Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with running

Favorite Fitness Blogs?

pyrom — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 17:23:18 -0800

What are your favorite Running/Weight Lifting/Fitness blogs? I'm an avid runner/weight lifter, and reading about people who do the same help to keep me motivated. What are your favorite fitness blogs?

(I read Runner's World and Stumptuous frequently)

How to train for a 5K in two weeks

Cogito — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 18:44:19 -0800

What can I do to improve my 5K with very little time to train? I'm going to run a 5K on New Year's Day. I'm in pretty decent shape from playing ultimate regularly, but the season is at its nadir and I've never actually run a 5K race before. I tried running the 3.1 miles on a treadmill last night at a moderately difficult, though not excruciating pace. Result: 26:10 with an average heart rate of 176.

With only a couple weeks to train, how would my time be best spent? Like I said, I'm in decent shape, so I'm not too concerned about a moderately aggressive regimen.

Also, what are some suggestions for pacing strategies during the race? My plan is to find a heart rate that is sustainable and use my HRM to try to stick to that on race day. Also, it seems that going out reasonably quick, then taking the second mile somewhat easier before really pushing the last one is a decent way to get a good time without exhausting yourself too early. But maybe there are much better strategies. I'm all ears.

Achy breaky hip flexor

Rudy Gerner — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 05:31:55 -0800

Hey, runners (and anyone else): can you help my achy breaky hip flexor? I am training for a 15k and run about 13 miles per week slowly (~11:20 mile) and increase mileage by 10% per week. I have been running for about a year and a half. I have really good running sneakers that do not need to be replaced. I do my long runs on a trail that is a mix of packed dirt and asphalt. I do shorter runs on the sidewalk.

Two problems plague me--my right knee and my right hip flexor. My knee problems are on and off--I seem to have learned through research and physical therapy what kinds of things I can do to avoid knee pain (stretching, etc.) and I also am pretty sure it's a psychosomatic type of injury (whole 'nother story). However, my right hip flexor almost always hurts after a run of more than 40 minutes or so. Then, it stays achy for a couple days. Every now and again it "pops" and feels a little better temporarily. Currently I stretch before and after I run, mindful that stretching cold muscles is a no-no. I do some basic butterfly type stuff for my hip flexor. I want to keep running for years because I love it and other than when I first started running, this has not been a problem for me.

My question is: What can I do pre, during or post run and on rest and cross-training days to help this? Are their exercises I should do? Specific stretches? Something to wear? Ideas for running form/gait? Tonics or elixirs to apply topically or consume? Seriously: whatever your thoughts are, I am open to it. I am a big believer in the mind-body connection, nutrition, good energy, strong vibes, and other crunchy stuff like that. Also, I am open to suggestions on what not to do and what to avoid.

I realize that opinions on exercise habits such as stretching are fairly controversial and that some studies show, for example, you should not stretch too much and others that you can never stretch enough. I realize that some people think that running barefoot is the only way to avoid injury and others swear by their trusty Nikes to keep them strong and healthy. I know that there are no definitive answers, just ideas of what might work for me because it's worked for you or your friend in the past. I know, MMMV.

Thank you in advance.

Related bonus: I want to do something with no/limited impact for crosstraining and because I have no access to a pool, riding the bike at the gym seemed great. However, it seems like that would only inflame my hip flexor problem (unless I use a recumbent, maybe). Does this sound right? If so, any other crosstraining exercises that will keep me aerobically active but not in pain?

Notes: Unfortunately, physical therapy isn't an option. I am an Alexander Technique student when I can afford it. I've tried yoga but not recently.

Oh, the possibilities...

soleiluna — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 19:34:12 -0800

San Francisco Bay Area: Looking for new running routes/paths in the Bay Area again...but this time, I have a car! I got some great answers last time I asked about San Francisco running routes. Now I've found a new running partner and we have access to a car, which vastly expands our running possibilities to other parts of the Bay Area & places public transit does not reach.

Any suggestions for new ideas? We're looking for places within roughly a 45 minute drive of San Francisco. We're interested in everything from something like the Berkeley or Peninsula equivalent of Crissy Field to places like Sawyer Camp Trail (paved flat sort-of hiking path) to other paths in various suburbs. Routes in SF/Berkeley/elsewhere that are less obvious/not public-transit-accessible are also great.

Other criteria: we're looking mostly for routes between 5-14 miles. I'm much less hill-adverse I used to be, but moderate/easy/occasional hills are more our speed, rather than super-intense grade the entire time. Neither of us do trail running.

(Here's where I run already:
-Embarcadero/ATT Park/Fisherman's Wharf
-Powell/Embarcadero/Columbus/Montgomery loop
-the Wiggle/panhandle
-Golden Gate Park
-Ocean Beach/Great Highway
-Kezar track
-Crissy Field
-Lake Merced)

Thank you, hive mind!

Sometimes I forget to breathe...

semp — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:04:43 -0800

Is it normal to forget you are breathing while exercising? I want to start off by saying that I'm not in bad shape. I can't run mini-marathons like I used to, but going for a small jog isn't what I would call difficult either. I would attribute my problem to poor fitness, but it just doesn't make sense.

Recently I decided I wanted to get back into running. Soon after I started I plateaued well below the distance I was hoping to reach. I changed up my exercises a bit hoping some different types of cardio would help, but I still couldn't get past that point. Analyzing my problem I realized that breathing was my major downfall. I would start off with a nice breathing pattern and then about a half a mile in either drop the breathing pattern in favor of a quicker pant (mind you, I'm not really "tired" yet) or just stop breathing all together. It's not asthmatic or anything like that. The best description I can give is I just... forget. I do this with weight lifting as well, although there I find it more normal because of the shorter spurts involved. Reading/asking around I've found some people who claim this is normal and some people who think I'm nuts. Is this normal? And, related, is breathing a full time job when running? I don't remember it being a problem before...

Make me fitter!

Petrot — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:57:11 -0800

Can I improve my cardiovascular fitness within 2 weeks, from an already fairly acceptable level? I am an intermittent runner, running about 30-40mins per session, but the sessions being maybe once a week, up to maybe 3 times a fortnight. My pace is generally 7-7.5mph.

In just over two weeks I have to perform a Multi-stage fitness test. (Up to level 10.2) I will be able to do it. But it needs to be done comfortably well. This I'm not so sure about.

In the next two weeks, can I raise my cardiovascular levels significantly?
Will I be able to do this by running almost every day? What is the best way to do this well, and safely?

I have read this previous AskMe about raising cardiovascular levels, but it deals with raising levels from very low in more than a fortnight.

Any advice is great appreciated!

Running for the Greater Good

ginagina — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:11:07 -0800

Philly Runners: How do you combine running and volunteering? I'm working on compiling some resources for runners in Philadelphia. One aspect I'm having trouble with is finding ways to combine running and volunteer work. I know about Back on My Feet (http://www.backonmyfeet.org/) but I'd like to find other Philadelphia-based organizations that need people who run (dog shelters? after school programs, etc).

Thanks for your help!

Can I still stick with my very active weekday activities while keeping a half marathon training schedule?

spacesbetween — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:11:43 -0800

I play group sports and do strength training almost every weekday, should I still keep this up when I start my half marathon training? I signed up for the ING Miami Marathon coming up Jan 31 2010. I'm going to be following this schedule starting November http://www.halhigdon.com/halfmarathon/novice.htm

I've been pretty active throughout the year because I play sports almost every day after work. I also try and go to the gym during lunch for about an hour for strength training every weekday minus friday.
Example of my week
Mon: Ultimate Frisbee, Tue: Basketball, Wed: Soccer, Thurs Volleyball, Fri: OFF

I've run on occasion, usually weekends, but never consistently. I've run two 5ks and completed them around the 32 minute mark.

Can I keep this schedule? What should I give up in order to be ready for the half marathon? I planned to run early in the morning before work so around 7am and Sunday to use as my long run practice.

Compression socks recommendation

corpse — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:09:51 -0800

What brand compression socks should I buy? I'm looking to get some compression socks to aid in recovery after long runs. Also, I really like the overall feeling of compression clothing so I'll probably wear them around the house regardless of when my last run was.

There are a lot of brands out there of varying price levels, so I'd like some recommendations. I've been looking at Zoot, 2XU, CEP, Zensah, Oxysox, various medical compression socks and stockings. The less seams the better. Any recommendations?

Some Symbol!

yellowbkpk — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 16:05:03 -0800

What is this symbol on my old early 20th-century pin? I have what is either a lapel pin or a cufflink that looks like this:

Image One

Image Two

Cold Weather Running

hapticactionnetwork — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 07:29:44 -0800

What should I know about running in cold weather? What should I wear when I run in cold weather? (Specific brand recommendations and places to buy things in New York especially appreciated.) I recently moved to New York after spending my entire life in Texas and California, where the Winters are almost non-existent. I'm excited/apprehensive about dealing with my first Winter, and I'm trying to prepare.

I run two or three times a week, not usually more than 30/45 minutes. I'm not a very serious runner, but I'd rather not give it up when it starts to get cold. So: what do I need to know about running in cold weather? And, more specifically, what should I wear? (I'm a guy.)

I've looked at a bunch of websites, so I have an idea of general suggestions about types of clothing (layers, breathable material, etc). I don't know, however, where to buy good quality running clothes or any good brands. I'd really appreciate suggestions from people who don't have anything invested in what I ultimately buy.

Also: should I just give up and join a gym with treadmills over the winter?

Why is it / When you / Try to pass / The guy in front / Goes twice as fast?

MsMolly — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:32:24 -0800

Burma Shave jingles for marathon runners. I got such a kick out of the Burma Shave-style jingles that MeFites wrote for this question that I'd like to do something similar for a friend who's running the Chicago marathon this weekend. So help me out with your best marathon or running related couplets.

Spanish Trails

PaulingL — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 10:55:44 -0800

What are your favorite running/hiking routes in Spain? I am dying to get out on a good run. I currently live in Salamanca, Spain, but am used to running in the Rockies back stateside.

What are some must-run (hike) routes/trails in Spain [b]that I could conceivably do in a weekend's time?[/b]

If it is a smaller/lesser-known place [b](which I would prefer)[/b], I would extremely appreciate some help in knowing how I could get there.

Thanks a lot! Hopefully afterward I can get some pictures linked to my profile here!

This jog bra is kind of chafing me.

Anonymous — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:34:06 -0800

I'm training for a half marathon and am looking for some suggestions - specifically, jog bras that don't chafe and workout gear for the extra sweaty. I am a 40 year old woman training for my first half marathon. The training itself is fine, but I'm having some issues with my gear.

First, my jog bras are chafing the heck out of me. I am a 36DD and I wear Size 0 Enell bras (thanks to previous Ask Metafilter answers) which seem to be the only bras that minimize (but don't stop) the bounce. Although according to the Enell size charts, I should be wearing a Size 1, the larger sized Enells didn't compress enough to do any good.

I am chafed to the point of bleeding under my arms and between my breasts. Glide doesn't seem to make a difference, and I use panty-liners to lessen the chafing between my breasts, but that doesn't always work.

Second, I sweat a lot. And when I run for more than an hour, even during the cool fall mornings, my clothing is drenched as if I was in a rainstorm. I've tried some wicking shirts (from Nike) but they got as wet as a cotton t-shirt.

I would love to get any specific bra/clothing recommendations or to hear about how others deal with these issues.

Thank you!

He's born to run--I'm born to shop

bookmammal — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:07:31 -0800

Help me come up with a gift for a marathon runner! A good friend/coworker will be running in the Chicago Marathon next month. I'd like to get him a small "Good Luck--Go Get 'Em!" gift or two that I could give him the day before the race--perhaps something that I could hide in his desk or around our office that he would find. He's already completed this marathon once, so it's not really a matter of bolstering his confidence--but I still think it's a huge deal for him to be doing this and want to wish him good luck!

He's running for a charity, so he already has one of their Tshirts to wear on race day, and I'm pretty sure he already has plans to get a massage after the race. Any other ideas out there? Not really looking for anything super inspirational--maybe more on the humorous side--but any ideas are welcome. Thanks in advance!

Help me run two marathons, 42 days apart

timnyc — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 11:30:18 -0800

Marathoner Filter: I'm running the Oct. 11 Chicago Marathon and the Nov. 22 Philadelphia Marathon. Any tips on what I should be doing between these two races in terms of recovery and training?

As I awoke one morning from a troubled dream, I found myself with winged feet.

Lieber Frau — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:20:43 -0800

Runningfilter: A minor miracle of transformation. I could barely run at all, but last night I ran 2 miles. Why might this have happened, and have you ever had a similar experience? In late April or early May, I started a run/walk couch to 5K program. As I progressed, I was repeatedly disappointed with my results and frustrated by setbacks. For some reason, I could not run for more than 6 minutes, tops, even after being on the program for several months. After 6 minutes, and more often, 4 minutes, my chest would feel like it was going to explode, and I would run out of breath. This continued happening no matter how many times I ran a week. In addition to that, I kept getting shin splints and the pain would keep me out of the program for days at a time. Finally, I said fuck it, gave up running, and joined Crunch.

That was in late July. Yesterday night, I wanted to work out but didn't want to go to the gym, so I decided to try running again. I stepped out the door and started jogging at a medium pace. Five minutes in, I realized I had been running for five minutes. "Hmm," I thought. "This is interesting. Last time I ran, I couldn't make it four minutes without a problem, but I just passed five, and I'm feeling fine." Ten minutes in, I thought the same thing. Fifteen minutes in, I was amazed. I thought "let's try and see if I can make it to 20". Twenty-five minutes later, I stopped running. Not because I felt bad, but because I didn't want to push my luck. I was not heaving and gasping for breath. In fact, I felt great. I checked when I got home, and I ran around two miles. And my shins felt fine.

I have never run a mile in my life. Not even in gym class. In high school, I weaseled my way out of the dreaded Mile. Knowing I was allergic to dandelions, I rubbed a big bouquet of them on my face and purposely suffered an asthma attack. (true story!) The last time I tried running, in July, I couldn't make it four minutes. I couldn't make it around the track at the park. And I would have gotten shin splints almost immediately.

What gives? It was like waking up and discovering I could fly. Two miles! I wasn't exhilarated til much later, after I stopped being confused. What could have possibly happened in those two months?

Here is my list of possible factors in this miraculous transformation:

1) I quit smoking (i was a light smoker, a pack every 2 weeks or so) in March of 2009. However, ten years ago when I did not smoke, I had similar shortness of breath when running, so I do not think smoking is the only issue. But, perhaps my lungs have repaired themselves more since July.

2) I suffer from allergies and I live with a cat who exacerbates them. In August, discovering that my lungs were working at a much diminished capacity, my allergist put me on Allegra and a nasal inhaler and I banished the cat from my bedroom. This has greatly improved my sleep (I used to wake up coughing every night). Perhaps this has helped my breathing.

3) I make it to the gym at least twice a week, sometimes three times, and when I'm really good, four. I have been for the last couple weeks training on an elliptical machine on a pretty grueling setting. Perhaps this was the conditioning that got me in good enough shape to run for over 20 minutes.

4) I have radically altered my diet to be pretty low cal. This started in late June if I remember correctly. For the most part, I only eat vegetables, yogurt, and low cal grains during the day, then a sensible dinner.

5) When I was running the Couch to 5K program, I obsessively checked my stopwatch and flicked from mp3 to mp3 on my iPhone. This time, I put on a nice long mixtape and didn't worry about time or changing tracks. I just settled into the rhythm of the run, and was startled when I happened to notice how long it had been. Perhaps I reduced the stress factor, and was able to relax and just run.

I can't wait to try and repeat this experiment. But I'm still baffled as to how I did it. Has anything like this ever happened to any of you before? Do you have any ideas how it might have happened to me?

Running gear for the winter

cashman — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 08:55:50 -0800

I need product recommendations for winter running. Hats, gloves, socks, tights, etc. I've recently taken up running, and doing about 3-4 miles each session outoors. I'm looking for recommendations from other runners for gear you wear on outdoor runs during cold winter months like January, when the temps will be in the teens and a good amount of snow will be on the ground.

I'm looking for links to places to buy your favorite:

Gloves
Face masks
Headbands
Hats
Running tights
Socks
Shoes for running in the snow

And another gear recommendations. I read two other askmes from 05&07 but I figure there has to be some better new stuff on the market that I should pick up. Winter running experience "don'ts" are welcome also.

Stretch me! Need your best Achilles Tendon stretches please

LyzzyBee — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 11:05:54 -0800

Runners/others - any tips for stretching my Achilles? Right - I am a runner. I have one leg longer than the other and an orthotic to balance it. Due to the leg issue I have been attending the Orthopaedic Hospital on the NHS (they have been brilliant). I am female, late 30s, 140lbs, 5'2". Since ramping up training, a bit of pain/discomfort in the instep on the short leg. Sometimes wen running, sometimes after running if I don't support the instep by wearing trainers after my shower. Referred self back to Orth. Hosp. Orthotist said it is a tight Achilles Tendon, apparently it wraps round the ankle and joins the instep. Both tight but this tightest. I need to get more movement and range in the Achilles. Anyone know/ can point me in the direction of some good stretches? You are not my doctor or my physio. I have no more free treatment available and don't have spare money to pay. I know this is the advice of internet folks and not professionals etc etc etc.

Don't worry about my general health, running with uneven leg length (am careful, look after self, shock absorbing insoles etc etc, orthotist checked my gait-analysed trainers and is happy with them)

Because it is really only an issue when I run, the Orthop. Hosp. don't want to offer me physio on the NHS (which is fair enough) and suggested I went private (which I can't afford right now if it's not affecting my walking)

How do I tell the difference between being overweight and impatient, and exercise-induced asthma?

Jaie — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:56:11 -0800

Joined a gym a few months ago. We often jog 400m as a warm-up. I say "we" but in actual fact I can't do it. About halfway through I lose all ability to breathe properly - I think I may be taking very shallow breaths, but it's hard for me to tell exactly what happens. I feel like I can't get enough air, there's a lot of breathy noises, and I get hot as blazes. I ran pretty consistently a few years ago, but always indoors - the one time I tried running outdoors was a complete failure.

Did a little research on exercise-induced asthma today. Yes, I have pre-existing allergies and eczema, live in an urban area and workout outdoors, all of which fits for asthma. Oh, and my live-in boyfriend smokes, although only outside. But I'm also late 30s and probably 50 pounds over my ideal weight. (Not that I am completely out of shape, having taken 3 or 4 bellydance classes a week for a year or two.)

The trainers at the gym think I should just be patient, but they aren't outside with me to hear what I think of as wheezing (but which may only be loud breathing).

My question to you: I know YANMyD, but if you were, should I come see you? Or should I give it more time? And if it only happens when I run outside, how is a doctor going to diagnose it anyway?

I run daily but stairs still kill me. please explain why.

krautland — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 10:40:53 -0800

I run daily but stairs still kill me. please explain why. I run between 7 and 12 km daily and that at a decent pace: I recently finished a 10k race in 49.45 minutes and I'm working on getting down to 47 minutes by the end of october. so while I'm no bekele I'm probably not as abysmally bad as I used to be either.

I also live on the fourth floor of a pre-war building with high ceilings and the stairs are killing me. I am huffing and puffing with a flushed face every time I get to my apartment. some of that may be that it's summer and warm around here but shouldn't it get easier the more I train? how come I can run a 5.15 at cruising power (meaning I am using 70-80% of what I've got) but climbing stairs doesn't get any easier? the hill sprints certainly aren't killing me anymore!

I'll grant you these are two different exercises but I'm a bit disappointed that my workouts haven't made situations like this one much easier. mefi, can you manage my expectations?

stats: 32 y.o. male, 1,92m, 98kg, low heartrate (no high blood pressure here). I have a coach but I won't see him until tuesday and so I asked you.

Running watch for couch to 5k timing

srboisvert — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 06:36:16 -0800

I'm looking for a running watch with a programmable countdown timer that would be suitable for doing the couch to 5k routines. Anybody have some recommendations. It would have to sophisticated enough to handle the need for different length intervals per the couch to 5k plan. That is stuff like beep after 90 seconds then after 2 minutes etc...

Runningfilter: Help my poor poor calves.

SharkLangasta — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 09:27:13 -0800

I am looking for some advice to help me determine the cause of my running pains. I know that many posts have been made in regards to calf strains, but I couldn't find one that closely matched my case. I recently started running about 1.5-2 miles 4-5 times a week to start training for a 5k race. Everything was going fine until the second week when I started to get a tearing pain in my left calf. The pain was still prevalent while walking the next day or two. I tried drinking more milk, increasing my potassium intake, taking anti-inflammatory meds, etc. The pain persisted for about a week and then eventually subsided. I did continue to exercise on a stationary bike, however, which put no strain on my calves (or that I felt anyways).

I felt like my muscles were back up to about 90% so I tried running again yesterday, and now I am in back at square one with my tearing pains.

Is this more likely to be an issue with my running shoes (which I have had for about 3-4 years), or poor running form/stretching? I do warmup/cooldown for 5 minutes and also stretch after every run, so I am not sure what else to do at this point....

Watch for a runner?

monkeymadness — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 07:22:16 -0800

Can you recommend a watch for a jogger? My wife has taken up jogging, likes to go new places on her runs, and doesn't own a watch. I've told her about the Garmin Forerunners and how they can download routes to be viewed on Google Earth, and she got excited. While our birthday gift budget is usually around $25 I'm willing to spend up to $125 if I find something awesome for her, (I've secretly saved up some of my allowance). I've also read a little about the Garmin Forerunner 50, which has no GPS but comes with a foot pod to record distance.

I know there are quite a few runners on MeFi and I'd like to hear from those with personal experience. I'm also open to other brands. If a foot pod is just as good as GPS then I'm happy to save money. Also, she has a 5G harddrive-based ipod, so no Nike+iPod, but if I can get a refurbed Nano and Nike footpod for a good price that might be an option.

Please hope my feets!

the luke parker fiasco — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 07:12:40 -0800

Where in Chicago can someone with some foot problems get fitted for good running shoes? I'll be back in Chicago for a few weeks in September, and want to get a good pair of running shoes. I've recently been diagnosed with falling arches, and have never done anything like having my gait analyzed either. I'd like to get a pair of shoes that will help to keep my feet in as good condition as possible, and need to know where to go to do that. (I have been fitted for custom orthoses, but won't receive them before this trip. Getting a fitting where I am isn't really an option.)