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Ran a 10k - Official Thread (6 Viewers)

I have zero data, but I think my cadence actually increases as my fitness improves. I can usually tell fairly quickly if I'm popping that day because my foot turnover is higher without expending any/much additional energy. Eventually once fatigued it slows and I need to extend the stride and/or use more energy and drive through each step to maintain (or increase) pace. When I'm fit that point of fatigue doesn't happen until later in a given workout.  
That's interesting.  Without analyzing, I would speculate that how rested I am might make a difference.  On the rare days that I feel that extra pep, I get this jumping feeling each step instead of just catching myself from falling over.

But I'm not surprised by your response.  You're a lot more focused on your stride and mechanics than I am.  You even talk about firing your glutes and, to this day, I still have no idea how I'd go about doing that.

 
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I may have had a breakthrough run yesterday.  It was a brick run after almost a mile in the pool.

It was 20 minutes, pace was a little above long course race pace, HR was nothing special at 170s (high 177), which correlated to the expected fatigue.

The breakthrough, at least for me post sinus surgery, is that I was able to breathe through my nose the entire time.  When I was pre-surgery, even when my aerobic threshold and VO2max was much higher, I could only breathe through my nose until about 165.  I felt much more comfortable, more efficient, and overall better running this way.

Its interesting, I had assumed the surgery would help me oxygenate better and thus reduce my HR.  Maybe thats not the case.  Maybe I will be able to feel more comfortable, run more efficient, at higher HR.

 
That's interesting.  Without analyzing, I would speculate that how rested I am might make a difference.  On the rare days that I feel that extra pep, I get this jumping feeling each step instead of just catching myself from falling over.

But I'm not surprised by your response.  You're a lot more focused on your stride and mechanics than I am.  You even talk about firing your glutes and, to this day, I still have no idea how I'd go about doing that.
Start by working on your stabilizers. 

 
I may have had a breakthrough run yesterday.  It was a brick run after almost a mile in the pool.

It was 20 minutes, pace was a little above long course race pace, HR was nothing special at 170s (high 177), which correlated to the expected fatigue.

The breakthrough, at least for me post sinus surgery, is that I was able to breathe through my nose the entire time.  When I was pre-surgery, even when my aerobic threshold and VO2max was much higher, I could only breathe through my nose until about 165.  I felt much more comfortable, more efficient, and overall better running this way.

Its interesting, I had assumed the surgery would help me oxygenate better and thus reduce my HR.  Maybe thats not the case.  Maybe I will be able to feel more comfortable, run more efficient, at higher HR.
Do you mean breathing through both your mouth and nose?  Not nose only, right?

 
Reading people signing up for Ultras (awesome @SayWhat?

Meanwhile half an hour in the pool kicks my ###.  Seriously, I forgot how much those 30 minutes rock your world.
I basically grew up in and around lakes (not hard to do living in MN).  But when it comes to actual technical swimming I’m a mess.  My breathing gets all wonky and before you know it I’m pulling up to tread water and breathing like I just ran a 5K (which would never happen 😆).  That said, I wish I had a convenient pool because it’s such a great, low impact workout.  Kudos to you for getting it done.  :thumbup:

 
I basically grew up in and around lakes (not hard to do living in MN).  But when it comes to actual technical swimming I’m a mess.  My breathing gets all wonky and before you know it I’m pulling up to tread water and breathing like I just ran a 5K (which would never happen 😆).  That said, I wish I had a convenient pool because it’s such a great, low impact workout.  Kudos to you for getting it done.  :thumbup:
I just wish I actually knew how to swim.

 
26 laps at the Pettit this morning.  It was pretty dead in the morning before work, so sadly there was no "cheddar, cheddar, muenster" or "brat, brat, weiner."
Ha!

So im reading this, all serious like, and Im thinking "Grue is swimming laps ... WTF?!?!"  I had to see for myself over at Strava.  Of course not, "6 x 100M strides (each odd lap #15-25)".  The 6x100m could be, but not the strides.

Cant believe how high my hopes were ...

 
Something that was interesting to me from the article:

[Rather than aiming for a specific number, he uses cadence as a benchmark for his fitness. He finds that when he’s in better shape, his cadence tends to be lower at a given pace, since his steps have more power behind them. When his cadence is faster than normal at the same pace, he takes that as a sign that he should do more hill repeats or speed work to get stronger.]

When I get some time, I think I'll look into my cadence data to see if I can find any trends.  I've never considered this.

Has anyone noticed changes in cadence at a given speed and attributed it to fitness like this guy?
I think the bolded is a reason why pacing often slows late in a distance run or race, such as a marathon.  The feet might still be turning fast, but because of leg fatigue, the stride just doesn't have the same reach to it.  

 
Hey guys.  Heading to Tampa this weekend for work.  I think we have a Tampa guy here. @Osaurus maybe?

Anyway, Saturday is pretty specific workout for me 12 miles at 7:20-7:25 pace.   Sunday is relaxed — anywhere between 8:45 and 10 min pace.  6-10 miles. 

Staying at the Epicurean (across the street from Bern’s).  Won’t have a car but can uber if it’s reasonable if someone wants to run together.

Let me know if interested.

 
MAC_32 said:
I have zero data, but I think my cadence actually increases as my fitness improves. I can usually tell fairly quickly if I'm popping that day because my foot turnover is higher without expending any/much additional energy. Eventually once fatigued it slows and I need to extend the stride and/or use more energy and drive through each step to maintain (or increase) pace. When I'm fit that point of fatigue doesn't happen until later in a given workout.  
All the likes in the world to the cadence link posted above and this post in particular... also the comments below about breathing and running. I think I realized something about some of my runs that have hurt more than I thought they should. They tend to be runs that I *think* I am taking it easy and then they don't end up that way. 

Looking back at them and putting a couple things together, I realized that when I am "taking it easy" I tend to do two things differently - one is I take fewer, longer strides; second is that my breathing pattern is totally different when I start to "stride out". That breathing seems to be less effective and I think it leads to an increased heart rate at a lower level of effort. 

Tonight was only the first test so there could have been other things involved but it seems to make some sense and seemed to be effective tonight. I do know that my most effective runs have always been when I felt my breathing was "on". I just don't think I ever noticed that I appear to match my breathing to my cadence. And when I am stretching out my legs my breathing seems less focused.

Maybe it was one faulty test or maybe it's some psychosomatic phenomenon. I'm not sure. Figure I'll try to pay attention for a couple weeks and see. 

 
10 days from Houston.

This week, the Higdon plan I'm loosely following called for three short midweek runs.  I've been having moderate right knee pain (feels like all the muscles around the knee, rather than "in" the knee) so I have completed only one one of the three prescribed runs (treadmill).  Today the knee feels a bit better and I would really like for it to be 100% for my marathon attempt.  If it weren't for the upcoming marathon I would just run through it.  But I'm afraid of making it worse.  Thus I have been skipping runs (today included) in favour of healing.  I hope that's the right trade.

With any luck I'll be back to 100% as a result of resting today and tomorrow and can get back into the prescribed plan on Saturday.

Hopefully I'm making the right call here.

 
10 days from Houston.

This week, the Higdon plan I'm loosely following called for three short midweek runs.  I've been having moderate right knee pain (feels like all the muscles around the knee, rather than "in" the knee) so I have completed only one one of the three prescribed runs (treadmill).  Today the knee feels a bit better and I would really like for it to be 100% for my marathon attempt.  If it weren't for the upcoming marathon I would just run through it.  But I'm afraid of making it worse.  Thus I have been skipping runs (today included) in favour of healing.  I hope that's the right trade.

With any luck I'll be back to 100% as a result of resting today and tomorrow and can get back into the prescribed plan on Saturday.

Hopefully I'm making the right call here.
At this point health at the starting line is more important. 

If you don't have a foam roller, get one and roll out those IT bands. 

 
10 days from Houston.

This week, the Higdon plan I'm loosely following called for three short midweek runs.  I've been having moderate right knee pain (feels like all the muscles around the knee, rather than "in" the knee) so I have completed only one one of the three prescribed runs (treadmill).  Today the knee feels a bit better and I would really like for it to be 100% for my marathon attempt.  If it weren't for the upcoming marathon I would just run through it.  But I'm afraid of making it worse.  Thus I have been skipping runs (today included) in favour of healing.  I hope that's the right trade.

With any luck I'll be back to 100% as a result of resting today and tomorrow and can get back into the prescribed plan on Saturday.

Hopefully I'm making the right call here.
Good luck getting right and tapering.  Try to loosen up the upper legs and hips with a roller or stick and perhaps give this a read/try.  Helps me a lot but a bit tricky of a position. 

https://www.active.com/triathlon/articles/the-stretch-that-could-be-the-key-to-saving-your-knees

 
Good luck getting right and tapering.  Try to loosen up the upper legs and hips with a roller or stick and perhaps give this a read/try.  Helps me a lot but a bit tricky of a position. 

https://www.active.com/triathlon/articles/the-stretch-that-could-be-the-key-to-saving-your-knees
How are you rolling out the upper legs and hips?  Doing stuff like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-cOcQY_ZVQ?

Warning:  The yoga pants in that link may not be suitable for the FFA.  Please don't report me.

 
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10 days from Houston.

This week, the Higdon plan I'm loosely following called for three short midweek runs.  I've been having moderate right knee pain (feels like all the muscles around the knee, rather than "in" the knee) so I have completed only one one of the three prescribed runs (treadmill).  Today the knee feels a bit better and I would really like for it to be 100% for my marathon attempt.  If it weren't for the upcoming marathon I would just run through it.  But I'm afraid of making it worse.  Thus I have been skipping runs (today included) in favour of healing.  I hope that's the right trade.

With any luck I'll be back to 100% as a result of resting today and tomorrow and can get back into the prescribed plan on Saturday.

Hopefully I'm making the right call here.
Listen to these guys and follow their proactive suggestions, but just something to keep in mind - all taper's are full of fake injuries and self doubt. This could be nothing more than your body ####### with you.  But better safe than sorry.

 
Back to the discussion from yesterday about mouth and nose breathing, I read a few articles on the pro-nose side:

https://www.fixyourrun.com/blog/2013/07/shut-your-mouth-endurance-the-easy-way

https://www.nomeatathlete.com/breathing-when-running/

Kind of interesting.  Although there is acknowledgment that nose breathing brings in less oxygen, there seems to be some advantages to breathing slower and lowering your heart rate and effort.  I get that and can see how some people might want to try that for the typical run.

I was playing around with nose breathing on the treadmill this morning.  It just seems so restrictive.  On most runs I mix things up because I'm not breathing that rapidly.  However for any hard running I breathe through both my nose and mouth and exhale through the mouth.

 
First "workout" of the training cycle this afternoon, and Coach is wasting no time in kicking my ###.  

6 x 1 mile at increasing speed (6:49 for the first one, then 8-10 seconds faster for each rep, finishing at 6:03 for the last one) with 1/4-mile recovery jogs.  10 miles total with warm-up and cool-down. 

I'm doing this on the treadmill at the gym.  I'm going to be a sopping wet mess.  Feel bad for the people around me.

Happy birthday to me...  :rolleyes:

 
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How are you rolling out the upper legs and hips?  Doing stuff like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-cOcQY_ZVQ?

Warning:  The yoga pants in that link may not be suitable for the FFA.  Please don't report me.
I use ‘The Stick’ all around the knee front/back/sides. All of which are fairly tender on me like a veal. 

Edit - just looked quick at the video and the stick approach works way better for me than a foam roller on leg stuff. I like foam roller for my back though. 

 
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First "workout" of the training cycle this afternoon, and Coach is wasting no time in kicking my ###.  

6 x 1 mile at increasing speed (6:49 for the first one, then 8-10 seconds faster for each rep, finishing at 6:03 for the last one) with 1/4-mile recovery jogs.  10 miles total with warm-up and cool-down. 

I'm doing this on the treadmill at the gym.  I'm going to be a sopping wet mess.  Feel bad for the people around me.
How do you feel about the rest intervals?  I like them for really fast, short intervals.  For a workout like that, I think I'd prefer to run it straight through like some sort of progression tempo.  Maybe not for the last few but certainly for the beginning which is near your marathon pace.

Edit: Happy birthday!

 
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Listen to these guys and follow their proactive suggestions, but just something to keep in mind - all taper's are full of fake injuries and self doubt. This could be nothing more than your body ####### with you.  But better safe than sorry.
Thanks.  Definitely going to do some massaging over the next couple of days.  It's actually not that bad -- I'm not limping or anything.  And I would just run through it if I wasn't paranoid about making it worse pre-marathon.  With my primary goal being "Don't DNF" for the marathon, and the sub-4hrs being secondary, I'm sacrificing some chance of the latter to increase the probability of the former.  

All that said, my knee is feeling better today so with a bit more improvement tomorrow I'm back in the saddle on Saturday.

My guess is that I did something on Sunday with my aggressive trail run, or it was just an accumulation of all the kms and days I logged over the holidays.  Or it's in my head!  :)

 
Back to the discussion from yesterday about mouth and nose breathing, I read a few articles on the pro-nose side:

https://www.fixyourrun.com/blog/2013/07/shut-your-mouth-endurance-the-easy-way

https://www.nomeatathlete.com/breathing-when-running/

Kind of interesting.  Although there is acknowledgment that nose breathing brings in less oxygen, there seems to be some advantages to breathing slower and lowering your heart rate and effort.  I get that and can see how some people might want to try that for the typical run.

I was playing around with nose breathing on the treadmill this morning.  It just seems so restrictive.  On most runs I mix things up because I'm not breathing that rapidly.  However for any hard running I breathe through both my nose and mouth and exhale through the mouth.
I read once (can try and find if someone wants) about running the first minute of every mile for easy runs only through your nose.

It ensures that you are focusing on your breathing and that you are truly running easy enough. So, if you can't get through that first mile with just nose breathing, slow down.  It was useful for me in the beginning to make sure I was running easy enough. I should probably get back to that now as I try to build fitness back up (which currently sucks, btw).

 
I read once (can try and find if someone wants) about running the first minute of every mile for easy runs only through your nose.

It ensures that you are focusing on your breathing and that you are truly running easy enough. So, if you can't get through that first mile with just nose breathing, slow down.  It was useful for me in the beginning to make sure I was running easy enough. I should probably get back to that now as I try to build fitness back up (which currently sucks, btw).
Interesting ...never tried that.

For my easy pacing, I breathe (the in and the out) on every third step.  When running harder (e.g., tempo runs), I'll breathe "normal" with the in and out every second step (so synched with the left or right foot stride).  During my marathons, I start with the former pattern and then, at some point mid-race, the breathing transitions to the latter.

 
Glute power  :wub:
I knew you'd like it.  And @tri-man 47 too as it supports doing 3000 daily lunges to help your running.

The skateboard analogy is actually quite helpful.  Plan on thinking on that when I get out there soon.

I know a big part of my recent struggles out there is fitness, but I also feel like I'm back to shuffling and working harder to cover a shorter distance.  So, that's what prompted me to look at some of this to see what I can do to try and improve form in the meantime.  I know that until my fitness improves, it'll be hard to change too much (you simply can't stride too long when you're running at the paces I'm running), but it's also a good chance to mentally work on it and apply it as things improve. 

 
@ChiefD - Packers play at Chiefs next year.  You'd better believe that I'm gonna be there...fire up the BBQ!

 
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Hey guys.  Heading to Tampa this weekend for work.  I think we have a Tampa guy here. @Osaurus maybe?

Anyway, Saturday is pretty specific workout for me 12 miles at 7:20-7:25 pace.   Sunday is relaxed — anywhere between 8:45 and 10 min pace.  6-10 miles. 

Staying at the Epicurean (across the street from Bern’s).  Won’t have a car but can uber if it’s reasonable if someone wants to run together.

Let me know if interested.
I’m here in Tampa. Just getting back to running after a long time off so unlikely I’ll join you for a run, but PM me if you want to grab a beer.  I should be around this weekend.

 
Are you able to do it like that dude in the picture?  I tried this in my office and my quad couldn't handle extending the other leg.
Pretty much but not the first time I tried it and not in an office on hard floor, furniture and in pants - that would make that very hard position to try out. On a carpet against a couch and in shorts is a way better way to get in and out of it and see how it feels through the back legs (quad/knees) and front leg in the ham/hips/glutes. 

 
Pretty much but not the first time I tried it and not in an office on hard floor, furniture and in pants - that would make that very hard position to try out. On a carpet against a couch and in shorts is a way better way to get in and out of it and see how it feels through the back legs (quad/knees) and front leg in the ham/hips/glutes. 
This here, read without the context of this thread, is freaking hilarious.

:lmao:

 
I knew you'd like it.  And @tri-man 47 too as it supports doing 3000 daily lunges to help your running.

The skateboard analogy is actually quite helpful.  Plan on thinking on that when I get out there soon.

I know a big part of my recent struggles out there is fitness, but I also feel like I'm back to shuffling and working harder to cover a shorter distance.  So, that's what prompted me to look at some of this to see what I can do to try and improve form in the meantime.  I know that until my fitness improves, it'll be hard to change too much (you simply can't stride too long when you're running at the paces I'm running), but it's also a good chance to mentally work on it and apply it as things improve. 
I took a good amount of time to make the transition from shuffle to more normal looking running.  It's interesting in big races now to look at the ranges of gait now that I'm more cognizant of it.   I don't know if it had a substantial impact on my efficiency or running performance to be honest and I didn't really impact my injury (severity or frequency).  On the other hand, I don't think I can go back to the plodding and the new form gives me something to focus on beyond just 'run fast'. 

If you make the change, be ready for quads and glutes to scream - I did lots of foam rolling through the process.    To me, the new form is akin to do a semi-march leaning forward just a smidge.  

 
I took a good amount of time to make the transition from shuffle to more normal looking running.  It's interesting in big races now to look at the ranges of gait now that I'm more cognizant of it.   I don't know if it had a substantial impact on my efficiency or running performance to be honest and I didn't really impact my injury (severity or frequency).  On the other hand, I don't think I can go back to the plodding and the new form gives me something to focus on beyond just 'run fast'. 

If you make the change, be ready for quads and glutes to scream - I did lots of foam rolling through the process.    To me, the new form is akin to do a semi-march leaning forward just a smidge.  
How did you make the transition? How fast do you need to be going to have it make sense (i.e., hard to drive knees forward at 10:00 pace)?

 
I knew you'd like it.  And @tri-man 47 too as it supports doing 3000 daily lunges to help your running.

The skateboard analogy is actually quite helpful.  Plan on thinking on that when I get out there soon.

I know a big part of my recent struggles out there is fitness, but I also feel like I'm back to shuffling and working harder to cover a shorter distance.  So, that's what prompted me to look at some of this to see what I can do to try and improve form in the meantime.  I know that until my fitness improves, it'll be hard to change too much (you simply can't stride too long when you're running at the paces I'm running), but it's also a good chance to mentally work on it and apply it as things improve. 
I use the skateboard analogy to support the fundamental concept of a midfoot/forefoot strike.  You can't get far on a skateboard if you're landing on the heel!

 
So, my leg still isn’t right.  I’ve been zero running for about 6 weeks and no cycling for 4-5.  I’ve still been lifting and doing core work.  I think I just keep aggravating it doing just walking or a random flight of stairs or the exercise I’m doing.  I know the answer is to go to the doctor and/or stop doing everything until it’s better - however, I have a question for you guys in case you have some insight.  The pain is mild and not consistent- I feel it sometimes when I’m doing nothing and other times when I’m walking.  It also seems to be moving around - sometimes it hurts the middle of my hamstring, sometimes lower and frequently the back of my knee directly in the bend.  This has me really concerned that it’s a tear but again, it’s not that painful.  Any thoughts other than go to the ####### doc?

 
So, my leg still isn’t right.  I’ve been zero running for about 6 weeks and no cycling for 4-5.  I’ve still been lifting and doing core work.  I think I just keep aggravating it doing just walking or a random flight of stairs or the exercise I’m doing.  I know the answer is to go to the doctor and/or stop doing everything until it’s better - however, I have a question for you guys in case you have some insight.  The pain is mild and not consistent- I feel it sometimes when I’m doing nothing and other times when I’m walking.  It also seems to be moving around - sometimes it hurts the middle of my hamstring, sometimes lower and frequently the back of my knee directly in the bend.  This has me really concerned that it’s a tear but again, it’s not that painful.  Any thoughts other than go to the ####### doc?
Sciatica from a pinched nerve? If so, welcome to the club. I thought it was my hamstring for weeks. Resting did nothing for me. I am actually beginning to think time off makes it worse as far as running is concerned. Hope you feel better.

 
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So, my leg still isn’t right.  I’ve been zero running for about 6 weeks and no cycling for 4-5.  I’ve still been lifting and doing core work.  I think I just keep aggravating it doing just walking or a random flight of stairs or the exercise I’m doing.  I know the answer is to go to the doctor and/or stop doing everything until it’s better - however, I have a question for you guys in case you have some insight.  The pain is mild and not consistent- I feel it sometimes when I’m doing nothing and other times when I’m walking.  It also seems to be moving around - sometimes it hurts the middle of my hamstring, sometimes lower and frequently the back of my knee directly in the bend.  This has me really concerned that it’s a tear but again, it’s not that painful.  Any thoughts other than go to the ####### doc?
Many runners have nagging injuries that crop up from time to time and they just try to manage through them. If the pain is mild and doesn’t get excessively worse with exercise, maybe just run or bike on it for a while and see what happens. 

 
Sciatica from a pinched nerve? If so, welcome to the club. I thought it was my hamstring for weeks. Resting did nothing for me. I am actually beginning to think time off makes it worse as far as running is concerned. Hope you feel better.
I’ve had sciatica pain before - I’m no doctor but I feel the likelihood that’s it is very low.  The pain is vastly different - sciatica pain was pretty sharp and intense - this is very dull and feels like what pulled/strained muscles have always felt like.  Thanks for the idea though and I hope yours gets better or stays better.

 
Many runners have nagging injuries that crop up from time to time and they just try to manage through them. If the pain is mild and doesn’t get excessively worse with exercise, maybe just run or bike on it for a while and see what happens. 
First, I can’t in good conscience consider myself a runner- I run but I have an embarrassing number of miles logged overall - like your 2018 is probably greater than my entire adult life.

Second, I kind of tried that and it never got better and somewhat worse.  I’ve been dealing with this for almost close to 3 months - I tried to reduce my miles, intensity and number of times out weekly and while it would feel a little better it never went away and would be there the next time I ran.  I’m guessing now I had a strain or small tear and just kept making it worse.  And now I’m paying for it.  What’s frustrating is just ordinary activities like driving (it’s my right leg) or waking up in the morning and thoughtlessly stretching to wake up seem to aggravate it.  Even getting in and out of our pretty tall bed has been a challenge.  

I know all this points to a doctors visit and I will soon but was hoping somebody might have some insight.  The good news is that since I’m not a runner I’m not going crazy- bad news is it seems like I may need to shut everything down to get better.

 

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