February: Love to run

[skhill]

Back to the treadmill yet again. It was plenty warm (50F) and all the snow and ice has melted, but the wind's howling. It would have built character to run outside in that, but that's not on the training plan for this week! So I chugged away for 4 miles.

A question for y'all: is it ever OK to offer unsolicited advice to another runner? There was a woman a couple treadmills away who's form caught my eye. She started out hunched over and over-striding; she was working hard to keep up with a speed that was clearly too much for her and it kept getting worse. I didn't say anything, but I sure wanted to-- and I'd decided that if we were in the locker room at the same time, I might. Bet a more supportive bra and a slightly shorter stride would help her tremendously...

[Catrin]

This is always a hard call to make Skhill. I've had to to bite my tongue when seeing how bad someone's form is. I rarely say anything, unless it is something so obvious that is going to lead to serious injury. Thankfully I've some friends among the fitness professionals at my gym and I've been known to occasionally draw their attention to someone like that. I rarely do it, and they know how best to approach someone. More rarely, like this morning, I will say something if I can present it in a positive way.

A shorter stride would certainly be kinder to her hamstrings, I've learned that painful price about over-striding.

[Crankin]

Well, when I was an instructor I was very strict about giving feedback, but, I always asked.
My experience has been as a bike leader is that some people just get furious, even though it's part of the job, despite the fact that sometimes it is safety related. Others are eternally grateful, because you've usually made their life easier.

[katluvr]

Quick 3 miles today. I was going to take it really easy, but felt good so pushed it a bit. I have a 15K race tomorrow followed by the 5K with friends (I'll walk or job slowly the second race). It's warm, sunny, a bit humid. It's been early spring here this week. I have enjoyed it!

[OakLeaf]

Hope you had fun this morning kat!

skhill, I don't think I would unless it was someone I knew. I've been the recipient of unsolicited cycling form advice from riding buddies, and that was cool with me, but it would've been a little creepy coming from a complete stranger, I think. Next time bring your favorite running form book to the gym and wave it around.

I'm proud of myself today. Remember I said I suck at pacing? I must finally be getting my target race pace drilled into me, because my splits today were 8:44, 8:42, 8:41, 8:42, 8:45, 8:44, 8:38, 8:38, 8:39, 8:40. That, a warmup, some drills, some strides, and $5 will get me a cup of coffee at Starbucks...

[Catrin]

Oakleaf - please forgive what is probably a silly question, but what distance are your splits? Is that a standard distance? It sounds like you did great!

[OakLeaf]

Not a silly question at all! Those are mile splits and I probably should've said so. Goal pace is 8:35-8:46.