Triathlon/Marathon/Endurance Sports Thread

[chizelhead]

I used to run and switched to road biking after I met a lot of older runners that had serious orthopedic issues. That was years ago, and the gear/training/knowledge is likely better now to mitigate that risk. I also found riding more enjoyable. There are usually organized rides (35,50,100, 200 miles, and multiday) and clubs in every area that can get you motivated at any experience level. I did both as well as lots of solo rides. Adding in mt biking was fun as well.

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

I just signed up for my first ultra - a local 50k in a park. 12 loops. This is my first race since 2023. 2024 I tore my miniscus that had me pull out of everything out of safety to myself since I also do manual labor on my feet which made 2024 very interesting for me to say the least. Surgery wasn't required and I've been healing beautifully.


Kind of a dumb question - ultra is at the end of August and I'm contemplating actually wearing shorts - I typically don't wear shorts, however for this it's a possibility.

Anyone have recommends for good running shorts that have dedicated phone pockets? I'm on a Samsung Galaxy which I think is a lot bigger than an iphone.

Thanks.

I've been using the item below without any issues. Quite a few trail run races, up to 50K, without incident. Unsure the dimensions on your specific model. But the “pocket” on the liner holds the phone so it does not bounce.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CN6XQPYD?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1&psc=1

 

[Highhuntin]

Completed my second marathon on Sunday.

Both were painful but 4 days out from the second one and I’m ready to go again and wondering what is next.

Need to work more on stretching and leg strength.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The possibilities are endless!! That is how I felt after my first marathon, “what’s next” carful it’s a slippery slope! Ran my first marathon in 2018 Completed my 6th 100 miler in march, with a couple more in mind this year.

 

[CMF]

Going for my first race, a 20-mile trail race on May 17th, the Homochitto Hammer.

 

[songster]

i was an avid marathoner. used to run 40-50 miles a week for several years. then stopped due to demands of a new job. funny thing is that i suffered a knee injury out of nowhere from sitting for hours and doing nothing. never had a knee injury when i used to run a lot. reminded me of the saying "use it or lose it." i started running again

 

[WCT3]

I just started running again this year after not having run since track in high school. I think I'm going to sign up for a half marathon in Oct. Questions for you more experienced runners:

• There is a road race and trail race around the same time frame. Is starting with a road race a better idea than jumping straight into a trail race? I've only been road running but have plenty of trails near by I could train on.
• Is it dumb to plan my first race in the middle of hunting season?
• I see suggestions about following a free, online training program for starting out running. How would you guys incorporate mountain biking, hiking/rucking, and lifting into your training?

 

[Marbles]

I just started running again this year after not having run since track in high school. I think I'm going to sign up for a half marathon in Oct. Questions for you more experienced runners:

• There is a road race and trail race around the same time frame. Is starting with a road race a better idea than jumping straight into a trail race? I've only been road running but have plenty of trails near by I could train on.
• Is it dumb to plan my first race in the middle of hunting season?
• I see suggestions about following a free, online training program for starting out running. How would you guys incorporate mountain biking, hiking/rucking, and lifting into your training?

Trail race will carry over better with hiking. Trail running also tends to be easier on your body than road running if you are fastish. The pace is slower and less pounding.

Ruck 1 day a week.

Lifting will increase systemic load, if you can tolerate it with building running volume, then continue. Though I would only do 1 or 2 days a week and I would look to maintain, not build.

My short take on a complicated topic.

 

[WCT3]

Trail race will carry over better with hiking. Trail running also tends to be easier on your body than road running if you are fastish. The pace is slower and less pounding.

I spend about 50% of my runs around home on softish gravel paths to help save my joints. The road race I was looking at is on a paved bike path the whole route which doesn't sound great.

Lifting will increase systemic load, if you can tolerate it with building running volume, then continue. Though I would only do 1 or 2 days a week and I would look to maintain, not build.

Well shoot. I was hoping to continue building (albeit slowly) while increasing running volume. I figured with a goal of a half marathon instead of full I'd be able to keep strength training.

 

[Marbles]

Well shoot. I was hoping to continue building (albeit slowly) while increasing running volume. I figured with a goal of a half marathon instead of full I'd be able to keep strength training.

You might be able to, the risk is over training, which will set everything back. It really depends on you and your body. Everything counts towards that load, including work/life stress. If you can get good sleep consistently, that goes a long ways

Having recently over trained and finishing up my 3rd week of reduced volume by 70%+ to recover, I'm certainly more cautious now. Getting up at 0330 to go run before work certainly didn't help. I thought I was being careful, but then nose drived pretty hard. I did not realize how crappy I was feeling until end of last week when I started feeling better.

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

I just started running again this year after not having run since track in high school. I think I'm going to sign up for a half marathon in Oct. Questions for you more experienced runners:

• There is a road race and trail race around the same time frame. Is starting with a road race a better idea than jumping straight into a trail race? I've only been road running but have plenty of trails near by I could train on.
• Is it dumb to plan my first race in the middle of hunting season?
• I see suggestions about following a free, online training program for starting out running. How would you guys incorporate mountain biking, hiking/rucking, and lifting into your training?

Do the trail race as no one will care if you run or walk nor will folks care about your pace.

Can’t speak to full lifting but calf raises are money.

Don’t do any race if getting injured will ruin a hunt. Still train.

Have used 10K and 21K Race apps; they worked. But last year I started using the various Garmin training plans up to marathon level (for 50k). Different options to accommodate the individual.

 

[WCT3]

You might be able to, the risk is over training, which will set everything back. It really depends on you and your body. Everything counts towards that load, including work/life stress. If you can get good sleep consistently, that goes a long ways

Having recently over trained and finishing up my 3rd week of reduced volume by 70%+ to recover, I'm certainly more cautious now. Getting up at 0330 to go run before work certainly didn't help. I thought I was being careful, but then nose drived pretty hard. I did not realize how crappy I was feeling until end of last week when I started feeling better.

Im sure you're right, moderation has never been my strong suit.

Do the trail race as no one will care if you run or walk nor will folks care about your pace.

Can’t speak to full lifting but calf raises are money.

Don’t do any race if getting injured will ruin a hunt. Still train.

Have used 10K and 21K Race apps; they worked. But last year I started using the various Garmin training plans up to marathon level (for 50k). Different options to accommodate the individual.

My big hunt for the year is in September so it will be done before the race.

Which training plans in the Garmin app? I looked through it today and only see two plans for running but I could be looking in the wrong place.

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

Im sure you're right, moderation has never been my strong suit.

My big hunt for the year is in September so it will be done before the race.

Which training plans in the Garmin app? I looked through it today and only see two plans for running but I could be looking in the wrong place.

Option 1) On the phone (at least iPhone) open Garmin Connect, Training & Planning, select the Coach and distance.
Option 2) Open a web browser and go to connect.garmin.com. Go to Training & Planning.
Option 2a) Select the Coach and distance. OR
Option 2b) Click on Garmin Coach Plan, click on Find a Plan, select Running, and make your choice.

Started with the 10K Plan with Coach Greg. Kept running (road and trail) with no plan for awhile. Then I did the "Intermediate" Marathon plan for a 50K ultra trail run. I had 7 fall hunts last year so I had to make some adjustments on the training side; but damn I saw the results in the field big time (in a good way).

Right now I'm halfway through the Intermediate Half Marathon plan. The intent is to get faster (which it is on trail run races) and focus on the intermediate distances this summer. Rucking will come back into focus later this summer as well as injury avoidance as I don't want to mess up my hunt on Kodiak this fall.

 

[WCT3]

I just signed up for my first ultra - a local 50k in a park. 12 loops. This is my first race since 2023. 2024 I tore my miniscus that had me pull out of everything out of safety to myself since I also do manual labor on my feet which made 2024 very interesting for me to say the least. Surgery wasn't required and I've been healing beautifully.


Kind of a dumb question - ultra is at the end of August and I'm contemplating actually wearing shorts - I typically don't wear shorts, however for this it's a possibility.

Anyone have recommends for good running shorts that have dedicated phone pockets? I'm on a Samsung Galaxy which I think is a lot bigger than an iphone.

Thanks.

I've had good luck at Sierra if you have one near by. Look for shorts with the built in liners, most of them advertise phone pockets on the tags.

 

[WCT3]

Option 1) On the phone (at least iPhone) open Garmin Connect, Training & Planning, select the Coach and distance.
Option 2) Open a web browser and go to connect.garmin.com. Go to Training & Planning.
Option 2a) Select the Coach and distance. OR
Option 2b) Click on Garmin Coach Plan, click on Find a Plan, select Running, and make your choice.

Started with the 10K Plan with Coach Greg. Kept running (road and trail) with no plan for awhile. Then I did the "Intermediate" Marathon plan for a 50K ultra trail run. I had 7 fall hunts last year so I had to make some adjustments on the training side; but damn I saw the results in the field big time (in a good way).

Right now I'm halfway through the Intermediate Half Marathon plan. The intent is to get faster (which it is on trail run races) and focus on the intermediate distances this summer. Rucking will come back into focus later this summer as well as injury avoidance as I don't want to mess up my hunt on Kodiak this fall.

Okay cool. That's what I was doing I think I just expected more options but I will start with that

 

[snowynock]

Thanks all for the recommendations! Time for trying some of these options out!

 

[timekiller13]

2024 I focused on training for my first Full Ironman. Ended up DNFing at IM Florida. Definitely a disappointment after all that time spent training. But made be really evaluate my training. I decided to focus back on just running in 2025. I really hate riding a bike.

Got hurt in early January this year (at work not running) and had to take 6 weeks off. Got back into running early March.

Ran a local half marathon yesterday. Very hilly race but finished in 2:04 which was fine with me. Going to be building and training. A local 30k trail race in the next couple months. Marathon in the fall.

 

[OregonSteeler]

2024 I focused on training for my first Full Ironman. Ended up DNFing at IM Florida. Definitely a disappointment after all that time spent training. But made be really evaluate my training. I decided to focus back on just running in 2025. I really hate riding a bike.

Got hurt in early January this year (at work not running) and had to take 6 weeks off. Got back into running early March.

Ran a local half marathon yesterday. Very hilly race but finished in 2:04 which was fine with me. Going to be building and training. A local 30k trail race in the next couple months. Marathon in the fall.

What caused your DNF if you don't mind sharing? Injury, wasn't adequately prepared? I'm in midst of training for Salem's 70.3 and though I feel like I'm on track, I've always got that nagging feeling that I won't be ready enough....

 

[timekiller13]

What caused your DNF if you don't mind sharing? Injury, wasn't adequately prepared? I'm in midst of training for Salem's 70.3 and though I feel like I'm on track, I've always got that nagging feeling that I won't be ready enough....

Honestly, I underestimated just how much more difficult a full Ironman is compared to a half.

I’ve done a couple 70.3s and while I found them challenging, I didn’t find them to be extremely difficult.

A 140.6 is a totally different beast. I didn’t put enough focus into my cycling. I am a mediocre swimmer and I love to run so I focused heavily on those two things. In the end, it cost me.

Next time I’ll tweak my training and put way more focus into the bike.

 

[OregonSteeler]

Honestly, I underestimated just how much more difficult a full Ironman is compared to a half.

I’ve done a couple 70.3s and while I found them challenging, I didn’t find them to be extremely difficult.

A 140.6 is a totally different beast. I didn’t put enough focus into my cycling. I am a mediocre swimmer and I love to run so I focused heavily on those two things. In the end, it cost me.

Next time I’ll tweak my training and put way more focus into the bike.

Thanks for being honest and sharing. This is eye opening to me as I do have a desire to complete a fill IM but I just don't have the bandwidth in my life for the volume of training.

And yes, the amount of time needed in the bike is tremendous. I can't even imagine the commitment needed to be adequately prepared for a full.

 

[timekiller13]

Thanks for being honest and sharing. This is eye opening to me as I do have a desire to complete a fill IM but I just don't have the bandwidth in my life for the volume of training.

And yes, the amount of time needed in the bike is tremendous. I can't even imagine the commitment needed to be adequately prepared for a full.

Yes it is a huge commitment. 12-16 hours a week of training is no joke.

I don’t live in an area that’s safe for road biking. So I was driving 1-2 hours away to ride on greenways. So my training days were 8-10 hours with driving. That got old and I slacked on the bike. I tried the indoor trainers/Peloton. But staring at a wall for ‘ore than 45 min was awful so I would just quit.

I will try another full IM. There is a greenway being built within 30 min of me that will allow me to get 60-80 mile rides in. Once that’s completed I’ll have a good cycling area close to home.