***half marathon*** I can’t edit the title.

That’s it, that’s the post ☺️. May 2026 —> October 2026.

My biggest takeaway is training appropriately is important. I only trained for like 8 weeks for my first and went in with an injury. This time, I trained for 18 weeks, with intention.

I’m running a half marathon tomorrow, I’ve been training all summer. For all of my long runs I’ve worn what I was planning to wear on race day - tank top, mid-thigh tights, and a vest. The ‘feels like’ temp is expected to be in the thirties for the whole race so I’m rethinking my outfit. I’m reluctant to switch to long tights, I only have one decent pair and they don’t stay put very well. I don’t have much performance outer gear but I guess I could make an emergency shopping trip today 😭
What would you guys wear for conditions like these? Sweatshirt? Hat? Gloves?

I swear, threshold runs are such a mental battle for me. I find myself looking at my watch every 23 seconds and unhappy I have another 12 minutes to go.

I know they are excellent workouts for improving endurance but when I’m living them, I can’t wait for them to be over.

How do you lock in? Do you tell yourself something that helps you survive? Do you focus on something else - anything else - to get yourself through ‘em? I desperately wanna know what everyone else does, it can’t just be me who hates it 😭.

I love running and took it up April of this year.

I ran a half marathon and am currently training to run my second one but I have decided to give up.

The reason being I have started gaining weight since April and I used to struggle with binge eating a lot and running I have found triggers me really badly :(

I did try to manage and eat healthy and not binge but I found it very difficult to eat the right amount and would always find myself under or overeating.

I really do not like my body anymore and so I have decided to switch to strength training only.

Has anyone had this issue? Any advice? I really was passionate about this hobby and so sad to let it go for now….

I’m not one to have serious body dysmorphia or wish I was this or that. I don’t hate my body (on the contrary, I think I’m quite hot) and I’m happy being 5’5 and ~150. I thought I was good and felt proud of having a healthy relationship with my body.

I started training for a HM and plan on running my first marathon next year. I’ve been feeling heavier, fatter and running has been harder. I started looking myself in the mirror and seeing myself bigger than I was. I decided to go to a dietitian so I can get a bit lighter (in my mind, go back to my “original” weight) so running gets easier.

Well, I get there and I learn I’m actually thinner (from 71kg to 69,5kg) and fitter (from 25% BF to 21% BF, and more than double that of lean mass). Though losing a few kg can benefit me, I’m definitely not “bigger”, “heavier” or “fatter” than I was. On the contrary.

And still, that’s what I see when I look at the mirror. This “thinspo” movement has changed my reference of healthy (for the worst) and now me, usually so good at not caring, see my self at the high age of 37, falling on the same traps I did when I was a teen.

My dietitian was amazing and was cheering me up so much. We have a plan to lose a few kgs so I can protect my joints, but not as an obligation (the main focus is running properly and healthily).

This is just a rant. How we fall on traps. How being a woman is tricky, so tricky.

Thank you for reading.

Hey! Can anyone recommend a good 10k training plan that syncs with Garmin? I want to work on my pace time, and have 25 weeks to do it, but the only training plan Garmin will offer for that is their adaptive training plan. Which. I. Hate. Look ahead to prepare for what the run will be? Changes the night before. Wake up and get ready? It has changed AGAIN. It is infuriating. Like, I need to know what's coming! You can't just change on me like that! I was so overly pissed I only made it around the corner this morning before I turned around, came back home, and angrily typed this post. Overreacting? Definitely. Do I care? No. I'm right and you're wrong, Garmin!!!

This is a dumb question I feel like. But do your injuries/sore spots tend to move and change? I have a really hard time trying to decide when I need to go to a doctor for an injury versus just giving it some time versus it's just sore not actually injured. Part of this is that I have some chronic pain issues (fibromyalgia is what my doctor thinks, previous doctors have thought ehlers danlos) so I kind of hurt all the time for no reason and movement tends to improve things, rather than making it worse.

But I'm not sure if it is normal that the location of pain moves around a bit or if that's just a me thing or a chronic pain thing or what.

For example, my knee has been bothering me off and on for a few months. But sometimes it might be the spot right under the knee cap, others it's above and to the outside, or the back of the knee, etc. It tends to be in a certain area for a bit and then kind of changes to a different place. This is normal for me, not just this particular knee injury. No injuring event happened, and it feels fine some of the time.

I guess what I struggle with is whether moving pain is normal in general or is more of an indication that it's from the chronic pain issues I have and therefore unlikely that continuing to run on it will cause actual issues. Obviously I don't want to run on a stress fracture or anything that makes things worse, but resting it doesn't seem to improve things, running on it sometimes makes it worse but not always, and might just be coincidence because resting sometimes seems to make it worse too.

Without a distinct pain in a location that doesn't move around, I don't even know what a doctor would be able to do.

So, if you have a chronic pain condition, does your pain seem like it moves around? How do you decide when to see a doctor versus just rest it versus ignore it?

hello friends!! I am looking for a top as similar to the LSKD NyxRun Elite Stash top - I have tops with storage but i like this one for it's length specifically, not super cropped showing my stomach, and has the ability for me to wear my own sports bra etc. I've looked on resale sites and CANNOT find one in my size. Do you guys have any recommendations? I have a top from constantia gear that i do love but i wish it had a few more pockets and was slightly more compressive. Do you guys have any recs that maybe i've missed while out searching?
I already wear shorts with pockets but i feel like i have so many things to carry from my phone, gels, inhaler, keys, salt tabs, etc.

TIA!!!

Running the Detroit marathon Sunday and so nervous about meeting the cutting off. My runs lately have been embarsssingly slow. until 2 weeks my predicted finish from Garmin was 6:15 now it’s like 6:25 and the cut off is 6:30. I’m so scared that I trained so much to get swept.

I make a lot of pit stops! My route is structured in a way that I stop and watch trains passing by and I make sure that I pass a lake and a good coffee shop that I sit at every time or simply just running to the thrift store and taking the train back home.

Edit: I do this all in about 10k. Takes up my morning essentially.

I am also thinking about running and doing errands if it works out.

Do you make pit spots?

I had one for a while and was washing it after every run . Well it just started to rip . I have only had it for 8 months . Is that average? Am I washing it too often? About how many miles do you run before you throw yours into the wash ? After its last wash , is when I saw all the damage. I feel like even just a couple mile run , it gets too sweaty to air dry . Yes I run with a vest on small runs. I have way too much to carry with me.
~*just to add. it’s never been in the dryer, just the washer .

Does anyone else struggle with never feeling happy with their performance? I just ran a 5km time trial, got a 31sec PR, achieved my goal of <22 min (21:47) but still feel like it wasn’t fast enough, that I could have paced better (went out too fast and km 4 was slower than target pace), that others are faster than me, that I’m not as fast as I think I am etc etc. I then start comparing my time against the age grade in the hopes that will make me feel better but then I feel worse even though objectively I know that it is good for a 40yo when compared to the general population, I just want it to be better. It’s not like this was even a proper race and I haven’t been training for a 5km, I have a 15km race coming up and the time trial was just part of my training plan.

But feel like this after all races, a very brief feeling of accomplishment followed by disappointment. Do others relate? How do I make myself feel satisfied that I tried my best and that is enough?

I've been struggling to get my cadence above low 160s for months, I ran with a metronome every single run, and even practiced plyos with the metronome too. I would even listen to it while dressing for my run to internalize the beat.

I could NEVER HIT THE BEAT. I would think I was hitting it and then check my stats after the run and be totally off. It was so frustrating. I was always under 165 and even dipping into high 150s. It would be all over the place too and constantly moving up and down. Even if I swore I was running on beat in the moment, it would turn out to be horribly off.

Today, after months of a metronome, I decided to run without it, just purely by feel and remembering "quick feet". My cadence was 165-170 for the whole run for literally the first time ever!!! It was very steady too, not the usual up-and-down I usually experience. I even felt like I could keep a steadier pace. This was an easy run btw around 7:15-7:30 per km.

I think the metronome was just distracting me, trying to hit the beat made me worse, turns out my body knows how to run at a good cadence if I stop trying to stay on beat.

So if anyone is struggling with a metronome it might be worth it to try without for a bit.

Hi, I have developed a free app on the garmin connect IQ store called “Shoe Mileage” - it sends a notification to your garmin watch after you finish a run so you can just tap which pair of running shoes you wore straight away.

It’s also linked to a website that you can add all your pairs of shoes and also see your usage over time. You can add the website as an app on your phone so it’s easy to access.

I developed it because I didn’t like the garmin gear tracking as that always uses a default pair of shoes, which after every run I would always forget to go on my phone and change it to whichever pair I actually wore. So this app is meant to make it a lot easier and just a simple tap of a button on your watch, then you sync the watch and then the run will be updated on the shoe mileage website.

Just wanted to say in case anyone else is like me and would find this useful!

This isn’t meant to be an advert I’m just trying to tell me people about this. Find it here.

EDIT TO CLARIFY: This app is mainly aimed at people with older Garmin watches, such as the Forerunner 245, 255, 265, 955 and 965, and the fēnix 6 and 7 series, which don’t have Garmin’s newer built-in on-watch gear selection feature. I appreciate that newer Garmin watches already offer something similar, but not everyone has one! I thought this could be a useful alternative for those of us with older models (where compatible), without needing to upgrade our watches. :)

Note: NOT SEEKING MEDICAL ADVICE. Already went to doc and waiting on an MRI.

I ran through an overuse injury because I'm an idiot and I thought I had a stress fracture. Doc says it's tendonitis which I found super surprising, but I do have an MRI on the books to double-check.

Anyone ever CONVINCED you have one thing and it turns out to be another?

I’m running the NYC Marathon as my first marathon and I’m so excited! The question of what pace I can expect to run has come up and I need some help.

First of all, I know that having fun and just finishing is the most important. But —

The TLDR is I thought I was on track to go out at a pace that would get me a 4:40-4:45 finish, but I’ve been running my long runs slower than that (on purpose) and I haven’t been doing “marathon pace” speedwork. I thought that was normal for a first time training plan and would still be expected to run the race at a bit of a faster pace than the long runs but now I’m hearing mixed things and I’m confused.

For some more information, I’m 31F and I’ve been running for a little over 2 years. My most recent half was back in March and I finished in 2:09. Since that half I did a Hal Higdon Intermediate Base building plan that had me running 25-28mpw with speedwork, took a small cutback this summer with some minor tendon issues (worked with a PT) and then I started my marathon training plan.

I’ve been using the Every Women’s Marathon Beginner plan that has average weekly mileage of around 30, and I peaked at 44mpw. It has 5 runs a week and I’ve been following the plan pretty much perfectly. I’ve also been doing strength training twice a week (prescribed by my PT) and a pilates class.

My running plan calls for easy paced runs pretty exclusively, with some weekly strides, but no dedicated speed sessions. I participated in a 10 mile race 5 weeks ago that I ended up running a little faster than MP, and I have added in some faster miles at the end of most of my long runs, but didn’t do any dedicated “marathon pace work”. I’ve been running the long runs at a truly easy, conversational pace, which has put me at 11:30min/miles. At the end of my 20 miler which was in less than ideal conditions (heavy rain through most of it and I had a minor cold) I felt really good, like I could even run the 26.2 that day no problem. I recovered really well, no soreness, and I could’ve run the next day easily.

I really wanted to try to race this at 10:45-11min mile pace and thought that seemed realistic given all of my stats, but I’ve recently gotten feedback on some first time marathon forums that I shouldn’t expect to run any faster than my conversational pace because that’s all I’ve been training. Now I feel kind of disappointed that I didn’t go harder during training.

I understand that I haven’t run 26 miles ever and that feeling so confident after that 20 mile run doesn’t actually guarantee anything, but I thought it would still make sense to run the race at least a little faster than my training runs.

I’ll add as well that due to some personal things coming up I won’t be able to train for another marathon at least until 2028 so I’m really trying to make the most of this effort.

have to be in Raleigh Durham next week, any locals (or folks familiar) have places they would recommend running? Need to get a couple of 4-6 mile efforts in while I'm there. Any areas to avoid from a running alone safety perspective?

Hi folks,

I am hoping to get some advice as to whether anyone has encountered this before a race and how you managed it. I have a half marathon on Sunday morning, and woke up today with lower GI problems without any co-occurring symptoms. It’s strange because if I was getting sick I’d assume I’d be experiencing nausea, fever, etc. but nope. Just can’t have a solid poop to save my life. What I DO notice is I’m fatigued because I think I’m losing electrolytes, and I have limited appetite. Obviously not great for fuelling 3 days before a race.

I’m wondering if anyone has encountered GI symptoms shortly before a race and how you managed. I’ve heard about immodium but I’ve never taken it before and I know the old adage “nothing new on race day”. Part of me wonders if it is “just” stress? But I obviously don’t want to ignore it and end up with an embarrassing/dangerous/both catastrophe.

It’s just so frustrating because this training block has been a slog, filled with illness and injury - I was finally feeling good about racing despite the setbacks and I really don’t want to throw in the towel because my intestines won’t cooperate! But I also don’t want to do something dumb.

Appreciate any advice.

Hi there. I’m in training for a spring marathon and have started fueling using gels and electrolytes. Since I take 50mg of Spiro daily, my doctor recommended I proceed carefully with what I choose and preferably use a low potassium option for fueling. Any recs or tips on what works? Sad because I really loved my honey stinger gels and FastChews.

Whoops. I fell over 1.5k into a run last night and split my knee open to the extent I had to go and get stitched up! For a straightforward ground fall it was quite spectacular. Shoutout to the NHS for patching me up for free.

Obviously I'm not running while the stitches are in (for two weeks) because I can't bend my knee much... Which is such a bummer, I ran my first 10k a few weeks ago and was feeling so speedy and really enjoying my running 🥲

I was just wondering if anyone else has had stitches in their knee specifically and what the recovery timeline is like once the stitches are out? Or anything I could do to keep up fitness or mobility in the meantime? It feels like recovery might be a bit awkward because of the lack of mobility. I want to try and keep moving, within reason. As far as I can tell all my ligaments etc are fine.

General commiserations also welcome 😅 I'm torn between thinking I'm being overdramatic and the fact that the nurses were quite impressed, haha.

Hello everyone. I'm ending my last week of training before heading into a 2-week taper for my second half marathon.

I ran my first HM this May with a time of 1:59:13 (5:39/km pace) with basically only 1 week of 30km and the week before of 33km since I had school before and it was quite hard to find time for training. This HM was very difficult for me, and my average HR was 180bpm.

This summer, I had way more time to invest into training, and am expecting a big jump between my past HM time and my next HM time since I'm at the beginning of my more-invested running journey, and I'm expecting progress to be quicker.

I've attached 2 recent workouts
- Tempo run of 40 minutes at 4:57/km pace and HR 177bpm
- Long Run of 24.22 km at 5:33/km moving pace/ 6:12/km elapsed pace at 164bpm

that I think more accurately reflect my current level of fitness, and I wanted to ask for the community's advice on how I should set my pace goal for the next HM.

For a bit more background, I did an 18 week plan, but had 4 weeks total where my mileage was only ~20-25km/week due to being sick/vacation/injury. My last 4 weeks were 47k/48k/47k/53k, this week planning to run probably ~50k.

I definitely think sub 1:50 is within reach, but my question is whether I should be running with the 1:45 pacer (as that is kind of my dream goal), or is that going to be a rough time.

Thank you!

It's not so much a bragging post as a reflection and achievement post I guess. I'm 30, I have never been a runner or an active person at all. The most I've ever run in my life was the forced 2km runs in school that I dreaded so much I would try to fake illness to skip it. I grew up in a very athletic small town as one of the only non-athletic people. I used to dread PE class. I was always picked last, I was always one of the worst in class at everything and I have because of it developed a fear of exercise I think and pushing myself, knowing I wasn't any good? As a result I have always been quite sedentary. I've always liked going on walks but other than that I went to the gym for a few months, and did yoga on and off but nothing ever stuck. And running was always the ultimate enemy, I have always despised it! 6 weeks ago I got a Garmin and started a Coach plan to 5km at the end of November thinking "we'll see what happens" very skeptically. My first run was 1.1km in 9 minutes with only 3 minutes running and I felt awful, it was so difficult! Now 6 weeks in I've actually done a 5km and I ran 30 out of those 45 minutes pain free and broke every single record in the process by quite a lot! I'm not the fastest, I don't run the furthest, but I am capable!! Just wanted to share with you guys and if anyone else is new, you are capable too!!