The Running Thread--2024

[PrincessV]

Thanks, it is a very good point to reinforce for all runners reading this board!

I still don’t quite understand what happened. All toenails were well trimmed, this was my seventh marathon so I knew better.

My toes swelled and maybe it unsealed the toe nails from under. I lost both long toes’ nails (which I had before but previously it was one per marathon, not both), one middle toe’s nail and one of my big toe stayed put but had black under the nail (and now is an awful marble yellow/grey).

Racing, marathon in particular, have had no appeal for me since then.

Your post reopened the question in my mind and I reviewed my history. Shoes might be the culprit… otherwise its age and I don’t want to go there

Analysis for my marathons:
2019 Asics Nimbus 19 Volt - np
2020 Asics Nimbus 20 Mickey - np
2021 Asics Nimbus 22 Jafar - np
2022 Asics Nimbus 23 Steamboat M - np
2023 Asics Nimbus 24 Ottawa - Left Long Toe, nail lost
2023 Asics Nimbus 24 Ottawa - Right Long Toe, nail lost
2024 Asics Nimbus 25 Eclipse - Toe nails debacle!

What changed between Nimbus 23- and 24… The tongue and upper shoe. Those were kept for the 25 but completely different stacking. Conclusion, if I run another marathon, I need another type of shoe. Thank you

I’ll throw a hypothesis your way: cushion. With apologies if this comes off as a humble brag, but I’ve never had any major toenail issues in 40+ years of running. BUT, I have noticed that when I’ve tried some of the most highly cushioned - specifically SOFT cushioning, not just a thick sole - shoes, my big toenail area gets a little sore afterward. My theory is all that cushioning is unstable and my toe tips are working in ways they shouldn’t to find grip and stability. I know the Nimbus has gotten a whole lot squishier in recent iterations, so maybe that??

In any case, I’ll echo previous sentiment that there’s never a bad time to add a shoe to your collection.

 

[Zutroy]

I would add to the good advice from @camaker and @Mr_Incr3dible that the Speed 3 seem to be particularly resilient compared to other shoes. I have a pair with 650+ miles on them and they still feel fine, in contrast to other models that I've retired after 400-500 miles.

I have a pair of Speed 3s with a bunch of miles, and they feel great. But I still prefer the feel of my Speed 1s, which still have great pop and a feeling I don’t think Saucony has been able to recapture. By contrast, my Nike Streakflys have bottomed out and feel flat. Saucony and Adidas use a much firmer super foam, while Nike’s ZoomX is much softer. I save my Nike marathon shoes for race day, and then rotate them into training runs once they are retired from races.

 

[marty3d]

November Totals: 180.6k/ 108 miles 21 hours.

Highest mileage month of my Dopey training. I don’t think I will hit this level in December. Overall training has been going well but my long run yesterday (18 miles) showed me that I still have a long way to go before being able to run the marathon. That was my longest run since Dopey 2023 and the last 5k were brutal. I will definitely have to make some adjustments - but luckily I have time.

 

[marty3d]

Talk me into or out of buying new shoes.

The Nike Vaporfly 3 is currently on sale for 25% off. I tried it on at the stone a few months ago and really liked the feel of it, but couldn't commit to spending $340 at the time. I'm also not a fast runner, so I don't know if there's truly a benefit. Also the only one that's on sale is a really ugly colour:
View attachment 916468

So what say you all? Should I spend $273 on these?

Side note: I already have 4/5 shoes in rotation right now, as I'm still in the hunt for *the one*

I’m waiting to pull the trigger on these too. I’m not fast by any stretch of the imagination but I currently use the Vaporfly 2 in half and full marathons. I have set my fastest half marathon times in these shoes, but for me it’s more of the cushioning and that my legs/ feet feel less fatigued through the race allowing me to push a little more at the end (and recover faster). I’m about to retire my Vaporly 2 after MW and these rarely go on sale so seems like the right time

 

[mmm_texas]

Your post reopened the question in my mind and I reviewed my history. Shoes might be the culprit… otherwise its age and I don’t want to go there

I'd lean towards shoes being a major factor as well. I ran Dopey-to-Dumbo this year with no toenail issues, and I'm, let's say, no spring chicken , so I don't think it's age related. (The Xero Speed Force 2 shoes I run in have a wide toe box.)

 

[dobball23]

November Totals

Running
Runs: 19
Miles: 149.99
Time: 21:05:07
Avg Pace: 8:26

YTD Miles: 2,002.43 (one goal for this year was to get to 2,000 miles after totaling 1,966 in 2023; I got there a month early!)
Last 12 months miles: 2,226.29

I ran the Harrisburg Marathon this month and posted a PR. This was my first month not reaching 200 miles since July. I wish I had gone .01 more, though! I am spending the second half of November and the month of December just running. I'll likely aim to do a half in the spring, so I'll get back into a training plan after Jan. 1.

 

[huskies90]

November Miles = 135

I love running marathons but hate marathon training. A few more soul crushing long runs in December before tapering starts…

January Miles = 116
February Miles = 105
March Miles = 111
April Miles = 118
May Miles = 117
June Miles = 104
July Miles = 121
August Miles = 107
September = 113
October = 132


2024 Total = 1,279

 

[Isabelle12345]

1st time joining in the monthly total - I usually like to read everyone’s journeys. but don’t feel like sharing… however this is the first month I feel like I actually want to share my great running month! I am training for my first marathon and I am enjoying it more than I thought I would!

November Totals
Runs: 21
Km: 200.3 km (124,5miles)
Time: 18:47:40
Avg Pace: 5:38 min/km (9:00 min/mile)

I completed my longest run ever this Friday (I had never gone over 22km or over 2:00); I ran 28,7 km (17,8 mi) at a pace of 5:33min/km (8:51 min/mi)
I felt great, my fueling was going well, and my legs and mood were good - even though the km 20-26 were in the blizzard, in the dark with snow in my face/eyes
It tested my determination but made me feel confident for the first time that I can actually do it!

And on Saturday I realized I was just short of 200km in a single month (I was at 198,7km, my best overall total ever!) so I went for a short run with DS10 who was happy to help me complete the last 1,6km of November
He told me while running that he can’t wait for his first 10K (we ran the Springtime surprise 5K in April and he is hooked!!)

 

[FFigawi]

I typically only use one pair of sneakers at a time. My current Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 came up on 300 miles, so I ordered a new pair for $99. I took them out on a couple of runs and they feel great, but I'm reading that some people suggest racing in shoes that only have about 25 miles on them. So I'm wondering if I actually need two pairs of sneakers to get me thru this Marathon block. Uggg!!! Another Endorphin Speed 3 for $99 or go all out for Endorphin Pro 3 $170, Pro 4 $222, or Elite $275 ?!? This will be my one and only marathon. I ran a half at just over 2 hours.

The Pro 4s are a fantastic pair of shoes. If you like the feel of the Speed 3s, you'll love the Pro 4 during a race. I used them instead of my Metaspeeds during my full distance triathlon this summer, and while they don't feel quite as fast as the Asics, they were a lot more comfortable at the end of a long 11.5-hour day. Speaking of the Speed 3, you shouldn't have to retire them after only 300 miles. Like others here, mine have well over 500 miles on them and feel about as good as new.

 

[KCO5988]

November Running:
# of Runs: 15
Miles: 94.4

November consisted of W&D (all 3 races), taper, marathon and recovery so over half of my mileage was just in the 4 races. Have been having nagging hip pain since late October so I'm trying really hard to resist the urge to start back on speed work. I know I need to take it easy and focus on strengthening my hip but am itching to get back to a training cycle.

Princess in February is next up and decided on the Long Island Marathon in May for my next BQ attempt. All this super shoe talk on here, coupled with my husband constantly telling me to try them, has me seriously considering checking them out.

 

[camaker]

November was a mixed month of running for me. It started out with a lot of fun running the three races at Wine & Dine. Unfortunately, I got a little aggressive in the half and aggravated a hamstring that had been a bit iffy since my 100k in mid-October. Between the hamstring, multiple dry needling sessions for it, and a regulatory inspection that took up an entire week at work, I ended up around 38 miles under where I wanted to be for the month. Here’s hoping that December will be a little more consistent as I ramp up for Dopey. It would be great to hit 1,700 miles for the year, too, if I can complete all my scheduled runs, too.

November Training Summary
Running Miles: 114.89
Running Time: 20:56:35
Average Pace: 0:10:55/mile
YTD Mileage: 1,548.42 mi

Other
Walking Miles: 26.25
Rolling 12mo Miles: 1,648.88 mi

 

[kps7795]

November 2024 Totals
Running Distance: 218 miles
Running Time: 34:39:00
Traditional Strength Training Time: 9:40:02
Pilates: 1:17:37
Yoga: 1:19:33

Wow. What a training block this has been thus far. I am pleasantly surprised that I was able to get my highest mileage ever for a week (55 miles) and for a month while feeling great. Moreover, I had a bit of a rough patch with my confidence because I felt like my fitness wasn't where it should be, but everyone that said that my problems were weather related was absolutely right. I went from having to slow down my faster runs to hitting every pace on my speed sessions and tempo runs. For example, I was doing 3 x 2 miles at 8:20 pace earlier this morning and my intervals were 8:20, 8:19 and 8:18 (my heart rate actually went down as I did my second and third interval to the point where I was actually in my Zone 2!). I want to send a BIG thank you to everyone who encouraged me to stay the course and keep my head held high.

Unfortunately, I've been slacking on the mobility with yoga and pilates mostly because my daughter was home from college. I'll get back to it now and finish this block strong.

 

[dobball23]

November Miles = 135

I love running marathons but hate marathon training. A few more soul crushing long runs in December before tapering starts…

January Miles = 116
February Miles = 105
March Miles = 111
April Miles = 118
May Miles = 117
June Miles = 104
July Miles = 121
August Miles = 107
September = 113
October = 132


2024 Total = 1,279

It's interesting...I feel like I am the opposite. I love the structure of training for a marathon. Then, when the race arrives and the nerves kick in, I find that I'm almost OK with the accomplishment of finishing the training vs. needing to run the race.