October 2018 Monthly Running Challenge

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  • rheddmobile
    rheddmobile Posts: 6,840 Member
    Well done to everyone who raced this weekend, as someone else commented, what amazing things this group get up to!
    Which is why I'm going to ask this here...... how many of you do stretching and/or specific warm up BEFORE a run? I have been investigating new yoga/stretching sort of thing as I have very little flexibility as it is and am suffering from very tight legs since starting to increase my mileage, and have come across quite a few pre-run warm-up stretching videos/recommendations. All I've been doing before running is walking briskly for about 6 minutes to the place I like to start my runs. Am I doing it wrong? Should I be doing more in the way of warming up? Guess the obvious is to give it a go and see if it makes a difference, but I'm curious to see how many people here do it or think it's worth doing!

    Static stretching is supposedly bad before running according to the latest research and actually lowers speed, power, etc. The new thing is dynamic stretching.

    I do a series of butt kicks, high knees, side to side swings, and rocker squats to loosen up my legs. Then about half a mile walking before running. The rocker squats I started doing because someone said they were good for preventing shin splints, and at least for me I was getting shin splints before I started doing them, then they stopped immediately afterwards. So something to try if that's a problem for you.

    I usually run and lift on alternate days and butt kicks to stretch out my quads are really necessary for me, my quads like to settle in and get tight after legs day.

    I also do about ten minutes of yoga and bodyweight exercise every morning first thing, which has nothing to do with running but is where I mainly get my static stretching in.
  • Avidkeo
    Avidkeo Posts: 3,205 Member
    Just back from a short run 6.5k. So in a few months I've gone from eep 6.5k to having that as basically a stretch the legs distance...

    @ContraryMaryMary you got this! You are going to be awesome. Cant wait to hear your race report. You know i lived in Auckland for several years over 10 years ago and I never went on a ferry! That would have me so pissed off, being late.
  • MobyCarp
    MobyCarp Posts: 2,927 Member
    Well done to everyone who raced this weekend, as someone else commented, what amazing things this group get up to!
    Which is why I'm going to ask this here...... how many of you do stretching and/or specific warm up BEFORE a run? I have been investigating new yoga/stretching sort of thing as I have very little flexibility as it is and am suffering from very tight legs since starting to increase my mileage, and have come across quite a few pre-run warm-up stretching videos/recommendations. All I've been doing before running is walking briskly for about 6 minutes to the place I like to start my runs. Am I doing it wrong? Should I be doing more in the way of warming up? Guess the obvious is to give it a go and see if it makes a difference, but I'm curious to see how many people here do it or think it's worth doing!

    Static stretching (as in, positions that you hold for a while) is for after the run, when my muscles are still warm. I may do a few dynamic stretch/drill type things before a race, or I may not. I will typically do a pre-race warmup run, and I may do some walking before that to get the blood flowing. I also do a warmup run before a speed workout. I don't do one before an ordinary easy run, and I let the first two miles of a marathon serve as the warmup for that race.

    The warmup run is done at an easy pace, or as easy as I can manage while worked up for a race. The shorter the race, the longer the warmup; for a half marathon or a 15 K, I like a 2 mile out and back on the last mile of the course. For a 5K, I like doing a course preview as the warmup. I've noticed that for cross country, *everyone* wants to do a course preview for the warmup. But I like to have walked a bit even before an easy run. It's just less comfortable to start totally cold.

    I don't really miss it when I fail to do drills before a race; but if I don't stretch after a run, my body will tell me about it the next day.
  • PastorVincent
    PastorVincent Posts: 6,668 Member
    MobyCarp wrote: »
    Well done to everyone who raced this weekend, as someone else commented, what amazing things this group get up to!
    Which is why I'm going to ask this here...... how many of you do stretching and/or specific warm up BEFORE a run? I have been investigating new yoga/stretching sort of thing as I have very little flexibility as it is and am suffering from very tight legs since starting to increase my mileage, and have come across quite a few pre-run warm-up stretching videos/recommendations. All I've been doing before running is walking briskly for about 6 minutes to the place I like to start my runs. Am I doing it wrong? Should I be doing more in the way of warming up? Guess the obvious is to give it a go and see if it makes a difference, but I'm curious to see how many people here do it or think it's worth doing!

    Static stretching (as in, positions that you hold for a while) is for after the run, when my muscles are still warm. I may do a few dynamic stretch/drill type things before a race, or I may not. I will typically do a pre-race warmup run, and I may do some walking before that to get the blood flowing. I also do a warmup run before a speed workout. I don't do one before an ordinary easy run, and I let the first two miles of a marathon serve as the warmup for that race.

    The warmup run is done at an easy pace, or as easy as I can manage while worked up for a race. The shorter the race, the longer the warmup; for a half marathon or a 15 K, I like a 2 mile out and back on the last mile of the course. For a 5K, I like doing a course preview as the warmup. I've noticed that for cross country, *everyone* wants to do a course preview for the warmup. But I like to have walked a bit even before an easy run. It's just less comfortable to start totally cold.

    I don't really miss it when I fail to do drills before a race; but if I don't stretch after a run, my body will tell me about it the next day.

    Yeah, I am in Moby's camp. Running, with one exception, is how I loosen up to run. :)
  • 7lenny7
    7lenny7 Posts: 3,498 Member
    I'm also in the @MobyCarp camp. Walking warms me up for an easy run, and and easy run warms me up for a harder run, and in a long race, my warm up is part of the race.

    For a 5K I'll run part of the course for a warmup, but only a mile or two.
  • eleanorhawkins
    eleanorhawkins Posts: 1,659 Member
    @7lenny7 wow, just wow. My brain cannot really compute the vastness of that achievement! Well done!


    To everyone who has chipped in response to my question, thanks! Think I'll do a little bit of the pre-run moves some of you mention before I leave home. While I am getting to the 'too old to care' point now, the stretch I walk to where I start running is, at that time in the morning, packed with high school students on their way to school. Don't want them pointing at me and laughing their noisy little heads off! I will also try the stretching as soon as I stop running instead of once I get home and see if it makes any difference. The kids are all in school by then.
    Now off to google rocker squats!
    @Avidkeo I hope I have the same, my legs aren't feeling as bad now as they were a few weeks ago, but as the mileage increases they are getting tighter. I have just under 7 weeks to go.
  • Tramboman
    Tramboman Posts: 2,482 Member
    @7lenny7 - Fantastic recap!!!
    Hope the foot injury turns out to be something relatively minor.
    I've owned cars that couldn't have traveled 40 miles in 12 hours.
  • Avidkeo
    Avidkeo Posts: 3,205 Member
    wow @7lenny7 I want to do a run line that, looks challenging but oh so rewarding!!!
  • Scott6255
    Scott6255 Posts: 2,555 Member
    @7lenny7 - Fantastic achievement! I can't fathom running for 12 hours, 42 miles in one day. I hope your foot/toe heal on its own, but that sounds a little scary. Take it easy my friend.
  • rheddmobile
    rheddmobile Posts: 6,840 Member
    @7lenny7 awesome race report! I shared it with my husband who normally doesn't read forums. He still remembers you from last winter, though, I just said, "this is Ice Beard Guy, you remember him," and he said, "Oh yeah, Ice Beard Guy with the dog!"

    I wanted to urge you to not wait on your foot, if it is a detached tendon it is much easier to repair soon after the injury than after it has time to shrivel up and contract. I hope it's okay but a hanging toe which won't move sounds alarming.
  • PastorVincent
    PastorVincent Posts: 6,668 Member
    @7lenny7 Awesome job!
  • PastorVincent
    PastorVincent Posts: 6,668 Member
    @7lenny7 they have a race like that by me every year, now you got me thinking about looking it up and getting the deets for it. Hrm.
  • PastorVincent
    PastorVincent Posts: 6,668 Member
    Today's weather is perfect or a run. Upper 50s, low humidity, low dew point and partly cloudy.

    So of course I have meetings and will not be able to get out. #grr
  • biketheworld
    biketheworld Posts: 2,353 Member
    @7lenny7 - Wow - what else is there to say? How about - Congratulations! Seriously, I am in awe. Hope the toe/foot is OK - but like @rheddmobile said - have it looked at pronto.

    Weather was perfect here for running. AND I had the day off. However - pond - leaves - garden - and a promise to help hubby with those 3 things meant no run.
  • PastorVincent
    PastorVincent Posts: 6,668 Member
    Hey y'all... saw this sale and figured I would pass it on:

    Grab the Popular Brooks Ghost 10 for Under $80
    http://www.runnersworld.com/gear/a23970362/brooks-ghost-10-sale
  • MobyCarp
    MobyCarp Posts: 2,927 Member
    @7lenny7 Great race report! That 12 hour race must be for the young guys, in their 40s and early 50s. Sounds way too challenging for me.
  • RunRachelleRun
    RunRachelleRun Posts: 1,854 Member
    Thanks for all the kind words, everyone. I am starting to feel much better. I went out and bought two hats yesterday and a new sunscreen, which should help with my sun anxiety. I am somewhat confused about whether to apply sunscreen before or after my face lotion as I thought it needed to be put on last (as a barrier), but I just saw something that said it should go on first. Hope I can get a clear answer to that - Google experts seem to have both opinions.

    Today was 1.6 miles easy run/walk and 16 mins strength training (trying to start up again) = 15.13 / 25 miles
    I may just make my goal after all as I have five runs scheduled before the end of the month.

    @7lenny7 Awesome race and report. What an incredible experience and lovely that your son was able to be your pacer for a short time. I sure hope your toe is okay. I agree that you should go get it looked at sooner than later.
  • katharmonic
    katharmonic Posts: 5,720 Member
    @7lenny7 great recap. Congrats on an incredible accomplishment. I can't imagine. I do like the idea of the 5 mile loops and being able to stop at an aid station every time, but I don't want to do more than say 3 of them :)

    @elise4270 go get yourself a hoverboard! They look like a broken hip waiting to happen for me, but I'm not too great with balancing on wheels. Wear a helmet!

    Date :::: Miles :::: Cumulative
    10/01/18 :::: 5.0 :::: 5.0
    10/02/18 :::: 4.2 :::: 9.2
    10/03/18 :::: 7.1 :::: 16.3
    10/04/18 :::: 3.7 :::: 20.0
    10/05/18 :::: 0.0 :::: 20.0
    10/06/18 :::: 20.0 :::: 40.0
    10/07/18 :::: 5.0 :::: 45.0
    10/08/18 :::: 4.5 :::: 49.6
    10/09/18 :::: 5.1 :::: 54.7
    10/10/18 :::: 5.9 :::: 60.6
    10/11/18 :::: 4.0 :::: 64.6
    10/12/18 :::: 0.0 :::: 64.6
    10/13/18 :::: 15.0 :::: 79.6
    10/14/18 :::: 2.8 :::: 82.4
    10/15/18 :::: 3.0 :::: 85.4
    10/16/18 :::: 3.0 :::: 88.4
    10/17/18 :::: 3.1 :::: 91.5
    10/18/18 :::: 0.0 :::: 91.5
    10/19/18 :::: 3.2 :::: 94.7
    10/20/18 :::: 7.6 :::: 102.3
    10/21/18 :::: 4.0 :::: 106.3
    10/22/18 :::: 3.0 :::: 109.3

    Another treadmill day today. No strength training this pre-race week, but I went to the gym anyway and did my 3 miles and then a little stretching.

    Regarding stretching before a run - my trainer has been suggesting using Turkish Get-Ups as a warm-up exercise. They involve laying on the ground, and holding a weight over your head though so maybe not practical for actual warming outside where you plan to run.

    cry8nweh7m0i.png


  • MobyCarp
    MobyCarp Posts: 2,927 Member
    @katharmonic Scratching my head at the idea of using TGUs as a warm up for running. Maybe that's because I use heavier weights than your trainer wants you to use? When I'm in good form, I'll do 5 TGUs on each side with a 30 lb. kettlebell; I also like to do a windmill at the top, because just doing windmills alone is boring. Good for the core. good for telling me if something is injured because they hit everything.

    Maybe if I did them with a 10 lb. kettlebell I could be more aerobic and use them as a warm up; except the lightest kettlebell I own is 25 lbs. I supposed I could just use a dumbbell; but then I wouldn't have the unbalanced weight keeping me honest about form.
  • BruinsGal_91
    BruinsGal_91 Posts: 1,400 Member
    edited October 2018
    Elise4270 wrote: »
    I am, and have always been very uncoordinated.

    I dated a guy that called me "falls-a-lot". My kids thought that was hilarious. My parents often called me "accident prone".

    Ohh just heard the Hoverboard pull in!! Gotta roll.

    I have insurance!

    Have fun! I'm known as Calamity Jane by my family, so a hoverboard probably won't be in my Christmas stocking.

    @7lenny7 Wow, just wow! Take it easy for a couple of days now.

    I did five miles on the treadmill tonight. Nice and steady and brings my October total to 54 miles. I've been wondering about a half marathon next month, but don't think I've got enough long runs under my belt. Since my last half back in May, my mileage has dropped off to an average of about 55 miles a month, and I don't think it's quite enough.