The Running Thread—2023

[camaker]

I want my husband to get me one of the baguettes from France if I ever do the marathon. Then I can wear a shirt that says "all this for a loaf of bread?"

After all "Pain is just a French word for bread".

 

[nancipants]

After all "Pain is just a French word for bread".

Le pain c'est la vie!

 

[Professor_Cookie]

Maybe I'm more the exception, but after a race the last thing I want to eat are stale tortilla chips and sort-of cheese.

Honestly never grabbed one but, and this will tell you how long it’s been since I did a run Disney race, we would just waddle into wine and dine late night after party and buy stuff in there

 

[The Expert]

This also means I’m juggling less stuff in the finish chute—if Disney really wanted to give us some useful bonus swag, they could offer a mini tote bag before they start handing us water and towels and medals and food

They used to do string backpacks at some of the races. I distinctly remember getting them in 2017 at both Princess and Tink.

 

[Grabnar]

I have discovered the main flaw with the chest lamp

It is bright enough to attract bats

I had them flying circles around me eating bugs this morning lol

 

[DisneyParrothead]

I have discovered the main flaw with the chest lamp

It is bright enough to attract bats

I had them flying circles around me eating bugs this morning lol

A part of me is thinking cool! But then, heebee geebies.

 

[dobball23]

I have discovered the main flaw with the chest lamp

It is bright enough to attract bats

I had them flying circles around me eating bugs this morning lol

As someone who uses a chest lamp, I'm going to try to forget that I read this.

 

[camaker]

I have discovered the main flaw with the chest lamp

It is bright enough to attract bats

I had them flying circles around me eating bugs this morning lol

I would rather have them attracted to and flying at my chest while wearing a chest lamp than flying at my face because I was wearing a headlamp.

 

[Naomeri]

I would rather have them attracted to and flying at my chest while wearing a chest lamp than flying at my face because I was wearing a headlamp.

That…is a very good point

I’ve mostly used my chest lamp in the winter so never had to consider bats

 

[PrincessV]

I would rather have them attracted to and flying at my chest while wearing a chest lamp than flying at my face because I was wearing a headlamp.

Can verify: many, many bats where I live - none attracted to my headlamp! I‘ll stick with that method.

 

[Grabnar]

I would rather have them attracted to and flying at my chest while wearing a chest lamp than flying at my face because I was wearing a headlamp.

Yeah it's still terrifying to just be running along, vibing to Podcast: The Ride, when a giant flying rat swoops in front of you lol

Should die down in the winter some, but for now they definitely like the bugs

 

[PrincessV]

I’ll see y’all’s bats and mosquitoes and raise you… DEER FLIES. IDK what’s going on, but we have a bunch of them in my very populated FL neighborhood this year and they are pure evil. Cannot be outrun. Won’t be dissuaded. I sprinted for as long as I could the other day trying to evade one and as soon as I dropped to a walk - BITE!!! Between that and the unusually hot even for FL heat, I’m ready to just bag running altogether until fall. Heat index topped 112 for the 5th day in a row…

 

[GreatLakes]

I have discovered the main flaw with the chest lamp

It is bright enough to attract bats

I had them flying circles around me eating bugs this morning lol

Today's riddle: Did the light attract the bats or did the light attract the bugs that attracted the bats?

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

I always just pack my own food in my gear bag. This also means I’m juggling less stuff in the finish chute—if Disney really wanted to give us some useful bonus swag, they could offer a mini tote bag before they start handing us water and towels and medals and food

At the end of a race last year a lady near me pulled a plastic grocery bag (like from Kroger or Publix) from her running belt and used it for carrying bottles of drink, bananas, snacks, etc. Weighs nothing and takes up little space. Genius.
That said, it would be soooo useful if races did the same at the finish line.

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

Today's riddle: Did the light attract the bats or did the light attract the bugs that attracted the bats?

LED lights should be a single frequency of light in the spectrum and thus attract fewer bugs than regular light from an incandescent bulb.

Based on that, I'm thinking the light attracted the bats. Or maybe the bugs were attracted to something else? Any sort of perfume/cologne or deodorant?

But, if you are using a regular light, switch to LED lighting to avoid attracting bugs.

 

[Grabnar]

LED lights should be a single frequency of light in the spectrum and thus attract fewer bugs than regular light from an incandescent bulb.

Based on that, I'm thinking the light attracted the bats. Or maybe the bugs were attracted to something else? Any sort of perfume/cologne or deodorant?

But, if you are using a regular light, switch to LED lighting to avoid attracting bugs.

Not a ton of visible bugs tbh, I think they were just hopeful that the moving light had snacks.

Could also be mosquitos that I just didn’t see

 

[PrincessV]

Update no one asked for, but you’re getting because I’ve entered the whiny part of FL summer …

No deer fly attacks this morning!

But.

The heat index was 94 at 5am. 95 when I started my 7-miler at 6:30am. 99 when I quit at 6 miles, but I assume that doesn’t factor in the sun, which was infernal - certainly felt well above 100. I haven’t gotten that overheated in a looooong time. I honestly thought it was me: that I’m just too old and too broken to be going longer than a few miles anymore. But I’m no quitter, and I needed a decent cool down, so I made myself do 15 minutes on the treadmill afterward… and felt GREAT! Picked up the pace and everything. Turns out, those Excessive Heat warnings apply to even the most acclimated of FL runners.

Anyway, please take this as my PSA reminder to dial it back, maybe skip it altogether, proceed with caution, be smart, etc. in this heat. We’re anticipating heat indexes of 115 or more through the weekend, and I’ll be indoors the whole time, TYVM. (Even the pool’s out: I was just there and the water temp is 98. No relief at all.)

 

[Grabnar]

Update no one asked for, but you’re getting because I’ve entered the whiny part of FL summer …

No deer fly attacks this morning!

But.

The heat index was 94 at 5am. 95 when I started my 7-miler at 6:30am. 99 when I quit at 6 miles, but I assume that doesn’t factor in the sun, which was infernal - certainly felt well above 100. I haven’t gotten that overheated in a looooong time. I honestly thought it was me: that I’m just too old and too broken to be going longer than a few miles anymore. But I’m no quitter, and I needed a decent cool down, so I made myself do 15 minutes on the treadmill afterward… and felt GREAT! Picked up the pace and everything. Turns out, those Excessive Heat warnings apply to even the most acclimated of FL runners.

Anyway, please take this as my PSA reminder to dial it back, maybe skip it altogether, proceed with caution, be smart, etc. in this heat. We’re anticipating heat indexes of 115 or more through the weekend, and I’ll be indoors the whole time, TYVM. (Even the pool’s out: I was just there and the water temp is 98. No relief at all.)

I had to drop at mile 6.5 of my 10 miler here in HTX, 98 at 7a

Does anyone have treadmill recs? Under $5.5k pref

 

[nancipants]

I had to drop at mile 6.5 of my 10 miler here in HTX, 98 at 7a

Does anyone have treadmill recs? Under $5.5k pref

I got a super cheap one at Dick's about 7 years ago. it was only $700 or so. It works fine but it's nothing special. Now that I'm actually running, I'll probably splurge for a better one next time. (Are there treadmills where you can program in an interval workout, because that would be amazing.)

 

[PrincessV]

I had to drop at mile 6.5 of my 10 miler here in HTX, 98 at 7a

Does anyone have treadmill recs? Under $5.5k pref

My condolences - you know I feel your pain!

I’m on year 25 with my Pro-Form 385ex, which I assume is not made any longer, but its exceptionally long life sure makes me think highly of the brand! Paid around $400 for it in 1998. It has virtually no bells and whistles, but it gets the job done: it has a motor, incline has 3 heights and is adjusted manually, and it folds up so I can wheel it into a corner when not in use. I’m sure its longevity is tied to having few things that can break, and that’s the direction I’ll go when I eventually need to replace it.

I also want to share that I ordered an indoor cycle from Amazon recently, and discovered that our delivery person/s will not bring anything that heavy up to my 2nd-floor condo… and the whole point of ordering it through Amazon was to have it delivered to my door. So in case you happen to not have a 1st floor dwelling, keep that in mind.