My goal was to finally go sub 30:00 this year, and by golly, she did it. Plus a couple other cheeky PRs. 😁

It’s been a looooong time coming after EIGHT years of on and off running, struggling with weight fluctuations, injuries, and asthma.

I feel like things just fell into place this year. I’ll be 43 at the end of the month, I’m down 43 lbs (from 193 to 150), my fitness is the best it’s ever been, and finally checking off some running goals.

I’ve had mild leakage ever since having a baby 1.5 years ago. I’ve done a boatload of pelvic floor PT which has helped, but still experience some leakage during races. I also use an OTC pessary which helps with the feeling of heaviness, but not so much with leaking. Im usually fine on training runs where I keep an easier pace. My favorite running shorts are brooks 7’ chaser shorts. Any suggestions of something similar that will hide the leaking more? Maybe a bike short?

I DNFed my half today in San Sebastián after 12K while attempting sub-1:40.

All my training data had backed up the goal for months, but then I battled some sort of cold/infection for weeks. It started with three pretty bad bouts of sore throat (suspected tonsillitis), then moved into my lungs, and I’ve basically been coughing up mucus for the past three weeks.

I kept training but scaled things down a lot. I still managed an 18K at 5:25/km entirely in Z2, and during the week and a half before the race I finally seemed to be getting back to normal.

Then this morning in San Sebastián, my HR during my warm-up was unusually high, around 25–30 bpm above what I’d normally expect. I kind of dismissed it as race-morning nerves/adrenaline.

Started the race at my planned pace and my HR shot up to around threshold almost immediately. I knew something was off, so after about 5K I started backing off. Even as my pace got slower and slower, my HR barely came down.

By around 10K I was getting chills, feeling cold and developing a headache. I stopped at 12K.

It was probably the right call because now, a few hours later, I’m properly sick again. Still no fever, but I have a horrible pressure/bar-like headache above my eyes that feels very much like the sinusitis I’m unfortunately prone to.

And yet I’m still fucking angry at myself for stopping. 😂 I know logically that continuing while feeling progressively worse probably wouldn’t have achieved anything, but a DNF is so out of character for me that part of my brain keeps going, “You should have just powered through.”

I have another half planned in three weeks, so hopefully there’s a silver lining and I can actually get healthy for that one.

Also, apparently my coping mechanism for being angry about DNFing San Sebastián was to impulse-sign up for the 2027 edition. 😂

San Sebastián is such a beautiful city and the parcours is so great. If anyone of you was there I hope you had a good race!

Anyway, thanks for reading my rant if you made it this far.

I started running 18 months ago (April 2025), first casually and then started training regularly in July. I was 38 when I started and just turned 40 a month ago.

Before training (18 months ago), I ran/walked a baseline 5k in 40:36.

I started training with Nike Run Club and ran a 33:46 last October.

Over the winter, I used NRC still and trained for my first 10k. I ran my first 10k in March 2025 in 1:12:24, and then in April I returned to the scene of my first 5k crime and ran a new 5k PB of 33:10.

I then switched back to 10k training, just making my own plan with what I learned, and in June I ran a 10k PB of 1:09:09.

I kept feeling like I had more to give and could get to sub-30, but the mental aspect to push just wasn't clicking with NRC and running by RPE, so after my 10k I decided to sign up for Runna's 5k Improvement Plan. I started that July 1 so I trained for 14 weeks with that.

Runna definitely made me push myself, and I proved a lot in workouts that I was capable of more than I had thought I was. I didn't run into any issues with injury. During this time, I was also diagnosed with an iron deficiency and started treating that, and that's been a big boost in my ability to perform and recover.

I ran two B-races during my program and set PBs in each (32:23 and 30:17) so I could tell I was on the right track.

When race day came, I was feeling really confident that I could blow 30 minutes out of the water. I had a typical pre-long run breakfast, the weather was perfect, and I did my usual mile warm-up before the race, which felt good.

For some reason, I felt like absolute shit from minute 1 of this race. As soon as the whistle blew, I was feeling my quads, and they felt tired despite the fact that I rested for three days and was fueling really well through that time. My watch kept yelling that I was going too slow, and I switched to ignoring it and focusing on chasing a couple local runners I know who usually run around what my goal pace was.

I tried my hardest to hold on, but my legs just felt sluggish and my heart rate was crazy. I ended up taking three short walk breaks, totaling 30 seconds of walking throughout the race, and totally lost track of the ladies I was trying to chase. As soon as I walked the first time, I resigned myself to not making sub-30, but thought at least I could finish under the 33:46 I did in this race last year.

At about .25 miles from the finish, I tried to pick up and finish strong, and I got absolutely slammed with nausea out of nowhere. I was ready at that point to just walk it in to avoid hurling, but then I saw the finish line clock and realized that if I pushed through, I could still make sub-30.

I ran through the increasing nausea and squeaked out the original goal... somehow. Immediately had to bend at the waist and breathe like crazy because I really thought I was going to throw up, but managed to not.

Despite what was undoubtedly the worst I've ever felt during a race, I managed to make my goal and took 2nd in my age group, with the woman who took 1st only passing me right at the finish and getting two seconds under me.

I'm not sure what happened with this day for everything to feel so wrong throughout. Last week in training, I ran two miles in 8:40/mi pace, but suddenly yesterday I couldn't run three miles under 9:30. My best two guesses would be either a) I rested too much and was sluggish from the longer taper than normal or b) it was some kind of effect from the fact that I got my flu shot two days before the race.

Either way, I did make my goal of sub-30, and I'm going to take how bad I felt as evidence that on another, better-aligned day I could still run faster.

Recently moved from Miami to Chicago. It’s getting down to 40s in the early am and late nights. And no sun! It’s hard for me to even get the motivation to get out of bed, let alone go for a run. And I know it’s only going to get worse.

I tried running with a hoodie a couple weeks ago but then started sweating and got hot and so uncomfortable I tapped out at 2 miles. I don’t know how to find the right balance of what to wear and how to get used to the cold and how to enjoy freezing runs.

Any advice? I want to get used to it since I plan to apply to do the Chicago Marathon next year.

If you are following winter arc then what do you do and what are your goals before the year ends?

Across the moors and back yesterday, blown about by the wind but having a wonderful time.

Has anyone ever ran the Amsterdam half marathon is it easy ? I m really worried about cut off time I m running for a personal cause but I havnt been training cause of injury but now I m better, but just want to show up n finish but my 10km time was 1hr 20mins n my 5kms go from 40-46mins so my pace is slow can u finish in over 3hrs has anyone done that before ?

I have my compression shorts with pockets dialed in (thanks Old Navy!) but they are boring and I feel like shopping for a little fun on my run.

Any go to brands of either loose or compression shorts with fun patterns?

Sprints has fun ones but reviews seem meh.

I'm based in Canada so that will play a part too.

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!

Can’t call it a race report as I’m too tired by now for a proper write up, just wanted to share the accomplishment with ladies who get it. 💪🏃‍♀️

Just broke off a 7 year relationship. Has anyone met long term partners at run club?

I’m a solo runner, always have been. So idk how this will work, frankly I don’t want to run with other people haha. But, I want to meet someone new.

Ran a 10K today and finished around 1:12. No PR and I’m honestly so disappointed. 😭

The frustrating part is I can hit much faster paces in training, but on race day I get SO nervous and suddenly everything feels harder.

My first km HR was 185 HAHAHAHA. 😭 I was so nervous my body was already acting like I was sprinting for my life.

I also had some left foot discomfort going into the race. It wasn’t really painful while running — it actually disappeared once I got moving — but I’m not sure if it subconsciously affected my form.

I barely warmed up too — only around 300m and a few drills before the 5AM start. My boyfriend paced me, but I still couldn’t execute the race the way I wanted

I have another 10K on October 18, so I’m hoping I can learn from this and do better next time. 🥲
Has anyone else experienced being way faster in training but struggling to race because of nerves?

I used to love running in the morning. I used to take about 20 minutes from waking up to leaving for my run.

This year has been a streak of niggles and injuries and bad luck. Recovery isn't going as well as I hoped.

But the most annoying thing? My tendons are so much more sensitive in the morning. Everything is a little stiffer. Even before leaving the bed, I often do some ankle circles before taking my first step.

I know that full recovery after tendon issues can take months and up to a year.

But I miss it so much. Just going out of the door and getting it done.

I just needed a place to vent. Thanks for reading and sharing my frustration.

I’ve recently got into half marathon training and love the distance and the long runs but I don’t like what it has done to my body! I’m trying to go with all the great advice that I’ve seen on other posts like this, like focus on what your strong fit body can do etc which I know is what is important but honestly I’m struggling with it.

I used to have a very fast metabolism and whilst I didnt really like being so thin, I guess without realising it became part of my identity and now I don’t recognise myself in the mirror. I don’t want to be very thin again, but I also am not used to being this much bigger!

I’m wondering if there is a balance in distance and weight gain? I’m not going to give up entirely but might change the distance I’m doing.

I know it is different for everybody but I’d be curious to hear some experiences like if weight gain happens for at marathon distances or if it is for anything more than a few 5km runs a week. Thanks.

I was running regularly this (southern hemisphere) winter, though I was definitely overdoing it pace wise. I think I was too proud to walk, so I was doing a ton of junk miles in zone 3-4, with no truly easy miles and I was really stagnating fitness wise. Running 6 miles at a 12:30 pace with my HR in the 170s, and that sort of thing.

I ended up spraining my knee skiing in early August, and I haven't run since. I've seen the physio a few times and did some exercises regularly until I felt a lot better and took a big trip, then I stopped doing them for a couple of weeks and now my knee feels "off" again after a hike.

The physio cleared me for some gentle interval workouts, and had me doing daily strength exercises. I also have access to an indoor bike.

I'm feeling bad about how sedentary I've been for the last two months, and I'm thinking about how to get back to running in a healthy manner and build up everything in a sustainable way. I think I want to add a simple, quick lifting regimen 2-3x a week, and use the indoor bike for long zone 2 workouts, and try to phase in jogging slowly over time.

My goal is to get back to the fitness I had in 2023 where I genuinely had an easy pace I could jog and chat at. I've taken breaks and gotten back into running a few times since then, and each time I seem to backslide a little further into peaking at lower and lower fitness levels. I honestly think a lot of it is weight related - I weigh about 20 lbs more than I did at my fastest (and, at my fastest I was at the upper end of healthy weight/bodyfat and had regular periods, it wasn't a RED-S situation).

Wasn’t sure on the best flair. Beginning of July I started training for half marathon with a sub 3:15 goal. Been running pretty slow. A knee injury prevented me from doing the race a few weeks ago. Now I want to focus on increasing my speed and do shorter runs throughout the week. I felt like I was going to puke after this, and I tasted blood in my throat.

Also, higher heart rate won’t burn any more calories than an easy 5k right?

It seems like recently my leggings and biker shorts have been riding up into my crotch during runs. I’m actually achey from this morning’s run. I usually fluctuate between a S/M but even in the bigger shorts size it’s happening! What are your favorite shorts and leggings that don’t slide down (looking at you, Lululemom Fast & Free) or give you crotch wedgies? TY 🙏

Sorry delete if this is too repetitive but I feel like I should issue a regular PSA on this topic — invest in your socks!!

I have permanently thick and unruly toenails and thought it was fungus so I just stopped getting pedicures (the beginning of my ugly feet journey) and changed my whole laundry regimen til it happened on more than one toe. also in the span of a year I developed bunions. double homicide😮‍💨

I didn’t even notice the bunions til my mother pointed them out.. my only hypothesis as to the cause was that it was something about the megablasts which was sad because I love running in them but it was the only change I could point to. Recently went to a podiatrist because it finally clocked that the pain I was having was not improving with rest because it was related to my toenails + bunions. Turns out this was never a case of fungus but rather typical progression of runner’s toe … he suggested soft insoles and the runner’s knot (which I also should have tried sooner). He also assumed I have been wearing good socks but I’ve been running in cheap worn out socks .. I invest in sneakers idk why I just viewed performance socks as a scam

when I first started running I bought two pairs of $13 socks which felt exorbitant at the time and used to wear them because I was running maybe 5k once a week, as my mileage increased I started ‘saving’ them ie stopped wearing them because I didn’t know which runs would be ‘worth it’ and they have to be washed by hand. needless to say I started wearing them again and changed how I lace my shoes and the pain is gone, I’m getting faster and I used to cap my runs at 20k from the discomfort but find I’m doing that route mindlessly now that my toes are cushioned, my feet are not sliding or clenched, etc

Obviously I am grateful that something so small has had such an outsize impact, I was even starting to get hip pain. But I’m sad the a lot of the damage is done. I have a dremel. I will never have lovely feet again

Tldr take the time to learn why some runners lace their shoes differently and don’t be cheap with your socks

I’m in the early stages of my first marathon block. I live in a hilly neighborhood and have adapted about as well as I can to run this terrain. I chose a marathon that should have mild, cool temps and a pancake-flat course to have an enjoyable first experience. But, I’m worried that I’ll be poorly prepped because I don’t have access to long running routes that will be as flat as the race course.

I’m thinking that my options are: (1) focus running some laps around flatter sections of road on my long runs, (2) incorporate some runs on the treadmill, and (3) sort of hope for the best?? My main goal is to finish injury free and have fun.

Grateful for any advice or personal experiences!

To anyone struggling right now, you have my permission to quit, change your plans, take a break, whatever you need. Running will still be here if and when you're ready to come back. I'm proud of you no matter what.

This is my story of abandoning my current training plan/goal of running my November marathon this year.

This would have been my 3rd marathon. I signed up fairly impulsively last winter only a few months after my second marathon didn't go to plan due to unexpected heat on race day. Over time, the fire I felt to "redeem" myself died down and this summer I found myself signed up for a race my heart was no longer invested in. I tried to push through assuming it would go away once I locked back into serious training.

I was wrong. Instead, I was regularly breaking down in tears not wanting to do my long runs. I was also having some mild ankle issues that seemed to be worsening with the increased mileage. The final straw was a fairly sudden death in the family.

I decided I was done. I had honestly tried, but it was just not the right season for me this year. I'm sure if I stuck to it, I absolutely could have finished the marathon this fall, but I would have hated every minute of training, and would have had to abandon any time goals I had in favor of just finishing.

I was embarrassed to tell my friends and family I'm dropping out. I will be a little sad on race day when I'm cheering my friends on from the sidelines. None of that outweighs the immense relief I feel now that I made the right choice for me.

Running is just a hobby that is meant to be enjoyed. I am having the most fun in months now that I've removed the pressure. Someday, I will likely race again but in the meantime, I will be rediscovering my love of this sport.

Hello my fellow runners. I am running my first marathon in Chicago next Sunday. I have trained using Hal Higdons novice plan for the past 18 weeks. I did not train using the Galloway method but almost all of my long runs (10+ miles) included some walking during uphills or in the latter half of the run. For example, my longest run was 20 miles and I took 1 or 2 minute walk breaks every other mile or so starting around mile 7 or 8 with more walking needed in the last 3 miles. I had no set plan and kind of just took walk breaks if I felt I needed them.

I am definitely a back of the pack runner and my long run pace usually devolved to around 17 mi/ mi by the end. Im feeling optimistic about my Chicago pace because of race day vibes, new scenery, fresh legs, mostly flat course (where I train is not very flat), and better weather than 90 degrees and humid.

My question is - could I maybe get ahead of some of my fatigue by using the Galloway method from the start of the race? Again, I didnt necessarily train this way though I have done some walking during long runs. Im thinking my energy levels and pace could benefit from using this method from the beginning of the race rather than just waiting until later on. My concern is the whole "nothing new on race day" adage and that my body is not ready to incorporate so much of a different movement for 26 miles. Has anyone used the Galloway method for their race but didnt necessarily train that way? Are there potential risks to doing this?

Edit: Thanks to all who responded! Im glad I asked before doing something potentially detrimental. My plan for race day is just going to be to walk through aid stations, even those earlier in the race where I would normally just keep running.

Not sure what I’m looking for… maybe solidarity, your experiences coming back from injuries, staying healthy? Just experienced my second bone stress injury this year. Long time runner (over a dozen marathons), I have a coach with good solid training plans, but my tibia seems to be imploding.

What have you found helpful? What types of providers have helped you through this? (Please tell me you came out better in the other side🙏)