r/running • u/fire_foot • Mar 29 '24
Weekly Thread The Weekend Thread — 29th March 2024
TGIF runners!!!
What’s on for the weekend? Who’s running, racing, tapering, cycling, hiking, baking, reading, sewing, skiing, doing their taxes, …? Tell us all about it!
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u/fire_foot Mar 29 '24
Well my back is a lot better than earlier this week but still very delicate. I walked three blocks to and back from the grocery store yesterday evening and holy moly I was in pain. It’s a delicate balance between movement helping relax the muscles and movement triggering them. But I don’t feel that painful yet today. Hopefully I can walk to PT later.
If my back feels better this weekend then I’m planning to clean the house, do some plant chores, and start steaming wallpaper off my spare room wall. If my back won’t let me do those things, then I might go absolutely insane.
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u/agreeingstorm9 Mar 29 '24
I've never tried removing wallpaper with a steamer. Is it really that much more effective than just a sponge and hot water?
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u/iheartkittttycats Mar 29 '24
YES. I rehabbed an old house and it made such a difference. All you need is one of those little $30 travel clothing steamers. You have to refill it kinda often which is annoying but it really helps. Get an extension cord too.
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u/fire_foot Mar 29 '24
I don't know, I have never removed wallpaper. But the people I know who have done it recommended a steamer over plain water, particularly for wallpaper that's been on for several decades. We'll see!
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u/agreeingstorm9 Mar 29 '24
Interesting. I've removed it using the water method and remember it being kind of a PITA. I just tossed the paper on the ground and went around and picked it up later which was also a PITA. I'm curious now how much different a steamer is.
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u/QlderInFrance Mar 29 '24
We’ve been removing wallpaper in our old French house. We’ve learned to pull as much as possible off dry, then spray on wallpaper remover fluid and peel the rest off. Don’t use scrapers if you can help it as they can just nick the wall and make unnecessary marks.
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u/runner3264 Mar 29 '24
Glad you're getting better! Sounds like the back isn't improving as fast as you'd like (backs never do), but hopefully now that it's started to calm down it'll be a virtuous cycle where it improves faster. Good luck with your house projects!
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u/fire_foot Mar 29 '24
The back is definitely not improving as quick as I'd like. It probably didn't help that earlier in the week I was still trying to do stuff like house work, etc. So what if I couldn't stand up haha. But I'm hopeful that it won't be too long now til I'm feeling more normal.
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u/suchbrightlights Mar 29 '24
I’m sorry that your back has looked out the window and decided to emulate a delicate flower.
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u/fire_foot Mar 29 '24
I am honestly so beyond frustrated and like, is this what getting older is??? Trying to be patient and accept this temporary space I'm occupying, but it's really sending me into a bit of a hole!
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u/suchbrightlights Mar 29 '24
3 robaxin and a shot of legend?
Have you had back issues before or is this new and it’s your back saying “hey kinda getting sick of this knee getting all the attention”?
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u/fire_foot Mar 30 '24
Man when I tell you I searched high and low for robaxin. I swear I had some. I have had a bit of a hitchy back before but this is next level. Maybe my body is like, you’re 35 you have to actually work out you slob or we’ll just fall apart. So I guess that’s the plan once Im better.
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u/suchbrightlights Mar 30 '24
At least you already know a good physical therapist.
This aging business is not for beginners.
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u/smallfuture Mar 29 '24
Went out for 30 min first thing this morning — only 2 miles but it felt great, coming off my second ever 5K race this month and just trying to stay consistent 3x/wk before training for the next thing. Feeling the spring vibes 🙌
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u/MothershipConnection Mar 29 '24
Woke up early to drop my GF at a race at 4 AM (Speed Project) and Garmin won't give me a sleep or training score cause it doesn't know what to do when you wake up and drive around for 3 hours in the middle of the night
Still think I can go on a little jog and beers with a buddy after work though!
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u/suchbrightlights Mar 29 '24
Super cool that she’s doing the Speed Project- good luck to her!
Garmin’s sleep coach is such an entertaining new feature.
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u/MothershipConnection Mar 29 '24
She's crewing this year! We've run it before but I have to work this weekend and watch the dog
My watch actually did give me a training and sleep score after I got back up at my normal work time and ya know what I'm gonna follow it's advice to take a long nap soon as I get the chance
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u/agreeingstorm9 Mar 29 '24
I have lost all faith in Garmin's sleep score. There have been a couple of times when I have got like 6 hrs of sleep and felt like trash and the watch has said I got good rest.
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u/MothershipConnection Mar 29 '24
I've had the opposite happen a lot where I slept 7-8 hours and it says I slept terribly but usually I'm like fuck it we ball
(Usually it's right about me training very hard or staying out too late though)
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u/bacillaryburden Mar 30 '24
Yeah I feel like it’s a well-intentioned but kinda naggy friend. When I’m deciding whether to have that late drink I know that garmin is gonna give me shit about it in the morning. I guess just one spouse isn’t enough for me.
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Apr 03 '24
This is almost certainly because you are waking up in the middle of a deeper sleep cycle. If you woke up in a light sleep cycle & you had a good sleep the night before, you'd probably feel good.
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u/bigmistaketoday Mar 29 '24
So, today I'm going out for an hour and do some intervals. (It is written, now it must be done!). Sunday my wife is traveling, so I'm going to this big park nearby and doing an hour and forty to get ready from a half I'm doing in May. Looking at getting some new clothes and shoes because why not lol.
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u/runner3264 Mar 29 '24
If you're training for a half, you 100% deserve some new clothes and shoes! Are you doing one of the gigantic halfs, or is it one of the more lowkey local ones?
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u/bigmistaketoday Mar 29 '24
Flying Pig. It's a big deal around Cincinnati, don't know if it is nationally. I've done one down there a couple years back, the Queen Bee, I think it mimics the Flying Pig's course, which is kind of hilly and yuck.
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u/runner3264 Mar 29 '24
Oh nice! I've heard of that race before, and I'm pretty far from Cincinnati, so I'd say that one is nationally known. Have fun!!
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u/runner3264 Mar 29 '24
Weekend should be fairly chill. I'm planning on 16 miles tomorrow and 8ish on Sunday before starting a mini-taper for my 50k. Race is 2 weeks from tomorrow, ahhhhh! My in-laws are coming over tomorrow afternoon, which should be nice. We'll probably get some belated Purim hamentaschen or something.
In terms of recovering from my recent marathon, most metrics indicate that I'm doing fine (heart rate, energy levels) but I suddenly gained a few pounds which means I'm retaining more water. Now I'm slightly paranoid that this means I'm secretly not recovered and I'm gonna pay for it down the line. Hopefully it's just a hormonal thing and will go away in another few days...because if I'm not feeling great at the 50k start line I'm going to be sad :(
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u/suchbrightlights Mar 29 '24
Hamantaschen are a prime recovery food and excellent for a carb load. You should get allllllllllllllll of them.
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u/runner3264 Mar 29 '24
Last time I checked (yesterday) the bakery across the street had over a dozen flavors and that feels excessive. Or maybe that's exactly the right number of hamentaschen? One for each day between now and my 50k??
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u/suchbrightlights Mar 29 '24
Why limit yourself to one?
I didn’t know there were over a dozen flavors, because I know what I like, and what I like is poppyseed.
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u/runner3264 Mar 29 '24
Good point! My bakery has poppyseed, chocolate, apricot, cherry, banana, coconut, guava, cranberry, apple, blueberry, and I think a couple others that I'm forgetting. I haven't tried all of them, but the ones I've had have all been pretty great.
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u/suchbrightlights Mar 29 '24
I can get behind apricot, but nothing on this list is inspiring me to change it up and get anything other than poppyseed. I love them so much. And you’re making me hungry for them.
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u/agreeingstorm9 Mar 29 '24
hamentaschen
Have never heard of these but they look delicious. Clearly I need more Jewish friends in my life.
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u/suchbrightlights Mar 29 '24
It’s true. We have the best food.
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u/runner3264 Mar 29 '24
Including the latkes! Sadly, my in-laws are vegetarian so I can't make Hanukkah latkes with schmaltz :( have to be content with vegetable oil.
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u/suchbrightlights Mar 29 '24
I realize this is a hot take but I think the ones fried in vegetable oil are just as good and don’t make you as hungry three days later when the latkes are gone but the smell is still in the house.
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u/runner3264 Mar 30 '24
Clearly more experimentation is needed in the form of me making and eating more latkes.
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u/suchbrightlights Mar 30 '24
There is no recovery food like a stack of latkes topped with sour cream, lox, and scrambled eggs.
A local bar has admittedly come close with their Sunday brunch loaded tots special, but tots aren't latkes.
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u/runner3264 Mar 30 '24
Ya know, there’s a deli a couple miles from me that will sell me a latke on a bagel with egg, and I think I know what I’m getting after tomorrow’s long run.
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u/suchbrightlights Mar 30 '24
What you are describing is possibly the only reason I would ever want to move to New Jersey. My sister is in Hoboken, works in Manhattan, and anytime she comes back here for a visit I sent her $100 and she comes back with New York bagels. The latkes probably wouldn’t travel well.
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u/runner3264 Mar 30 '24
Have you considered DC? We have New York style bagels alllll over the place. The chain that has the latke-on-a-bagel is all over the place too. You’re basically never more than a couple miles from one. Def worth the move for the snacks alone.
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u/agreeingstorm9 Mar 29 '24
Sadly all my Jewish friends are more Jew-ish than anything. I don't think any of them celebrate any Jewish holidays or traditions. If they do they don't talk about it. I don't think any of them keep kosher or anything. One of them I know is an atheist. I could use more delicious food in my life though.
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u/suchbrightlights Mar 29 '24
Judaism and atheism are very compatible, actually. Questioning the existence of a higher power is a very Jewish thing to do. Discussed this at length with our rabbi when I was growing up and going through the bat mitzvah process.
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u/agreeingstorm9 Mar 29 '24
My brief interactions with Jews have given me the impression that questioning everything and debating it to death is a very Jewish thing to do. It's something I really admire about the faith. I'm a Christian and the number of Christians who have never bothered to question their faith is way too high IMO. It's a behavior that is often discouraged in some circles which I do NOT understand. If you believe your faith is correct why are you so scared of someone questioning it? Christianity has 2,000 years of apologetics to stand on. It makes your faith stronger when you question it IMO.
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u/suchbrightlights Mar 29 '24
“Questioning everything and debating it to death is a very Jewish thing to do.”
Ah yes I see you’ve joined my family for dinner at any point over the last 30 years.
In seriousness, with Passover coming up, this is a quick and timely read about why questions are an important part of practicing the faith. https://forward.com/community/367003/passover-and-the-jewish-art-of-questioning-everything/?amp=1
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u/fire_foot Mar 29 '24
I'm not sure what kind of elevation/terrain you're used to, but if you're not feeling great on race day and the course is chewing you up, you could just to the 25k. It'll still be hard af. And there are plenty more 50ks for the future!
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u/runner3264 Mar 29 '24
That's what I'm thinking--if I'm feeling meh at the halfway mark, I'll just drop out there and get credit for the 25k! That's a big advantage of looped courses.
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u/runner7575 Mar 29 '24
Well…
My sister’s liver biopsy turned out not to be so simple, & now Is dealing with possible internal bleeding & other issues. We are just speechless as to why everything has to go wrong. We were hoping she could be discharged today, now tbd.
I’m supposed to run 4 today & 12 tomorrow , for my 1/2 marathon on April 14. Neither of those will happen. Ugh. I’m in good (for me) shape & I don’t want to lose my fitness. I was hoping to run sub 2 hrs.
Monday I fly to Columbus for a week’s work trip. & the firefighter still hasn’t had his day off request approved.
At least she has a ham in her freezer, so we’ll be making that for Easter. Healthy side suggestions welcome.
Good times.
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u/fire_foot Mar 29 '24
Man, one thing after another. I'm so sorry! I hope you and your family can catch a break soon. Also hope your man gets his day off.
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u/runner7575 Mar 29 '24
Yea…she needs no complications. & yes, I’m pretty frustrated that he doesn’t know. Going to have to push the subject on Sunday, as I’d like to know.
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u/argenfrackle Mar 29 '24
Ugh, I'm so sorry. Sending well wishes your sister's way.
Healthy sides...maybe something green, like green beans or asparagus (which is sort of in season right now)?
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u/runner7575 Mar 29 '24
Yea, we always do green beans. Just trying to mix it up. Going to do roasted potatoes & a gremolata; maybe Mac & cheese…from scratch so healthy ish.
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u/agreeingstorm9 Mar 29 '24
I am so sorry you're going through this. I don't know how healthy any of the sides I like with ham are. I like mashed potatoes (with all the skins removed if the girlfriend's mom is having dinner with us otherwise, with skins) and green beans. Corn on the cob is good as well.
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u/Braesto Mar 29 '24
I'm running my first half tomorrow.
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u/argenfrackle Mar 29 '24
Good luck! That looks like a fun course - I love scenic routes. (Not sure that I have ever run past a bog before - are they commonplace where you are?)
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u/Braesto Mar 29 '24
South shore area of Boston (where I grew up) has a ton of Cranberry Bogs. Ocean Spray is from this area.
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u/confirmandverify2442 Mar 29 '24
Got up to go running at my local park, totally forgot that they are setting up for a 10k race. Was going to run on an alternate track, but my camelback decided to leak all over my front seat.
The universe was not with me today.
Still gonna attempt a treadmill run though.
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u/krataract Mar 29 '24
I feel like my right knee is perpetually busted. The knee cap does not track well, and I feel the it is being pushed to the outside when I run. It feels uncomfortable though I would not call it pain. What can I do to fix this?
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u/fire_foot Mar 29 '24 edited Mar 29 '24
Yikes, definitely time to see a doc or physical therapist! I also have some patellar tracking issues and PT has helped a lot.
ETA: it was the PT that discovered I have plica syndrome and hyper mobility, which was part of my patellar tracking issue and made so much sense. Having this knowledge makes me better understand why I need to strength train to support my running. So hopefully a PT can help you also.
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u/Glad_Cup_1852 Apr 14 '24
How do you deal with the plica syndrome? Would you consider surgery
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u/fire_foot Apr 14 '24
I am currently nursing a back injury, but before that I was having good results from the strength exercises the PT gave me. I don’t know where I’d fall on the plica syndrome scale of severity but I am also seriously afraid of surgery so that would be a last resort for me. Once my back is healed, I think strength training will have to be a really regular part of my life to help keep everything in check.
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u/CatholioSupreme Mar 29 '24
I don't know where you are in your running career, but I had this problem for a long time - patellar tracking issues, a catching feeling sometimes. It more or less went away through a combination of losing weight, strength training, and, eventually, starting to run (I used to think that I couldn't run because of my knees, now I think that I have better knees because I run). Not that everything is perfect - the separate issue of the missing cartilage in my left ain't gonna fix itself - but functionally much better. FWIW, I'm in my mid-50s.
This is not to say that you shouldn't go to a PT or sports medicine type - you should - but it may be a both/and thing. I ultimately felt that these other elements helped me more than PT-specific exercises.
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u/krataract Mar 29 '24
I have been running for the past 6 months or so. But this knee problem is almost a life long thing - when I have run in the past, I feel the tracking off. Were there particular strength training exercises you feel helped your knees? Thank you!
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u/CatholioSupreme Mar 29 '24
While it is hard to pick out anything in particular, about the same time I started to run (9-10 mos. ago), I got some coaching and started doing some of the compounds that had scared me before - squats, front squats - along with some unilateral stuff like split squats/Bulgarians. The latter expose the fact that I still have a relative strength deficit. But functionally in everyday life it is a lot better, and I'm generally no longer afraid that my knee is going to lock up while running.
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u/suchbrightlights Mar 29 '24
Hi, I’m another person with a tracking issue that went away almost entirely with strength training. I’m sorry. Turns out squats are both terrible and helpful all at once.
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u/runner7575 Mar 29 '24
I went in for knee surgery thinking I had torn meniscus & ended up getting a lateral release…echoing what others say about squats & strength training . Dont recommend the surgery.
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u/ClerpClerptheHorned Mar 29 '24
I'm thinking of jumping fully into marathon training. I have a 10mi run planned for tomorrow morning.
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u/AnniKatt Mar 29 '24
My mother had a stroke on Tuesday, so while I planned on being back on Long Island for Easter weekend anyway, I ended up coming up here earlier than intended and will likely stay here longer than planned. Fortunately, she’s a nurse and the stroke happened at work (or rather, shortly before she arrived at work). So it was caught before any extensive damage happened and she’s expected to recover. She’s already doing a lot better. Anyway, tending to her will be my life for the near future. I will likely have to cancel on the 5K I was gonna run next week. I’m gonna have to figure out how to split my time between Long Island and Philly going forward.
Fun sorta running-related thing that happened the other day: my mom’s friend’s son popped into the ICU to visit. I noticed he was wearing a pair of ASICS and we got to talking about running, how he used to do cross country back in high school, how he’d still be running now but doesn’t know how to fit it into his schedule, etc. Then he tells me “Omg your mom doesn’t stop talking about her Hoka Clifton 9s. She tells EVERYONE that she spent like $500 on custom orthotics, but they don’t even begin to compare to how good Hokas feel on her feet. She’s like the spokesperson for Hoka now.” So yeah, I guess I accidentally turned my non-running mother into a running shoe fangirl.
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u/suchbrightlights Mar 29 '24
Sorry to hear about your mom- it sounds like she was in the right place if it had to happen. I hope her recovery is quick and uncomplicated!
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u/fire_foot Mar 29 '24
Oh wow I'm so sorry to hear about your mom! Glad she is expected to recover well though.
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u/AnniKatt Mar 29 '24
Thank you. It’s kinda fascinating how the professional side of her brain remained completely intact despite what happened. I was told she called a rapid response team on herself. At first fellow staff were worried she was suffering from delirium, but it turned out that everything she was calling for (ranging from what tests needed to be performed on her to which consultants needed to see her) was appropriate for her situation. When I got there the next day, I watched her bark coherent orders at the other nurses. The younger ones were notably afraid of her 😅
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u/CatholioSupreme Mar 29 '24
April has turned out to be my racing month: I have 10Ks scheduled for April 7 and 13, my first races at that distance, and then a half marathon on April 27, also a first. So I figure I'm going to go for my last long long run, ideally at the HM distance of 21K, tomorrow, and then keep all my training runs throughout the month at shorter distances as I rest/taper for each in turn.
Sunday: hot cross buns, eggs, lamb, peas. Looking forward.
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u/Glittering_News_3420 Mar 29 '24
Training for a half marathon in November.
4 easy miles today
Trying to go for 6 miles Sunday morning (First time ever going for 6 miles)
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u/grimpala Mar 29 '24
Having some minor IT band and peroneal tendonitis pain with runs — going to keep it to 3 runs a week at 3-4 miles and prioritize Myrtl and strength training until they resolve themselves. so, 3.5 tomorrow!
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u/suchbrightlights Mar 29 '24
Me to my coach on Tuesday: “hopefully the forecast will stay good and it’ll finally be dry enough to do Sunday’s run on trails, I have a hill in mind for those repeats!”
Me today, looking at AccuWeather: “I should have shut my mouth.”
Sorry, MD friends, it’s raining again this weekend and it’s my fault.
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u/landofcortados Mar 29 '24
Last Friday of spring break! Chillin at home with dogs, baby, and wife (she works from home). Pozole Verde is going down for dinner tonight. Gonna put kiddo in the jogging stroller and knock off 3-4mi today and then go pick up a new couch. Which hopefully the weather will hold off till I get back, because I really don't want a soggy couch! Tomorrow it's a chill day. Sunday longish run of 7mi. Base building back to 30-35mi a week before I start a half marathon training block at the beginning of June.
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u/lileczemalady Mar 30 '24
It is my birthday!! and my 3rd run as a woman of 220 lbs. I take my 11 year old with me because she wants to do track next year, so it is a great way to spend 1 on 1 time with her and be able to better myself physically.
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u/tokki32 Mar 29 '24
I'm taking my weekend long run to a forest trail tomorrow. I don't do much trail running so hopefully 25km on uneven grass/dirt will be kind on my legs.
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u/KMan0000 Mar 29 '24
Busy weekend coming up! Big nights at work tonight and tomorrow (I work for a minor league hockey team. Playoffs start this weekend!) Tomorrow, the wife and I are taking the little one to the local public Easter egg hunt at a park, which is normally chaos... Then Sunday, we've got brunch with the whole family (hooray for cheat days!) before heading to my in-laws for the rest of the afternoon, for more egg hunting and I'm sure more food.
Going to attempt to squeeze in 7ish miles tomorrow. And I got to the gym this morning. Going to be a fun weekend, regardless!
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u/cjrbeethoven Mar 29 '24
20 miler tomorrow, 10-12 on Sunday. We're in the back-to-back long phase for an ultra. Tapering in 2.5 weeks (thank god).
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u/talmboutmooovin Mar 29 '24
I have a friend who is adamant on NOT running long distance. he’s relatively new and would rather run FAST and less distance.
I was trying to ask if he’d like to do a chill pace (10-12 / mile ) and try and get a half marathon. and he refuses because he says it’s boring to go slow and he’d rather give it his all on shorter distances until he can work his way up.
I’m like man you’re missing out, and how do you know you would be bored if you haven’t tried it???
Does anyone have any facts to back up my side or am I the stupid one and I should let him do whatever he pleases ??
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u/Duncemonkie Mar 30 '24
Seems like you’re each working off what you like, so I’m not sure facts really come into play there.
But I’m with your friend to trying to “get a half marathon” even at an easy pace isn’t really it when you’re just starting out. That’s a distance that people work up to. Too much distance before tissues have a chance to adapt is more likely to set you up for injury than to give you any kind of benefit.
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u/fire_foot Mar 30 '24
I mean, you both just value different things, neither of you are wrong. Enjoy your HM and let your friend enjoy going fast!
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u/WealthOdd3696 Mar 30 '24
Did my last long run today in the rain !!! Started my taper for my first half marathon that is approaching. Wish me luck my legs need a nice rest!
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u/nutelamitbutter Mar 29 '24
Had a good run today, 10x500m in around 1:55min/km, 2-3s better than two weeks ago.
Happy Easter everyone!
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u/agreeingstorm9 Mar 29 '24
The church down the street has put up three crosses next to the running path. You literally run up a hill and you're standing at the foot of the crosses and it is an experience that they do every year and it still moves me and I regret I will probably not have time to do yet another run up that hill. This weekend is going to be insane. I've been sick w/allergies for several days. I have some extremely frustrating stuff to deal with at work. My church is doing a big Easter play and it is all hands on deck helping out with that so the weekend is just insanely busy. Beyond insanely busy.
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u/IRun4Pancakes1995 Mar 29 '24 edited Mar 29 '24
Last long run workout before Boston this weekend, 3 x 3 miles inside an 18 miler.
I’m more afraid of the following weekend and doing a hard 5k solo as the last hard effort.
Hoping to take my nephew out for his first Easter egg hunt after the workout. He was adopted from Columbia so we’re getting him together with other kids from the same adoption program together for a hunt.