The Running Thread—2023

[Naomeri]

Well, my April is already starting off on the wrong foot—someone pissed off Elsa and she dumped at least 6 inches of heavy snow on my house.

 

[jmasgat]

Well, my April is already starting off on the wrong foot—someone pissed off Elsa and she dumped at least 6 inches of heavy snow on my house.

April Fool! Someone, somewhere has a wicked sense of humor.

 

[Naomeri]

April Fool! Someone, somewhere has a wicked sense of humor.

Yeah, I’m not laughing

 

[striker1064]

Ok yes I know how frustrating that must be, but at the same time I'm in awe of the beauty of it.

 

[Naomeri]

Ok yes I know how frustrating that must be, but at the same time I'm in awe of the beauty of it.

Me too, but it’s much more beautiful in winter where it belongs—or at least on non-running days. But it looks like the road plows did a great job in the neighborhood, and the sun in drying everything out, so if I can ever get out of my driveway, I should have no problems.

Here’s another picture to be in awe of

 

[Guidman]

Cherry Blossom 10-Miler

I didn't have a firm goal for this race. My left achilles and hamstrings have been acting up for the past month, so it's been a sometime since I've done any speed work. I figured I'd go out the first mile around 6:50 or so and go from there (ran 6:50 the first). The corral was packed so I ended up lining back further than I would have liked, both the 7:00 and 7:30 pacers were ahead of me. The 7:00 pacer went out really hot, my next two miles were both 6:36 and I was still 15 yards behind him at mile 3. Eventually I settled between 6:38 and 6:43 for the next five miles. They weather was ideal except for the wind throughout the race. The first half it wasn't that bad since it was so dense with runners. Things didn't thin out a bit until mile 5 or so. You make a turn back north at mile 7.5 and it was dead into the wind the rest of the way. It was a hard headwind the whole way home, I slowed a bit in mile 9 but finished in 1:07:53.

It was a really enjoyable race. Even though cherry blossoms were past their peak, it was still very pretty throughout. The only downsides were: for a race it's size the water stops could have been better marked/organized. I didn't even realize I was at the first one until I heard someone yelling out Gatorade, didn't even stop for that one. The others were all on just the right side of the road. For a race it's size you would think they would have people on both sides. Gear check also could have been handled better. I waited 45 minutes for my bag. I think they entire first corral was in one UPS van.

I recommend this race for anyone. It's a flat/fast course. The 10-mile distance is my favorite. It seems like most people are able to get in through the lottery.

 

[azrivest]

Yeah, I’m not laughing

Yup. The Feels Like temp when I got up this morning was -16C/3F. I couldn't muster the energy to go out running. We've given enough this winter --> where's spring?

 

[GreatLakes]

Cherry Blossom 10-Miler

I didn't have a firm goal for this race. My left achilles and hamstrings have been acting up for the past month, so it's been a sometime since I've done any speed work. I figured I'd go out the first mile around 6:50 or so and go from there (ran 6:50 the first). The corral was packed so I ended up lining back further than I would have liked, both the 7:00 and 7:30 pacers were ahead of me. The 7:00 pacer went out really hot, my next two miles were both 6:36 and I was still 15 yards behind him at mile 3. Eventually I settled between 6:38 and 6:43 for the next five miles. They weather was ideal except for the wind throughout the race. The first half it wasn't that bad since it was so dense with runners. Things didn't thin out a bit until mile 5 or so. You make a turn back north at mile 7.5 and it was dead into the wind the rest of the way. It was a hard headwind the whole way home, I slowed a bit in mile 9 but finished in 1:07:53.

It was a really enjoyable race. Even though cherry blossoms were past their peak, it was still very pretty throughout. The only downsides were: for a race it's size the water stops could have been better marked/organized. I didn't even realize I was at the first one until I heard someone yelling out Gatorade, didn't even stop for that one. The others were all on just the right side of the road. For a race it's size you would think they would have people on both sides. Gear check also could have been handled better. I waited 45 minutes for my bag. I think they entire first corral was in one UPS van.

I recommend this race for anyone. It's a flat/fast course. The 10-mile distance is my favorite. It seems like most people are able to get in through the lottery.

That's a good time. I ran that race for the first time and loved it. I plan to be back.

 

[WillRunForPizza]

QOTD: How early do you try to arrive at a (non-Disney) race?

I struggle with this because I run mostly local races (i.e. within a couple of miles of my front door), so it's easy for me to just roll out and get there 15-30 minutes before the race starts. But then the port-a-potty lines are super long and I can't get to my corral and it's kind of a mess. So I thought I'd come here to see what everyone else does

 

[striker1064]

ATTQOTD: Ordinarily if it's a local race, I'd aim for 45-60 minutes prior (but this also depends on the size of the race, weather, etc). For the DC RnR half I got there like 20 minutes prior because transportation was a mess and I was super stressed. When I've gone through a long training cycle and paid money for a race, that stress just isn't worth it.

Now, some smaller races are totally fine. Last year I ran the Capitol Hill Classic (a 10k) and got there maybe 15 minutes before it started? It's not a very big race so I still had time to use the restroom and line up. As I recall there were no corrals or waves, we simply all started at once - so that took stress out of it too.

 

[Grabnar]

ATTQOT: Usually 45-60 min early so that I can warm up a bit and get limber before heading to the corral

 

[WillRunForPizza]

Last year I ran the Capitol Hill Classic (a 10k) and got there maybe 15 minutes before it started? It's not a very big race so I still had time to use the restroom and line up. As I recall there were no corrals or waves, we simply all started at once - so that took stress out of it too.

Perfect, that's my next race!

 

[DopeyBadger]

ATTQOTD: I tend to be risk adverse. I spent quite a bit of money and time training when I toe the line. So I usually get to local races 60-75 min before the start because then I can be relaxed in my choices prior to race start. Plenty of time to get a good parking spot, short bib pickup line, warm up (up to 30 min of stretch/run before shorter distances), hit the bathroom before others arrive, and just chill before the start. If anything unexpected happens, then I have more time to deal with it in a relaxed manner.

 

[MissLiss279]

ATTQOTD: Usually about an hour. It depends on the race, but for the most part, if I’m driving, I want to make sure I can get a parking spot. So if a race doesn’t seem to have great parking options, I may go earlier and just sit in the car for a while.

 

[Naomeri]

ATTQOTD: usually about an hour

 

[GollyGadget]

QOTD: How early do you try to arrive at a (non-Disney) race?

I want to provide a helpful answer but I genuinely don’t have a set time. It depends on the race distance, number of runners, and if I have to drive.

If I can run to the start, I’ll try to time my arrival such that I’ll be finishing my warm up 15-20 min before the start.

If I’m driving, now I have to factor in how easy it will be to find parking plus allow time for a warm up.

There’s only one non rD race that I’ve run where crowds are an issue. I would arrive to that race at least an hour early so I could find time to park and get a front spot in the corral. The logistics of that race made it difficult to warm up so I would do some dynamic moves in the corral.

So I guess the answer is anywhere between 15 min to one hour

 

[fatmanatee]

ATTQOTD: I live near NYC so most of the races I do are with NYRR and I use the subways to get to them. As such, I’m at the mercy of their weekend schedules and thankfully, this weekend when I had a race I was able to get to Central Park 30 min before the start. Sometimes (like with the NYC half last month), they recommend getting there earlier, and I had to drop off my bag at least one hour before my start because they have to take them from Brooklyn to the finish in Manhattan.

Ideally it would be 30 min, I don’t like hanging around waiting for the starts but between NYRR and RD I seem to have picked a bunch of races where I often have to arrive way earlier .

 

[marty3d]

ATTQOTD: I also like to avoid the stress of unexpected traffic/ Peking issues so I usually aim to be at the race 60 minutes before. Luckily none of these are early morning starts like rD so it doesn’t involve a 2:30 wake up call!

 

[dis_or_dat]

March totals:
Miles: 80.6
Avg pace: 8:38

Stubbornly running while borderline injured will tip you into majorly injured -- who knew? Anyways, all the trails around me are indefinitely closed due to storm damage. My favorite running trail has been closed for 3 months and likely into late summer.

ATTQOTD: I always forget what a mess gear/security check (even super well organized races) can be so have cut it close a few times, especially with my nervous race bladder and long porta potty lines. So even with 30 min I've barely made it to my corral.

 

[SheHulk]

ATTQOTD: I seem to have 2 modes: Show up way too early or show up just-in-time to late. I have gotten stuck behind a horse and buggy in Amish country and had to sprint from my parked car to the start line, as I watched the last of the folks to cross the start get further and further away
On the other hand, I have also stood around in a corral for over an hour so that my legs and back tighten up before we even get started. I think I prefer to cut it too close, than wait around and get nervous and wish I had hit the porta one last time. I am a first-busser at runDisney and that will never change. I worry too much about not getting there at all.