The Running Thread --2025

[Baloo in MI]

ATTQOTD:
So I can’t think of any pre-race stress dreams, but I do have a non-running injury story from the last QOTD. My first runDisney weekend was MW2015, I was running the Goofy Challenge. A few days before we left for the race weekend I decided that I should get all the Christmas decorations down. We have three large evergreen trees in the backyard (smaller then but still required an extended pole and ladder to get lights to the top of it). In November it is always easy to get carried away and do too much, not thinking about trying to take all that stuff down when it is snowy and icy and cold in January… My father-in-law and I were outside getting ready to pull down lights from the last tree. It was very cold and we were trying to rush.

My genius idea, instead of setting up the ladder again how about I just toss the extended light pole up at the top of the tree. Of course it would catch the wire and perfectly pull it from the upper branches and then land lightly on the ground and we would be able to proceed quicker and get out of the cold. What actually happened, the pole went up and I lost sight of it in the tree. The pole must have hit a branch and then came straight back down and the wooden handle landed firmly on my right foot/fourth toe. It hit really hard and I knew instantly that it was broken. I was wearing running shoes that provided no protection for this weird occurrence. Good news: I did get inside pretty quickly as in we stopped getting the lights down at that point. Bad news: I was just days away from Goofy and my first half and full marathons.

But I had paid for the races, and the races were wrapped up in an extended family vacation so we were going and if we were going I was going to run. I can confirm that I ran on a broken toe based on the doctor visit after the trip. I can also confirm that I am super stubborn. I had trained really hard for those races so it was challenging to let go of goals and shift to simply finish. But on a positive note it hurt so much that after about a mile it would just go numb. I finished the races and have to here about this incident every year when I go to put up and take down Christmas decorations…

 

[Zutroy]

Yeah I'm going to say a lot of "best by" dates are more because some processed foods separate, and won't have the right consistency, like fat-free yogurt. As far as getting ill, stuff lasts longer than is stated a lot of the time. I say this as a total non-expert.

I learned the hard way last year that gels can in fact expire. I grabbed a GU gel for a long run and used it at the halfway mark. I think GUs taste bad anyway, but this was horrid. It was supposed to be orange flavored and this was nowhere near orange. In fact, the gel was black. I found the expiration date stamped in the foil—2020. What was worse is that I didn’t bring any water with me so that taste was stuck in my mouth for the rest of the run.

 

[The Expert]

In November it is always easy to get carried away and do too much, not thinking about trying to take all that stuff down when it is snowy and icy and cold in January

I'm in awe/horror/impressed you ran on a broken toe! But I also had to comment on this with my own outdoor holiday decor injury story.

tl;dr We managed to give DH a separated shoulder and months of PT/recovery (but no surgery) trying to make adjustments to our 13-foot Jack Skellington on Thanksgiving without the proper equipment. But I think I need one of these reacher/grabber poles!

Spoiler: The whole story, if you care to read it.

We have a 13-foot Jack Skellington that we put up before Halloween, next to an 8-foot evergreen in our side yard. I bought Twinkly lights for the tree so we can put them up at the same time and then just change the colors on the app through the different holidays. And on Thanksgiving, we add a lit star in Jack's hand so it looks like he's decorating for Christmas. (We tried adding a Santa hat last year, but I made it out of felt and it soaked up too much water and took Jack down!)

Even though the star goes in Jack's hand, it's still above the top of the tree, so a good 9 feet in the air, and our side yard is on a bit of a slope. We set up the heavy, fancy ladder and DH insists on climbing up to pop Jack's star in his hand as he can reach better. The ladder only gets so close and then you kind of have to lean over the tree to get to his hand unless you plant the ladder on the up hill side. That leaves me to stabilize the ladder and hand him zip ties. Well, that didn't work out so well. DH shifted his weight to reach out, the ladder wasn't planted right, and I caught the ladder but not DH, who dove over the top of the tree and ended up on the other side of the tree, on the ground, with a separated shoulder. That was on Thanksgiving and he's still in PT, but thankfully didn't need surgery.

We did manage to get Jack down and put away before MW and we just took the lights off the tree last weekend as we're just now having a true thaw.

 

[nancipants]

Crowned Athletics is re-releasing their Star Wars collection on Thursday. I am NOT marked safe. And I literally just placed an order last week. It's okay, it's my mother's day present.

 

[The Expert]

Crowned Athletics is re-releasing their Star Wars collection on Thursday. I am NOT marked safe. And I literally just placed an order last week. It's okay, it's my mother's day present.

I'm not safe either. I ALSO just bought three pieces AND a few at the SS pop-up. Remember when I made fun of all the silly CA addicts?? Yeah, pot, kettle, all that.

I bought the outfit I really wanted from one of the B/S/T groups a while back -- Force Fighter (wish they had a skort). But the other two are calling me. I'm a Leia girl, but white is not my color. The Padme is so pretty though!

 

[nancipants]

I'm not safe either. I ALSO just bought three pieces AND a few at the SS pop-up. Remember when I made fun of all the silly CA addicts?? Yeah, pot, kettle, all that.

I bought the outfit I really wanted from one of the B/S/T groups a while back -- Force Fighter (wish they had a skort). But the other two are calling me. I'm a Leia girl, but white is not my color. The Padme is so pretty though!

I have the Padme tank. The skort was in my cart and it sold out right as I went to pay. I hope they have more stock this year! I'm going to get the bra too. And I agree, I'm morally opposed to white running clothes, but I'm probably going to get the Leia skirt for park days. I really wish they'd do another collection based on Leia's Bespin outfit!

 

[The Expert]

Leia's Bespin outfit

YES!!

 

[Disney at Heart]

I just dnfd my first 100 mile attempt on a trail race in GA last weekend (made it to 66). Itching to try again.

What race? Was it a Run Bum race? DH did the Georgia Death Race at 54. He was also a late blooming ultra runner, although he started running short distance roads at 17… basic training!

 

[DisneyParrothead]

I'm not safe either. I ALSO just bought three pieces AND a few at the SS pop-up. Remember when I made fun of all the silly CA addicts?? Yeah, pot, kettle, all that.

I bought the outfit I really wanted from one of the B/S/T groups a while back -- Force Fighter (wish they had a skort). But the other two are calling me. I'm a Leia girl, but white is not my color. The Padme is so pretty though!

I’ve been so tempted to buy that white tank, but knowing me, I’d get it dirty hanging it up in my closet!

 

[LSUlakes]

Today marks the 12 year anniversary of the bombings at the Boston Marathon. Crazy its been that long as it seems like that happened just the other day.

 

[pluto377]

Does anyone have a recommendation for good cooling products for summer running? Cooling towels that actually work, neck fans, cooling vests, anything? Just trying to find some things that will make me less miserable this summer.

 

[GollyGadget]

FYI, there’s a geomagnetic storm expected tomorrow. If your gps is wonky on the 16th or 17th that’s probably why.

https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/news/g3-w...ong) geomagnetic storm,to persist into 17 Apr.

 

[GollyGadget]

Does anyone have a recommendation for good cooling products for summer running? Cooling towels that actually work, neck fans, cooling vests, anything? Just trying to find some things that will make me less miserable this summer.

Not sure your budget, but lots of elites started wearing these funny looking headbands last year.

https://www.omius.io/?srsltid=AfmBOoqR6La7lBK7S3pqKL6Xa1fo3CO_7xXVfr7fGgpuiIwK890wIP_a

 

[sandam1]

Does anyone have a recommendation for good cooling products for summer running? Cooling towels that actually work, neck fans, cooling vests, anything? Just trying to find some things that will make me less miserable this summer.

I just purchased an ice bandana from Ultimate Direction https://ultimatedirection.com/ultra-ice-bandana/. They came highly recommended to me from some people who regularly run on the surface of the sun (aka Florida). I actually tried to purchase one last year and they were out of stock.

And thank you for reminding me to grab one early this year.

 

[nancipants]

Does anyone have a recommendation for good cooling products for summer running? Cooling towels that actually work, neck fans, cooling vests, anything? Just trying to find some things that will make me less miserable this summer.

I’ve used the cooling towels runDisney hands out and they worked ok for me.

 

[Naomeri]

Does anyone have a recommendation for good cooling products for summer running? Cooling towels that actually work, neck fans, cooling vests, anything? Just trying to find some things that will make me less miserable this summer.

I've heard of people getting running hats that have a pocket meant for your ID, but sticking a frozen sponge in there instead. I have no idea if it works.