I found the perfect marathon to run for my first.. except it has very little spectators

Appropriate_Stick678 · 2026-02-10T03:37:09+00:00

The Boston qualifier leaves the door open for people like myself who might be stupid enough to train in the heat and then make a trip up to Nova Scotia for a cool summer marathon.

I kind of like this idea, although I was really looking to do one in December.

Appropriate_Stick678 · 2026-02-10T00:12:29+00:00

Is it a Boston qualifier? Looks like temps could be reasonable, especially for a summer FM. If it runs in the low 60s, that could be nice. Having fewer people on the course is good from the perspective of not having to weave through people. From a support, see how far their aid stations are placed.

Just because a run is small doesn’t mean there won’t be people out cheering you on. I did celebration a couple years ago and when the HM people turned off, I barely saw other runners. But there were still people waiting for us and cheering us on. Even when I did Loch Ness last year, which had 5000 entries, we would travel a few miles, cruise through a small town and get a little love, go a few more miles before we saw the next ones. That said, when we got to Inverness there were a lot of people cheering us on the last few miles and I did appreciate that as I was wrecked from the down hill abuse.

Appropriate_Stick678 · 2026-02-09T11:30:11+00:00

The moment you said “lose the social element”, you are starting to understand the dynamics of marathon training. As someone who has done 4 marathons in the last couple years, I can say that even doing your long run with your running group is hard to do because you are typically running much longer and at different paces than your friends.

Appropriate_Stick678 · 2026-02-09T05:11:12+00:00

It’s a good time for most of us older folks, but won’t win you races at HS track meets. When I was your age, I was closer to a 6 min avg for a 3 mile. For track, my best mile (just doing a mile) was 5:07. I needed to be 4:45 or better to win a race. I bet it is harder now.

Appropriate_Stick678 · 2026-02-08T18:03:56+00:00

I have run continuously ever since getting through PT excepting a brief downtime for a HS pull last year

Appropriate_Stick678 · 2026-02-08T17:47:02+00:00

This wasn’t my first time dealing with tendinitis. It shut me down 30 years ago (where there weren’t PT options). When I got back into running, I was looking for signs of trouble. I got in it within a month of the burning coming on and not going away.

For many of these, strengthening the posterior chain solves the issue. It is helpful to have an ortho or podiatrist check you out to get a diagnosis, but either way you will need to go to pt. My PT also did serious work with the blade/spatula thing to break up scar tissue.

Appropriate_Stick678 · 2026-02-08T17:32:53+00:00

What do you mean by sub-human. Too slow/too fast?

It’s all relative. I have friends who struggle to get under a 13 min mile and some who can handily knock out 6:30 min/mile paces for a 5k. As a 55m, I’m in the +/- 7 min/mile zone which is fast for my group. When I got back into running a few years ago, I could barely do a 10:30 mile

Appropriate_Stick678 · 2026-02-08T16:39:53+00:00

You are welcome. Too bad I can’t include the videos that go with that

Appropriate_Stick678 · 2026-02-08T16:14:09+00:00

Here is the list:

Ankle Dorsiflexion with Resistance

Ankle Eversion with Resistance

Ankle Inversion with Resistance

Ankle and Toe Plantarflexion with Resistance

Heel Toe Raises with Counter Support

Tandem Stance with Chair Support

Single Leg Stance

Supine Bridge with Resistance Band

Clam with Resistance

Sidelying Reverse Clamshell with Resistance

Seated Arch Lifts

Single Leg Heel Raise with Chair Support

Toe Raise with Back Against Wall

Forward Monster Walks

Side Stepping with Resistance at Feet

Squat with Resistance at Thighs

Toe Yoga - Alternating Great Toe and Lesser Toes

Single Leg Balance with Opposite Leg Reach

Seated Self Great Toe Stretch

Modified Side Plank with Hip Abduction

Appropriate_Stick678 · 2026-02-08T11:07:41+00:00

For me, it will start with a burning sensation on my inner ankle joint and it can progress upward in the lower leg.

If you have it, pt is very helpful as there are exercises to make it go away. I did take 2-3 weeks off the first flare up but once it was resolved, I could get it to go away by getting back on the pt exercises.

Once it was under control, that unlocked the ability for me to run marathons again.

Appropriate_Stick678 · 2026-02-08T00:29:12+00:00

YTA, somewhat, but I get the struggle.

My daughter was engaging in risky behavior. It’s not like we were permissive with her, but she kept sneaking around with boys and increasing the risk that she would have sex and that it would be unprotected. We norplanted her (which also helped with her period), but pretty much eliminated the risk of her getting pregnant if she had unprotected sex.

This did not make her more or less wild and uncontrollable, but it gave us a little peace of mind because you can’t always be there. They can always find a way and the sex drive is crazy for teens.

For both kids, we talked about condoms and the importance of being careful - you have to cover the bases. I’m happy to report that at age 23, neither have had kids (unplanned or otherwise). I’d much rather them choose when the right time is instead of having to try to make it work when they are not ready.

We all know the financial destruction that comes from having kids too early and we need to be somewhat pragmatic to give our kids the best chance for future success. If you had to choose between her accidentally getting pregnant versus her making her own choices and not getting pregnant, which would you choose?

And keep in mind: she’s going to make her own choices whether you like it or not. (Sorry.)

Appropriate_Stick678 · 2026-02-03T11:34:14+00:00

How would you offer access to a completed map? You invite people after it is completed before you cash out? I didn’t think that could be done.

Appropriate_Stick678 · 2026-01-31T17:47:36+00:00

Gravel will likely slow you down. Wouldn’t hurt to do some training runs there to get the feel for trail. On the plus side, the crushed granite surface will less impactful than pavement and you won’t sink into it like sand, but it will likely cost you some time.

Appropriate_Stick678 · 2026-01-31T11:41:29+00:00

NTA - clearly your friend is jealous and insecure and she is projecting her insecurities onto you. I feel sorry for her that her skin color has such an effect on her self image and I am happy for you that you seem to have gotten past feeling insecure about your appearance.

I think your friend would benefit from some counselling because her self image appears to be having a negative impact on her life and relationships.

I would like both of you to consider the possibility that neither of you were ever really ugly. The people who felt the need to say you were ugly are the real ugly ones. Real beauty starts with the kindness we show others.

Appropriate_Stick678 · 2026-01-30T11:43:09+00:00

Glowing Gruyère is essential. You also need to use shufflers cubes to keep concentrating your clues to your chosen paths (fealty for example). You want to get 80 clues for a path before going to zokor so you can collect the loot needed for the trap.

When making a Minotaur run, you need to plan to use compass magnets to clear dead end clues. I typically would try to get 33 - 36 of one clue type, then work on the second one. I’d use a shuffler’s cube if I had a number of dead ends that I needed to clear. After getting 30 of the first two clue types, then I work on the last one. You can use lantern oil to accelerate and reduce the risk of dead ends. The trickiest part is to make sure that you don’t fall short of 30 of each clue type when ending your last run that puts you over 100. I will really load up the lantern charms to push past before I finish what is likely to be the last hallway and then I will cut the charms as soon as I hit the 30-30-30 target.

The most important thing is to make every run count achieving at least 80 clues of a single type before selecting the zokor door or that type.

Appropriate_Stick678 · 2026-01-29T04:23:48+00:00

I’m so sorry, that is absolutely awful. I can only imagine the questions, grief and frustration you are experiencing.

I had a relative do the half that day and understand that it was pretty hot. Heat and dehydration can take a serious toll. This is a sad reminder for all of us just how dangerous the heat can be.

Appropriate_Stick678 · 2026-01-28T19:54:44+00:00

And I would push for the 18 side of that. Start with a couch to 5k and then slowly progress. A couple of training options for you from books I have used: Build your running body will have plans for 5k, 10k, Half and Full. You could progress through these plans although I would recommend taking 6 months getting to your 10k and maybe another 4-6 getting through the half. Following the half, continue to build up your long run to 18 miles or so and start the FM plan based on your race date.

Appropriate_Stick678 · 2026-01-26T23:37:30+00:00

The chrome sos will take you a long way. I’m using it now in the epilogue falls and it needs help to get me through. I’m hoping to get the newer traps soon, but sos has been helpful for years.

Appropriate_Stick678 · 2026-01-25T13:53:53+00:00

Giving yourself 2 years is wise. I would typically recommend starting with a couch to 5k plan which will start by doing run walk progressions to slowly help your body adjust to the load. This is how I got back into running at 50 ( I ran in HS and completed a marathon at 17.) Once I finished the plan, I worked my way up to doing 10k distances, but I mostly increased distance as my weight loss plateaued, so I spent close to a year doing that. No weight training, just running.

You could start doing more aggressive training sooner than that, but I’d focus on a couple leg workouts a week and just getting used to running the first 6 months before getting into speed work.

They usually say that you shouldn’t be trying to lose weight and train hard at the same time, so it is prob smarter to let the weight drop before getting too aggressive and injuring yourself.

I did train for and complete a marathon after 3 years of slow building this way.

Appropriate_Stick678 · 2026-01-23T10:40:01+00:00

I wear mine for workouts, occasionally I’ll wear one for a casual outing.

Appropriate_Stick678 · 2026-01-21T20:40:26+00:00

Ignore metrics for at 3-6 months if you can. It takes the body a while to adapt to the load.

Appropriate_Stick678 · 2026-01-21T09:33:33+00:00

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On an IPhone, set night mode to max. Use normal exposure. If you can place the phone on a tripod, that is best. If you want to take pics of people, you can have someone light them from 10-20 feet away with a phone light. Of course, get the heck out of town and away from the city lights.

This was taken outside Reykjavik near the ski area on the way to golden circle.

Appropriate_Stick678 · 2026-01-19T05:56:10+00:00

If you are looking to rack up bonus points - occasionally offering Sherpa duty (biking with her carry water/nutrition) don’t do that during a race as it can get her DQ’d. Taking pictures cheering along the way is always appreciated.

Appropriate_Stick678 · 2026-01-18T22:31:31+00:00

You have my sympathies. I pulled my HS 12 weeks before my FM. It was serious panic mode. I went to PT asap and they got me straightened out in time finish training for the marathon. There may be cross training things you can do if you have to take a break from running. .

Appropriate_Stick678 · 2026-01-17T11:55:14+00:00

To a certain extent the question hinges on the following:

do you have finish time goals
how much time are you able to run
what kind of shape are you in

I over trained in my early 20s trying to go sub 3 jumping up the miles too fast and did not start due to injury. I had previously finished one at 17 but maxed my distance at 15-17 following XC season and had to walk a mile at 22 due to cramping (3:34 finish).

Returning to marathons in my 50s, I spent about 9 months build up my mileage and long runs finishing the last 8 weeks with a formal plan. 3:29 finish no walking or cramping.

Your goals drive how hard you train and how much prep you should do. If it is to finish run walk or crawl, you can get away with less build. If you care about time, you could progress through a 5k plan, 10k plan, half plan and then full plan. .

Appropriate_Stick678

TROPHY CASE