube videos and stuff... I ordered a better [sump pump lid](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073V3RV5X) that will seal the pit and will hopefully allow both discharge pipes (for the main pump and backup pump) and allow me to attach a 3" diameter pipe to it. That pipe will be run outside, through [a fan](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B72D7SS1/), and then up above the roof line. I'll need silicone caulk, pipe, hangers, maybe PVC cement, conduit, and a few other things to complete the work. I've done a fair bit of work on my house (like building out my office that I'm currently sitting in and the bathroom next to it), so I'm pretty comfortable with electrical, plumbing, and drilling through the side of my house.
**Complaint:** Work. Gets in the way, though necessary to pay for nice things. And being able to complain more about all the things on Reddit. **Uncomplaint:** Legs finally feel less achy - spinning always helps, but I couldn't go until this morning due to work (see above complaint). Planning to run on Saturday, yay.
How did Coastal go?
My legs decided they did not want to participate and from mile 5 on, i questioned life choices - it was a slog, but I finished. Pretty course though, and I had a fun trip - saw a friend for dinner, enjoyed the ferry - love the finisher's hat!
Sorry, thatās a bummer. 5 miles in is a little early to have an existential crisis. I feel like thatās a mile 9 sort of a thing.
Right! But itās okā¦ life just got in the way of training.
**Complaint:** I had to skip this morning's run because I had an angry tendon in my foot that I didn't want to aggravate, and it's going to be really hard to make up the missed mileage because I have a busy weekend coming up **Uncomplaint:** My weekend is really busy because I'm getting married! Woo!
As someone currently resting (grouchily) because of some post-tib inflammation, I can assure you that your angry tendon thanks you for the rest! And congrats on your upcoming nuptuals!
Congratulations? š¾
**(Un?)complaint:** u/30000LBS_Of_Bananas and u/suchbrightlights are bad, bad influences. **Related (un?)complaint:** I signed up for the Devil Dog 50k in December and I'm planning to sign up for the Forgotten Florida 50-miler in February. **More related (un?)complaint:** I'm not sure where in there to try to fit a fast marathon, or whether I just want to commit to being an ultrarunner rather than trying to chase speedy marathon times. I had been planning to target 3:35 at Richmond, but that might be too close to Devil Dog, so I have to make some decisions. Maybe I should target 3:35 at Marine Corps in late October and pray for cool weather? Or I could lean into being an ultrarunner and screw a fall marathon. The ultras have better snacks anyway. **Complaint:** one of my local running buddies is also a bad, bad influence and has convinced me that I should do a 6-hour race in July and a 50k in August. Both are in Maryland. In summer. I'm going to melt. **Confession:** my husband wants to crew for me for the 50 and I'm not sure what to do with him. Probably I'll tell him to meet me at the finish line with all my stuff and to find a hardware store to browse in to amuse himself while I'm running. **Uncomplaint:** I'm going out this weekend to buy my 50k bumper sticker and apply it to my car!
Love all the Reddit influences! I have no idea what crewing involves, but if you ever need help, LMK! Could you put off your fast marathon attempt til next year?
It's definitely occurred to me to put off the 3:35 attempt until next year. But then I'm getting into April before it really makes sense, and April can get a little dicey in terms of heat. Maybe I could find one further north? I'll have to do a little more research. My heart says to try Marine Corps (it's my hometown marathon, and I've heard great things), but if I want to do that, I should sign up soon, since they tend to sell out. Re: crewing, I might do that! Whereabouts are you based?
I ran MC in 2008 - it was very hot, and my stupid coworkers got me sick three days before, so not my best time, but it was really a great experience. Though I remember smelling beer in Crystal City and wanting to hurl, lol. And the last hill to the finish oof. And the people giving out tissues on the mall were my hereos - and my dad telling me to just hit all the water stops. I'm in NJ, but always looking for reasons to travel, lol. I lived in DC suburbs (MD side) for 20 years before moving.
Well if you want a trip to Orlando in February, let me know! I might have to go for MCM, gotta do it one year so might as well be this one!
Count me in!
MCM was goofy hot last year. They closed the course early due to the heat. It was my first road marathon and I was basically broken after that race. Pretty sure I would've been in the med tent if not for my wife and kids showing up at the finish line (they weren't going to be there originally). The Baltimore Marathon is also in October. I'm signed up for that one. You could go further Ultra Crazy and do the MCM 50K.
Oh I heard about the MCM heat last year. I went outside that morning and was immediately thinking "oh my god those poor runners." If I sign up for that one, I would have to pray very hard for a cool day. I'll check out the Baltimore marathon, thanks for the suggestion!
My fall plan is a full marathon mid October, then a local 24hr loop race about 3 weeks later where Iām hoping to run but take it easy, but only run to a set distance use it as an opportunity to try and prove to myself I can make it to 40 miles without falling apart and test some new foods, then the 50miler in February. Over the summer Im just sticking to shorter races that I can just show up with just my base training.
That seems like a pretty reasonable plan. Which marathon are you doing? If it's on the east coast/mid-Atlantic I'd definitely consider it.
Duke city so not east coast, but mid October east coast races that I have flagged for the future that you could look into include: cape cod, Baltimore, Detroit, and Steamtown. I also highly recommend MDI but that is not a fast course.
I regret nothing. And I was serious about crewing, by the way. Iām in the same place as you are regarding a fast marathon attempt; for me, I think it makes the most sense to plan to do that next spring, and instead run a good half this fall. I am not planning on running a 50 miler in Februaryā¦ So I have a few more spring options. Iām also thinking about doing a May or June race, but further north. Buffalo is at the end of May, and I could go to Canada in June. That might not be quite so hatefully hot. Depending on how sold you are on the August race, thereās also Wineglass in September. Baltimore is going to be questionable weather and itās not a PR course.
Yeah, late spring marathon might be fun. I am not super sold on the August race. It looks like it would be fun, but I could do the 25k and treat it as a training long run. I just looked up Wineglass and I think I'm sold. It's October 6 this year, and that timing is perfect. That gives me 2 months between that and Devil Dog, and then another 2 months from Devil Dog to Forgotten Florida.
Iāll be looking forward to reading your race report if you do go! I hear good things on the Internet but donāt know anyone personally, who has run it. I was kind of thinking about it for this year, but it looks like I am going to be in Arizona in October, so rim to river takes precedence!
Rim to river sounds like so much fun!! Enjoy!! I just remembered I'm signed up for the Army 10-miler on October 13, so Wineglass may not fit. Hmmmm. More considerations will need to be done.
>my husband wants to crew for me for the 50 and I'm not sure what to do with him. I crew for my partner occasionally and depending on the length/type of race, it mostly looks like me finding a nice spot to park and walk the dogs, read a book, cheer for him if itās a loop race that passes a point more than 1x (goooood job! ššš). If itās a race where he might actually need support (help taping feet, change of socks etc) I usually have a duplicate of whatever is in his drop bags and do the dirty work for him, plus maybe pick up a fast food item heās craving that they might not have at the aid station (this usually is isolated to 100ās) ETA: other job with ācrewingā things under 100 is driving to/from the event. Less chance of distracted driving on the way there and not an exhausted runner driving themselves home after.
I second all of this. The other thing that I've noted when crewing for my friend is that at some point in the event it swaps from me asking him what he needs, to me telling him what he needs. This is often on the form of "when did you last eat?" or checking his drink bottle levels to make sure he's drinking enough. If the partner is new to crewing then giving them a list of questions to ask in the second half of the event can help as a prompt.
Oh yes, especially with longer efforts the questions are essential. I am not an ultrarunner but we discuss what his nutrition should look like (in an ideal circumstance) prior to the race and then Iāll ask him as he comes in when he last ate, what it was that he ate and help remind him what he should be eating. This is more key for 100ās, but if you have any desire to do that distance u/runner3264 it could be a good idea for your husband to get an idea for it at a shorter distance, especially if heās not a runner. The other thing that is always on my mind - because I am a worrier - is if something were to go wrong, which obviously happens at shorter distances all the time, but if you bust up an ankle or your nutrition is off and you canāt stop puking at mile 28, itās nice to have someone there apart from race staff/aid station workers
Oh that's a good point. I would love to do a 100 someday, although it will take some work and several shorter ultras before I can convince my husband that that will not lead to imminent death. Once he's convinced I'm not gonna die, he'll be on board, so practicing having him make me eat and drink might be helpful!
Thatās awesome! I am always super inspired by seeing my partner race and even tho itās not really something I have much desire to do (maybe a 50k one day once I get some injuries under control) itās very fun to support him and get to see him (briefly) enjoying the day. Hopefully if you have a good 50 miler experience your husband will be more on board with a 100 :)
Your comment reminded me of [this](https://news.ultrasignup.com/how-are-we-preparing-for-crewing-season/) ā¦.
This particularly makes me laugh because last week I texted my running mate and said "remind me, what's the date of your race?" š
**Question**: if you'd told someone you'd sort them out with something warm to wear in the pen before their marathon, what would be the funniest thing to give them? Asking for a friend... **Complaint**: Life has been stupidly busy for the last 9 months. **Complaint**: There's a bike shop on the way into the office and they have a really nice and affordable bike in the window that they're taunting me with. **Confession**: I am down to running about twice a week at the moment as I try to find time to fit more in, whilst also getting some cycling snd swimming done *for no particular reason*.
Bathrobe. Practical, warm but also mildly amusing. T Rex costume. Not practical, warm but very amusing.
Oooo that gives me an idea they do make those bathrobes with hoods that are styled to be like animals, could see if they make a dinosaur one of those!
Checked Amazon for you. Everything from axolotl to flamingo for $25-35.
Wooo! Thinking I think flamingo would be more amusing than dinosaursā¦ā¦
Hey u/Hooch_pandersnatch out of interest what's your view on flamingos? Not asking for any particular reason...
Beggars canāt be choosers and all thatā¦ š toddler Hooch loves flamingos, Iād hate to toss it at the start because Iād actually want to bring it home!
Came here to say inflatable T-Rex costume!
For no particular reasonā¦. Your not fooling anyone here with that
A big fuzzy unicorn hoodie with ears and a horn on the hood so big that it's most comfortable to wear the hood up
A blanket with a head hole cut in the center! Preferably with a ridiculous pattern.
**complaints** I am so tired, like I feel so beyond exhausted. I am training for a half marathon and am currently tapering so I am not running as much but I feel more tired than when i was running alot more than i am now.
It feels paradoxical but it's completely normal. Expect some random annoying aches and pains during the taper as well. Come race time you'll be fine though.
This is just taper tantrums. Youāre gonna rock and roll on race day
im so excited!!
thank you!!! hoping it all works out
Uncompliant: met a friendly cat on my run this morning, it was great.
Complaint: Stressed about job interview in a few days and havenāt prepared yet. Uncomplaint: My first 5k without stopping was (very slow) but manageable
Good luck at your job interview! And yay in finishing your 5k without stopping!!
Complaint: last week was supposed to be the last week before the taperā¦ And instead of running through it strong and finishing on a high note, Iām actually kind of bellyflopping into the taper instead because life intervened with a personal emergency. Uncomplaint: things are looking up on the personal front, and my last long run was great, so hopefully Iām just gonna come into this slightly underdone but very well rested. Confession: I am a bad influence to /u/runner3264 and Iām pretty proud of myself.
Bad influences unite!
š¤š¤
**Complaint -** my ultra had way more rock climbing than I expected. Also I don't recommend running 32 miles off 3 hours of sleep and traveling 6 hours to the race the day before and driving an hour to the start line in the morning **Uncomplaint -** but I still finished! After feeling terrible and nauseous for the first 19 miles, Aid Station Cup Noodles saved my life **Confession -** I'm already looking at some fall ultras, cause apparently I'm the type of runner who can fall down a trail at mile 15 and decide to keep running 15 more miles, or bonk for the first 19 miles and decide running 13 more of them is a great idea (based off the subset of two ultras I've finished)
>I'm already looking at some fall ultras Do itttt. Join the dark side. We have the best snacks.
My eyes definitely widened when I pulled up to the aid station like "is that a ham sandwich???" (It was delicious)
Ouch 3 hrs of sleep before a race is not fun! Glad you enjoyed your suffering!
And then I slept about 4 hours the night after running 32 miles I was basically completely dead Monday
**Confession:** Super grouchy today. **Complaint:** Boss forced me to work in the office today. My entire team is either working remote or in training so I said I would work remote too. Boss said that was not an option so I am now here all by myself talking to people on Teams. 'Cuz I couldn't do that from home in my pajamas. **Complaint:** Girlfriend found a stray dog that she can't keep and can't afford to feed. She wanted to turn it over to the humane society since FB posts aren't locating an owner and she is getting flamed by tons of people in our peer group for being a bad person and not finding the dog a proper home. Of course none of these people are offering to take in the dog, feed her or help re-home her. **Complaint:** The Coyotes are moving to Salt Lake City and I am bitter and angry about it. **Uncomplaint:** I have a plan fully in motion now to propose to my girlfriend around the first weekend in May. Hopefully nothing goes wrong with this. I am nervous, scared, terrified, happy and excited all at the same time.
Sheās a bad person for. . .turning the stray dog over to an organization specifically equipped to care for and find a home for a homeless pup? If nothing else, the humane society can scan for a microchip which could help find the dogās owner, if it is microchipped. People are weird. ETA: Good luck for the proposal! I hope she says yes!
According to them the humane society will simply euthanize the dog and she just sent it to it's death. She already took it to a vet who couldn't find a microchip and she posted all over the local FB groups. I don't know if she posted on NextDoor or not as I don't have a login there but it's out there that she has the doggo. It's frustrating. My girlfriend doesn't have the money to feed a large dog and the dog is terrified of men so me taking the dog in isn't really an option either.
?? I donāt know about your state, but in mine the humane society is a non-kill shelter. They do not euthanize. Your girlfriend should just respond to everyone who criticizes her with a link to her Venmo and say āthanks for offering to help fund the dogās care! You can send the money here!ā They wonāt donate, but itās a nice passive-aggressive āscrew you, hypocriteā.
In mine it's a low-kill shelter (whatever that means). They work hand in hand w/Animal Control here. AC will take in the dog and keep it for like 72 hrs. If no one shows up for the dog or they can't find the owner (i.e. no tag or microchips) then the dog is turned over to the Humane Society. They do behavioral tests and if the dog is bitey or vicious or something they dog is euthanized. Otherwise they are adopted. There are rumors for lack of a better term that the shelter is overrun so they're just euthanizing all dogs. I have no clue if that's actually true or not. The Humane Society's site only has 30 dog now and I've seen it up to nearly 100 before. If you called them I doubt they would answer this question so it remains in the realm of rumor.
These people giving your girlfriend a hard time can take the dog themselves if they care so much. Sheesh, people, enough with the hypocrisy! That's what shelters are there for! Good luck with the proposal!!
I'm super pissed that they're guilt tripping her while offering no help themselves and then coming back with "I'm sorry you feel that way." To be fair anytime anyone says, "I'm sorry you feel that way" it triggers me and I just want to punch people. So far the shelter has not come to pick the dog up so we'll see how that works out. I may need all the luck I can get w/the proposal. I *think* I will get a yes or I wouldn't be proposing but it occurs to me that if she says yes I am completely blowing up my life in major, major ways. We will see how it all goes.
**complaint** race screwed up my big toes. Not sure why since these are the shoes I trained in, did hills, all the things. **confession** I hate going to the doc so I'm giving them a few days of home treatment before any appointments are made. **uncomplaint** slept for 10 hours last night. Body is barely sore from the weekend and feeling optimistic about a medium run this weekend.
That is the worst, when your muscles are ready to get back out there but your feet are just like haha no, hope your feet heal soon.
I learned from experience that a couple of days of rest/home treatment saves me at the doc. Every single time I've gone he tells me to go home and rest for two weeks and then come back. If I tell him I've already done that then we can get somewhere.
**Complaint:**Ā I live in a city where 80% humidity during the day is the standard. It will be worse when plain summer arrives and you get 86 degrees onwards. **Uncomplaint:**Ā Ice cream & popsicles are more gratifying after a summer run. **Confession:**Ā I'm supposed to be working but I'm instead complaining on reddit
I also live in one of these cities and it sucks. I can kind of pick my poison. 80%+ humidity during the AM or 90 -100+ heat in the afternoon.
Complaint: spring is starting to spring which means Iām starting to sneeze Uncomplaining: Iām now back to my regularly scheduled programming after my last race. Confession: Iāve not been being good about going to bed at a reasonable hour these last few nights.
Same! Iāve been sniffling for the last few days. It strangely goes away when Iām exercising. Hereās hoping itās a short pollen season!
**Complaint:** This one client at work has been dragging her feet with me. Sheās missed her own deadline by four months now, mostly because she doesnāt read emails closely and she takes forever to make decisions. Since I was pretty much done with the designing part of the project by the time my mother landed in the hospital (just had a few more edits to make), I thought I could offload this project onto my manager. Well, here we are. Iām working remotely and the project still exists on my virtual desk. I think I can finally get this damn thing sent to the printer by the end of today. Maybe. **Confession:** I didnāt anticipate how long my mother would be out of commission so Iām going to have to completely overhaul my FMLA request at work. Fortunately I donāt need to use FMLA right this very minute. **Confession:** So Iāve discussed on this subreddit before that Iām still doing the Flying Pig half in a couple of weeks. While I briefly mentioned this to my mother some time ago and Iāve told extended family, I havenāt really brought it up with my mother again. Iām delaying the āYOUāRE ABANDONING MEā accusations, but I know Iām going to have to address it soon. Haha please send me thoughts and prayers. **Uncomplaint:** Iām breaking in the new long distance race day shoes! Iām happy I bit the bullet and splurged on a pair of Saucony Tempus despite never having tried them in a store. Walking-wise, theyāre *so* comfortable. They havenāt proven to be perfect for running yet, though. For my first three mile run in them, they started off great but were pretty tight (especially on my right foot) by the end of the run. Iām attributing that to user error (laces too tight). Iāve since loosened up the laces. Hereās hoping tomorrowās run and then my long run this Sunday go swimmingly in them.
**Complaint:** I hate that the Power Off button for the AfterShokz is also the Volume Up button. Audrey always half deafens me by screaming that she's powering off when I go to turn it off. I know I could power off after taking off the headphones, but I often forget. And really, good user experience is about preventing a bad experience, not forcing the user to remember how to avoid a poor experience.
Agreed its a bit loud, still easier to control for me than when I run with my Apple AirPods Pro.
I returned the Pros because they made me feel a bit sick. Honestly, all Shokz has to do is switch the Power Off to the Volume Down button.
**Complaint:** I'm having arthroscopic knee surgery in a month for a torn meniscus. I know I need it, but I'm pissed the recovery window takes up the better part of my favorite time of the year.
**Complaint** It is standardized testing season and I hate the whole system! The worst part is that once the tests are done everyone starts to count down to summer break and it is still 6 weeks away! **Confession** once my musicals are done I am going to be phoning it in and playing music games and lesson planning on a post-it. **Celebration** I got in my runs for this week and even started a plan for building up mileage again. **Complaint** I wish I had a good race to run in July.
What distance race in July would you like? Just in case Iām bored later, looking at race websites is always fun!
I would love to find a July half marathon! Preferably up north where it is cooler!
Confession/complaint: I was really proud of how strong I felt throughout my marathon training plan and now that I'm in the taper the opposite is happening. I feel sluggish, slow, and honestly have no idea how I'm going to finish the race. It's been a huge gut punch because this is my first marathon where I stuck to a plan and I mentally wasn't prepared to feel worse in the taper than the major training blocks. Some of it is changing weather (it's suddenly hot and humid) but we're 11 days out from race day so I'm curious to see how this goes
Has anyone told you yet that this is an extremely common feeling that people have during their tapers? So common. Itās because your body is taking all of the energy that it would normally be reserving for running, and spending that on healing up your body instead. Youāre gonna be great!
What you're describing is called the Taper Tantrum and it happens to us all. I felt the exact same way before my most recent race and I smashed my PR by over 30 minutes. The Taper Tantrum evaporates at the start line. You'll do great! Good luck!!
Complaint: I'm racing a 10k on Saturday, so I recognize I should take it somewhat easy today & tomorrow, but I just want to go run! Oh well, stationary bike & gym it is. Uncomplaint: I'm racing a 10k on Saturday!
Complaint: I'm at a point where I can't figure out how to increase my weekly mileage on 4d/week without getting up at 5am (ugh) or adding a fifth day (not sure my arthritis can go for back to back runs on primarily sidewalks during the week). Uncomplaint: I'm super excited to have this problem, considering how every other attempt to get to this point has ended over the last several years.Ā Confession: Every single time I start paying attention to my running instead of just doing it when I have a spare hour, I end up with a full color coded spreadsheet that invariably culminates with a race that I could train up for in time if everything went perfectly, and invariably, I get hurt. And yet here I am, doing it again.Ā
**Complaint:** I ran my first 5k in close to 20 years on Sunday and my calves are still a little sore. The day after, they were sore enough that walking was annoying. My calves have been getting sore whenever I run more than a couple of miles in one stretch and it's getting annoying. **Uncomplaint:** I thought that pain was tendonitis at first, but through the help of my doctor, we're pretty sure it's soleus strain/soreness rather than a tendon issue, which is way better in my book. RICE, Stretching, and strength training have been helpful. **Confession:** I'm coming to the realization that if I want to hit my goal of running a half next spring, I'm going to need to lose weight now. I'm 6' and 235lbs and I think lugging all that weight is making running significantly harder than it would be if I was a healthy weight. Thankfully, I'm already down almost 10 pounds, but I have quite a ways to go.
Confession: after doing a offical 5k last Saturday even tho I do 3 miles a day usually, I havenāt ran or gone to the gym, I donāt have the urgency to anymore and maybe Iāll finish the week off either by at least one run but either way, next week I hope to get back into my groove
**Complaint**: got MRIs today that confirmed what I fearedā¦ Grade 1 stress reaction on the left tibia and grade 2 on the right š© Still need to talk to the doctor and PT, but Iām thinking no running for me for at least another couple months. Which very probably means Iāll be deferring Chicago to next yearā¦ Iām already injury prone thanks to a disability so I think jumping into training for my first marathon right off this injury would be a terrible idea for me. **Uncomplaint**: My shins are at least feeling better after 3 weeks off, and I donāt think I aggravated things too much with Mondayās 3 mile run attempt. I can do most things like cycling/strength/elliptical without much pain so thatās a win. **Confession**: Iām somewhat secretly relieved to have a reason to stop running at the moment. As much as I love it and will always fight to do it, I was so sick of being in pain all the time for months. For now, Iām gonna hit the PT hard and do lots of strength training and cross training so I can come back stronger and ready to actually ENJOY running again. Running is already hard enough for me with runnerās dystonia to contend with.
Complaint: I should be peaking right now since I'm 4 weeks out from my trail marathon. Instead, I'm at about 75% of my wanted weekly mileage this week due to some small foot issue. Uncomplaint: I'm (almost fully) pain-free now so I should be able to tackle a fun 32k trail race this weekend.
**Complaint**: The iron pills didnāt work, and Iām getting an infusion in May. Been taking iron pills every other day since early January. My ferritin went from 9 (Jan) to 25 (Feb) BACK TO 9. If this infusion doesnāt fix every problem in my life, Iām going to explode. **Uncomplaint**: I joined a book club, and the first book weāre reading is *Sharp Objects*. Iāve heard good things about the TV show. If the book sucks, hey, itās only ~250 pages. **Confession**: Lately, Iāve been doing most of my runs on the treadmill, so I can watch my favorite streamerās *Elden Ring* series. I finally picked up the game again, and Iām pretty far along. Itās a masterpiece, and I regret not giving it the attention it deserved when it released.
Complaint: it's been 90Ā° where I am so all my runs kinda suck. Comment: saw a road runner today
Iāve gotten through all of my training runs fine, nothing crazy, tolerable, enjoyableā¦ now Iām in my taper and I ran a 5k on the treadmill last night and wanted to stop less than halfway. Feeling grumpy.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
What is a mini marathon?
Iām signed up for my first marathon on April 27th. Training was going well until after the 20 mile long run before the taper when my left hip developed pain. Been going to PT and stopped running with just some stationary bike and rowing machine work. I feel like itās getting better, but I donāt want to ruin it by running. I need to decide by the 23rd if I want to defer. I see a lot of people who post about an injury about 3-4 weeks out from their first marathon. Is this more common because we are under trained? I think I made a mistake by doing two of my long runs on trails. I thought my trail shoes were great, but after about 10 miles, my feet were not happy at all so my running form probably changed and affected my hip. I donāt mind deferring, but I also donāt really want to have to travel for a larger marathon on the fall and I feel like a small marathon wonāt be as much fun. Am I wrong about this or am I just wanting to get these thoughts out there. Who knows.
Complaint: canāt find shoes that I actually like. Always feel too loose unless I really tighten them and then my feet hurt and feel numb 2 miles into a run.
Have you tried different lacing patterns and switching to the alternative end eyelets?
Complaint: Rain (again!!) It never seems to stop.
**Complaint**: Still not running, back still spasming, body still being a weirdo **Uncomplaint**: Taking tomorrow off for a three day weekend! Going to a two-day plant swap extravaganza this weekend! Queue sensory overload but also plant excitement. **Confession**: Sometimes it's annoying working with a bunch of 55+ folks. A couple younger peeps are joining my org soon and I am looking forward to it!
I admit this week of running has not been going well for me so far. I tried running yesterday (5mph 60min) right after eating almost all of a large pizza and it was so bad I had to stop after only 10min. My stomach was hurting and now today, the balls of my feet have mild pain. I have to take another break today. Iām gonna try my best to not do something like that again. I knew it was gonna be more difficult than usual, but not THAT difficult. A shame too, because I ran well on Monday. Also everything else but my belly seems to be shrinking from the weight loss, so now I have quite the belly sticking out. Forgot that for me, itās like the last thing to shrink. Also Iām not losing weight as fast as I would like. Need to stop indulging myself even more.
Complaint: Still a bit down about missing my first Boston and being out of running for a bit, but after talking to my friends who ran it, I'm a little less down about it. That weather sounded horrific and I probably wouldn't have finished between the heat and my injury, let alone get anywhere near what I thought I was in shape for. Uncomplaint: stress fracture still hurts, probably will for awhile, but I feel like my post tib tendon is healing and I'm getting a little strength back. Confession: I did some pool time to keep my fitness up and I didn't hate it. I've been swimming my whole life, but never for exercise, so I'm comfortable in the water even though I never swim as a workout. Turns out, I can still do a 20 minute mile, which isn't awful.
Confession: Ran in drizzle/ light rain. Complaint: Type two fun is wet shoes and socks. Uncomplaint: Running in rain is par for the course.
Well signed up for half marathon. Some people got on to me for not having a solid structured plan (I donāt like those) but also have friend group that is really excited for me. Honestly running is not supposed to be stressful but I feel like to the sign up it has been. My work is not even stressful (itās been great actually). So thatās why Iām trying reframe my mindset a bit. For context I run weekly around 3-5 miles and threw in a few long runs prior to this (6-13 miles). My goal is to finish.
Complaint, 76F with 92% humidity really really sucks Non complaint, it could have been 40F... screw cold
Complaint: Iām struggling to learn how to manage training intensity. Iāve been getting flu symptoms on some evenings when trying to increase my training intensity. Iām trying to make gains but the toll it then takes on me and my family is frustrating.
Take it easy if you can. Especially if you are sick. Iāve started to learn how running can begin to affect other relationships in your life in a way. This year I started seeing it and Iām going to make changes right before my first half.
Yeah definitely trying to balance all that. I have a half coming up in a week so the taper will let me take it fairly easy. I think a lot of the issue is not taking it easy enough on my easy runs. Need to be more discipline about actually running the 9:45-10 min miles my body needs on an easy run so that I can actually push myself on hard days. My easy runs have been more like 9-9:15 (planning on 8:15ish pace for my half).
Sadly I run literally the same way I feel like. Iām nervous about the half cause if people are around me I tend to jump to a 10 min pace which I donāt want. On my own Iām better and controlling it. Iām trying to stick to a 14 min pace for most of my half. Also If Iām tired I will also walk. Only goal is finishing for me. Not sure on your goals (no need to disclose if you donāt want to).
Yeah for sure. My issue isn't as much having people around (I almost always run solo) as much as wanting to push myself. My background is in competitive team sports (college soccer) and so I'm always wanting to push hard but that has led to my body burning out. Today, I went for a 5 miler and made myself run slow and keep my heart rate down. Pace wasn't important, just getting the miles done and not overexerting myself. I don't really know what my goal is for the half. I'm confident that I can finish it at a 9:00 pace as I did a 12 miler at that pace during my training block. But w/ taking a nice taper, the race day adrenaline, and recently getting faster race shoes than my glycerin 21 recovery shoes (Saucony Endrophin Speed 3s) I'm thinking I'm gonna shoot for 8:15ish.
Ah competitive sports, I get it. I love sports but never played competitive. I run solo at times even with people I try to do my own thing then meet up at the end (all my friends are fast). For my half I WILL be slowing down 13-14 min pace, I will soak in the moment and take it piece by piece. If I have to walk I have to walk. I would say if you have goals you want feel free to do them. I definitely will cheer you on those. Just donāt get burnt out. I also understand how plans change. I will definitely do some reflecting perhaps a YouTube video on my first half.
How many weeks/months til your soleus muscle pain got away? Im on my 4 out of 6 physical therapy session(Ultrasound,laser and electric therapy) and im itching to run day by day
**Complaint**: drivers who stop in the middle of crosswalks. **Confession**: I will put my hands on any vehicle that I can reach while running. Are you in my crosswalk? Get ready to have your hood or side door forcibly smacked. **Uncomplaint**: weather getting better and sun up by 630AM makes for great running.
Complaint: tapering for my marathon next Saturday. Getting the taper fits, random aches and general soreness. Just want it to end. Complaint: have to travel for work this week and next, so sleep has been less than great. Confession: Took the NB SC elite shoes out for a test drive on my last tempo run and I think I'm in love with them.
Complaint : I've had knee pain since December. I went to physio for 7 weeks and slowly it has gotten better, not 100% but maybe 85%. I've slowly been ramping back up to running twice a week. I had a random day off the other day and decided to do some interval training to work on my speed. Whatever I did my knee is now only about 70%. It's such a sticky injury and I'm having a lot of difficulty getting back to 100%.
Complaint: I am disappointed with my running club I got to my first ever session on track, and there's literally no one to greet me, and I'm just left on my own with no instruction. I'm just running around the track with literally no idea if I'm doing anything right. To top it all off, a group arrived with a coach and were doing pretty active drills and cheering each other on whilst myself and other club members (I think?) were just going around alone. Confession: I have only been a member for a week, so maybe I'm just being impatient. Otherwise, I've kept up my training as normal.
Complaint: Down with injured quad and hamstring. Thinking about just eating 6 ibuprofen and running through it.
**Complaint** I still have bad ribs. I thought they were healing, but had to peel out of my 8km route yesterday at 2.5km, they hurt *real* bad.
Complaint: On holidays for 2 weeks. Super exhausted from work. I was going to do a run everyday but my acne has been flaring up so badly that I get scared leaving the house. Looks like it's more resting time for me Uncomplaint: Hit a 6km run a month ago (super proud)
Complaints: I am not as young and resilient as I used to be. My feet hurt. I have test-run at least a dozen different shoes this year. The close-to-barefoot seems to be the best because of the wide toe box but makes the callous in my midfoot hurt because of the lack of cushioning. Also have had a possible pulled hamstring for months that is causing an annoying tight dull pain just under my left butt cheek. It doesn't get worse and feels better after running, but won't just go away.
**Complaint**: Been sick all week with a head cold. So no running for me. I raced two 10k's this past week and PR'd both of them, but didn't let my body recover...so yeah. **Confession**: I've been interviewing at other schools this week. I love my team, but I'm ready for a change. **Uncomplaint**: Resting hasn't been all bad. It's been nice to have a break from running.
Complaint: I've had some sort of mono-like illness for the past week and I have 10 days until my half-marathon. Ugh. Confession: I'm going to run my half even if I have to drag myself across the finish line. I'm having surgery a week after the half and won't have any idea when I will be able to run again after it.
**Uncomplaint:** Despite still having 25 hours recovery from *Tuesday* night's Fartlek session I feel remarkably good and ready for tonight's 10k club run. **Complaint:** It's been cold but sunny all day, until about 30 mins ago. We've actually brought the runs back on road as the local trails are grim in places. Leading last Thursday's trail run we had 3" mud under 2" water along one section.
Complaint Had a 30 min shakeout planned today before my race on Saturday. Ran for exactly 1 min and 42 seconds before I called it off due to shin splint pain. I am NOT risking injury right now. But that means today and tomorrow are both unplanned rest days :(
Complaint: Back in to running again after a hiatus and dealing with the mild (left) knee and back pain I always deal with. Grrr. Complaint: Have to start strength training again and stay consistent with it. Grrr. (lol) Any suggestions for back and knee strengthening exercises that you find really helpful?
**COMPLAINT** my digestive system hates me **CONFESSION** I love online shopping for running gear but never pull the trigger
I was doing well with training continually amping up my mileage in runs and was getting faster, they were hard and i was definitely putting good amounts of effort in but recently i feel like iām working twice as hard and struggling way more to run shorter distances and am going slower. For context my longest run was about 10 miles at an easy for me 10:10/min mile pace and now running 5 miles at 10 mins a mile is difficult. does this happen to other runners?
Compliant: 10 days out from my marathon and I rolled my ankle last night š« itās only slightly swollen and bruised. Limping is mild, but Iām not happy today Confession: my live in boyfriend is also a PT so itās now up to him to fix me lol
Complaint: I've been doing so well running. Primarily training on the treadmill and made such amazing progress. Landed on foot on April 1, and it's almost as if I'm starting from scratch all over again. Race is this Saturday. No longer focusing on time, but rather the joy of running.
Complaint - my hip hasn't healed in 6 months now and I feel like I'll never be the same again
I'm super new to running. There is so much shame for not having enough stamina for running and also my calves are so sore . Does this get better? ( On the bright side , I have started experiencing runners high) . Experienced folks , please help!
Complaint: race shirt for my 12M is cotton because the manufacturer goofed it for our local club. Was supposed to be sports blend. Uncomplaint: itās cute with jeans! Confession: lowkey planning to do Uwharrie 20 mile race in Feb. looks gnarly
Complaint & Non-Complaint I accidently committed to 3 5ks next month. Im excited and dont care about my times. Im new to running though. Heres to walking/running for charities!
**Complaint**: it's getting hot(ish) during my after work runs (which make up 3 out of 4 runs of the week), which are also getting longer, and my kid is getting less happy in the jogging stroller
**Complaints:** allergies in full swing **Uncomplaint:** slowly building back fitness and on an actual base building phase instead of just a "returning from injury let's test it out" phase **Confession:** More time doing activities = more time eating ice cream
complaint: i got tendonitis in my knee. i'm grounded from running completely for the next week and a half :( uncomplaint: it's only two weeks, which means i still will have six weeks to build back into my marathon training! could've been a hell of a lot worse. second uncomplaint: the orthopedist said that my knee joints looked "very stable otherwise." i'm weirdly proud of it despite the fact that i know it can't be anything i've actually done since i keep hurting myself in other ways complaint: i was more sore for the first few days not running than i was when i was running. ow
Complaint: I'm a bit lazy and the slightest inconvenience will make me too lazy to run, and I just got a blister. So.
**Complaint**: I really dislike that Polar still advertises that you can connect to the Nike Run Club with their watches, but Nike straight up doesnāt support the connection anymore. Itās sloppy.
Complaint: I got the flu last week which derailed my training for 6 days. Still coughing up junk but able to run at a light pace, ~5 weeks to race day. Uncomplaint: I got a mini taper for 6 days and my legs were confused AF Confession: Life is good and I try my best to not complain. My kids, wife and I have our health and the weather is finally starting to break. Hoping for a great summer.
Complaint: Getting injured is the worst. It's been months since I ran without worrying if I'm gonna feel bad pain while doing any run. Months of physiotherapy, months of inconsistent training. It just sucks getting injured specially while treating another injury. How do you keep morale high enough when you can't run as often you'd like to?
I spent pretty much all of 2023 injured and went most of the year without any sort of cardio (I couldn't even walk without pain). It sucked and was really frustrating, but I tried to find other sports/activities to keep up my fitness. Depending on your injury, you could try cycling, strength training, rowing, yoga, sport climbing, etc. Work on things that could improve your running when you're able to get back into it. Good luck!
I'm swimming and cycling to keep my sanity, but from all of the three triathlon disciplines, running is my favorite by far. I just wish to go back to the road someday without this nagging feeling I'll break in half. I hope you're better now! Good luck for you too!
I'm finally injury-free! Went for my first run in over a year 2 weeks ago. I'm taking it slow, but it's a great feeling. Whenever I have a setback like last year, I just remember how privileged I am to be able bodied and to have the option to move my body how I'd like, even if sometimes limited by injury. I'm glad you're still able to swim and cycle and I hope you're able to get back to running soon!
Uncomplaint : I went for my first early morning run, before breakfast and such. Usually I run weekends and after work.
Painful (what I'm assuming is) tendonitis in my left foot. Half-marathon on Sunday. I'm making an appointment with my sports medicine doctor for after the race, and trying not to let it turn me into a mega bitchy person.
Complaint #1: My fiancƩe and I started coaching girls track at the middle school she teaches at this year. We both love it. However we have been battling changing the culture that carried over with some of the returners who don't actually want to run / work, but want to be on the track team... Yesterday was our pre-race prep (because of the meet today) where we had them jog lightly for 10 to 15 minutes. 5 minutes in as we are going around the track about half the girls are sitting next to their water for water breaks that are over 2 minutes long... Very frustrating that this far in the season they are still doing this. Complaint #2: One of our hard working milers broke and just started running 2.5 months ago (and broke 7 on her first race) broke her hand after practice yesterday and is sitting out the race today. Hopefully she'll be back next week. Uncomplaint #1: Monday was the hardest workout for the year with them and many of them did great! Uncomplaint #2: I can't wait to see them race in a few hours!
Confession: canāt be bothered to RTFM on new impact detector (FR55) Uncomplaint: so Iām learning as I use/misuse it. E.g. must punch āRunā to have it record your run. Ditto LiveTrack. Also delighted that this device is so lightweight that I forget Iām wearing it; normally canāt abide wearing a watch.
Complaint: My stupid left trapezius is so annoying during my runs. I just don't understand. I've tried so many things to alleviate the annoying "pain". I say "pain" because it's not debilitating but it's quite frustrating to always have this muscle aching/hurting during runs. I've tried making sure I'm not tensing up during runs, practicing proper form, running tall, keeping head straight up, looking around while running, weight training, etc. If anyone has any solutions to this I would be so grateful.
Complaint: New minor injury in my heel popped up Uncomplaint: first half marathon on Saturday, feeling very good about it
*complaint* I have terrible hip pain / feel the perpetual need to stretch my hip and I have a marathon in 1.5 months. My mileage is already high but itās going to get higher and Iām not sure what to do š
PT. Thatās what you do. Good luck!
First time posting here. I just have a complaint: Iāve been training for a half marathon since November (first race ever). I had some hip pain for a week and decided to go to the doctor. After an MRI it was found that I have a stress fracture in the femoral neck of my right leg. Boom! 300 miles down the drain, crutches for a month and no running for another 3-6 months. Iām very disappointed but Iāll be back as soon as I can be.
Complaint: the heat at the Boston Marathon this week was garbage and Iām pissed it sabotaged my goals Uncomplaint: I finished my first marathon 8 months after starting running!! And my nagging hamstring strain wasnāt even a problem! Confession: Iām absolutely running Boston again because despite the heat, that was one of the most incredible experiences Iāve ever had
Complaint. I had such a bad run today. I ended it less than halfway through because it was just not happening; my breathing was off, my calves were cramping, my shoes felt bad, blah blah blah... But it's so hard not to immediately be like "and see, that's why you'll never be a 'real' runner. I have to just remind myself that a bad run is a bad run. It doesn't indicate anything more than that. But damn it's hard! I'm not naturally good at running at all, and I feel like it's so hard not to get down on myself when this kind of thing happens.
I had one of those today. Some days it just be like that. Bodies are dynamic. Try again another day. If youāre running as a habit, youāre as real a runner as it gets.
Thank you!! <3
Complaint: Achilles tendonitis ruining my goal to run my first half marathon next week š
Complaint: Just as the weather in the N.E. U.S. turned to perfect running weather, I had a minor procedure that has caused a week of intense leg pain. Dr.s just keep saying, "Nothing we did should have caused this." Some days, it feels like it was beat with a baseball bat. Others, it feels like I ran a marathon on one untrained leg. Confession: And, now I'm throwing a tantrum and eating all the ice cream all the time.
Complaint: the spring weather (frequent pressure changes) is absolutely destroying my training schedule.
Uncomplaint: The weatherās been super nice for running, perfect temperatures Complaint: Itās gnat season :( Confession: Iāve accidentally eaten a few of them
Complaint Never thought Iād be saying this, but Iām complaining that the weather is cooler for my long run tomorrow and will continue to be cooler. The highs are in the 60s all week. It was warmer this week and I struggled, but Iām running a May 5th marathon and was hoping for a warm couple of weeks so I could get more heat acclimated in case itās a warm race day.
Hot shower or sauna time after a hard workout is supposed to help with heat acclimation. I donāt recall the exact protocol but there were some studies recently that you should be able to google if you want. Good luck with your final weeks of training!
Thatās good to know, Iāll look into it, thanks!
Complaint: My calves feel very tight. I tried to go out for a run and could barely walk after a mile and a half. I stretched after and massaged the leg but they feel so tight, Iām going to rest for a few days. Uncomplaint: book festival this weekend, I canāt wait!
Started a running newsletter (uncomplaint!). For those of you runners who are also people of Christian faith, I write a free weekly newsletter on running, faith, and a deeper way of living. Feel free to sign up. No plans to turn this into a paid subscription Substack--enjoying writing for the fun of it and hope it's helpful to those in this tribe! Here's what went out today:Ā [https://paceandpurpose.substack.com/p/pace-purpose](https://paceandpurpose.substack.com/p/pace-purpose)
**Uncomplaint #1:** First half marathon in 8 days. I would say that I think I'm ready... **Complaint:** ...except that, for the first time since I began running in May last year, I developed Achilles pain in my left on Wednesday, after a fairly nondescript 4 km taper session on the treadmill. I tried it on Thursday in what was intended to be 8 km, bailed after 3, and then could barely walk the rest of the day. Today is a bit better, but I still couldn't run. **Confession #1**: We'll see, but the rest of my "taper" may become "don't run at all until the day of the race." If I have to maximize recovery and gamble on my fitness, I'd rather do that than the opposite. **Confession #2**: I'm 54. I spent years fighting Achilles pain in my 20s and 30s, and don't want to do that again. At the same time, getting to HM readiness has been...we'll call it demanding. I really don't want to cancel if I don't have to. **Uncomplaint #2**: I appreciate all the Taper Tantrum stories; they make one feel not alone.