March 2019 Monthly Running Challenge

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  • katharmonic
    katharmonic Posts: 5,720 Member
    Elise4270 wrote: »
    Ooooo @katharmonic im screenshoting those socks! I've considered the soloman shoes but i haven't had the need for them. Have you owned them before? I want a review!

    @Elise4270 I haven’t had Saloman shoes before but have been eyeing them for a while - I also haven’t really had a need. I’ll report back after Saturday’s race. I’m excited to wear them on some Adirondack trails this spring/ summer
  • MegaMooseEsq
    MegaMooseEsq Posts: 3,118 Member
    edited March 2019
    _nikkiwolf_ wrote: »
    rheddmobile wrote: »
    I have a monthly question if no one minds! For the benefit of the newbies especially. What gear have you bought that you regret spending too much money on, either because you hardly ever use it or because you found you could get something less expensive? And what gear has turned out to be a really great deal, either because it was expensive but worth every penny or because it was super cheap but works great?
    Regrets: (if shoes count as gear) A pair of On running shoes. With fancy "cloud pod" soles. After running my first half marathon three years ago, I decided to treat myself to a pair of new shoes from a real running store (usually I buy my shoes on sale online). So I drove to the next big city. They talked me into these ridiculously expensive shoes (200CHF! apart from those, my second most expensive shoes were 119EUR a few more years ago. The 7 pairs I have in rotation right now cost on average 65EUR).
    They were fine on the treadmill in the store. But on my usual running routes, I got rocks stuck in the stupid cloud pods all the time, which drove me insane. After 100km I was fed up with them and dropped them in a donation box.

    Expensive but worth it: my GPS watch. (Tomtom Adventure). Never go running/hiking/skiing/cycling without it!
    I also really like my hydration pack ( Nathan Firecatcher Hydration Vest), better than any others I had in the past, still happy with it after two or three years.

    My clothes are pretty much all from decathlon, no special brands, never saw the need to buy anything more expensive.

    Do you live in/near Switzerland? I don’t think I ever picked up on that (or if I had I forgot) - I lived in Zurich for a year in high school and loved it there. I got to know a few ex-pats while I was there and have day-dreamed about immigrating from time to time, especially as I’ve gotten older and started thinking about having kids. My profession (law) isn’t necessarily that easy to transplant given liscencing requirements, unfortunately, and I’ve lost a lot of my German over the years.
  • katharmonic
    katharmonic Posts: 5,720 Member
    rheddmobile wrote: »
    @katharmonic I hope you like your Salomons as much as I like mine! They have superb traction in mud. I don't know if you realize but there is a little pocket on the top of the tongue to tuck your lock laces into.

    10k for me today on trails, supposed to be an easy run but it was just one of those that feel hard despite a slow pace. Probably because I did a bunch of squats, lunges, and pistol squats yesterday. Finally getting to where I can do pistols without falling over. The trails out at WC Johnson are still mucky but much better than last time. It was chilly and damp. We got it done though! Afterwards went to the catfish place and ate ALL THE MUDBUGS AND KING CAKE. Mardi Gras was two days ago but I can't turn down crawfish, we don't get them here for very long. They were good too, spicy hot, dripping butter and big as rock lobsters.

    Thank you @rheddmobile! I figured there was some way to deal with the lock laces but hadn't investigated yet. Squats, lunges and pistol squats are also responsible for my pain. Great job making it through a 10k trail run. I wish I could join you for the mudbugs and king cake!

    @7lenny7 the Speedcross shoes are indeed a noticeably narrower shoe. They felt good on my test but we'll see how that goes.

    As for the monthly question on regrets -
    • A few different versions of hydration belts that I don't love. I hate wearing them in general but I hate the hand held type more and I need to carry water on summer long runs. I have resisted trying a vest because it makes me feel hot to think about but maybe it's worth a try at some point.
    • I have regretted some shoes - regretted not returning/exchanging them when I didn't love them or not realizing the shoes were the thing causing my problems. Biggest example was the Brooks Transcends I stubbornly kept wearing during marathon training and for my marathon (because I trained in them! Can't change now!) and got the world's largest blood blister.

  • zeesparrow
    zeesparrow Posts: 348 Member
    In a previous thread, I asked your opinions regarding my running my first half marathon this year. As I recall, most responses were along the lines of "sure, it sounds doable". So now, I would like your opinions regarding some options I'm considering.

    First, I'm leaning toward the Bridge of the Gods Half Marathon in Cascade Locks, Oregon. The link is to the course map with "rolling hills". Um... does this look too challenging? I'll be running a 12k in May, with two weeks 'off' before starting a 12-week training HM training plan. This is in the middle of August... could be hot. Also possibility important: I'll be going on vacation a week later, with a 6 hour flight. (Would that matter?)

    The second option would give me more time to train, and put me solidly in the middle of the training plan during vacation. The Spokane Half Marathon in Spokane, Washington is in October. Cooler weather with "short but steep hills"... then the beautiful longer hill at mile 9. :open_mouth: I'll be running up that one in May.

    Finally, just take even more time to train, and wait until next year. There's a couple in May that I'm debating regardless (Coeur d'Alene and Windermere) as well as a super flat one in July near Portland (Foot Traffic Half).

    Choices, choices!
  • mbaker566
    mbaker566 Posts: 11,233 Member
    edited March 2019
    zeesparrow wrote: »
    In a previous thread, I asked your opinions regarding my running my first half marathon this year. As I recall, most responses were along the lines of "sure, it sounds doable". So now, I would like your opinions regarding some options I'm considering.

    First, I'm leaning toward the Bridge of the Gods Half Marathon in Cascade Locks, Oregon. The link is to the course map with "rolling hills". Um... does this look too challenging? I'll be running a 12k in May, with two weeks 'off' before starting a 12-week training HM training plan. This is in the middle of August... could be hot. Also possibility important: I'll be going on vacation a week later, with a 6 hour flight. (Would that matter?)

    The second option would give me more time to train, and put me solidly in the middle of the training plan during vacation. The Spokane Half Marathon in Spokane, Washington is in October. Cooler weather with "short but steep hills"... then the beautiful longer hill at mile 9. :open_mouth: I'll be running up that one in May.

    Finally, just take even more time to train, and wait until next year. There's a couple in May that I'm debating regardless (Coeur d'Alene and Windermere) as well as a super flat one in July near Portland (Foot Traffic Half).

    Choices, choices!

    i've looked at the bridge. i would love to do that one.
    i've also looked at the columbia gorge half because they have a dog leg. and me and speed demon could do it

    oh and i enjoyed the northern olympic discovery marathon in port angeles(they have a half).
  • simcon1
    simcon1 Posts: 209 Member
    zeesparrow Member
    March 8, 2019 8:40AM
    In a previous thread, I asked your opinions regarding my running my first half marathon this year. As I recall, most responses were along the lines of "sure, it sounds doable". So now, I would like your opinions regarding some options I'm considering.

    First, I'm leaning toward the Bridge of the Gods Half Marathon in Cascade Locks, Oregon. The link is to the course map with "rolling hills". Um... does this look too challenging? I'll be running a 12k in May, with two weeks 'off' before starting a 12-week training HM training plan. This is in the middle of August... could be hot. Also possibility important: I'll be going on vacation a week later, with a 6 hour flight. (Would that matter?)

    I am just training for my first HM in May, so I can’t speak to that piece, but I would’ve more worried about smoke for Bridge of the Gods than heat. August has been such a terrible month for fires for the past few years, and it’s made it tough to make major outdoor plans.
  • 7lenny7
    7lenny7 Posts: 3,498 Member
    @zeesparrow I used to want to do the Bridge of the Gods HM until I got into trail running and ultras. Looks like a fantastic course. From the website:
    How difficult is the course- does this course include any hilly areas or is it fairly flat?
    Course is rolling hills and moderate in difficulty on a closed pathway on the majority of the course. All the elevation gain is pretty gradual on the course. The 10K has just over 400 ft of gain and the Half Marathon has 1050 ft gain. You can view the course elevation profiles on the course map pages on the site.

    1050 foot of gain over 13.1 miles is about 80 feet/mile, which is how I judge the elevation. That's good amount of elevation gain but not insurmountable. Like @pastorvincent said, you may want to plan on walking some, and know that you won't match your pace from flat running. Who cares, though.. the scenery!!

    I agree with everything else @pastorvincent said about the race as well.
  • 7lenny7
    7lenny7 Posts: 3,498 Member
    @zeesparrow one thing I always do when considering a race I haven't run, and do before I run a new race, is seek out race reports. Just Google the name of the race with "race report" and you should find some. I find these give a pretty good idea of what you'd be in for. Here's one for Bridge of the Gods

    http://www.ridgetopfarmandgarden.com/2016-race-recap-bridge-of-the-gods-half-marathon/

  • PastorVincent
    PastorVincent Posts: 6,668 Member
    Date...........Run.......Walk.........Pushups
    03/01........00M.......3.5M........30
    03/02........20M.......0.0M........00
    03/03........00M.......0.0M........00 *injury*
    03/04........06M.......0.0M........00
    03/05........04M.......1.0M........00
    03/06........00M.......0.0M........25
    03/07........11M.......0.0M........00
    03/08........16M.......0.0M........00

    ---MTD: 4.5 miles walking, 56 miles running, and 0KM resting


    Upcoming Races
    Steel Challange 5k - May 2019
    Pittsburgh Marathon - May 2019
    Glacier Ridge 50k Trail Race - May 2019

    2021 - Disney World Dopey! (if can raise funds)

    2019 GOAL: Knock a full hour off my 50k time at Glacier Ridge.
  • PastorVincent
    PastorVincent Posts: 6,668 Member
    amymoreorless wrote: »
    3/1 = 10.5 miles
    3/2 = 12 miles
    3/3 = rest day
    3/4 = 4 miles
    3/5 = rest day
    3/6 = 7.5 miles
    3/7 = rest day
    3/8 = 7.5 miles

    Per my second goal this month, today’s Friday morning run was a sorry attempt at a trail run. It was more like hiking with running intervals. I kind-of suck at trail running.

    The first part of the trail was gorgeous. A piney wood trail that led up to a wonderful view of the whole park. The trail led back down by the river and and that’s were the nice part ended. Unfortunately, the second part of the trail was open to horse riders. The trail was completely trashed with mud and horse tracks making it impossible to run on without breaking my ankle.

    Oh, and there is an 80% chance of thunderstorms for my half tomorrow. I foresee a soaking wet and chafed run in my near future.

    Off to find a new trail to explore next Friday.... :)

    Part 1:
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    r8r8d9647rai.jpeg

    The sucky second part:

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    That looks like a great place to run!
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