GoaD on the Run: Timing Tuesdays
glennowill
Posts: 134 Member
This thread is for GOADies who like to run. New runners, old runners, and even wannabe runners meet here to discuss the joys and challenges of running. Use this space to log your miles, ask questions, share your race reports, or for anything else related to running.
New runners - and even those just thinking about starting out - are always welcome. There's no reason to lurk here. Join the pack and tell us about your running!
Oftentimes the GotR thread will pose a question or raise an issue in order to facilitate the conversation, but this is always an open forum to chat about any running-related topic.
QotD: What (if anything) do you use to time your runs? Do you consider yourself a minimalist with your running tech or do you always pine for the latest gizmo?
Alt: I can take care of Tuesdays as far as posting the thread more frequently.
New runners - and even those just thinking about starting out - are always welcome. There's no reason to lurk here. Join the pack and tell us about your running!
Oftentimes the GotR thread will pose a question or raise an issue in order to facilitate the conversation, but this is always an open forum to chat about any running-related topic.
QotD: What (if anything) do you use to time your runs? Do you consider yourself a minimalist with your running tech or do you always pine for the latest gizmo?
Alt: I can take care of Tuesdays as far as posting the thread more frequently.
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Good Morning!
Not running today, but plan on running 2-3 tomorrow.
I used to use a Garmin Forerunner for tracking outside running, including wearing a heart rate monitor. On the treadmill, I would use the HR monitor, and just record the miles.
Now, I have a Garmin VivoSmart HR. I like it! I certainly like it better than the Fitbit. I set it for either running or walking, and the HR is automatic. I have tested it both on the TM, and outside against known distances. I've tweaked my steps/mile, and now I've got it accurate down to about .01+/- mile. That's really not bad, considering one either reduces stride length going up hill, or increases stride length on a decline. Over 3+ miles, I'm generally within .05 of what the "real" distance is. I may still try to tweak it, but that's just the OCD Bean Counter in me. I've got my VivoSmart hooked up to MFP, so I sync exercise over to here, and I record my food on MFP, and it syncs back to Garmin Connect. No more double recording! I also still have a Fitbit scale, so my weight get auto recorded on Garmin Connect, and in MFP. When I stopped smoking in 1999, I started recording my weight and exercise daily on a spreadsheet. I stopped recording there in 2014.0 -
Race report: Minnesota State Fair Milk Run 5K
I had a nice time Sunday morning. This was my 4th time running the Milk Run and (I think) the 32nd time the race has been staged. It's a very fun event sponsored (of course) by the Milk Board and it's kind of a big deal with a little over 1300 runners. Long story (and kind of funny), but it fills up quickly every year and unless you've run it in previous years it can actually be kind of tough just to get an entry. The race starts and ends on the fairgrounds, but most of the course is in the neighborhood to the east. It's a fun route for a road race as there are several small ups and downs over the first 2/3rds but generally a net gain in elevation up to about the 2 mile mark. From there, it's a gentle descent back to the start.
I got there early, got parked and into the fair, and then went for a one mile warm up jog. Got back to the start area and found DW and DD. Left my hat with DW as I realized during the warm up that it was pretty humid despite being somewhat cool. Guessing a bit, but I'd say about 70 degrees at the start with 85% humidity.
My training hasn't been great and I did not feel very race ready coming in. So, with an aim at running a very conservative race and enjoying the rest of my day at the fair, my A-B-C goals were: (A) under 9 min's per mile; (B) finish without walking and under 30 minutes; (C) finish.
I thought I had more time than I did before the start. I was waaaaay back in the start field and couldn't hear the announcements or anything, and next thing I knew the gun went off. Oh well. The race is chip timed, so I knew it didn't matter much where I started. So my first mile was slower than it might have been had I started more towards the middle than the rear. This might not have been a bad thing as it kept me from going too fast early. After much weaving through the pack, I made it to the first split in 8:48.
The second mile is the most challenging and my aim here was to keep a steady pace and fight back against the urge to "sag." I did ok. It really helps to know the course on this one, as I was able to remind myself that the last mile is basically downhill. My second mile was a 9:34. From there, I was able to stay focused and finish strong. Great fun with that gravity-assisted last portion. My third mile was my fastest: 8:36.
Finished with a 27:56 chip time, which translates to an 8:59 pace. Yay! I felt very good about that, given my inconsistent training this summer.
My DD took my picture (which explains the smile!). Run happy!
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Greetings! I had hoped to run outdoors but Mother Nature had different plans. A line of thunderstorms came through so the treadmill was the safer option.
I'm certainly not a minimalist but also don't run out and by the latest tech. For my outdoors runs I use a Garmin 310XT. I bought it refurbished. The big selling point was 20 hours of battery life which is important since I do long endurance events. I also use it on the bike as my bike computer on my road bike has been known to stop functioning mid-ride (and then randomly continue recording after a period of time).
For my hikes in the woods, especially trails that are new to me, I also will bring along my Garmin eTrek 20. It is a GPS unit and I have the chip that contains the maps for the Great Lakes region. It has proved very useful even though the elevation changes are worthless (need a unit that uses barometric altimeter which would cost significantly more).
I always wear my Fitbit for my activities. I have the Fitbit One and I find it amusing what it will give me for a bike ride. The rougher the road, the more steps I get!
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QotD: I use the Garmin Forerunner 220. Love it. I've had the 220 since June 2014, and before that used the 305 for about 6 years. I like my tech, but don't pine for the latest gizmo.
As gizmos go, I'd say my latest is the MFP app. I like how Garmin Connect syncs with MFP and MapMyRun.
Like @shenry111, I was using a master spreadsheet to track activity for many years. I've gotten away from that over the past 3 or so months but might yet go back and catch it up to current. I miss the shoe tracking I was doing there and the ability to add a short note to a log entry. Honestly not sure it's worth the extra effort when, like Steve said, all activity I put into MFP is already cross-logged to Garmin Connect (and vice versa).0 -
Nice report, Brian! That sounded like a race I would have enjoyed running.
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QotD: I was using Map My Walk app prior to starting c25k. Using the c25k app on my phone now (not sure which one).
In the pool today to get back to exercising for the first time in a week after allergies overtook my body. Look to do w3d1 of c25k tomorrow somewhere/somehow.0 -
@Calvin2008Brian - great race report! Somehow I had missed it. Great job achieving your goals!1
