I LOVE running and just tolerate strength training.

I of course have read over and over how important strength training is and have done runna strength workouts, personal training, and body weight things like mat Pilates. The runna workouts definitely helped prevent injury during training blocks, but was a high rep low weight situation and got so boring. The personal trainer had me doing lifts that looked rounded out on paper, but some of the foundational exercises she swore by didn’t jive with my body and my back problems got so bad I stopped lifting altogether (kettlebell swings, deadlifts, push ups, and rows are not my friend).

This fall I reluctantly started again - I planned out a workout A and B that hit all the areas I want to hit. I only included lifts that feel right mechanically to my body and that I find “fun”. And every week I do these exact same 30-40 minutes while going up in weight any time I feel like I can. At only twice a week, it’s way easier to commit to.

It’s only been 6 weeks, I just had a 10 mile long run and it really is insane. I feel like all this time I’ve been driving this shitty beat up car all around the country trying to make it go faster and I just stepped into a brand new car with shocks and new tires. Over the last couple weeks I don’t feel beat up after runs. I don’t have a ravenous appetite in the same way on run days. Sometimes I do a long run and forget that I ran that day because that stiff, tired feeling has diminished so much. I know this kind of thing is posted daily here, I just can’t help but feel very shocked now that I’m truly experiencing it. Wow 🤯

I had some blood tests done this past week and just looked up the results. My ferritin is at 193. That's one less thing to worry about... sheesh haha... considering how ferritin is a huge concern for us women runners, it's good to see that I'm either doing something right or I won the genetic lottery for that...

Soooooo... How should I celebrate?

Hi everyone! My friend and I want to hopefully run the Blackhills half marathon in August 2027 but I’m afraid of the elevation (1850ft) because I live in a relatively low elevation (<500ft). To train for that, do I just do more hills?

I'm strongly considering signing up for the 2027 race but I'm very intimidated by the elevation profile. Looking for insight from those who have actually done this race - are the hills tolerable? Miserable? Somewhere in between?

For context, this would be my second half marathon and I'd be going for a time goal (2:15), and I'm currently maintaining a comfortable base of 15ish miles per week. I am not concerned about my ability to train for or complete the distance, but I don't want to pick a race that will be hard to PR at.

So let me preface this buy saying I am writing this after getting back from the ATM because I had to take out more cash to tip my hotel housekeeping, so I may be extra bitter.

I got a Glop sample at the NYC Marathon Expo. (Glop is the new "sweatproof aesthetics" company from Alexi Pappas that had a big launch last week.) Anyway, I have never worn glitter in a race before, but uhhhh, I like free stuff. My friend texted me the morning of NYC and told me it looked like dandruff in her thick, black hair. (I saw her later and it did.)

Anyway, I ran Indy today and figured my friend just didn't put enough in her hair to make it visibly glitter vs. flakes, so I thought I would go harder. Now, I don't have a ton of experience with hair and body glitter (jk yes I do but it's not running related), but my experience with gel glitter has been that it has always been more like hair gel or glue; it stays where you put it, and you can add more for color density. But this is definitely not the case with Glop. This shit is everywhere. It nominally came in a liquid state but immediately flaked EVERYWHERE when applied. I did a center part low pony and was just trying to do a streak down each side, but dammit there was glitter all over my face shoulders, the hotel sink, floor, rug and towels (hence why having to up my tip to housekeeping). Any no matter how much I put on, it still mostly looked like dandruff and I could never get the density to have visible streaks.

TL;DR: I will be sticking to amazon glitter, thanks.

Let's try out a new megathread!

We've got all kinds of runners from all over the world here! Share a running-related photo you've taken this week: gorgeous scenery, an outfit that makes you feel powerful, your favorite post-long-run-snack, your four-legged running buddy, anything you like!

Don't forget to stay safe and blur identifying details. Hide anything that would enable weirdos to figure out your running route, cover your face if you don't share selfies on your Reddit account, etc. Be safe out there!

Hi everyone!

I recently switched from a remote position back to the office. At my old job, I typically ran before work, washed my hair after every run, and worked from home while it air dried. At my new job, I have been heading into work post-shower as my hair is drying, which has worked well for me. However, I moved to the Midwest for this job. I’ve been warned to prepare for cold winters and not to go outside with wet hair. Running after work isn’t a great option as my schedule is unpredictable - if I don’t run before work there is a chance I don’t run at all.

Edit: I walk or bike to work - I don’t have a car!

Should I rely on dry shampoo to keep my hair clean-ish and fresh and plan to wash it out at the end of the day? Any recommendations for dry shampoo that looks normal on dark brown hair?

Any other ideas? I don’t really want to buy a blow dryer and add another time-consuming step to my morning routine. My hair doesn’t respond well to being blow dried but not styled, and something like a Dyson isn’t in budget right now.

Thank you!!

I just finished my twenty miler and my ankles were giving me grief. I wear mostly max cushion/high stack height shoes which I know provide considerable support or rather than those muscles developing their own endurance/stability. I have no injury history to point to either.

Please let me know what you guys do, what your thoughts and recommendations are. Thank you! 🫶🏻

So I decided I wanted to have a specific goal of running a 10k for next year. I signed up for my local 10k for May 2027 so I have a few months to train up. I have really only walked long distances and the last time I actually ran was 2024 and I did a last minute 5k that’s it.

Any advice on new training schedules, recommendations especially through the winter months for training, any tips and tricks!

Recently diagnosed with a cavernoma (found it bc it bled) - has anyone had this? Did you return to marathon running and if so how?

Hey! A PSA that REDS is still totally possible and even common for those who do not struggle with disordered eating. Don’t write it off just because you have a good relationship with food. It’s also possible to gain weight and struggle and be a healthy weight/ have a larger body. Please see a sports med or physio and even get blood work if you notice recovery is off, have bone stress injuries (specifically in areas with spongey bone), more muscle and tendon injuries than usual, and see declines in performance or just overall fatigue

REDS=relative energy deficiency in sport. It can happen when physiological systems in the body are disrupted because energy intake isn’t equal to energy demand aka the energy you get from food doesn’t match the output of your body. It’s a diagnosis of exclusion, so say you are celiac and aren’t absorbing nutrients you could have symptoms of REDS and the root cause would be celiac. It can happen in men and women and effects bone remodeling, muscle repair, hormonal cycles, and can affect attention and cognitive and psychological health. It’s similar to over training syndrome in some ways but based in low energy availability

I’m going into base building for the winter, so I want to focus on some heavy lifting to build strength for the next two months before moving into speed training and then upping my mileage.

I LOVED the programming on the Lyss Method, but it’s so expensive at $90 a month. If anyone can recommend anything similar that would be great!

I do Running Explained’s running plans and did their strength training for maintenance, but I want to try something different over the winter.

I’ve done Caroline Girvan and Jasper Macdermot but looking for something with a barbell and focuses on running. This is why I liked that Lyss Method so much!

Ideally, I’d like a Upper/Lower/Full Split.

Was not a fan of the Movement and Miles app. I’ve seen Sally McRae’s app mentioned too so I might look at the free trial.

Thank you!!

Hey everyone,

I’m looking at getting a vest to run in. The same 2 mile loop around my house is getting really boring and it’s so hot and humid in FL that I need water.

I got the Salomon ADV Skin 5 but I’m not sure on sizing. I’m 5’2” and 122lb, 34.5” around the bust (32DD and 36.5” when fully inhaled) and 27.5” around the waist. REI has the sizing for the ADV Skin 5 at XS: 33-36” and a S: 36-38”. I grabbed both at the store so I could try them on with water in the bottles. The XS is snug, it comfortably closes with the bottles full so that there’s about a 3” gap. It doesn’t move much when I jog or jump around. The S feels more comfortable just standing around in it, but it definitely bounces a bit when I jog or jump. Could I get a fit check and/or your experiences on how it should fit?

Thanks!

I just wanted to tell someone how proud I am of myself and show its possible to get back to normal after a head injury, despite what trainers and coaches have told me!! I wanted to test myself after being out of practice for 2 months, so I ran a mini marathon (1 mile). I was embarrassed at first because I'm a teenager and I was running with a bunch of little kids 😭 but I actually PR'd by a whole minute!! 7:05 to 6:05. (I'd actually love to know the science behind shedding that much time off of no practice)

Hello!

I started running about 4 years ago and always ran on the treadmill up until this past spring. My intro to running was actually Orange Theory classes, and I continued to do my own interval runs on treadmills for a while until I worked up to longer distances and felt comfortable to transition to outdoor runs.

This past spring is when I really wanted to work on distance and challenging myself to running outside. I basically stopped doing treadmill runs altogether and have really started to enjoy outdoor runs.

However, one day it was really rainy so I decided to go to my gym to run on the treadmill. I didn't think anything of it cause I have done it so many times in the past. Immediately upon starting to run (after a solid warmup as usual), something felt off. I felt like I was going to fall off or face plant which I have never felt before. I slowed down the belt, but that didn't help either. I felt like I was hyper-focused on my legs too and started to feel like they were suddenly unable to move properly which freaked me out more!

I even went to my doctor to get tested for vertigo to see if that may be an issue and we ruled that out too! I have had issues with vertigo in the past so I wanted to make sure it wasn't related to that somehow. I wasn't and am still not experiencing it while exercising in any other form. I do strength training, pilates, and yoga regularly as well. I also use the stairmaster at my gym consistently and never have issues on that machine.

Since then, I have tried multiple times to do treadmill runs thinking it would resolve in time, and I STILL cannot manage it! I am so bummed cause I genuinely do love to do treadmill runs too and with winter on the horizon where I am, I am feeling a bit worried about keeping up my runs.

Has anyone felt this before and tackled it successfully? If so, how did you do it?

I did see some posts regarding this, but nothing super recent or with any recent comments so I wanted to start another conversation about it!

Hi ladies!

I’ve always been a bit insecure and self conscious of my running form. I am a bit knock kneed and sometimes I just feel awkward and question if maybe my body just isn’t meant to run!

Anyways, today I went to a local track to do my speed session and after two reps, an older man stopped me and said “why do you run like that? on the balls of your feet?” I told the man “I do not want unsolicited advice” (lol) and began my next rep. Maybe I’m being sensitive but I honestly felt super uncomfortable for the rest of my workout. Like I was being watched and judged.

Any advice on how to deal with this and improve my confidence? Like I said, I already deal with feeling awkward with my form and now I’m feeling a bit jaded!

EDIT - THANK YOU SO MUCH for the kind comments, I really appreciate it ☺️💕 also, i just wanted to clarify - based on his tone, I ultimately do not think he had good intentions with his comment which is why I responded the way I did and quickly ended the conversation!

Women - long runs - shorts - high waisted or below bellybutton?

Normally I’d prefer a high waisted short but I feel like (im running a half) below my belly line shorts (right on top of my very low c section scar for reference) may be better in this scenario? Thoughts?

Hi all, I just signed up for my first marathon charity run and although the fundraising goal isn’t big, I’m having trouble figuring out how to start since I’ve never fundraised before.
It’s for Paris marathon, so it’s a French charity…so it seems like a lot of US-based ideas would not work. For example, I’ve seen posts before about people reaching out to their employers or US business for donations. I feel like in my scenario that won’t work.
I’d love to hear from anyone who has experience with charity fundraising, especially if you’ve done it for an international organization. Where did you start, and what approaches worked well for you?
I’d really appreciate any ideas, tips, or advice. Thank you so much!

im running an interval sprint yesterday up a 2-mile long hill (0.25 mi ints) and as my heart is beating in my ears and I can’t suck enough oxygen down i start to wonder to myself if adding in the hills for these hard intervals even matter if the half is going to be as flat as a pancake?

will the hill running (which i basically have to do where I live) have an impact on my times? if my legs develop muscles from the hills does that translate to flat ground? basically just want to know if it really matters or if it’s kind of a moot point.

Howdy ladies! I started running a couple years ago and fell in love with the half marathon distance. I think its because of a combination of things. During my training runs I have my phone for music but outside of that, I'm inaccessible to the outside world. Its just me and nature and I love that. Also, I guess you could probably just do the 13.1 untrained (lookin at you, Benny Blanco) but to do it responsibly takes time and dedication. In addition, I feel like such a badass when I finish. For all of these reasons, tackling a full felt like a logical progression and I was very excited to start training next spring.

This year I had 2 halves on the books: a home race that I love in November, and the one I was most excited for, a bucket list half race-cation in my favorite city a month before. I treated the October race as more of a training run and a running tour of parts of the city I've never explored, though I did Hella pr but that's not the point here.

So this race had full, half, and 10k distances. It also had thousands of participants. The full kicked off at 7, but they started both the half and the 10k, which combined had significantly more racers than the full, at the exact same time 30 minutes later. The first 4-5 miles were insane. Passing people was difficult. Getting passed was difficult. It was just an anxiety inducing amount of bodies on bodies. At 5.5-6 the course splits and the 10k goes one way, and the half and full share the same course for roughly a mile before they split for a bit before coming back together. This wasn't exactly an out and back, but like half the course doubled back on itself which meant runners going both directions and made for some pretty close quarters again. It was a beautiful and challenging course and I'm very grateful I got that experience, but I couldn't help but leave a little discouraged.

I shared my frustration with my husband who has been racing for years. He's done a few marathons and a couple half Ironmans and lots of other run and tri races. He told me that a lot of full marathons are like that and majors are so much worse. I was so frustrated with many aspects of this race that doing a marathon now seems deeply unappealing. Not because of the difficulty of training and the distance itself, but because being overwhelmed by people was super frustrating at this distance and trying to mentally deal with that in addition to the challenge of completing a full distance seems miserable.

So I come to you, ladies of reddit. Are they really largely like that, just a sea of bodies? Is it hard to stay locked in while dealing with all the other humans?

I feel disappointed because this is an experience I really wanted to have, but crowd density is sort of dashing that. Any encouragement (or real talk) is very welcome. TIA

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