The Running Thread—2023

[Blue Caterpillar]

No london for me either! Here is hoping I'm successful for Master's tickets....

 

[camaker]

Add me to the list of London rejects. One day, maybe...

 

[RuntheMouse]

After weeks of complaining about terrible running conditions, things have taken a turn for the better! 63 degrees, light breeze and an AQI of 19 this morning. Glorious!!!

Hope others are seeing improvement too!

 

[kristenabelle]

I'm not sure what deerflies are, but since I generally don't have a lot of insects circling my head during a trail run, I'm going to say that no, I don't have that problem. Sometimes there are clouds of small gnat-type flies that I don't detect until I run through the cloud.

I'm assuming you've tried insect repellent? You could try insect repellent on a hat that you wear.

Speaking of freak outs... I did once have a large horsefly that started circling my head and terrorizing me (LOL) when I stopped for a quick break. It actually followed me when I started running again, which is unusual. I couldn't shake it. But I happened to be wearing my hat, so I took it off, held it by the bill, and started just spinning and waving it to try to hit the fly. And I did! It was a very satisfying bzzzzzz----t!

Our trail usually just has gnats/little guys too. That said, last weekend I was minding my own business in the nice bathrooms pre-trail and was unpleasantly surprised by a horsefly just hanging out in the sink. Slowly backed out of the bathrooms, prayed it didn't see me, and probably had my fastest run in a while. Horseflies terrorized my summer camp one year and gave me a neat little scar on my eye. I also had one follow me (rammed into the car window several times after I escaped it) so I am not a fan, to say the least

 

[jmasgat]

False alarm: Didn't get in to London. And I'm totally okay with it.

 

[FFigawi]

London - 14
Me - 0

 

[Herding_Cats]

Question for anyone who regularly runs in wooded areas: any advice on getting the deer flies to stay the %$#! away from my head? I had to detour to a non-wooded area, cut my run short, and call for a ride back to my car because the stupid deer flies kept buzzing around my head and landing in my hair and getting in my face.

So this exact thing just popped up on a Michigan trail runners page. The guy who posted it just uses fly tape from the dollar store. And apparently there are also patches, but they cost a lot more.

 

[Naomeri]

So this exact thing just popped up on a Michigan trail runners page. The guy who posted it just uses fly tape from the dollar store. And apparently there are also patches, but they cost a lot more.

Yeeeesh

I don’t think I could find anywhere to stick anything on my visors, and even if I did, I’m not sure it would stick for long, because my visors are spectacularly sweat-absorbent and quickly become soaked.

 

[PrincessV]

Just wondering: has anyone here been diagnosed with Modic Type 1 endplate changes in their spine? I just was and there is an incredible lack of info available about it on the interwebz. What it is is inflammation of the bone marrow at the spinal endplates. All I‘ve been able to find online about it is: it’s VERY painful (I can attest), there is no real cure, it rarely if ever is helped by exercise and exercise often makes the pain worse*, some studies indicate it might be caused by bacteria and long-term antibiotics have show great promise in treatment, other studies indicate it could be an autoimmune reaction and cortisone injections may help, and plenty of providers dismiss it entirely and most patients just remain in intense pain until the condition progresses to Type 2 and 3, which are technically worse, but are less painful. I found absolutely NOTHING about running with the condition. Probably because most people with Modic 1 stop exercising entirely because of the pain.

I can say after months of suffering with this pain, that some days are better than others, but it hurts 24/7, 365. Run-walking sometimes decreases the pain, sometimes doesn‘t impact it one way or another, but rarely if ever makes it worse. Sitting is excruciating for more than 10-15 mins at a time. Hyperflexion (back bending, upward dog, cobra) makes it VERY unhappy, so I’ve avoided that lately and the pain was getting a little better… until *my physical therapist had me doing exercises with hyperflexion the other day. I’ve been in agony since. My actual spine is throbbing in the L4-5 section. I’m annoyed 1. That he ignored the part of the MRI report explaining the endplate changes - or maybe knows nothing about that, 2. That he still wanted me to do this exercise that I said causes me more pain, and mostly 3. That I didn’t just refuse. The work we’ve done up to that point for my hip was so helpful, I doubted my own 50+ years experience with my body and assumed the PT knew better. Major regret there.

Anyway, sorry - that turned into a vent! I’ll see my sports med practice for a follow-up and to talk about the MRI next week, and I’ll explain how the PT has helped my hip, but is definitely NOT helping my back any more than the many months of doing the same kinds of exercise on my own has. I just want to not be in constant pain. ~sigh~

 

[SheHulk]

Just saying sorry @PrincessV that sounds truly awful.

 

[nancipants]

I'm sorry @PrincessV, I hope you get some better answers.

 

[Twilight Sparkle]

Hi. I'm new to this thread and still new to running. I started running again (after a 20 year hiatus) sporadically last summer, and then consistently starting in February. My first Disney race was the virtual Princess 5K this year which was enough of a challenge because I did not train very well for that one. As soon as I completed that (like seconds after finishing), however, I went online to see what was next. The next thing available virtually was the Springtime Surprise 10 miler, and in my runner's high, I thought why not. So I signed up, trained, and did it, though it was still very challenging for me but did feel better than the Princess 5k because I did what I needed to do leading up to the event. I have also completed the summer virtual series 5ks and just started training for the Wine and Dine 2 course challenge for this November. I then have the half for Marathon Weekend and all of the Princess races in February. I am unable to travel to the in-person events, but the virtual races are proving to be the motivation I need to keep going. And I am learning my body really loves running. I am not fast by any means, but I feel a tremendous sense of accomplishment finishing long runs. I'm happy to see this thread and hope to become a better runner for having found it.

 

[Herding_Cats]

Yeeeesh

I don’t think I could find anywhere to stick anything on my visors, and even if I did, I’m not sure it would stick for long, because my visors are spectacularly sweat-absorbent and quickly become soaked.

Might have to switch to trucker hats for trail running then? Still lots of ventilation, but somewhere to put fly tape

 

[Disney at Heart]

@PrincessV so sorry to hear. Here’s a prayer for relief from pain and more information about ways to fight it.

 

[nancipants]

Hi. I'm new to this thread and still new to running. I started running again (after a 20 year hiatus) sporadically last summer, and then consistently starting in February. My first Disney race was the virtual Princess 5K this year which was enough of a challenge because I did not train very well for that one. As soon as I completed that (like seconds after finishing), however, I went online to see what was next. The next thing available virtually was the Springtime Surprise 10 miler, and in my runner's high, I thought why not. So I signed up, trained, and did it, though it was still very challenging for me but did feel better than the Princess 5k because I did what I needed to do leading up to the event. I have also completed the summer virtual series 5ks and just started training for the Wine and Dine 2 course challenge for this November. I then have the half for Marathon Weekend and all of the Princess races in February. I am unable to travel to the in-person events, but the virtual races are proving to be the motivation I need to keep going. And I am learning my body really loves running. I am not fast by any means, but I feel a tremendous sense of accomplishment finishing long runs. I'm happy to see this thread and hope to become a better runner for having found it.

Welcome!

 

[jmasgat]

@PrincessV I am so sorry that you are going through this. I hope that your medical team can find relief for you (and nuts to the PT).

 

[RuntheMouse]

@PrincessV That sounds terrible, I can’t imagine being in pain all the time. Hope you can find some more info on it (I’ve never heard of it!) and you can assemble the right medical team to help you through this.

 

[RunWI1265]

I didn't get into London either, as expected, but it's one of those lotteries I entered largely because I thought I wouldn't get in and I'm now relieved. Yes I know it doesn't make sense.

Same! I told my husband I'm glad the decision was made for me! I really want to run it some day though. Next year would have been tough to swing.

 

[nancipants]

I went to Fleet Feet to get isome individual fuel packs to try, and walked out with Oofos sandals and the Pride Goodrs.

Oops.

 

[cburnett11]

QOTD: Do any of you use beets (in any format-- beet juice, beet pills, beet shots, etc...) to enhance your aerobic capacity? DH sent me this article (https://www.runnersworld.com/nutrition-weight-loss/a20077395/beet-juice-shots-for-performance/and) as he swears by it...I find beets to be slightly "meh" in flavor but can tolerate it. Curious to know if anyone else has tried it?

Late response. I’ve used Beet Elite before. It’s a powder you mix with water. I’ve taken it with breakfast before marathons. It doesn’t taste very good, but it does have some black cherry flavoring to help it somewhat. I’ve raced very well after drinking this, but I’ve also raced poorly too. I will continue to drink this the morning of any marathon I plan to race hard because it doesn’t seem to bother me so “can’t really hurt”.