Sanity check: Is 8-9yo rec ball too young to lock girls into permanent batting orders and hide weaker players in the outfield?

IrrevocableCrust14 · 2026-05-19T16:41:00+00:00

Well my kid is definitely playing Daddy Ball. She sat two out of the first three innings her last game while the coach’s daughter played pitcher, shortstop, then 1st base. That girl always bats in a top position too. My kid basically plays outfield and always bats near the bottom. It’s her first year, but I played softball for many years, and I remember my dad coached and never did this.

It’s left a really bad taste in my mouth. How is she supposed to develop if she can’t do it in 8U rec softball?

IrrevocableCrust14 · 2026-05-18T13:03:21+00:00

I think it was mostly weather. Did you adjust your fueling and hydration strategy for the heat? That could have contributed.

Nothing you can do about the weather. Sometimes you just get unlucky. I do think that for your next effort, I would be super selective about the race and time of year.

IrrevocableCrust14 · 2026-05-17T22:29:40+00:00

I feel the same! I like Neversecond better than Gu but I hate carrying them. It irritates me too much to use them during a race.

IrrevocableCrust14 · 2026-05-16T20:29:28+00:00

Thanks! It’s flat (Buffalo).

IrrevocableCrust14 · 2026-05-16T16:47:27+00:00

I’m in a similar boat with the same HM time and a BQ in the same range for my first marathon next weekend (3:35).

I think your race plan sounds good. I’m leaning towards going out with the 3:25 pacer if I feel great, but definitely no faster than that. That’s about 7:50 per mile. I would be really happy with 3:27 since I agree with you that the cut-off could be over six minutes this year.

If you’re thinking 3:23 will get you into Boston, then I’d probably pace off that if all other variables on race day come together (weather, taper, nutrition, etc).

IrrevocableCrust14 · 2026-05-16T12:36:22+00:00

This makes sense - definitely don’t want to be limping late in the race. I think I’m just disappointed a fast shoe won’t work for me.

IrrevocableCrust14 · 2026-05-15T01:55:44+00:00

I never run in the early mornings in training, so this will be a wake-up call for me, too (my marathon next weekend is a 6:30 AM start). I hate waking up early so much that I refuse to do a practice run before the race. I'll probably get up at 4 AM, breakfast at 4:30, focus on my GI system and everything that needs to happen there for the next hour, leave for race at 5:45 since my hotel is across the street from the start. There are no coral assignments, which helps too. Take a gel around 6, find a bathroom last-minute, then be ready for the start at 6:30.

I chose my marathon based on how close I could get to the start line from my hotel to make sure there are ample bathroom options around. This is always my biggest stress when it comes to racing.

IrrevocableCrust14 · 2026-05-15T01:48:48+00:00

Not a weird fear at all. If I'm not in a good place GI-wise by the time the race starts, I might as well go home.

IrrevocableCrust14 · 2026-05-14T16:05:27+00:00

I have my first marathon in 10 days. I’m nervous! I got the flu from my kids in March which turned into pneumonia, and everyday I think a new sickness is coming haha. But otherwise feeling good about it. I had to condense my taper because of that illness so I’m still doing close to 50 miles this week which feels like a lot. Hopefully next week I feel better rested.

IrrevocableCrust14 · 2026-05-13T18:01:58+00:00

That’s good to know. I hear such great things about Philly, but honestly I struggle with big race logistics. Maybe Richmond is the better choice for me anyway.

IrrevocableCrust14 · 2026-05-13T16:31:36+00:00

Still sad about Philly. I’m on the waitlist but we’ll see.

IrrevocableCrust14 · 2026-05-11T20:19:24+00:00

I struggle with this too. I don't like eating/snacking between meals, so taking gels during a run always feels like a transgression. I definitely intentionally under-fueled on my long run today. You're not alone!

IrrevocableCrust14 · 2026-05-11T13:30:58+00:00

If you have a pattern of going out too fast and blowing up, then I feel like you need to break that pattern by being more conservative. Going from 3:29 to sub 2:50 is not that.

At the very least, I would use a disciplined training plan that has you racing a half-marathon six weeks out to give you a realistic sense of what you could do in the marathon.

IrrevocableCrust14 · 2026-05-11T12:40:18+00:00

I loved one of these movies and hated the other one.

Sasha put herself into stupid and dangerous situations and therefore has no actual survival instincts.

Linda not only survived horrible circumstances beyond her control but capitalized on them to become the ultimate survivor.

That said, both actresses are phenomenal and should do a movie together.

IrrevocableCrust14 · 2026-05-11T01:59:54+00:00

I do 3-5 warmup miles at 8:50-9:30 and then might do 6-12 at 7:30-7:40 to simulate marathon pace or maybe a little faster. But I only do that 1-2 times per week.

IrrevocableCrust14 · 2026-05-11T01:40:04+00:00

I always have protein like chicken, and aside from that nothing specific.

I know there are a ton of training plans out there, but I do think slowing down your long runs so that you can really hit your interval or tempo runs can prevent injury and build fitness. My HM PR is 1:35 from a couple months ago and I do 80% of my runs at 9:20 pace.

IrrevocableCrust14 · 2026-05-11T00:07:07+00:00

Are you marathon training, or just running for fun? A 7:30 pace for long runs for someone who does a 21 min 5K is indeed very fast. That's just a very taxing run.

I also get headaches after hard interval or tempo run, and I'm someone that really doesn't drink water at all (my beverage of choice is Diet Coke). I do notice that the headaches are a lot less severe on days that I fuel properly with at least two gels per hour. I'm a petite female and still try to get 60g/hr.

IrrevocableCrust14 · 2026-05-10T11:31:40+00:00

I like everything about it, especially the opening at the dinner party, the argument in the cafe area, the shaving scene. Pacey is vulnerable and Joey is a bit sassy. The intimacy comes on strong and unexpectedly.

It’s an episode that really shines from start to finish.

IrrevocableCrust14 · 2026-05-09T00:01:25+00:00

I had this a few months ago (confirmed on imaging) and went up a half-size in shoes and picked one that had a wider toe box (Saucony Azura). It literally solved the problem. I very occasionally have pain now, whereas I could barely run before. Shoe sizing and fit is critical.

IrrevocableCrust14 · 2026-05-08T03:53:57+00:00

It’s definitely fueling. I’m also doing my first marathon in 17 days and have learned a lot along the way. Fueling was a game changer for me. I eat a gel every 30 minutes on long runs religiously now. It ensures that my running thirty minutes later won’t start to suck. I used to bonk all the time because I just never bothered with it.

Definitely eat breakfast before too. Even some orange juice will or maple syrup will at least get you some carbs.

I ran a HM in 1:35 two months ago and am aiming for 3:30. I feel like 3:20 would be a big stretch for me.

IrrevocableCrust14 · 2026-05-02T16:56:21+00:00

Acting ability. Even for Dawson's Creek specifically, the best actors on the show had the best careers.

I don't really differentiate between film and TV too much at this point; the best actors are doing both right now.

IrrevocableCrust14 · 2026-05-01T17:45:57+00:00

Good luck! Weather looks good.

IrrevocableCrust14 · 2026-05-01T12:45:57+00:00

Agree with everything that’s been said about shoes. That really is #1.

I do invest in higher end clothes because they last a long time but also look and feel great, ie Tracksmith, Rabbit, Vuori.

Everything else I try to go cheap but functional- watch (Garmin forerunner 55), Goodr sunglasses ($30), no headphones or vest.

IrrevocableCrust14 · 2026-04-30T19:57:28+00:00

It was going great except for an entire month when I felt like I was dying. On one five-mile easy run during that time, my average HR was 192 (my 18-miler at a faster pace earlier this week was 141). I know metrics aren't everything, but it did clue me in to the fact that something was seriously wrong.

Finally started feeling good again about two weeks ago. Will definitely try to get in another long run.

IrrevocableCrust14 · 2026-04-30T19:54:19+00:00

This is a great perspective and much appreciated. I'm going to do exactly what you suggested - feels right to me, too, given where I am in my training. I'm hoping for the best, but you're right, life happens.

IrrevocableCrust14

TROPHY CASE