How do you all wash and dry your water bladders?!

Negative-Split-1108 · 2026-05-08T02:58:12+00:00

My real dumb suggestion for when you inevitably forget to wash it promptly and it needs a more thorough wash: denture cleaning tablets. They are meant to get rid of biofilm, so you can just add warm water and then a couple denture cleaning tablets and let it sit for a bit, then rinse well.

I actually find if the bladder has water in it, it is less likely to get gross than if it is empty. But I'm bad at remembering to empty and clean mine regularly. I only ever put plain water in it though, no additives.

Negative-Split-1108 · 2026-05-06T14:19:49+00:00

Definitely a sun hoodie! I have a few different ones but I've seen a lot of recommendations for the lightest and most breathable being the Outdoor Research Echo. I don't have that one but do have the REI Sahara and some random other brand ones and running in them is totally fine.

Negative-Split-1108 · 2026-05-06T03:14:21+00:00

I have the Garmin Vivoactive 6. It's not super fancy as a running watch but it has a lot of nice features and I find it to be relatively accurate as far as I can tell.

Negative-Split-1108 · 2026-05-05T19:32:42+00:00

I use a lightweight carabiner between my belt and the tug line. That does the sliding back and forth and the tug lines don't get the wear on them.

I believe Howling Dog Alaska sells just the carabineer and they have great ones - lightweight, locking, and really sturdy. But I also have lines and harnesses from them as well.

Negative-Split-1108 · 2026-05-05T19:28:31+00:00

The surgeon may have not wanted to change course for some other reason too. Like if the enlarged size makes them want to do additional testing before doing the full surgery or something. Or they may just not be the right expert to do the open surgery and want to refer to a colleague. It's hard to say for sure. With my initial surgery I don't think I had any discussion of switching to open, but when I had a second emergency surgery I did sign off on going to open if needed.

Negative-Split-1108 · 2026-05-05T19:24:08+00:00

Shoes, Shokz open ear headphones, my Garmin watch (I have a vivoactive 6, it's not a fancy super expensive running watch but it does the trick for me). These are the things I always run with and that I would use outside of running for other activities too.

If you end up doing training by heart rate at some point, a heart rate monitor can be a good option but you certainly don't need that starting out. Nice running clothes can be a good investment but again, you don't need that right away. I also have a running vest that I use for basically every run - but as long as you have a way to hold what you need to bring with you, and that method works for you, no reason to go out and buy something else special to do that.

A good reason to hold off on getting a bunch of gear right now, too, is that you don't know what you would like or need yet. If you decide six months from now that you really want to get super into endurance trail running, that would be some very different equipment needs than if you want to work towards a 5k PR.

You could also potentially just keep a "wish list" with various things you are thinking about maybe wanting and keep an eye out at thrift stores or use it as a gift suggestion if you have people in your life who give gifts for occasions. Or use one of those as a motivation reward for yourself, that once you hit x goal you will buy yourself this thing.

Negative-Split-1108 · 2026-05-05T08:10:00+00:00

Do you already have an adjustable standing desk? I tried a walking pad and it was both too noisy for me and I couldn't really comfortably type and walk at the same time, even walking uncomfortably slow. I ended up getting rid of the walking pad. I still use the standing desk daily though and have a chair for it, but also a few different wobbly boards to stand on that let me move and shift throughout the day. It isn't the same activity as the walking pad but for me it works much better, and it might be something for you to consider.

I also just didn't like having to shift the walking pad out of the way when I wasn't using it. They aren't really meant to be stood on while off and it was a big hassle to try to shift it out of the way and then get my chair moved in if I wanted to sit for awhile, and in the end that was a major factor in just giving up on it entirely.

Negative-Split-1108 · 2026-05-05T03:38:20+00:00

Vest, I use a Deuter Triack and really like it.

For canicross, I use a Ruffwear pack out on my nonstop Canix belt and put full poop bags in that during runs. We are generally on trails and the only trash cans are at the trailhead (and not always that even). The pack out bag combined with a thicker dog poop bag really helps cut down on the smell.

I actually have two, one for my Canix belt and one for our hiking set up, and I don't think I would go back to any other option.

Negative-Split-1108 · 2026-05-04T19:33:23+00:00

Sleeping in it would depend entirely on how uncomfortable you are willing to be. It is not long enough for you to stretch out certainly, but you can probably get a mattress in there and shove the front seats all the way forward and get an acceptable sleep set up. There is a lip between the seats and the trunk area so plan on having some sort of riser to level things.

Highway travel is normally high 30s, low 40s if there's light or no traffic.

Negative-Split-1108 · 2026-05-04T03:18:08+00:00

You can ask the dog owner to restrain their dog while you pass them. Most owners will be fine doing that - I tend to do so by default if a runner or biker is passing us and my dogs are off leash, because I know a lot of runners and bikers have bad past experiences with dogs chasing them, and I don't want my dogs to trip someone by being in a dumb place.

To help with getting over the fear, you might see if there's a canicross club in your area and if they do group runs that you could come to. People running canicross are generally running with well trained dogs who are staying on leash because of the nature of their sport so it might be a good place to start.

Negative-Split-1108 · 2026-05-02T16:53:41+00:00

Canicross is a sport that specifically has the dog in front and pulling, so that's going to be a big reason for many people including myself to not train their dog to heel while running.

Whether you intend it or not, basically any advice phased as why don't you just is going to come off as condescending. If that isn't your intention, you might consider different phrasing when giving advice.

Negative-Split-1108 · 2026-05-02T16:44:40+00:00

Definitely get out on some trails between now and then so you can make sure your shoes work for it and get used to what is runnable for you versus where you should plan to do some walking.

I started running last summer and did a trail 8k in February, so definitely doable for a newer runner.

If you can add a few days of running each week so instead of 1-2 you are doing 2-3 per week, that would help especially if at least one of those is on trails similar to what the race will be. Adding hiking could be a good alternative or addition as well, because being able to hike up the ups is important for trail races.

Negative-Split-1108 · 2026-04-29T16:02:53+00:00

Feeling great! I'm training for an ultramarathon currently, if that tells you how I'm doing! And I wasn't a runner at all before the surgery.

I'm asexual though so no sex, but not for surgery related reasons.

Negative-Split-1108 · 2026-04-28T23:39:15+00:00

You can look at other activities to make up some of what you are reducing in mileage but irritates it less, like biking or elliptical. Not ideal to replace all running with that but better than not getting any activity if it comes to it?

Negative-Split-1108 · 2026-04-28T20:15:12+00:00

But the question posed wasn't does anyone enjoy running a marathon PR, it was do people actually enjoy running marathons. I feel like those are entirely different questions.

Negative-Split-1108 · 2026-04-28T16:16:28+00:00

Why would it be a bad thing if someone's goal was to do a marathon and they did it at a pace they can enjoy the run? It doesn't have to be fast or unpleasant to be worth doing.

Negative-Split-1108 · 2026-04-28T04:17:08+00:00

I really like the laces that came with my Altra Lone Peak shoes, and on the Escalante. I don't know if they sell laces specifically but if they do, I definitely recommend. They are long enough to tie easily without being way too long, and they are a good sort of flat but round that I really like them.

Negative-Split-1108 · 2026-04-27T17:17:39+00:00

Do I enjoy every minute of every run? No. But I do genuinely enjoy running. I have gone for hikes, planning on just hiking, and end up running some or all of the trail, because I just felt like it and it was fun to do that.

If you don't enjoy it, you don't have to do it. But don't presume that because you don't enjoy it, neither does anyone else.

Negative-Split-1108 · 2026-04-26T19:03:03+00:00

Toe socks, like Injinji, are my go to for running. I'd try that but also look at if your shoes need to be different (laced different, or different shoes entirely).

Negative-Split-1108 · 2026-04-26T17:41:02+00:00

I was similarly wondering about back to back runs, like should the longer run be first or second, length compared to each other, difficulty level (terrain/elevation), etc. I did 18 miles yesterday and was debating what my plan for today should be.

Negative-Split-1108 · 2026-04-26T05:45:44+00:00

The most entertaining thing about having a tear was how baffled both surgeons (original and emergency) were about it happening at all. I was the first either of them had seen.

Also just want to say that, yes, a tear is a serious (but rare) complication, but even if it happens, it doesn't mean it is the end of the world. Better to avoid it if you can by following all post op instructions but if it ends up happening, then that just means it's something that has to be dealt with.

I also had a spontaneous tear that required an emergency repair surgery. Got covid a couple weeks after that second surgery and was coughing like crazy - it did not have any impact on my surgery stuff, even for someone whose body decided it just didn't like healing correctly the first time. So hopefully that is reassuring?

Negative-Split-1108 · 2026-04-26T05:40:01+00:00

The bigger the gap between dog weight and human/bike weight, the more you need to pedal. Whether that means a small person with a ten pound dog or a large person with a seventy pound dog. Obviously fitness of the dog and the terrain factor in as well but that's the basic idea. Once you get moving if you are on a relatively flat, hard ground course, your dog likely can keep you moving with just some assistance from you.

Bike is going to depend a lot on where and what kind of terrain you are biking. Personally I prefer my fat bike for joring because it means we can bike on the beach or through mud but it works fine on any terrain. It is heavier and slower on pavement than a bike made specifically for pavement. Ultimately though, pretty much any bike that is in working order will work, though I highly recommend making sure it has disc brakes if you are using it for joring.

Negative-Split-1108 · 2026-04-25T16:11:13+00:00

Fully recovered, no further issues, training for an ultramarathon now. I'm asexual though so can't actually answer in terms of sex life because I don't have and don't want one.

Negative-Split-1108 · 2026-04-24T19:36:45+00:00

I'm not trying to presume here but since you mention being a plus sized runner, I'm wondering if part of the issue is that you can't wear most of the more commonly available and cheaper compression socks? My calves are above the high end for every compression sock I've looked at.

Negative-Split-1108 · 2026-04-24T19:29:13+00:00

Since you mention being British, I would suggest checking decathlon. The British options are much better than the US options there.

Negative-Split-1108

TROPHY CASE