welp....the Raleigh Rock 'n Roll Half Marathon was more "hilly" than I expected, but it was an AWESOME race! The bands could have been better. Shaw U's marching band was FANTASTIC! The mile for the troops killed in action (Wear Blue to Remember) almost made me

I finished in 2:19. Not great, but not terrible, so I'm satisfied.

we lost a lot of good men out there. *literally* good night, sweet princes

Overall, great time and I'll definitely be up in it next year!

[Edited on April 14, 2014 at 10:08 AM. Reason : 36]

4/14/2014 10:08:27 AM

What is everyone's favorite run tracking device?

My runs are getting longer and are taxing on my phone's battery when running GPS. Plus I heard a lot of the gizmos that people wear to track runs provide all kind of other cool data points (like hearbeat, running stats, etc).

I couldn't see myself spending more than $100-$150 on a device; what are the TWW recommendations.

4/14/2014 10:14:18 AM

Run Keeper has worked well for me, and doesn't wear down the battery that quickly. If your phone battery can't handle using a GPS utilizing app for at least an hour your phone must be old.

4/14/2014 10:38:10 AM

I use runkeeper and got a LG VS840 "Lucid". An hour is fine but as I start going 7-10 miles during my half marathon training; the drain starts getting close unless I have >90% charge prior to the run.

Now that you mention it my phone has a shitty battery life. One time I left my phone in my car from 8 AM - 1PM by the time I came out to get it, battery was like 35% and I hadn't even been using it all day....

Plus there is a Plaza Midwood Tuesday Night Bike Ride thats last 2-3 hours. Usually I don't even bother tracking it on my phone because my phone will be dead by the end of the ride.

[Edited on April 14, 2014 at 11:47 AM. Reason : a]

4/14/2014 11:41:12 AM

you got other shit running in the background of your phone? keeping wifi / bluetooth on when not needed. that drains my battery like mad

4/14/2014 12:39:49 PM

http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2013/11/sports-gadgets-recommendations.html

Scroll down to running, below triathlon

4/14/2014 1:42:38 PM

Quote :

"you got other shit running in the background of your phone? keeping wifi / bluetooth on when not needed. that drains my battery like mad"

Blue tooth and Wifi off by default. Have ATK running every 30 minutes at "Insanity" going to try changing the frequency to "when the screen is off".

^ Thanks for the suggestion.

4/14/2014 1:54:40 PM

I did the RnR half too. Those hills were awful. I was expecting some of the rolling ones and the one near the end just about did me in.

Also I felt like there could have been another water station between Peace St and Hillsborough. It felt like forever, even though it was just the standard distance.

I was actually almost 50 minutes slower yesterday than at my last half only last fall. I felt so defeated when I realized that. But now I want another half (flatter half) to do so I can get some vengeance.

So maybe the 13.1 Midtown Raleigh race this June? Does anyone know if that's as bad with hills as the RnR? Maybe I just need to suck it up and get down with these crazy Raleigh hills

4/14/2014 2:22:47 PM

If it is in the north hills area, it is definitely hilly! Get used to it!

4/14/2014 3:32:26 PM

4/15/2014 6:44:33 AM

^^^ I'm trying to decide if i want to do the one in Asheville or the Midtown in Raleigh.

Asheville equals lots more hills but -10 Deg F during the race which may be worth it in June.

This will be my first...

4/15/2014 10:23:31 AM

a buddy of mine's dad passed away this past week, so I'm out of doing the Tar Heel 10 Miler next weekend (April 26th). If anyone is interested in running it in my place, let me know. I'd prefer to sell it, to at least recoup some of my costs. I suppose if I cant find any takers on selling it, I'll let it go to anyone wishing to run it.

Cost was 48.00 and change. Would let it go for $40. I wear a size medium shirt, and its yours if you run the race.

FYI, I'm running it as a Party Crasher, so the bib is NC State Red. Go Pack.

4/18/2014 1:40:59 PM

Did the RnR Raleigh Half last Sunday as well. Was battling foot & knee issues but finished in 2:25, but the g/f beat me by 4 minutes! Those hills

I decided that this would likely be the retirement race for my running shoes so I'm in the market for new ones in the next few months. Any suggestions on where to go to get fitted? I've heard Fleet Feet is good, just not sure of others.

Background: Have been wearing generally the same model of shoe for ~10 years (different pairs, of course!) They are Asics GT 2xxx something like that. I believe the last time I was fitted they said these offered good inside arch support, which I needed. But now that I've gotten back to making running a part of my somewhat daily life, I figured I'd reassess.

Oh, and here's to a nice easy (read: FLAT) run this weekend

4/18/2014 2:07:37 PM

Saturday- 2nd in my age group, Cary Short Course Duathlon

Sunday- 3rd in my age group, RRCA Half Marathon at Umstead 1:34:25

AND NOW I AM DEAD



[Edited on May 18, 2014 at 7:21 PM. Reason : icon]

5/18/2014 7:17:28 PM

^thats an awesome half time! congrats on that!

5/19/2014 9:39:57 AM

youre bad at wolfwebbing

7/21/2014 12:45:54 PM

sorry. did a search, nothing came up. perhaps search is broken...

anyone in for any races this year?

I've got:

MCM in October 2014

Raleigh RnR in April 2015

Ironman 70.3 in May 2015. (Never done a tri, but why the hell not, right?)

7/21/2014 2:29:32 PM

I'm doing the ironman in a relay team (doing the running part, half marathon) in may. it's a work team, so I figured...why not?

7/21/2014 2:35:59 PM

Been a runner 17 years..weight constant 170-175 (5'10"). Two months ago caught a nasty bug that took two rounds of meds to kill. Went from 170 to 150 without running. Going to start back running this week. Maybe I can maintain it?

[Edited on July 28, 2014 at 2:57 AM. Reason : c]

7/28/2014 2:55:44 AM

i've fallen off hardcore but recently got back on it.

Went to running two weeks ago, knocked out 2 miles on Saturday. Knocked out 3 miles on Wednesday last week and couldn't get a run in on the weekend.

Any motivation tips to get me back into it?

7/28/2014 4:47:54 AM

Just getting yourself outside to start is the hardest part, IMO. I started up three weeks ago after giving my joints some much needed rest for several months (walked quite a lot instead). Yesterday I attempted 5 miles in a little over 50 mins , I definitely have a long ways to go to get back to respectable levels.

7/28/2014 9:35:26 AM

just started running about 2 months ago... I'm doing 3-5 miles at a 10-11 min pace

working up to do the Raleigh oaks 10k in nov then, God willing, the rock and roll half next year

7/28/2014 7:09:20 PM

those color fun runs are stupid. that is all.

7/31/2014 5:11:13 PM

Has anyone had any luck with using compression sleeves to combat shin splints?

8/30/2014 2:52:25 PM

anyone have a link for a good running playlist?

10/29/2014 4:25:38 PM

Pandora or Spotify have a bunch. Try out like "cardio" or "running music". Some of them are a little pop-ey for me but there's some good ones in there.

10/29/2014 4:47:16 PM

I like to listen to coldplay hen I do long runs. Really helps my cadence and rhythm. Highly recommend!

Anybody doing the city of oaks this weekend?

10/30/2014 12:11:27 PM

Just found this thread...

I'm almost 40 and have been running for 10 years. About 6 yrs ago I said fuck it and gave up on eating healthy. I kept running- even upped my mileage to 7,8, some times 9 miles a run. I was running 5-6 times a week.

But I was eating and drinking A LOT. My body adjusted and started adding weight, even though I was running a lot. I put on 30 lbs. Kept running.

Then started getting lots of injuries- tendonitis really bad in achilles/knees, plantar fasciitis. I couldn't walk in the mornings.

I even had severe soreness in my calfs. Bought a roller. Still no relief.

After many months of the wife nagging about losing weight, I decided to try a mod paleo diet.

I lost 25lbs in 6 weeks and I don't have leg pain/injuries.

I can't believe I didn't connect the two together. If you're fat and overweight and still run a lot; you're gonna get injured.

I thought I had all this pain because I was getting old. Nope. It was because I ate with a shovel, not a fork.

So any of you fatties out there who suffer from leg/joint pain- lose 15-20 lbs and you'll thank yourself!

10/30/2014 12:19:06 PM

How much mileage were you putting in per week? Did form ever factor in to your injuries at all?

10/30/2014 12:41:52 PM

^^ not that you can really compare, how much did you weigh when you started noticing injury. I saw injury come out around 195lbs training a marathon.

10/30/2014 12:53:25 PM

When I hit 210 lbs (5'10"), that's when the pain came. At 228 lbs, I said shit I'm fat.

I'm at 205 now and I can walk down the stairs in the morning.

I feel like Don Ameche in Cocoon.

[Edited on October 30, 2014 at 1:01 PM. Reason : .]

10/30/2014 1:00:34 PM

Hey, I have been getting some good runs in lately, training for the OBX Half-Marathon in two weeks.

I did 12.2 last week with a 10 min run / 2 min fast walk interval. Intervals were the only thing to help break into the higher miles.

I am hopeful for a 2:00hr time.

I have a Garmin Forerunner 210 that is great in intervals and GPS.

10/30/2014 2:56:01 PM

Do you all carb load before races?

http://fittish.deadspin.com/lay-off-the-spaghetti-marathoners-why-carb-loading-mi-1652789860/+kylenw

10/31/2014 2:36:30 PM

City of Oaks roll call...

11/1/2014 8:39:14 PM

Good race (half), wind was terrible. Saw a bunch of emergency vehicles on my way out. Hope everything is okay.

11/2/2014 11:41:31 AM

did the city of oaks 10k. it was fun. pretty happy with my 1:02 finish for my first 10k. looking forward to training for my first half now.

11/2/2014 9:04:38 PM

^ Same...except I was 1:10...ok with it though.

11/7/2014 12:01:25 AM

Treadmill season now...fuck

11/7/2014 8:18:44 AM

Not bad weather just bad gear

11/7/2014 8:44:18 AM

^ +1

11/7/2014 10:41:10 AM

OBX roll call?

11/7/2014 11:42:07 AM

Quote :

"Treadmill season now...fuck"

do wha?

This is the best time of year to run. 40s-60s is ideal.

Just realized you my not be in NC, but even up north, most areas are getting into the 40s-50s which is perfect.

11/7/2014 11:57:32 AM

I am (in Winston-Salem), and the temps don't affect me unless it's mid-40s or lower. There's just not enough sunlight to run outside after work and I'd rather not run in the dark around downtown.

11/7/2014 2:11:13 PM

If it is a visibility issue I just picked up a Nox vest and its great.

https://www.noxgear.com/tracer360

If anyone is interested there is a coupon code I used to get 15% off, i’ll have to dig it up though.

11/8/2014 7:43:51 AM

Anybody run a 8 or 9 minute mile want a partner?

11/8/2014 7:14:45 PM

So the headliner for Rock and Roll Raleigh is...

Smash mouth

I wasn't coming for the music but now I definitely won't be staying for it either

Quote :

"What is everyone's favorite run tracking device?"

I used to use RunKeeper (still use it to log my runs) but I got a Garmin Forerunner 220 for Christmas which I love. So much more comfortable to look down at your watch to see pace/time instead of awkwardly looking at your upper arm or holding a phone

[Edited on January 13, 2015 at 9:24 AM. Reason : .]

1/13/2015 9:15:04 AM

Lottery sign up now available for the 40th Annual Marine Corp Marathon:

https://mcmregistration.com/Register/?event=31011

I know they were toying around with the idea of increasing the number of entries from around 30K to 40K, but cursory research tells me nothing about this. Here's to hoping I'm in again.

3/13/2015 1:30:55 PM

So back to the:

Quote :

"What is everyone's favorite run tracking device?"

I usually carry my phone with me because I like listening to Pandora or Spotify or some other streaming app. I also use Runkeeper to track my runs. The problem is I have a waist bag thing which is awesome because I barely notice it's there but it's a pain in the ass to take the phone out and change the song or check my splits.

I'd be interested in a smart watch that can show me Runkeeper as well as control whatever Android music app is running on my phone. I assume most smart watches will do this. Anyone use any one in particular for these two reasons?

Also I'm a pretty slow runner in general but I got my 5k time down to 25 minutes!! (which is about an 8 minute mile!). I know still a slow pace but good for me.

3/13/2015 4:22:21 PM

Anyone running the Cooper River Bridge?

My wife and are with her dad. We haven't ran a 10k since last spring. I had some serious SI joint/lumbar issues that 6-9 months of yoga/pilates has sorted out for the most part.

We're up to 4.5 miles with a 9 min pace, which is great for her...but disappointing for me.

3/16/2015 9:04:05 AM

any local raleigh races coming up 5K? style?

3/23/2015 11:24:01 PM