The Running Thread --2025

[camaker]

Not much to report out on again this month. I did get the go-ahead from my PT to restart light running last week. I'm limited to slow intervals and not supposed to run on back to back days at this point. Only two runs in so far, with mixed results, but it's a start. It's hard to tell whether discomfort might be from lingering injury or if it's just a matter of muscles being unhappy after an extended layoff, which isn't the best for my nerves. The current plan is to spend the next two months slowly rebuilding and then start up a training cycle in June for an October/November marathon, likely either the Emerald Isle or Outer Banks Marathon.

March Training
Running: 8.07 miles
Walking: 41.32 miles.

 

[jrsharp21]

Does anyone have any suggestions on laces or lace lock systems? With my Saucony Endorphin Pro 4, the shoes are a little wider than my normal shoes and I have to really pull the laces tight to get the snug fit I like when running. The problem is that the laces start to loosen up during my run and I have to stop and re-pull them tight and re-tie them. This actually cost me about 10 minutes during the marathon this past MW because my hands were so cold I couldn't grip the laces and fumbled around with them twice. Trying to find something that will keep the laces pulled tight and not slip during the run.

 

[nancipants]

Does anyone have any suggestions on laces or lace lock systems? With my Saucony Endorphin Pro 4, the shoes are a little wider than my normal shoes and I have to really pull the laces tight to get the snug fit I like when running. The problem is that the laces start to loosen up during my run and I have to stop and re-pull them tight and re-tie them. This actually cost me about 10 minutes during the marathon this past MW because my hands were so cold I couldn't grip the laces and fumbled around with them twice. Trying to find something that will keep the laces pulled tight and not slip during the run.

I use Lock Laces. I tried them because my absolute least favorite part of getting ready for a run was tying my shoes, so I got rid of that barrier. It's also much easier to readjust my laces during a race.

 

[KCO5988]

March mileage: 156.26
Total runs: 18
And developed shin splints last week just in time for my last two peak weeks, this week and next, before taper. Praying the compression calf sleeves I bought can get me through these last two big weeks. Abandoning any speed work on my schedule and just trying to prevent these from getting worse. Lots of ice and foam rolling.

 

[accm]

If you get on their email list, they have periodic free shipping days - at least for those of us in the U.S.

I googled it and it appears that there are several places to get it in Canada. I actually think that it may be a Canadian product. ( to my Canadian friends)

No free shipping to Canada unfortunately, and anything else I add to get to $75 will add duties, which then defeats the purpose of the free shipping.

And with the exception of one (sketchy) website, none of the places that come up on google actually have them for sale, which is unfortunate.

So now I'm open to other gel suggestions that aren't overly thick and artificially sweet tasting

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

Are you talking about solely walking as opposed to run/walk?

If so, I have some experience with this. This past October, I did the Jimmy Fund Walk that follows the Boston Marathon course. I trained for it using run/walk, but on "race day," I was getting a sharp pain in my knee for a few seconds every time I transitioned from a walk to a run, so I did A LOT more walking (and significantly longer walk intervals) than I originally planned. With a 12-hour time limit, finishing wasn't an issue (I'm a relatively slow walker), but I did find out a few things:

• Walking a marathon is no easier than running one. In fact, if you are only walking, you have the same problem that constant runners do - you are using the same muscles in the same manner for 26.2 miles. When you run/walk, you are moving your body differently at different times and it helps combat muscle fatigue.
• You really, really, REALLY need to have the longer mileage walks. Because I was using run/walk, I was missing the extra time on feet. My finish time was over an hour longer than my longest training run and that last hour was really, really ROUGH. The first thing I said to my coach afterward was that this was so much different than run/walking a marathon. If I had planned on walking this, I would have wanted my training to be very different.

Are there people that walk the Disney Marathon? Absolutely yes. But the difference between training for a half marathon and training for a marathon (be it running, run/walking, or walking) is HUGE! I say this every year when it comes to the marathon, Goofy or Dopey - there are things that you can "get away with" on a half marathon that will come back and bite you HARD when you are doing 26.2 miles.

I'm in total agreement with this. My last two marathons were mostly running appx the first half of it, and then 12 -14 miles of mostly walking. And the shift in which muscle groups are fatiguing is noticable, so I am totally down with making sure that even if you are mostly walking a marathon, do some run intervals (even if just 30 seconds or so) to switch up the muscle groups. Your feet and legs will thank you.

 

[avondale]

Does anyone have any suggestions on laces or lace lock systems? With my Saucony Endorphin Pro 4, the shoes are a little wider than my normal shoes and I have to really pull the laces tight to get the snug fit I like when running. The problem is that the laces start to loosen up during my run and I have to stop and re-pull them tight and re-tie them. This actually cost me about 10 minutes during the marathon this past MW because my hands were so cold I couldn't grip the laces and fumbled around with them twice. Trying to find something that will keep the laces pulled tight and not slip during the run.

Maybe something here will help? https://runrepeat.com/top-10-running-shoe-lacing-techniques

 

[flav]

No free shipping to Canada unfortunately, and anything else I add to get to $75 will add duties, which then defeats the purpose of the free shipping.

And with the exception of one (sketchy) website, none of the places that come up on google actually have them for sale, which is unfortunate.

So now I'm open to other gel suggestions that aren't overly thick and artificially sweet tasting

Have you considered other Maple sirup nutrition? Brix, Krono (formely Rekarb), Untapped, etc ?

 

[flav]

March 2025 totals
Distance: 206.2km (128mi)
Average pace: 6m39s/km (10:43min/mi)
YTD: 503km on 2025km

This month felt like meh
I ran a great volume, not fast, and it was just more difficult than it should have been.

On the positive side, I have freed myself from running with my phone and am getting used to my new Coros watch.

 

[WillRunForPizza]

So now I'm open to other gel suggestions that aren't overly thick and artificially sweet tasting

- UCAN is on the thinner side and I like the taste. It is a bit chalky, but it's not sickeningly sweet like some other fruit-flavored gels. I don't really use them as much these days, though, because they only have like 20g of carbs each despite being pretty large. I want more bang for my buck (or for my storage capacity, as the case may be).

- Right now my favorite is Victus berry and hibiscus. Yummy light and fruity not-fake-tasting flavor, smooth, and like 45g of carbs per gel. They're kind of expensive though.

- I also like Precision, which has a similarly mild flavor and super-smooth texture. They also have a caffeinated version, which Victus does not.

 

[Guidman]

@accm Science in Sport gels are pretty liquid in consistency and not sweet at all. I've only used the lemon-lime and orange flavors and both are good. The only downsides are the packets are pretty big and don't have as many carbs as other gels (22g). They do have a 40g version but I've never tried these. Neversecond gels are like a thick liquid too but all the ones I've tried are very sweet.

March Running
213.7 miles
I did my first ever race (or just trail run in general) a few weeks ago. It was a half, I enjoyed it. Whole different atmosphere and vibe than a road race. Single track hills are no joke though, there was about ~1,900ft elevation. The main goal was not to fall: mission accomplished.

 

[WillRunForPizza]

March 2025

Running: 23h 18m, 143.6 miles
Strength/mobility: 8h 30m
Total: 31h 49m

March started off a bit slow as my ankle was quite sore after Princess. It's still not 100%, but it's better enough that I can do most of my training. Just started an 8-week 5K block.

 

[Zutroy]

@accm Science in Sport gels are pretty liquid in consistency and not sweet at all. I've only used the lemon-lime and orange flavors and both are good. The only downsides are the packets are pretty big and don't have as many carbs as other gels (22g). They do have a 40g version but I've never tried these. Neversecond gels are like a thick liquid too but all the ones I've tried are very sweet.

March Running
213.7 miles
I did my first ever race (or just trail run in general) a few weeks ago. It was a half, I enjoyed it. Whole different atmosphere and vibe than a road race. Single track hills are no joke though, there was about ~1,900ft elevation. The main goal was not to fall: mission accomplished.

I used SIS Beta gels during this year’s MW marathon in my favorite flavor—neutral. They have 40g of carbs and go down easy, but as you said, they are much larger than the Maurtens I also carried. Also, I found the gels to be very difficult to open, and I have to pre-cut the foil a little to be able to tear them while running.

 

[GollyGadget]

Does anyone have any suggestions on laces or lace lock systems? With my Saucony Endorphin Pro 4, the shoes are a little wider than my normal shoes and I have to really pull the laces tight to get the snug fit I like when running. The problem is that the laces start to loosen up during my run and I have to stop and re-pull them tight and re-tie them. This actually cost me about 10 minutes during the marathon this past MW because my hands were so cold I couldn't grip the laces and fumbled around with them twice. Trying to find something that will keep the laces pulled tight and not slip during the run.

I have zero recommendations. I actually prefer to keep my laces as loose as possible. Just goes to show that every runner is different and we all have different needs.

 

[LorrieAnn5]

March Running Total: Activities: 5 Distance: 21.09 miles Time: 3:55:12. Let's see, I did a 10k, three 5ks, and a 4 mile run with DH. He runs RWR at 2:15/0:30 so I followed him with that and it was a great workout to go fast to keep up w/ him.

My fitness focus for March was deadlifts. I was very consistent with warm-up & cool down stretching. My goal was to get a new PR. I wasn't able to beat my previous PR of 179 lbs, but I did match it which I hadn't done since April 2023, so that's good enough.

Looking ahead to April, I will be trying out my first go with an Olympic Lift: the clean. I'm happy to experiment with something new, and go all out on the accessory movements to get in a good workout even if the cleans are very lightweight. My runs will probably be easy, twice a week this month.

I've had my 8 lb weighted vest for about a month now and I'm enjoying it. I think I might try RWR wearing it, instead of just walking with it. I'm thinking 30/30 or 15/30 might be good to start.

 

[Herding_Cats]

@jrsharp21 maybe caterpy laces? Or, as suggested above, a different lacing pattern.

 

[FFigawi]

March Totals:
Swim - 7.4 miles
Bike - 258 miles
Run - 15 miles

Another easy base month. Sadly, it’ll be my last month of training until May. I fought a door yesterday and lost.

Spoiler: X-Ray

 

[jmasgat]

Sadly, it’ll be my last month of training until May. I fought a door yesterday and lost.

Sorry to hear. The "stupid" injuries can be the most frustrating. I once broke/messed up a toe in yoga kicking back out of crow pose to plank. I mean, I was glad I mastered that at least once in life, but never again!



Given that it's April Fool's Day, maybe this is a good impromptu QOTD....

QOTD: What's the silliest/stupidest/not due to running injury you've gotten that has kept you from running?

 

[FFigawi]

ATTQOTD: see above

 

[flav]

ATTQOTD: At the Water Park, going down on a raft, a bump and my leg bent backwards, banana style. That knee injury was a couple of weeks before my first race since the pandemic. I was so sad.