The Running Thread - 2019

[Waiting2goback]

QOTD: When running on the roads and sidewalks are not available, which of the two options do you do: Run with traffic or against traffic? Tell us why you picked the option you picked as well.

ATTQOTD: Where I run sidewalks are few and far between so running on the road happens the majority of the time. I always run against traffic. Two main reasons for this, the first being I feel like I have a better chance of not getting hit as I can move out of the way of a car thats not paying attention. The second is I am almost sure it's a law to run against traffic.

ATTQOTD: Always, always, always against traffic UNLESS I am cresting a blind hill. Then I will cross over till I can see the other side again. My reasoning is drivers can be distracted for a myriad of reasons and car wins against runner 100% of the time.

What Mickey Momma said pretty much. I always run against traffic, I rarely use sidewalks even when available. Too many uneven sidewalks in the north to trust not tripping on something. But I like to see what's coming at me to have a chance to get out of the way.

 

[Waiting2goback]

 

[huskies90]

I’ve also taken to throwing my arms up and calling out drivers who are going too fast or not stopping appropriately at intersections.

I do this too. Especially signalling to speeding drivers to slow down!!

For those of you who run in the street, how reflective and visible are you?

When I run in the dark - which is not often, I wear whatever I own that is the most reflective and any bright/florescent color clothes.

 

[Dis5150]

So. Far. Behind! I am not even going to attempt to catch up. Life, sigh.

ATYQOTD: Always against traffic, I don't trust people AT ALL and want to see on their face that they see me so I know if I need to ditch into the ditch!

 

[camaker]

For those of you who run in the street, how reflective and visible are you? Are you truly visible a half block away? DH takes the 5:40 am train and driving him to the train station is a daily exercise in spotting the runners wearing dark clothing with little to no light or refelective strips and hoping they obey traffic signals and do not suddenly decide to run across the road.

I'm as visible as a Tracer360 on flash and color cycling mode can make me. I want there to be as little chance to not see me as possible. The human eye is drawn to motion and change, so having the vest set to flash and cycle through the colors makes it much more eye catching than just a solid color or reflective clothing.

 

[GreatLakes]

For those of you who run in the street, how reflective and visible are you? Are you truly visible a half block away? DH takes the 5:40 am train and driving him to the train station is a daily exercise in spotting the runners wearing dark clothing with little to no light or refelective strips and hoping they obey traffic signals and do not suddenly decide to run across the road.

If it isn't the middle of the day I usually wear something reflective and also attach flashing lights to both my front and back.

 

[MissLiss279]

For those of you who run in the street, how reflective and visible are you? Are you truly visible a half block away? DH takes the 5:40 am train and driving him to the train station is a daily exercise in spotting the runners wearing dark clothing with little to no light or refelective strips and hoping they obey traffic signals and do not suddenly decide to run across the road.

I wear a Noxgear Tracer360 vest as well. Also, I run with NightRunner 270 shoe lights, so it adds another moving light to the mixture. Although, most times in the morning when I run in the dark, I’m on sidewalks, but I need turning vehicles to see me.

 

[PrincessV]

For those of you who run in the street, how reflective and visible are you? Are you truly visible a half block away? DH takes the 5:40 am train and driving him to the train station is a daily exercise in spotting the runners wearing dark clothing with little to no light or refelective strips and hoping they obey traffic signals and do not suddenly decide to run across the road.

This is one of those "do as I say, not as I do" things for me. In general, yes - I agree that being super visible is safest. Unless you're in my neighborhood, where the vast majority of the population is over 75 and has this terrifying tendency to steer STRAIGHT AT anything lit up or reflective! It's a short stretch of road with no sidewalks and no street lights, and the only (slow moving - under 30 mph) traffic comes from the people who live there; everywhere else I walk or run I'm on sidewalks. If I'm lit up like a Christmas tree, I can tell the moment they see me and then their hands follow their eyes and they come right at me until I have to jump off the road into the grass. If I'm not all lit up, they never see me and pass safely by, none the wiser. It's insane. I wear a headlamp so I can see man-eating potholes and giant spiderwebs across sidewalks, but I tilt it down on that stretch of road because if it shines ahead, the cars come right to it like moths to a flame.

 

[Miranda]

When I'm running in the road and it's dark, I'm always wearing my Tracer360 (with the added reflective shoulder straps that make it Ragnar-legal) and a headlamp, and I'm usually also wearing at least a neon colored top. I also keep the Tracer360 on the color cycling mode to make it more visible when the colors flash/change.

 

[sky13]

I seem to have acquired some sort of injury to my heel (I suspect plantar fasciitis as symptoms seem to fit this - worse on initial movement, goes away with more movement)! I tried to ban myself from running, but this ban didn't last long and I just went out for an easy 1.5 mile run today - fingers crossed it doesn't get worse.

This is putting a bit of a damper on things though - had been planning to do a half in June and maybe Wine&Dine in November (this would be my first runDisney in the US), but now I'm having doubts about being able to do these if my heel keeps hurting...

Anyway, kind of related to QOTD - I've never run on roads - as have only lived in cities where sidewalks are everywhere! Though currently I find myself dodging cyclists a lot during my runs (not quite the same as dodging cars I'd imagine)...

 

[LSUlakes]

QOTD: What do you believe is key to preventing injury as related to running?

ATTQOTD: I think and I say this with little to no scientific reason to support it, that easing into running and making slow progress may be the safest way to prevent injury.

 

[rteetz]

QOTD: What do you believe is key to preventing injury as related to running?

Yeah I think progression definitely helps. I’ve been lucky knock on wood to have no serious running injuries.

 

[Dis_Yoda]

Attqotd: Proper form, age, building up speed and endurance, watching where you run, lack of prior injuries

 

[PrincessV]

QOTD: What do you believe is key to preventing injury as related to running?

ATTQOTD: Strength training and luck, with a side of allowing injuries to heal properly. The only real injury I've sustained so far <knock on wood> happened 35 years ago: severely sprained ankle with partial tendon tears, thanks to a missed stair. I didn't allow proper time or attention to healing and recovery, so that turned into a chronic "thing" I'll always have to deal with. I have some physical deformities that aren't injuries themselves, but can produce injuries if I don't maintain proper strength in supporting muscle structures.

 

[KSellers88]

ATTQOTD: I agree that slowly progressing in mileage helps. I didn't do that with my first half and got a bad case of runner's knee. Another factor for me seems to be the slope of the running surface and my dedication to foam rolling, strength training and stretching (of which I am good for 1 out of three mostly, LOL)

 

[roxymama]

QOTD: What do you believe is key to preventing injury as related to running?

Honestly it sounds off, but running more often.
Having a plan that builds to a goal and sticking to it as much as possible. Gradual increase in workload until that goal. When I'm not on a plan, trying my best to just do easy base miles in the interim. Running at least 4 days a week so it spreads out the mileage. And running a lot by effort (thanks DB) so that I'm not killing myself to reach a pace where that wasn't the intention of the run that day (ie: on very hot days, decreasing my pace to match same effort of a normal heat day.)

Also, I can be a klutz...so really I think if I'm going to get injured it's going to be non-running related...so walking slowly around corners and extreme caution while wearing flip flops.

 

[GreatLakes]

QOTD: What do you believe is key to preventing injury as related to running?

In no particular order:

• Proper mobility work.
• Using polymetrics and weights to correct any muscle imbalance.
• Making sure your easy runs are really easy.
• Doing sprints to work on the muscle fibers long, slow miles don't.
• Periodizing your training and making sure rest and recovery is part of the periodization plan.

 

[apdebord]

ATTQOTD: Proper shoes, strength training, stretching and foam roll/massage.

 

[michigandergirl]

QOTD: What do you believe is key to preventing injury as related to running?

YOGA

 

[OldSlowGoofyGuy]

ATTQOTD:

Consistency: I'm less creaky on 5 days a week compared to 4 days a week.

Listen to your body: if you have a speed work scheduled and your body says 'Not today', honor it. Caveat: sometimes my lazy mind pretends it's my body and says 'Not today.' Trick it into doing the workout. Just one interval...

Warm up: I try to walk 1/4 to 1/2 miles before stretching and running. Even on an easy day, I'll start off slow and ease into the easy pace.

Take the long view: A single workout/run is just a blip on the calendar. If skipping/going easy today makes it more likely you'll do more runs in the future, then do it.

Do something else: walk/yoga/bike/strength train. Try to keep your body in balance.