May 2020 Monthly Running Challenge

brittanystebbins95 wrote: »

Another random, perhaps dumb question.

How important is stretching? Or even warming up, for that matter? What sort of things do you do to warm up?

I will admit, I haven't been taking running very seriously for very long. About a year, maybe. So i'm still inexperienced and learning as I go.
I don't really warm up, I just kinda step outside and go. And I've never been one to stretch before or after a run. Or at all. I hate stretching. I despise it. It hurts and I'm miserable and annoyed every time someone makes me do it (ahem, husband, looking at you.)
But, I'm also super inflexible because of my hatred for stretching and I do feel like this makes me more prone to injury. Seriously, you guys...I can't even touch my toes without bending my legs. I have never been able to in my life.

Does it help? Does it improve your running? Is it even worth it?
And how do you make yourself not hate it so much?!

<Engage full hypocrite mode>

So, very. A proper dynamic warm-up will reduce injury risk. You should always do it.
Easy light stretch post-run helps with recovery and helps prevent DOMS

<Return to normal risky behavior>

alright, race report.
yeti 24 hour challenge
i didn't think it would be that bad. it was tough.
5:30 the first round was with speed demon. went out fast. didn't mean to but speed demon wasn't taking no for an answer. it was hot and humid. but no people on the trail. it felt good. i thought i was ready. got back to the car. driver's side won't unlock. sounds like the actuator is broken. crawling in from the passenger side till the weekend. my brother hopes he can fix it. added a mile so i could say i did a 50k 9:30 second round did walk/run with my Old Girl. it was still humid and it was tough. it was a city run. not too many people out and about. 1:30 three, i took out Speed Demon. it was a nice night. saw a few people. i'm sure it was strange for them to see a runner so late at night. city run 5:30 four, i went out by myself. really had to convince myself to get up. it was a beautiful morning. it felt really peaceful. more run/walking. it was starting to get a little tough. city run. things were hurting. the five miles felt like ten.
9:30 five, took Old Girl. city run. walking only. she was panting early on and it was already warm and humid. saw lots of people out and about. we worked on the leave it command because she either wants pets or to bark. i let her say hi to one older lady. long five miles. just didn't seem to end. we tried to find shade but there didn't seem to be a lot to be found 1:30 six. Speed Demon and I finished where we started back on the hank aaron trail. tons of people. still warm and humid. did run/walking. she was not happy about it but we hit as many puddles and ponds as we could because she was panting more than normal. it wasn't too bad. strenuous but knowing i was near the end helped. the second last mile was super long. neverending. but the last mile, that was a good mile. it went fast (in my mind, not me).
so that's it. my training was not quite up to par but it was still doable. i managed to get it done at a 16:02 min/mi pace. i feel pretty good about that. i managed to stay hydrated. needed more food. i see why broth is popular because i didn't want to chew. chewing was too much work. i didn't have a lot of elevation change so i'll need to train hills. the course for my other ultra in june 27th is a trail with a lot of hills. slow build ones, steep ones. a section that is sand. i wasn't super sore. a few hot spots. one blister.
i wonder if it's harder to do it all at once and get it done or to do it broken up like i did. because getting up and moving was difficult. I didn't cry. I've often cried when i've reached a distance milestone.
i think i'll need another high end sports bra. even the cheaper high impact bras didn't support me as well as my Juno.

Adding in last night's run with some specific drills mixed in the middle.

Basically what I've been doing with these drills 3 times/week is run to the park to warmup, pause Garmin, do some mobility exercises and then some super specific speed drills, then restart and do a cool-down run home. I was able to catch a break in the thunderstorms/rain when starting. It started to rain as I was finishing up and the hail didn't start until I was less than a mile from home (park is about 1.25 miles as you can tell from my distance). It didn't get very big or too bad... mostly I was just wet when I got home. It got worse later on.

2.55 miles yesterday