I've been lurking over here for a while.

I just started running May 8th. I'm sorta doing my own version of c25k to prepare for an 8 mile race on September 12th. Right now I am regularly running 5k's and have went as far as 5 miles for my long run. I also have a 6k race scheduled for August 8th.

I do have a question on lacing patterns. I run gravel roads and I seem to be getting a LOT of small rocks in my shoes. I keep my shoes loose enough that I can slip them on/off with just a little twist of my foot. I've tried just tightening them up a little to keep rocks from sliding down the sides but all that did was make my feet go numb. I've tried a standard lacing pattern that was tighter on just the top two holes but they quickly evened themselves out amongst all seven holes.

Can someone direct me somewhere to find different lacing patterns to avoid having to stop to empty rocks?

ETA: I'm gonna try lacing for a heel that slides up and down. Hopefully that will help but I am willing to explore any other ideas.

Welcome Zinkemom - Sorry don't much about lacing patterns

Rocketbunny - OMG I would have been miserable and lazy. I commend you for going out and running anyway

So today was first day back on the TM. WACK WACK WACK is all I have to say. I was bored to death! I wanted to be outside but it was raining. But what I did notice is that my last week of running outside really improved my overall performance. I was an average of 11:16 pace. I can't usually hold that pace the whole 4 miles... SO WOOT for that.

I did my best ever 4 mile time today - 35:15!! Also the LAST mile of that, believe it or not, was my best ever mile time, at 8:30. My times were: 8:43, 9:09, 8:56 and 8:30

Recently I have started doing the last half mile of a run at the fastest speed I possibly can - no sense doing it at the beginning, but if I feel I have reserves left I use them!

Today I imagined my partner racing me, trying to catch me up and there was no way I was going to let him beat me, so I just ran for it!

Re: toenails - when I did my first 10K in May I found that all under my second toes had basically turned into one big scab. They didn't hurt at all so I ignored them. I actually didn't run for a few weeks after that as I had hurt underneath one of my feet so I don't know what running with the toenails that way would have done. About 6 weeks later the scab peeled away and the entire toenail is no longer attached to the nailbed - it looks really weird. The nail is still there though and I assume it will start to grow back normally.

Robsia - way to go on your quick times! i try and sprint the last section of my run too - when i have the energy leftover!

SO, this may seen like an obvious question to you all, but as a new runner, i have been completely derailed this week, as it's been raining. i don't have a treadmill, so i have been not going out for fear of wet, blistery feet.

any running in the rain tips???? TIA!

running in rain. Wear a baseball cap to keep the water out of your eyes. Dress for ONLYabout 5 degrees cooler than it is. Other than that dont worry about it. RUN. Unless there is lightning, rain should never be an excuse to not run! And trust me, I live in Oregon so I know rain running!

If you are prone to blisters then lube your feet with bodyglide, vaseline etc before putting on your socks but unless you are going to be out there a long time in pouring rain it isnt necessary for most

If your shoes get really soaked, when you get home take out the insoles and stuff newspaper in the shoes, this will help the shoes dry.


MTA: try not to wear waterproof or windproof stuff to keep you dry. Unless it is cold out you will just get overheated. Just get wet.
Running in rain is AWESOME. So much better than running in hot sweaty sunshine. After the initial blah feeling once you are in it it is fine.

Any chance anyone has any tips to keep rocks from sliding down into my shoes? I run gravel roads and have to stop every half mile to dump out small pebbles. I tried tightening my shoes and that just made my feet numb. I searched RW and found the lacing patterns so I tried the one to tighten slipping heels. That just pulled the instep up and drove me nuts. Any other suggestions?

Billie, the place I bought my shoe from did something called a runner's loop for me for my laces. I keep them fairly tight as I'm afraid my shoe will come off. How low are your socks? Mine are ankle length. Have you tried mid calf length socks? I don't run on gravel but every now and then (not often) I do get a small pebble etc in my shoe whenever I run outside. Also, is there any non gravel path you can run on?

Hi ladies. i have been sick for three days now and have not run since Monday. If I miss this week or go out sunday do you think I will have a lost mileage. I always hear ppl say I missed a week and had to go back. Mind I am up to 6 miles runs....so IDK if a week will kill me or not. Any thoughts/

Robsia _ WT freaking G! You are awesome. That is great time

I tried the pattern with little loops to prevent heel slippage. I only wear ankle socks. The pebbles are slipping between my socks and the side of the shoes. My running choices right now are the treadmill that I refuse to use until there is snow/ice, my dirt road, the gravel sides of US 23 which is a state trunkline with way to many logging trucks to run ON the road even if I wanted to. I was running the paved shoulder but there is to much crown on the road and it bothers my hips trying to run on uneven pavement.

I'm just getting frustrated as I am sure there is some simple solution that I am overlooking. I refuse to give up.

Thanks for the great advice! At the beginning of this month I set a goal for August 1st to be able to run 2.5 mi straight. Well I read your advice on getting up to 4-5 mi and became really motivated. I'm happy to report that yesterday I ran 2.65 mi! Woot!

Robsia: 8:30? Yowza! Congratulations!

missing 1 week - pickup from where you left off
missing 2 weeks- take a small step back and ramp up over the course of 2 weeks to where you were supposed to be

Beyond 2 weeks, take your time returning to your CURRENT mileage and then retool your training plan from there

Well, yesterday i met with a lady whose joining my running group and we had a nice "easy" 11 mile run-per Hal Higdons Marathon schedule for me... I have to say, although ive run 11 miles before (Ive done several halfs) this one really got to me, and i was quite sore and stiff all day afterwards...it was DEFINITELY the heat, and i know i was VERY dehydrated as well...i carry this little 12 oz water bottle, and i was assured via email by a gentleman that there was a "water pump" around mile 4.5 to refill up my water bottle..so, stupid me drank all my water by mile 4 (it WAS already in the 80's) and then at mile 4.5, what do you know?? NO WATER!!! I had to do the last 7 miles sans water, and i was DYING of thirst....I was really happy to have the companionship of a nice lady to talk to the entire run ( i almost ALWAYS run alone) but to be honest, keeping up a conversation the last 5 miles or so was making me EVEN MORE thirsty......it was horrible-- i had to keep taking small walking breaks, and believe me we werent exactly breaking any land speed records....By the time we were done, and i sat down in my car, i was very lightheaded, naseaus, fatigued(in a bad way---long runs are usually INVIGORATING), and i had a really bad headache.....Next time i run there, i will drop off my OWN water at mile 4.5 before i run, so i have somewhere to fill up!!

Nice easy 30 minute run (45 minutes total) Saturday morning and another this morning. Today the sun was just barely coming up so my sunglasses spent most of the run on top of my head.

My 2nd 5k is coming up this Saturday.

This morning as I was running, I tried to quantify how tired I was during different segments. I'm very worried about mentally psyching myself out of running at least the first 30-35 minutes of the 5k on Saturday. I *CAN* run it (I've been doing 30 minute runs (+ warm up/cool down) 3 times a week for the last 4 weeks and C25K prior to that). I need to be aware of but not listen to that niggling voice in my head that will say that I'm overdoing it or that it's different from a normal morning run.

Ennay - Thanks. I ran on saturday just 3 miles to see how I felt. I was fine

Mk - WOW. It sounded it horrible. But you are such a trooper and you made it out!

Rocket - You will probably end up running the whole thing if you can make it 30 minutes now....GL

I ran 5 yesterday with no freaking socks. I forgot them and I WAS NOT missing my run and I said I would stop if it didn't work out. Well it worked out okay. But I had to febreeze my shoes.

QUESTION: In a HM, if you can make it through mile 8 then you can make it through the whole thing? I was told this by someone. is this true according to you vets?

Cakebatter--
I suppose the logic in that is that if you are conditioned enough to run 8 miles, you will have no problem finishing 13.....You prob could, but it might be the LONGEST 5 miles of your life!! I wouldnt train for a half and only run 8 as my longest run...not too smart.... Are you thinking about your own training and where you are right now when you ask this?? Is 8 miles your longest so far? If so, when is your half you are training for? Assuming its not his weekend, im sure you have plenty of time to tack on the milage you need....SO to go back to your question---YES< i think if you can run 8 miles NOW, you WILL be able to finish the full 13 in---3 weeks? 4 weeks? Longer?