The Running Thread

I use a runner jacket with detachable sleeves that's resistant to wind & water, and good enough for cold & wet weather until it gets really cold when I put it over an additional fleece jacket.

All ready for my 5K zombie survival dash obstacle course party thingie tomorrow. It sounds like it will be fun, but so far I haven't been too impressed with the organization. This is their first year doing it and they seem pretty understaffed.

Try not to get dismembered!

Did the zombie survival dash today. For those who don't know, the premise is that it's a 5K mud run where you wear a belt with little flags like you'd use in touch football. People made up like zombies are scattered along the course and they try to grab your flags, which are supposed to be your "health."

Here I am just after crossing the finish line:



No, I'm not a zombie, my wife just caught me at a weird moment.

The run itself was kind of fun. Some of the zombies really took their job seriously and would chase you down to take a flag. Others were clearly like "It's late in the day, look at all these fucks I don't give." The course ran through some big mud puddles and at least one mud lake.

At the latter I stopped to help one woman who clearly had no business doing anything so physically strenous as this when she literally became stuck in the mud and couldn't get out. Other runners kept going right past her, clearly pegging her as just one more obstacle at worst a potential zombie decoy at best. While a few other runners and half a dozen moderately anxious zombies watched I risked my "life" to brace myself against the old tires on the far bank and try to haul this 250+ lb woman out of the muck. The zombies cut us plenty of slack and when I eventually trotted past they just gave me a half-hearted "raahh..." and waved their hands at me in a thorougly non-threatening and slightly appreciative manner.

Unfortunately word didn't make it down the line and I eventually lost all 3 of my flags, including one BS cheap move by a zombie who walked under the big wooden structure I was climbing over to snatch my last flag.

The after party was supposed to feature some games, relays, and other events but apparently that went all out the window. Just some $5 beers on tap, some kettle corn, and someone trying to hand out samples of that energy drink that tastes like smurf urine. The organizers were not very organized. So we cut out pretty much right after I finished the course.

A couple of zombie survival dash protips:

1. Run in a group, because if the zombies are going for other people, they aren't going for you. If possible, run in a group with cute girls in it, because some of the zombies will try to cop a feel and totally ignore you. Unless, I suppose, you're a cute girl But I didn't have this situation.
2. If you come across a group of zombies sitting on the ground and taking a break to peruse their smart phones, do not tease them. Because then they will ALL JUMP UP AND COME AT YOU WITH A VENGEANCE.

Important life lessons for any zombie apocalypse, really. Or just dealing with hipsters.

I've been minimalist running for a lot of this year. I started out trying to get to a 15k in a few short months and upped my mileage too quickly and injured my foot.

I was thinking a lot about distances and times (and running with people for whom that stuff is gospel) but lately I've been finding that I have a MUCH more enjoyable time running if I just...go out and run. I'm usually tired after about 30 minutes and I stop. It's very enjoyable to just be outside and moving. I recommend it highly if you've never tried it. Leave the heart monitor, the gps tracker, all of it. Leave your watch. Just go out and run and feel it. It's awesome.

That's absolutely a good way to get started. It's how I did though I was mostly on a treadmill. Eventually I got to the point where the amount of time I had to work out was the limiting factor as opposed to my endurance, and I started wanting to push myself to run faster and train towards a longer run once a week. Whatever works and whatever you enjoy. Well, as long as it's not "not running."

So two things:

1) I ran my first 5k distance today. Not an official run or anything, just me huffing along Commonwealth Avenue like a goon. My time was atrocious but hey, milestone!

2) My right knee is starting to feel pretty tender. It feels fine while I'm running but is sore and stiff for pretty much all other times. Any thoughts or suggestions?

MuffinMan was using some kind of band on his knee that seemed to work well for him. Maybe he'll chime in with how that worked out.

It's been four days since my last run and I'm anticipating taking a full week off for the first time in awhile because my right Achilles tendon has been a bit stiff/sore the last few runs and I want to give it time to heal up without stressing it further. It's also dark now when I finish work and I haven't figured out what to do yet because running around the lake in the dark would make for a good horror story but not so much for an actual good run.

So I came back to running after a year off and worked back up to 2.5 mi/3x week. I was worried about knee pain and started using one of these http://www.mcdavidusa.com/Product/419R/MCDAVID_Level_2_Knee_Support_adjustable.aspx

Was working great until I tweaked my knee carrying my daughter down the stairs, so now ice, aspirin and no running for a week until it goes away. Not sure what shape your shoes are in...mine are pretty shot so probably not helping my cause.

I finished Week 3 of C25K on the treadmill last night. I'm not managing to get three runs a week in at the moment so to get to the end of Week 3 has taken me about 5 weeks. The most important thing I've gained from doing this is an improved chance of being able to make it to the bus before it leaves the stop. In fact, in the past I made it a rule not to attempt to run for the bus because it just made me look stupid, panting as it sailed off into the distance.

C25K is great, but I personally hit a wall around Week 4 - it took me probably about a month before I could comfortably do the whole routine for W4 in an actual week. Don't get discouraged if that happens to you too.

I ran half a mile yesterday. The last time I ran any significant distance was maybe six years ago. I knew it was going to suck, but the years had let me forget just how much it was going to suck. Halfway through my legs were letting me know just how unhappy they were. By the end I could barely lift them.

Of course, what I do remember from six years ago is just how wonderful it felt to be able to run five to ten miles in the hills without unduly exerting myself. It's going to take a while to get to that point again, but hell, I've got time.

I've just done a few simple calibration runs recently after four months off due to a pulled tendon.

My lungs were on fire after one lap. I managed two in total (good enough for calibration). It will be interesting (possibly agonizing) to see how long it will take to get back to my usual pace/stamina. But I am greatly looking forward to the zen-like calm of running around the lake again.

Did my first "mockathalon" on Wednesday... swim/bike/run the same distance I'll be doing in two weeks, mostly to assure myself that I can do all three in a row without wanting to die. Went better than I expected! Couldn't maintain my pace for the 5K run at the end (and even my "goal" pace is a quite slow 10.5 minute mile) but I'll definitely be able to finish.

I did another calibration run a few days after the last one reported above -- four laps or 1.6 km. My lungs did not burn as mightily this time. Encouraged, today I set out on my first real run of the year, a 5 km jog partway around Burnaby Lake. Much to my surprise, I finished in just under 23 minutes and maintained a steady pace overall. The uphill stretches did feel like little anchors had been attached to both feet but I got through them and though a little tired, I feel pretty good after.

I'm rather pleased at this unexpectedly good result. I hope it bodes well for a full spring and summer of running.

Beautiful morning in Frederick this AM for a half-marathon. My time was a little slower than Baltimore, but it was my first time at this distance in a super minimal shoe, I was super happy with it. I've had a bad tendency during races for my calves to cramp up (usually between miles 8-10) which makes the end of the race brutal. I tried doubling up on liquids at the aid stations, as well as increasing my salt intake during the week. It seems to have helped a bit - I didn't even feel a twinge until 11.5, at which point a quick stretch and dropping my pace allowed me to finish without nearly the issues I've had in the past.

Congrats! Are those what you actually wore for the half marathon? That's not minimalist, it's not even a shoe! They appear to have cat appeal, though.

My last run I somehow managed my fastest 5K ever (I ran 10.4 km). Weird but welcome. Then I missed my next run due to the SkyTrain system being borked after work and getting me home without enough light left. And now I've caught the same bug my partner has so even though it's absolutely gorgeous out I'm not sure I have the energy to run today. But I think I'll try.

Any advice for motivating through the C25k program? I haven't progressed beyond the first week's runs as I invariably say "fuck this" halfway or so through the session and just finish out with 30 minutes of brisk walking. I feel like I would enjoy it once I can actually run for any period of time, but right now, while I suck I HATE running. This is mostly on a treadmill, but the couple of times I've done it outside haven't been much better. I've only completed one entire session.

Yah - they're Xeroshoes (these are the thick soled version). Completely nutty I know, but I didn't want to spend the money on Vibram's if I hated minimal, and the Contacts - which I also have- are super cheap and seemed a good way to take a look at things. I ended up falling in love with them, so no reason to buy anything else. I did wear a pair of toesocks with them since it was a bit chilly standing around waiting (and to help protect from blisters as my form broke down).

And I know what you mean by the stupid bug - Between my kids and wife getting various colds/sore throats/strep this month my ability to run has been really limited - it's part of why I'm not too upset over adding a minute to my Baltimore time (I was at 1:57:08 today)


Griot - I know the main way I got through C25K was that I had put down money on a race, so I had no alternative other than to gut through it. But I"ve no advice on the treadmill - I hate that damn thing because it is so incredibly tedious.

Don't feel bad about repeating weeks. When I started last time I think I redid the first week like three times before I felt like I could move forward.

Yeah, I had to repeat a week or two when I was doing Couch to 5K. I did the whole thing outdoors, though. I'm not sure how I'd feel about a treadmill. I imagine myself falling on my face and becoming part of the animated gif thread.

In running update news, I did go out today but the combination of being unusually warm for this time of year (the temperature was 25-28C while I was out) and being under the weather meant I was too worn out to do a full 10K so I stopped at 6K with about another 5K in walking. The pace wasn't too bad considering the condition of both the weather and my body.

And now I nap.