I know many of us are training for races this fall, or have recently run a big race, and I was really interested to hear what everyone is up to — what’s your big goal race this fall, or if you’ve already run it, what was it and how did it go?
How is your training currently going? (And if you’ve already run your big race, how did your training prepare you?) What did you learn, and what are you learning?
It’s always fascinating to see and hear about where you’re running — and traveling to run — so I’d love to hear from you, whether your race is a 5K, 10K, half or full marathon — or even something longer. — Terrell
P.S.: We came through the storm with much less of an impact than I’d feared earlier in the week — but are thinking of our friends and neighbors to our east, who felt Helene’s impact much more than we did. Please keep them in your thoughts 🙏
I’m running my “first marathon for the third time” in December. It’s a small trail race outside of St. Louis, Missouri. My past two attempts derailed before the race started. This time around I am building on past mistakes and hopeful that I will at least make it to the starting line. 10 weeks to go!
I am in maintenance mode as I have completed my goal event for the season. This year I ran a 50 miler at a local event called Run Woodstock. The training went well, I wish I could have been a little faster but trail running is always a bit slower.
I am still working on next year's goal. I hope to have something in a few weeks.
I’ve got a trail 10K on Sunday through a nature reserve (if they don’t cancel), and a half three weeks from today in Berea, KY, about 20 minutes from where we live. Maybe another half the weekend before Thanksgiving.
I'm about to run my first Ragnar next week! Got asked to join a team on a whim last Spring and training for it has been so fun. Plus, it's been awesome to consistently train 5-6 days / week after having my last baby. I know 1 person on the team and have met a few others, so I'm excited to get out of my comfort zone and do something adventurous.
I am looking forward to the Maine Half Marathon October 6th. I do love having a race coming up, but when it is over, I am kind of looking forward to just running what I want (have been following a training plan as I had to take 2 months off from running due to shoulder surgery and I wanted to work my miles up wisely). When I did the race last year, it was around 70 degrees at the finish. I am a heavy sweater and felt awful for several hours afterwards. My daughters bought me a hydration pack (a thank you for babysitting for my grandkids when daycare was closed... as if they should pay me!!). I ran 13 miles a couple of weeks ago using it and I felt really good after. I'm not sure if it is silly to be wearing one only for a half. Oh well, I plan to!!
GA Terrell -- Hope you weren't impacted too much by the hurricane -- I ran the Bird-In-Hand half on 9/7 have registered for the Halloween Super Heroes Half on 10/26 and the Rehoboth Beach marathon Virtual on 12/7 -- will see with a 10K run for the Stepplechase run this Sunday,
Lake Powell Half next month, Catalina Half in November, and a half in Riverside in January. This is the last Lake Powell race Vacation Races is doing for a while and my fav, so I plan on making the most of it.
The Catalina Half has been on my bucket list for a couple of years. We are staying on the island for the weekend and I couldn’t be more excited, even if it’s all hills. I got my hubby to sign up for the 10K!
The Citrus Heritage race in Riverside is just for kicks and to get us off of the couch over Winter Break. 😁 Hubby is walking the 10K for that as well.
After that, I don’t know what I’ll run next. 🤷🏻♀️
Not training for anything now but I plan to volunteer in a couple trail races this fall as a way to both get more involved in the trail running community and also get free registration to races next year so I can start planning my 2025 running goals!
So glad you made it through all right. Thinking about my friend and the other Chi Runners who are in Asheville which got a huge amount of rain in 24 hours.
Anyway. . . end of week. I have a charity 2.5 mile walk/run on October 13 for Mental Health--a virtual from Maui. Then a Half Marathon on Maui--March 3, 2025 (Valley to the Sea) which I've always wanted to run. . .so beautiful. . . I love it there.
I'm skipping Run to Stay Warm and the Eugene Marathon, which, by the way, have a special going on this week, and going over to Bend, Or. for the Bend Half on April 13. 2025. Of course, I'll do my best to get to the meet-up in Athens on November 3.
I signed up for a year with Coach Lisa and her TRU Tribe in Mesa, AZ. She's the best. . . caters to women and especially women 50+ who still want to walk and run. Lisa is a Chi Runner runs ultras and trails. Can't think of a better Cheerleader for us older women. (Look up the Running University and you'll find her!) Walking for a month in October with her and her group.
Don't think there is anything after that.
Another cool, foggy day here. Time to think about cleaning up the leaves and a garden. It is getting colder here. Need to make the pie that I've been putting off all week. Take care! :)
Nilima, the half on Maui sounds AMAZING! Enjoy the nice Pacific coast weather out there -- I'm so jealous! (And I hope you make it in November! No worries if not, I'll completely understand. It's a long way!)
Maui is my second home. I'm totally at peace when I'm in the Iao Valley--feels like I've spent many lifetimes there. Best part of the run is it's all downhill. :)
Like, I said, I'll do my best to make it to Athens. . . glad you understand!
Finally getting my balance back which is part of getting older. . .walking and yoga really help. Hard to be gentle on yourself at this age cuz "you knew you could do it before!!" :)
Need to begin my training for the Miami Half-marathon in January, but I confess I’ve not been too eager of running races as before. I’ve been doing that since 2008 and it’s the only one I usually do.
When I last posted on one of your threads, this summer I think, I was still struggling to come back from a nagging hamstring injury I suffered at the end of 2023.
While I have a feeling that's going to be with me for a long time, I'm out of physical therapy, and I've learned that the key for me to continue running was to dial back the speed. Not that I was ever *fast* by comparison to most, mind you, but whenever I tried to bring speed back to into the picture, I ended up hurting myself again (or at least irritating the hamstring). So for a while I just kept it slow, and I could run longer distances again. (When I say "longer distances," I mean more than 3 or 4 miles at a time). And in truth, without the type-A personality burden of competing with myself every time I went out for a run, I started to enjoy running a lot more! That has been a nice discovery. It's possible to just run and enjoy it. Who knew? (I mean, I enjoyed it before, but I'm hyper-competitive with myself, so if I didn't set a personal best in some way every time I ran, I felt like it was a disappointment. Which is no way to live, but I digress.
Anyway, once I passed that hurdle, I figured I needed to start getting in shape again to enter any races, because, much to my chagrin, I had lost a lot of endurance by not being able to keep up the longer distance running. So I decided to try a training plan for the first time, in part because I had "unlocked" some training plans in an app. My goal is to eventually run a full marathon, so I started the "Run Your First Marathon" training plan in this app.
I'm about halfway through the 16 week plan and mostly doing well with it. I was shocked by how slow it set my pace on some runs (after it had me run a 5K at my "fastest sustainable pace" to set up a plan). I mean, my 5K was decent, so I was thinking, "why so slow?" But after a few weeks, I started to see the wisdom in running slower. My cardio endurance was getting stronger. Saturdays are always Long Runs, and my last one was 2 hours and 20 minutes (during which I did about 12 miles). Mind you, I live in Texas, and September in Texas is still pretty hot. We had some cool(er) weather for a week or two, then we entered "second summer" (which always comes after "false fall"). Anyway, by the end of that Long Run, I came to the realization that I still know too little about how to fuel for long runs. I have done several, including a few half-marathons (one in a race and a few just on my own), but this is the first time a run like this just wiped me out. Felt like I was drugged the rest of Saturday and all day Sunday. I didn't really recover until Sunday night. So I'm going to work with someone to get a nutrition plan designed for longer runs.
I've signed up for a 5K in October, which I'll run with 3 of my 4 daughters (this is also the very first competitive race I ever ran, last year when I started running). And I've signed up for the half-marathon in Dallas in December that I ran (injured) last year. Running it again with my oldest and youngest daughters, and hoping this year to go into it fresh, trained, and uninjured!
I so appreciate your honest and thoughtful post. It seems you really listen to your body. As I turn 65 this fall, I recognize for me that I like pushing myself distance-wise and NOT speed-wise. I didn't start running until I was 44, so I think I missed the "peak" (speed) that people talk about that happens in a person's 30s:)
I have just started becoming "athletic" in my 50s, for the first time in my life, so I naturally started by overdoing everything. :-)
I'm learning balance and moderation now. It takes time for me to learn these things. But being okay with being slow is something I still struggle with. My brain just wants me to go faster!
Chris, I'm really inspired by your story -- and you've hit the nail on the head with respect to speed, which is something Amby Burfoot talks about in his book 'Run Forever,' which I go back to often for all its great wisdom. He implores runners to slow down as often as he can, for exactly the reasons you mention -- when we get into our 50s, especially, we're not Gabby Thomas anymore! 😀 I'm really glad to hear you've done the rest and recovery, and will be able to enjoy races with your daughters -- that's the best of all!
Just completed the Equinox Marathon in Fairbanks Alaska. It’s mostly off pavement and about 3200 feet of elevation as you run up what is known Esther Dome. Beautiful fall colors. It was especially muddy this year and it was snowing at the higher elevations. This was my first Equinox marathon. I wasn’t as trained up as I should have been for this one but I completed it! This race also has hiking division and a 10 hour time limit. The aid stations were awesome and you get a finishers patch for completing it. Next big race is Laughlin Half Marathon in December.
I just ran Revel Big Cottonwood about 2 weeks ago in Utah - a 2,900 ft elevation decline! New PR, and the views were incredible - I'd recommend to anyone. I'm looking for another half before the end of the year, but it will probably end up being a local one. And finally looking to complete the Shamrock half in March in Virginia Beach after signing up and deferring every year since 2020 for one reason or another
Glad you made it through the storm unscathed. I'm currently training for the Caspers 50k (Nov 16). It's a local race out here in Orange County, right on the edges of the Santa Ana Mountains, where we just had a major fire. Though I've raced road marathons and raced the 50M-100M mile distances a half dozen times, this will be my first "short" ultra. My goal is to learn what it feels like to run hard in the mountains for 30 miles. My pacing strategy is start easy for the first 2 miles, and then send it -- within reason, of course.
Thanks, John! There's a part of me that's so fascinated, yet has a hard time imagining myself running that kind of distance. How did you make the leap to running 50 to 100 miles? It's just mind-boggling to me.
Running my second marathon, the Detroit Free Press Marathon, in ... 3 weeks! Gotta tackle a 20 miler tomorrow, with 3 3-mile blocks at marathon pace, and then it's on to the taper. Dealing with some minor(ish) post-tib tendonitis issues that are mostly under control. At 50, it's just getting harder to heal from these minor niggling aches and pains, which is an unfun thing to learn. But the upside: discovering that there are a whole lot of older runners where I live, all of us out at 7am, at different paces, just doing our thing. I've learned that I'm a waver (rather than a nodder)!
"At 50, it's just getting harder to heal from these minor niggling aches and pains, which is an unfun thing to learn." -- tell me about it! 😀 Good luck in Detroit!
I ran a 10k last weekend in St Pete. Felt good, stayed steady, completely comfortable with the fact that I’m 10 minutes! slower than I was 3 years ago. But I’m injury free, in it for the long haul. Next up AthHalf. See you in Athens😀
P.S. there was an 80 year old man who ran the 10k in 1:02!
The Athens Half in November with my Dawg and husband! Can’t wait! Training is going well for me, was on vaca in Mexico, got to experience Helen twice! So I missed a long run, but back to it today. Looking forward to seeking you out at the race and meeting in person!
My big race (a half marathon) is in the spring so just in maintenance mode these days running every other day, walking in between. I’ll pick up the training after the New Year.
I’m working out on stair climber (spelling allows inclusion of Friday pun: “Math problems make me numb, but math puns make me number”) and elliptical on days I’m not doing laps in the gym pool or at home. I have a half at Hutchinson Island (40 miles north of Palm Beach) on 10/6 and another half in Athens, Italy … I mean Georgia … in November! The southern part of Florida along the Atlantic got some gusts of tropical storm force as Helene went north through the Gulf yesterday.
The half is called “Run Hutchinson Island”. Hutchinson island is one of a zillion “barrier islands” … fairly narrow strips of land that separate the Atlantic from the Intracoastal Waterway. This island runs from Stuart to Fort Pierce which are 30 and 40 miles north of West Palm Beach, respectively.
Training is going great. I am running at Houghton University and have enjoyed it a lot. It's all mins based which is something new for me. The team is also really great, and the coach is amazing! I have ran 2 5k's so far which have gone really well, and the second one I broke 20 mins for the first time. I am going to be running at Lock Haven PA tomorrow which will be cool because I will be running my first 8k.
I like the mins part in that it doesn't make you want to go fast which is nice., because you just have to get the mins done. Miles I think is easier to look back on, but Mins is also cool to look back on.
Was sidelined for 4 weeks with lower back muscle pain. Only a year ago ran a 9:18 metric mile to win a bet I could not run less than 9:30. I am on the road to recovery and will do everything possible to stay walking/ running for rest of my life including gentle yoga, weekly massage and being mindful how I bend and lift anything & everything. Injuries heal very slowly at age 77. My lifetime goal: Sunday 10k runs in less than an hour. Terrell, hope all your subscribers are out of harm's way. Wonder if Gov. DeSantis believes in Climate change yet?
At 77, it does take longer for an injury to heal. Still wobbling along, but you have the right approach. I keep at it, too! Glad to hear your Mom is letting you help. My daughter helps me along, too, and am I ever glad she is around. . . even though I push her away sometimes and tell her I can still do things by myself! :)
Working on my balance issues. . .probably something to do when I fell on my head a few years ago. Walking helps, and yoga. Hope it clears up soon. I hate falling over when there is no good reason! :) Shaker Heights is beautiful, specially this time of year. That's where my father-in-law lived!
We can only hope, Clark!! (Re: the climate change thing) Are you in Florida, btw?
Also -- totally hear you about injuries healing slower. I'm not 77 of course, but I can definitely see that my body needs more time than it did when I was 23 (vs. 53 now). What's the 10K you're running on Sunday?
In Shaker Heights, Ohio. Moved my Mom from her independent living facility in Florida to an assisted living facility ten minutes from me. At age 100 she finally agreed to let me help her. Yay for both of us.
My weekly 10k is a beautiful route thru tree lined Shaker Heights where I can run solo and take in the awe & wonder of nature. Are we totally dependent on our natural environment? Try holding your breath for 2 minutes and then think about where the air you breathe is coming from. If we runners are not sensitive to our utter dependency on Nature, then who?
Some friends and I from our Pub Run Club were gearing up for the Tuna 200 Relay from Raleigh to the Crystal Coast of NC which we all reside. Sadly, we just got word that it was cancelled last minute due to what I understand are some insurance procurement issues. Was looking forward to a new challenge, even though I was likely way underprepared with two kids under two at home to manage. We’ll switch our focus to the Emerald Isle Marathon/Half/5K which is a great, flat course if you’re looking for a fun and friendly small-town destination race!
Man! I'm bummed to hear that about the Tuna 200 Relay, but glad you'll be able to run the Emerald Isle Half -- I love the name, btw! Where is it run, and when?
Emerald Isle, NC- a small barrier island in the Southern Outer Banks. There is a nice wide pedestrian path throughout the island so we get a lot of active vacationers. This year’s race is October 22nd. It’s apparently one of the most runner-friendly Boston Qualifiers out there!
No big race in mind, just trying to maintain +30 miles/week. Now in Ashkelon, Israel and have an outstanding beach path to run on with very favorable weather. Local water fountains and even stainless working weight scales to weigh yourself along the route. Weather is in the 70s to 80s with nice breeze on shore. We're about 8 miles north of Gaza and about 35 miles from Tel Aviv. Byron
Wow! I feel like I remember us chatting at times in the past, when you've been in other parts of the world -- Europe, maybe? It's really interesting to hear what it's like over there. Stay safe! (That's also really interesting about the scales along the route you run -- have you ever seen that anywhere else?)
Well I lived and worked in Poland for nearly two years and many other places in Asia, Pacific and middle east. No, i have not found outdoor working weigh scales in other places in the world. There is a small running crowd here, unlike most of the world, joggers do not wave when coming from opposite directions (this is really common say in Colorado). Guam maintains a very large civilian jogging group, with weekly road closures and very large turnout of the population. One of the most active running cultures I have yet to see. Weather conditions here mirror Florida perhaps the closest. Roads and paths are in good condition. Better than Guam, on par with Western Europe.
I'm running the New York City Marathon on 11/3. I was supposed to run it last year, but I I had a hip injury that forced me to cancel. Really looking forward to it as I love visiting New York City.
Stacy, I'm so jealous!! That's a race I've always wanted to run -- a few friends of mine ran it back in the late 90s, and I even got a spot one time, but ended up not being able to make it. I wish I had, because it's SO much harder to get into now!! Keep us posted on how it goes!
I’m running my “first marathon for the third time” in December. It’s a small trail race outside of St. Louis, Missouri. My past two attempts derailed before the race started. This time around I am building on past mistakes and hopeful that I will at least make it to the starting line. 10 weeks to go!
I am in maintenance mode as I have completed my goal event for the season. This year I ran a 50 miler at a local event called Run Woodstock. The training went well, I wish I could have been a little faster but trail running is always a bit slower.
I am still working on next year's goal. I hope to have something in a few weeks.
Hope everyone is doing well. My training is going ok. Fall race is the Wineglass half Corning NY next Sunday goal is under 2 hours.
I’ve got a trail 10K on Sunday through a nature reserve (if they don’t cancel), and a half three weeks from today in Berea, KY, about 20 minutes from where we live. Maybe another half the weekend before Thanksgiving.
I'm about to run my first Ragnar next week! Got asked to join a team on a whim last Spring and training for it has been so fun. Plus, it's been awesome to consistently train 5-6 days / week after having my last baby. I know 1 person on the team and have met a few others, so I'm excited to get out of my comfort zone and do something adventurous.
How cool is that?! Congrats on the race -- and the baby! Can't wait to hear how it goes.
I am looking forward to the Maine Half Marathon October 6th. I do love having a race coming up, but when it is over, I am kind of looking forward to just running what I want (have been following a training plan as I had to take 2 months off from running due to shoulder surgery and I wanted to work my miles up wisely). When I did the race last year, it was around 70 degrees at the finish. I am a heavy sweater and felt awful for several hours afterwards. My daughters bought me a hydration pack (a thank you for babysitting for my grandkids when daycare was closed... as if they should pay me!!). I ran 13 miles a couple of weeks ago using it and I felt really good after. I'm not sure if it is silly to be wearing one only for a half. Oh well, I plan to!!
GA Terrell -- Hope you weren't impacted too much by the hurricane -- I ran the Bird-In-Hand half on 9/7 have registered for the Halloween Super Heroes Half on 10/26 and the Rehoboth Beach marathon Virtual on 12/7 -- will see with a 10K run for the Stepplechase run this Sunday,
Lake Powell Half next month, Catalina Half in November, and a half in Riverside in January. This is the last Lake Powell race Vacation Races is doing for a while and my fav, so I plan on making the most of it.
The Catalina Half has been on my bucket list for a couple of years. We are staying on the island for the weekend and I couldn’t be more excited, even if it’s all hills. I got my hubby to sign up for the 10K!
The Citrus Heritage race in Riverside is just for kicks and to get us off of the couch over Winter Break. 😁 Hubby is walking the 10K for that as well.
After that, I don’t know what I’ll run next. 🤷🏻♀️
Been wanting to do Catalina for years! Good for you!
Is that the one on Catalina Island? It sounds really amazing, Corrina!
It is! I can’t wait!!!
Not training for anything now but I plan to volunteer in a couple trail races this fall as a way to both get more involved in the trail running community and also get free registration to races next year so I can start planning my 2025 running goals!
Nice!! Are they out in the Bay Area? (It seems like there's so many great trail races out there.)
Yes!
So glad you made it through all right. Thinking about my friend and the other Chi Runners who are in Asheville which got a huge amount of rain in 24 hours.
Anyway. . . end of week. I have a charity 2.5 mile walk/run on October 13 for Mental Health--a virtual from Maui. Then a Half Marathon on Maui--March 3, 2025 (Valley to the Sea) which I've always wanted to run. . .so beautiful. . . I love it there.
I'm skipping Run to Stay Warm and the Eugene Marathon, which, by the way, have a special going on this week, and going over to Bend, Or. for the Bend Half on April 13. 2025. Of course, I'll do my best to get to the meet-up in Athens on November 3.
I signed up for a year with Coach Lisa and her TRU Tribe in Mesa, AZ. She's the best. . . caters to women and especially women 50+ who still want to walk and run. Lisa is a Chi Runner runs ultras and trails. Can't think of a better Cheerleader for us older women. (Look up the Running University and you'll find her!) Walking for a month in October with her and her group.
Don't think there is anything after that.
Another cool, foggy day here. Time to think about cleaning up the leaves and a garden. It is getting colder here. Need to make the pie that I've been putting off all week. Take care! :)
Nilima, the half on Maui sounds AMAZING! Enjoy the nice Pacific coast weather out there -- I'm so jealous! (And I hope you make it in November! No worries if not, I'll completely understand. It's a long way!)
Maui is my second home. I'm totally at peace when I'm in the Iao Valley--feels like I've spent many lifetimes there. Best part of the run is it's all downhill. :)
Like, I said, I'll do my best to make it to Athens. . . glad you understand!
Finally getting my balance back which is part of getting older. . .walking and yoga really help. Hard to be gentle on yourself at this age cuz "you knew you could do it before!!" :)
Need to begin my training for the Miami Half-marathon in January, but I confess I’ve not been too eager of running races as before. I’ve been doing that since 2008 and it’s the only one I usually do.
When I last posted on one of your threads, this summer I think, I was still struggling to come back from a nagging hamstring injury I suffered at the end of 2023.
While I have a feeling that's going to be with me for a long time, I'm out of physical therapy, and I've learned that the key for me to continue running was to dial back the speed. Not that I was ever *fast* by comparison to most, mind you, but whenever I tried to bring speed back to into the picture, I ended up hurting myself again (or at least irritating the hamstring). So for a while I just kept it slow, and I could run longer distances again. (When I say "longer distances," I mean more than 3 or 4 miles at a time). And in truth, without the type-A personality burden of competing with myself every time I went out for a run, I started to enjoy running a lot more! That has been a nice discovery. It's possible to just run and enjoy it. Who knew? (I mean, I enjoyed it before, but I'm hyper-competitive with myself, so if I didn't set a personal best in some way every time I ran, I felt like it was a disappointment. Which is no way to live, but I digress.
Anyway, once I passed that hurdle, I figured I needed to start getting in shape again to enter any races, because, much to my chagrin, I had lost a lot of endurance by not being able to keep up the longer distance running. So I decided to try a training plan for the first time, in part because I had "unlocked" some training plans in an app. My goal is to eventually run a full marathon, so I started the "Run Your First Marathon" training plan in this app.
I'm about halfway through the 16 week plan and mostly doing well with it. I was shocked by how slow it set my pace on some runs (after it had me run a 5K at my "fastest sustainable pace" to set up a plan). I mean, my 5K was decent, so I was thinking, "why so slow?" But after a few weeks, I started to see the wisdom in running slower. My cardio endurance was getting stronger. Saturdays are always Long Runs, and my last one was 2 hours and 20 minutes (during which I did about 12 miles). Mind you, I live in Texas, and September in Texas is still pretty hot. We had some cool(er) weather for a week or two, then we entered "second summer" (which always comes after "false fall"). Anyway, by the end of that Long Run, I came to the realization that I still know too little about how to fuel for long runs. I have done several, including a few half-marathons (one in a race and a few just on my own), but this is the first time a run like this just wiped me out. Felt like I was drugged the rest of Saturday and all day Sunday. I didn't really recover until Sunday night. So I'm going to work with someone to get a nutrition plan designed for longer runs.
I've signed up for a 5K in October, which I'll run with 3 of my 4 daughters (this is also the very first competitive race I ever ran, last year when I started running). And I've signed up for the half-marathon in Dallas in December that I ran (injured) last year. Running it again with my oldest and youngest daughters, and hoping this year to go into it fresh, trained, and uninjured!
I so appreciate your honest and thoughtful post. It seems you really listen to your body. As I turn 65 this fall, I recognize for me that I like pushing myself distance-wise and NOT speed-wise. I didn't start running until I was 44, so I think I missed the "peak" (speed) that people talk about that happens in a person's 30s:)
I have just started becoming "athletic" in my 50s, for the first time in my life, so I naturally started by overdoing everything. :-)
I'm learning balance and moderation now. It takes time for me to learn these things. But being okay with being slow is something I still struggle with. My brain just wants me to go faster!
Chris, I'm really inspired by your story -- and you've hit the nail on the head with respect to speed, which is something Amby Burfoot talks about in his book 'Run Forever,' which I go back to often for all its great wisdom. He implores runners to slow down as often as he can, for exactly the reasons you mention -- when we get into our 50s, especially, we're not Gabby Thomas anymore! 😀 I'm really glad to hear you've done the rest and recovery, and will be able to enjoy races with your daughters -- that's the best of all!
Just completed the Equinox Marathon in Fairbanks Alaska. It’s mostly off pavement and about 3200 feet of elevation as you run up what is known Esther Dome. Beautiful fall colors. It was especially muddy this year and it was snowing at the higher elevations. This was my first Equinox marathon. I wasn’t as trained up as I should have been for this one but I completed it! This race also has hiking division and a 10 hour time limit. The aid stations were awesome and you get a finishers patch for completing it. Next big race is Laughlin Half Marathon in December.
Snowing at the higher elevations? Wow, that sounds just amazing, Avi. You are rocking the races this season!
They haven’t had snow since 2012. I just got lucky this year! Top elevation is at 3800 feet so not too bad.
I just ran Revel Big Cottonwood about 2 weeks ago in Utah - a 2,900 ft elevation decline! New PR, and the views were incredible - I'd recommend to anyone. I'm looking for another half before the end of the year, but it will probably end up being a local one. And finally looking to complete the Shamrock half in March in Virginia Beach after signing up and deferring every year since 2020 for one reason or another
I've seen photos and videos of the Big Cottonwood race, all of which have looked so gorgeous -- I bet it was amazing! Good luck at the Shamrock Half!
Glad you made it through the storm unscathed. I'm currently training for the Caspers 50k (Nov 16). It's a local race out here in Orange County, right on the edges of the Santa Ana Mountains, where we just had a major fire. Though I've raced road marathons and raced the 50M-100M mile distances a half dozen times, this will be my first "short" ultra. My goal is to learn what it feels like to run hard in the mountains for 30 miles. My pacing strategy is start easy for the first 2 miles, and then send it -- within reason, of course.
Thanks, John! There's a part of me that's so fascinated, yet has a hard time imagining myself running that kind of distance. How did you make the leap to running 50 to 100 miles? It's just mind-boggling to me.
Running my second marathon, the Detroit Free Press Marathon, in ... 3 weeks! Gotta tackle a 20 miler tomorrow, with 3 3-mile blocks at marathon pace, and then it's on to the taper. Dealing with some minor(ish) post-tib tendonitis issues that are mostly under control. At 50, it's just getting harder to heal from these minor niggling aches and pains, which is an unfun thing to learn. But the upside: discovering that there are a whole lot of older runners where I live, all of us out at 7am, at different paces, just doing our thing. I've learned that I'm a waver (rather than a nodder)!
"At 50, it's just getting harder to heal from these minor niggling aches and pains, which is an unfun thing to learn." -- tell me about it! 😀 Good luck in Detroit!
I ran a 10k last weekend in St Pete. Felt good, stayed steady, completely comfortable with the fact that I’m 10 minutes! slower than I was 3 years ago. But I’m injury free, in it for the long haul. Next up AthHalf. See you in Athens😀
P.S. there was an 80 year old man who ran the 10k in 1:02!
Yes... the long haul is what I am striving for!! Well said!
WOW!!!! That's so awesome (and amazing!)
The Athens Half in November with my Dawg and husband! Can’t wait! Training is going well for me, was on vaca in Mexico, got to experience Helen twice! So I missed a long run, but back to it today. Looking forward to seeking you out at the race and meeting in person!
Me too, Jenna! Can't wait to meet you there!
My big race (a half marathon) is in the spring so just in maintenance mode these days running every other day, walking in between. I’ll pick up the training after the New Year.
I’m working out on stair climber (spelling allows inclusion of Friday pun: “Math problems make me numb, but math puns make me number”) and elliptical on days I’m not doing laps in the gym pool or at home. I have a half at Hutchinson Island (40 miles north of Palm Beach) on 10/6 and another half in Athens, Italy … I mean Georgia … in November! The southern part of Florida along the Atlantic got some gusts of tropical storm force as Helene went north through the Gulf yesterday.
You'll definitely be ready for Athens, Dave! What's the half on Hutchinson Island? (Is that in Florida too?)
The half is called “Run Hutchinson Island”. Hutchinson island is one of a zillion “barrier islands” … fairly narrow strips of land that separate the Atlantic from the Intracoastal Waterway. This island runs from Stuart to Fort Pierce which are 30 and 40 miles north of West Palm Beach, respectively.
Training is going great. I am running at Houghton University and have enjoyed it a lot. It's all mins based which is something new for me. The team is also really great, and the coach is amazing! I have ran 2 5k's so far which have gone really well, and the second one I broke 20 mins for the first time. I am going to be running at Lock Haven PA tomorrow which will be cool because I will be running my first 8k.
Love Minutes over Miles. . . When the minutes are over, you get to quit! I'll take them any day, but then I'm a Chi Runner/walker!
That's so cool, Timothy -- I'd love to hear more about the running-by-minutes approach. So you prefer it to running by distance/miles?
I like the mins part in that it doesn't make you want to go fast which is nice., because you just have to get the mins done. Miles I think is easier to look back on, but Mins is also cool to look back on.
Was sidelined for 4 weeks with lower back muscle pain. Only a year ago ran a 9:18 metric mile to win a bet I could not run less than 9:30. I am on the road to recovery and will do everything possible to stay walking/ running for rest of my life including gentle yoga, weekly massage and being mindful how I bend and lift anything & everything. Injuries heal very slowly at age 77. My lifetime goal: Sunday 10k runs in less than an hour. Terrell, hope all your subscribers are out of harm's way. Wonder if Gov. DeSantis believes in Climate change yet?
At 77, it does take longer for an injury to heal. Still wobbling along, but you have the right approach. I keep at it, too! Glad to hear your Mom is letting you help. My daughter helps me along, too, and am I ever glad she is around. . . even though I push her away sometimes and tell her I can still do things by myself! :)
Working on my balance issues. . .probably something to do when I fell on my head a few years ago. Walking helps, and yoga. Hope it clears up soon. I hate falling over when there is no good reason! :) Shaker Heights is beautiful, specially this time of year. That's where my father-in-law lived!
We can only hope, Clark!! (Re: the climate change thing) Are you in Florida, btw?
Also -- totally hear you about injuries healing slower. I'm not 77 of course, but I can definitely see that my body needs more time than it did when I was 23 (vs. 53 now). What's the 10K you're running on Sunday?
In Shaker Heights, Ohio. Moved my Mom from her independent living facility in Florida to an assisted living facility ten minutes from me. At age 100 she finally agreed to let me help her. Yay for both of us.
My weekly 10k is a beautiful route thru tree lined Shaker Heights where I can run solo and take in the awe & wonder of nature. Are we totally dependent on our natural environment? Try holding your breath for 2 minutes and then think about where the air you breathe is coming from. If we runners are not sensitive to our utter dependency on Nature, then who?
Some friends and I from our Pub Run Club were gearing up for the Tuna 200 Relay from Raleigh to the Crystal Coast of NC which we all reside. Sadly, we just got word that it was cancelled last minute due to what I understand are some insurance procurement issues. Was looking forward to a new challenge, even though I was likely way underprepared with two kids under two at home to manage. We’ll switch our focus to the Emerald Isle Marathon/Half/5K which is a great, flat course if you’re looking for a fun and friendly small-town destination race!
Man! I'm bummed to hear that about the Tuna 200 Relay, but glad you'll be able to run the Emerald Isle Half -- I love the name, btw! Where is it run, and when?
Emerald Isle, NC- a small barrier island in the Southern Outer Banks. There is a nice wide pedestrian path throughout the island so we get a lot of active vacationers. This year’s race is October 22nd. It’s apparently one of the most runner-friendly Boston Qualifiers out there!
No big race in mind, just trying to maintain +30 miles/week. Now in Ashkelon, Israel and have an outstanding beach path to run on with very favorable weather. Local water fountains and even stainless working weight scales to weigh yourself along the route. Weather is in the 70s to 80s with nice breeze on shore. We're about 8 miles north of Gaza and about 35 miles from Tel Aviv. Byron
Wow! I feel like I remember us chatting at times in the past, when you've been in other parts of the world -- Europe, maybe? It's really interesting to hear what it's like over there. Stay safe! (That's also really interesting about the scales along the route you run -- have you ever seen that anywhere else?)
Well I lived and worked in Poland for nearly two years and many other places in Asia, Pacific and middle east. No, i have not found outdoor working weigh scales in other places in the world. There is a small running crowd here, unlike most of the world, joggers do not wave when coming from opposite directions (this is really common say in Colorado). Guam maintains a very large civilian jogging group, with weekly road closures and very large turnout of the population. One of the most active running cultures I have yet to see. Weather conditions here mirror Florida perhaps the closest. Roads and paths are in good condition. Better than Guam, on par with Western Europe.
I'm running the New York City Marathon on 11/3. I was supposed to run it last year, but I I had a hip injury that forced me to cancel. Really looking forward to it as I love visiting New York City.
Stacy, I'm so jealous!! That's a race I've always wanted to run -- a few friends of mine ran it back in the late 90s, and I even got a spot one time, but ended up not being able to make it. I wish I had, because it's SO much harder to get into now!! Keep us posted on how it goes!