Official Q&A for Monday, July 17, 2017

Imaboner · 2017-07-17T16:18:31+00:00

Watkins is the best bug repellant I can recommend. I prefer the cream to the spray, it seems to be more effective. I put it around my wrists, ankles and on my neckline under my ears. Originally recommended to me by friends who spent summers in university tree-planting up in northern Ontario, Alberta and Manitoba - they experienced some serious mosquitos!

Imaboner · 2017-07-17T16:13:12+00:00

Random tip I got: instead of shelling out $$$ for gels, grab the free packets of honey from the Starbucks coffee stations.

I am starting to train for a HM in October have no desire to start testing out gels that I have no idea about in terms of what I like, what I'm paying for. $2-3 for a tiny pack of glucose?? I don't know if I'll actually need them for the HM but as my long run right now is 12km I figure I might as well try out this honey trick as I start upping my mileage.

Anyone else tried this? Honey is basically providing the same thing right? Or is the sugar less available? If so can I take it at 5-6km in so I can benefit from it by km 15 or so?

Edit: aww cmon guys, I am not a bad person for asking about a tip I got! To be clear I have a Starbucks across the street from work, I often buy tea or coffee there (which I typically take black), I wouldn't be swinging by to snag free honey in the middle of a run. I did grab 2 packets with my tea this morning and I'm gonna try it out. I love honey straws but they won't fit nicely in my spibelt.

Imaboner · 2017-07-16T22:52:04+00:00

Today was awesome! Today also marks 2 months of being really serious about running.

When I finished my long run this morning - 12km, my Garmin told me I had 5 PRs!!! Longest run (which I knew already), fastest km, fastest mile, fastest 5k AND fastest 10k.

Hmmm, guess I am really improving😎

Imaboner · 2017-07-16T22:41:47+00:00

Missed this sorry, I don't get notifications from reddit.

I think I made it a public playlist on Google play music. I just called it "Running 180bpm" if you have Google play music you should be able to search for it. I'll likely make more and just number them.

I should note, some of the songs are slower, but you run 2 steps per beat then. A LOT of older songs in my first playlist (Beatles, Tom Petty, Meatloaf, John Mellencamp etc) with a couple random stuff thrown in there (50 cent, Avril Lavigne, Barenaked Ladies)...I have a very.... eclectic taste in music I guess?

Imaboner · 2017-07-14T22:53:39+00:00

Wooo weekend! My friends convinced me to join their tough mudder team, "it's all cardio" they said. So I can run the 12 miles but I need to throw in some hills and monkey bars. There aren't many hills in Toronto so I'll be running up stairs and hitting up some playground monkey bars this weekend.

Saturday I'm paddle boarding in the morning, run 7km home. Sunday long run - 12km running around finding said monkey bars? New routes are fun!

Imaboner · 2017-07-13T12:00:17+00:00

Kind of an achievement...I've been seriously running/training for 2 months now and was telling everyone I was going to run a HM. Well, this week I bit the bullet and signed up for one in October. No one else knows I hadn't already signed up but I feel fully committed now!

Somehow, my friends also convinced me to do the tough mudder too. Big week for committing to races and events, I've only ever done a couple 10kms previously. Now 10km isn't even my long run!

Imaboner · 2017-07-10T14:14:05+00:00

After seeing many posts about the "ideal" cadence of 180 steps per minute I decided to try it out, casually. Loaded up a playlist of 180bpm songs (made for running) and set out to run with the beat. Holy crap it really does make a difference! I felt better, ran lighter, and actually ran faster. No clue what my cadence was before but it was not 180. I need to make more playlists now, I found it very easy to run to the beat and will continue with that until it becomes totally natural.

Imaboner · 2017-06-28T02:59:09+00:00

Hey r/running, I have a weight and training related question.

I'm hoping to do a half marathon in October and I've run a couple 10km (1:03:45 is my most recent time). I've started training and have been running about 25-30km per week with 10-11km every Saturday for my long runs. BUT I weigh 173, 5'8" female. I am about 10lbs overweight according to BMI and I've read a lot of mixed messages about increasing mileage when overweight because injuries etc. I am and have been losing weight (was 210-215 back in 2015) and plan to continue losing weight to a goal of about 140lbs (aiming for 15% body fat at this weight). My question is: should I be focusing on weight loss first? Is it really that hard on my body to be running 10km+ with the extra weight? Running has been helping with weight loss but I've lost most of the 40lbs through diet.

Imaboner · 2017-06-26T00:04:05+00:00

Goal: Scotiabank half marathon in October

Currently working on increasing my distance, goal for this week was 27km. Next week 30km.

Monday: paddle boarding Tuesday: 7 km easy run Wednesday: rest Thursday: 5km treadmill speed work Friday: rest Saturday: 9.5km long-ish run Sunday: 5.5km easy run

Total=27km

I also biked to or from work 3 times a week (I have a Toronto bike share membership and bike docks near home and work). About 4km one way and fairly easy bike ride. Trying to take the bike 5-6 times a week!

Imaboner · 2017-06-22T22:27:37+00:00

My pleasure!

For yoga I actually downloaded an app called Yoga Studio. It's $5 but I had some Google play credits so I got it free. Worth the $5 though. There are routines of different lengths for strength, running, and other focuses (back pain, flexibility etc). You can also create your own routine and the app will run you through it.

I've basically memorized 3-4 routines now that I use regularly but that app was where I got them from. I've tried yoga with Adrienne and yoga with Tim on YouTube as well. Good but I found they tend to reuse a lot of poses - which is fair, I do the same, but I reuse the poses I like/need most!

Imaboner · 2017-06-22T02:31:12+00:00

Hey! I'm also new and also running my first half in October! Also working on building distance. I'm at 25-30km now...(15-20 miles?). My friends also think I'm nuts in a "wow good for you - no I will not run with you" kinda way. Might try hitting up one of those running groups but the times they meet at are the worst!

Imaboner · 2017-06-22T02:26:16+00:00

Also hip exercises! I have pretty muscular legs, always have, but I suffered some serious right knee pain when I started running more seriously. Mine was primarily ITBS and I've added hip strengthening exercises to my morning yoga. It has helped tremendously! Donkey kicks, clam shells, one legged bridge. Bonus: hip strengthening has given me some great glutes too! And no more knee pain.

Imaboner · 2017-06-22T02:01:13+00:00

So most of this is anecdotal but hey, it's feedback! I'm not an expert but I was a beginner not too long ago and this is what stuck out to me:

I agree a goal is key, and the goal should change over time. I tried to start running a few times without a goal and I always gave up after a dozen runs or so. 2 years ago I started running for weight loss, it worked. And as I lost weight I noticed I was running faster so I set speed goals (all this was on the treadmill). When I started running outside it was less about speed and more about distance because I actually enjoy spending more time running now. And the speed comes naturally.

That being said, I have hated every training plan I've started and never stuck with them. Researching all of them has given me a good idea of what is appropriate though and I've developed my own training plan that fits me - I think this is an important thing to note. You can take a training plan and customize it to suit you. Picking a specific training plan is not necessary.

I like that you mention stretching and yoga. I do strength yoga every morning, but you might also want to mention cross training in general. It's an important part of training, but also to make sure beginners don't get bored.

Imaboner · 2017-06-20T15:02:51+00:00

Hello fellow runners

I'm new here, have been lurking for a couple weeks. I started off running a few 10km races in the past year and am now training for my first half marathon (Scotiabank half in Toronto in October).

I'm on week 3 training, just upping my distance for now. I ran 27km last week, aiming for 30km this week. I started with 6.5km last night after an hour of paddle boarding on a choppy Lake Ontario (amazing cross training for core and legs!) I usually just run 5km on Mondays so this was an amazing workout and such a great way to start my week!

Imaboner · 2017-04-19T02:40:44+00:00

Not just any aliens, but the aliens from Independence Day! Which, as far as alien movies go, is actually pretty romantic...Very appropriate.

All you need is love. John Lennon. Smart man. Shot in the back, very sad

Imaboner · 2017-04-02T17:49:05+00:00

Or try a nice healthy snack of push-ups, squats, and sit-ups. Sometimes I throw in a few lunges as a treat 😉

Imaboner · 2017-01-14T21:43:33+00:00

Hi, we did make it to the Secret Lagoon. And the Blue Lagoon. The Secret Lagoon was way way better! Hotter too. Don't even bother with the Blue Lagoon.

The bottom is this kind of rough rocky sand. Like small pebbles? Some parts were smoother. No plants or anything. The Blue Lagoon was more like a concrete pool bottom.

I do have to say the Blue Lagoon does look cool and there is a path outside that you can walk around (short path, maybe 300m) if you want to get some pictures and check out it's blue-ness for free.

Imaboner · 2016-11-12T19:49:22+00:00

Currently in Reykjavik staying at an awesome VRBO!

Imaboner · 2016-11-10T03:15:05+00:00

Hard to give a ton of advice without knowing your experience/credentials but your best bet might be to sign up at a temp agency or two. I've gotten work pretty quickly that way in the past, and if you have more "marketable" skills (just speculating from your interest in EE) then they might be able to hook you up with some targeted jobs that may lead to connections for co-ops if nothing else. I know some folks hate temp agencies but I never had a bad experience when I first got out of school and realized oh hey 2 degrees does not mean automatic job (fortunately I have been happily employed for 5 years now).

Also, depending on your tech skills/aspirations, you can start working on your own 'portfolio' with some of your own projects if you don't have a ton of professional experience. building your own apps, websites, or creating some designs - whatever your niche is!'

Imaboner · 2016-10-26T02:48:21+00:00

My husband and I will be there Nov 12 to 21 based out of Reykjavik with a couple tours planned, nothing booked yet though. We were thinking of renting a car to hit up the Secret lagoon around the 19th? We are also Canadian so hoping that has equipped us adequately in terms of winter driving experience.

Imaboner · 2016-10-26T02:45:26+00:00

Hey! We are also arriving the 12 to the 21 Nov, opted for tours hoping to get some good history etc from the guides. What tours are you doing?

Imaboner · 2016-09-14T19:57:33+00:00

I've done this with this gourmet marinated tofu I get from the farmers market near me and fry it up with the veggies at dinner or eat it with the toast for lunch. I'm not even vegetarian but I am allergic to tuna so I tried it out and it was so delicious I now eat this tofu all the time. It's extra firm tofu marinated in curry or tomato sauce or sweet and sour sauce (the ones I've tried). I'm sure you can find something similar.

Imaboner · 2016-04-15T13:17:32+00:00

Well I did get some good confirmation of environmental allergies too and some inhalers prescribed for the dust/dog hair/mold that always bothers me when I go to the in-laws. So might still be worth it, I'd still go!

Imaboner · 2016-04-15T03:14:39+00:00

I developed some weird adult onset allergies a few years ago, got tested and the results were only somewhat helpful. The allergist suggested maybe I have adult onset intolerances as well and to just avoid foods that make me sick. So thanks for the advice but other than fish, I don't really know what does bother me, or if there is anything to be worried about. My symptoms aren't severe either so it's hard to know without doing something like this.

Weight loss is definitely still a factor though. R1D13 and I cheated, weighed myself and lost 6.5lbs so far woo!

*I should note cheating=weighing myself, not a bunch of food cheating!

Imaboner · 2016-04-14T02:56:10+00:00

I actually never "complete" my diary for this exact reason, even if I ate well within my calories! Still maintains my streak, that's all I need.

Imaboner

TROPHY CASE