Workouts: What are you doing?!

[HerRealName]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Well, I ran my marathon on Sunday and did about what I expected, maybe a bit better. My goal was under 4 hours, and I finished at 3:53:03. My ideal goal was 3:50 which I think I would/could have hit if not for the Great Unknown every race morning. I did not have a good enough bathroom moment, and I told my wife as we walked to the race that I was likely in trouble at some point on the course. And sure enough, it started to hit around Mile 13 and I held off until Mile 17 when I had to stop. I lost at least 3 minutes, maybe closer to 4 minutes, and that killed any chance I had of getting 3:50.

That last 10K was a slog - it was wet, cool and during Miles 18-24 lightly raining, which I would ordinarily have welcomed, but I was already damp and cool and my shoes/socks soaked, so it was more annoying than anything. But the race overall was really fun and a great atmosphere.

At no point was I winded or even breathing heavily. I handled the inclines pretty easily, slowing down, and made up time on the downhills as I planned. I didn't really hit a wall, but that last 7 or so miles, I just didn't have that extra gear to ramp up the speed at all. I felt like I was running faster than I was, and I'd look down at my watch thinking I was running at an 8:30 pace only to see 9:15, so I'd push myself to get under a 9 minute pace because I knew that would guarantee a sub-4 time. I just couldn't push myself any faster for more than 20-30 seconds at a time, and I'd slow down without realizing it.

Korme also ran it, but we weren't able to meet up (I didn't run with my phone, and there were thousands of people, so it was impossible to find each other).

I'll do another one, for sure. I need to get stronger. My cardio level is fine, and if I wanted, I could probably cruise at a 10 minute pace and not really feel like I needed to push too hard to finish. I'm going to look for a flatter course and see if that helps me ramp up my pace at all. Maybe this fall, or maybe I'll give it a year and look at next spring.

Congratulations! Have you registered for your next one yet?

[Ksyrup]

No. Considering Indianapolis in November, if I do another one this year. Close enough to drive to and a flat course.

[Edward64]

Originally Posted by Brian Swartz

Well done to both of you

Ditto

@Kysrup. How did the carbon plated shoes work out?

[Ksyrup]

It's hard to say. I think they were helpful, but I don't really have anything to compare them to other than my typical shoes that I raced HMs in. When I finished, I almost fell over several times because my legs were so tired and the shoes were tipping me forward. I definitely felt "springier" running in them. I may run in a new pair of my usual shoes (NB 1080s) for the next marathon and see if there's any noticeable difference.

[DanGarion]

If anyone is using Strava, likes to geek out with stats, and enjoys self-hosting check out Statistics for Strava on Github.

I've been using it for my internal tracking pulling my data via Strava's API.
I've run just over 107 miles for the year, and that was with only starting my run journey in late February.

[DanGarion]

I'm continuing my running journey, but I've signed up for a 10K race next month and I signed up for the Eugene Marathon 1/2 Marathon next April! I run about 4 times a week for a total of roughly 15 miles a week, trying to increase that weekly load up to 20-25 at the moment.

[scott99]

That’s awesome, Dan - sounds like your training is really paying off! Congrats on signing up for the Eugene Half, that’s a big step. I’ve also been running more lately, though mostly for fun - kind of like how I play speed stars, this cool running browser game that keeps me competitive without the sore legs ��. It’s funny how games like that actually motivate me to stick to real runs too. Keep it up, man!

[DanGarion]

I'm still running! Just hit 365 miles for the year yesterday morning while running with my run club. Will try and hit 500 by the end of the year now that I hit the 365 goal. I've lost about 35 pounds at this point, and my physician was really pleased with my most recent 3 month follow-up I had with him last week.

[Ksyrup]

Great news, nice job!

I'm still putting in 6 days a week. I'm less than 5 miles from hitting 1200 miles for the year - aided greatly by my marathon training during the first 4 months. I'm trying to decide whether to give it another go in the spring. I applied for Chicago next October, but that's probably a snowball's chance in hell given how many apply and how few randomly get in. I'll find out in December. If I don't get it, I'll decide then whether to go for another spring marathon. Probably Louisville, the Derby Marathon at the end of April.

[Ghost Econ]

My Garmin watch is such a bully. I'm pretty sure my training status today was "You have a mangina."

[Ghost Econ]

So I'm still fat, currently sitting at 5'9 214 after losing 10 pounds last month but then maintaining a few weeks. I'm a morning person, ready to go as soon as I wake up, but just can't get motivated to work out in the morning. So I work out in the office after my wife goes to bed, so it's hard to stay motivated for that. The easy part is actually just eating less

Anyway, decided to do the new Shaun T Dig In program on Beachbody. Only 30 days, but it does get a good sweat and function for a 30 minute program. And I have started or fnished it a million times like the other videos, so that is helping. Also, seeing him change from a cardio guy to a weight guy is weird but kinda motivating.

[Brian Swartz]

If you have the eating part down you're already most of the way there!

[Ghost Econ]

The eating part is easy. I only really eat outside of mealtime if I'm bored. The problem is I get bored pretty easily. I found I just do crosswords or try to find something interesting to read or play. If I keep my mind occupied I don't really get hungry.

[damnMikeBrown]

I hit a new milestone last week…
Finally got 300 on the bench!

I’m certain I could’ve hit it over the years, but I’ve always lifted solo.
Just not safe or smart to push that much without a spot.

Been working out again for about a year.
My wife got me a trainer, something I never wanted or needed…
It has been great for creating consistency.
I will not waste money, so I will never miss a session.
He’s a good guy, fun chat while working out, but I’ve told him “your value to me isn’t knowledge or motivation. It is accountability.”
It is paid for, so I always go.

[Ksyrup]

Since I'm spending the next 4 days with my parents, I decided to get in a 4+ mile run today to get myself over the 1500 mile mark for the year. I did 1250 last year and didn't think I could do more, but I guess training for a marathon piles the miles on.

[Ghost Econ]

So, still eating fairly better and exercising, but I somehow gained 4 pounds last week. Counting calories and was definitely at or below the recommended deficit all but 1 day even with over counting food and undercounting exercise. Not sure what I did, but it is frustrating when you have that random week where your body is just like, nope, you're not losing weight right now.

[Brian Swartz]

How often do you weigh yourself? I would really strongly recommend not counting exercise calories, as it's not possible to do so accurately outside of laboratory conditions.

Stuff definitely happens with the body. My weight has stalled for the last week and a half, so I'm moderately annoyed while I wait for it to start dropping again.

[Ghost Econ]

I try to do it about once a week. I did up losing those pounds and an extra one about a week later. Might take an extra week to weigh myself again because I've been locked in due to weather, had COVID, ate like shit and exercised way less this week.

I will say, I fuckin hate Bulgarian Split Squats. Weighted or not, they just beat the living shit out of me. I think it's because I'm still a fat ass, but I had an absolute puddle of sweat on the floor just from those yesterday.

[AlexB]

I broke my collarbone cycling in Sri Lanka at the beginning of last May, and it didn’t heal (not even close - complete non-union… long story).

So I’ve been riding on Zwift since, with a fair amount of walking, and a few press ups towards the end of last year (until I figured the pain wasn’t worth the gain)

My operation is finally up on Monday- an artificial bone graft and pinning, so hopefully I can expand my exercise range in 2026

[DanGarion]

I ran 506 miles in 2025, with basically starting at 0 at the end of February.

In the middle of January for my 50th birthday, I challenged the local running community to show up for my weekly morning 6 AM run I lead for our club, and if 50 or more showed up, I would sign up for a 2nd half marathon in 2026 (I'm already signed up for my first with the Eugene Marathon half in April). Well, 51 showed up. So... I signed up for my second half-marathon, a local one here in Salem, it will be in September... haha!

I ran my most miles for a month in January with 82 (hitting 25 miles the last week). So I continue to be crazy about running.

[Qwikshot]

I am still doing Fight Camp (20-25 minutes boxing, 5-8 minute abs) then I walk on a treadmill for an hour.

My current job when I have to conduct an audit of a building could be 1-2 hours of walking up and down steps, so yesterday I got about 4 miles by just working.

[Brian Swartz]

Originally Posted by AlexB

My operation is finally up on Monday- an artificial bone graft and pinning, so hopefully I can expand my exercise range in 2026

How is the recovery from this going?

[Ksyrup]

I decided at the end of last year to sign up for a fall/winter marathon for #2. Went with Detroit since (a) I'm from there and (b) it's about a month before my daughter's wedding so I should be able to walk reasonably well by the wedding. I was going to do Indy but it's the week before the wedding. Not ideal. But it's supposed to be a nice, easy, flat course.

I wanted to do one this year since I'm not getting any younger and I will have turned 55 2 months before the race, so I'll be one of the younger people in my age group (not that I will be anywhere close to competing with anyone other than myself).

[DanGarion]

So I did complete the Eugene Marathon Half Marathon last Sunday! What an awesome experience! Our run club had over 20 runners in the Half and 2 in the Full.

[Ksyrup]

Congrats!

I'm putting in as many miles as possible before an extended vacation. Once I'm back in early June, I will start the actual marathon training program. Not looking forward to long runs outside in August, but it is what it is. I definitely prefer training in winter and preparing for a warm race than vice versa.

[Ghost Econ]

Nice. My wife put her name in for London next year since they're doing the marathon over 2 days. Excited to see if she can set the world record... or at least a PB. We're actually going to Dominica next week for a week of hiking. And by we I mean I'm going and she's hiking. I'm still too fat for most of it and don't want to slow them down. So I'll do a few easier hikes and tan at the resort.

But I am 2 months into starting barbell lifting at home. I figured I'm 44, now is as good a time as any to start lifting for the first time in my life. I got the stuff at the start of the year with some good Walmart deals and have been slowly working my way into trying to get decent form before trying to really progress. So far making decent gains but still trying to figure out how to work in an hour of lifting and finding time for cardio and family and sleep.

[Ksyrup]

I've almost given up on trying to get into the bigger marathons. I'll keep trying for Chicago. But the number of applications is astronomical these days. And even the smaller marathons frequently sell out months in advance. I registered for Detroit, which is in mid-October, right around the first of the year and it's been sold out for a few months now. Crazy.

[DanGarion]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

I've almost given up on trying to get into the bigger marathons. I'll keep trying for Chicago. But the number of applications is astronomical these days. And even the smaller marathons frequently sell out months in advance. I registered for Detroit, which is in mid-October, right around the first of the year and it's been sold out for a few months now. Crazy.

Eugene registrations are open for 2027! It is a great course and finishing in Hayward is an amazing feeling. Even for this OSU Beavers fan.

[Jas_lov]

I got into Chicago this fall through charity. I've tried the lottery the past few years with no luck. The minimum to raise for charity is $2,500 this year but some charities have different amounts. It's a way in I guess if you really want to do it.

I'm also trying the San Francisco marathon in late July. Seemed like a fun one to try. My favorite marathon so far has been Twin Cities. That one is pretty scenic and easy to get into. The largest one I've done so far has been Marine Corps in DC. That one had so many people but it was easy to register for.

[Ksyrup]

I almost did Marine Corp last year but it took me longer than expected to recover from Flying Pig in May so this coming October is my next one. Indy is on my list as well - 3 hours away and a nice flat, fast course.