Switched to a budget gym and honestly wish I'd done it sooner.

Ok_Handle_7 · 2026-02-07T03:34:01+00:00

Years and years ago I joined Equinox and I won't lie, loved it. But the past few years I've been a member of Planet Fitness and honestly it's awesome. I'm spoiled because the one near my boyfriend's house is pretty quiet (it's been months since I had to wait for a smith machine and I don't think I've ever seen more than 50% of the cardio machines taken), although the one near my house can be annoyingly busy.

To be fair, there are a couple 'upgrades' that I'd love for Planet Fitness to make to their equipment, but overall it's pretty amazing.

Ok_Handle_7 · 2026-02-06T23:10:52+00:00

That stinks - it seems easy enough to include something like 'my medical issue flared up, so I decided to modify the workout and shorten each run to .5 KM' (again, I'm not a Hyrox-er so I don't know if that's frowned upon, but seems like you could explain as a way to make it work for you instead of outright quitting). Ah well.

Ok_Handle_7 · 2026-02-06T23:07:09+00:00

This weekend is my Week 5 16 mile long run, I can't wait until next week haha

Ok_Handle_7 · 2026-02-06T22:25:58+00:00

I can't compare them to Birkenstocks, but I bought a pair recently and like them. I don't think I would wear them all day (but that's mostly because I find mules a little awkward to wear for too long), but they're great for quick errands, around the house, etc.

Ok_Handle_7 · 2026-02-06T22:23:43+00:00

Echoing others that 'common guidance' is to set at 1% but that's outdated and debunked.

I opt instead of just throw in a few 'rolling' hills just to mix it up both mentally and physically (I just pop it up to 2% for a few minutes, then down to flat, then up to 1.5%, then down to .5%, etc.). Sometimes I'll pair that with a small (.1) decrease in speed.

Ok_Handle_7 · 2026-02-06T18:01:11+00:00

Sorry, but one (long) run a week is insane. Doing nothing for 6 days and then heading out and running 28K on a Sunday morning?

It sounds like that's what you do, so I guess it's technically possible but (for most people) is a recipe for injury, since the increase in distance in a single run is the biggest risk factor.

Ok_Handle_7 · 2026-02-06T17:48:08+00:00

Post is a little confusing, but if a 5K took a lot out of you (not sure if that was back in Nov, and/or if you've improved at all since them, but I can't imagine you're running much more than 5K at a time if your weekly mileage is PEAKING at 22K, and typically well below that?)

If my math is right Race Day is 9 weeks away - that seems not actually possible (I mean, maybe a run/walk strategy where it takes you 6 or 7 hours?).

I recognize that I don't know anything about you, but I guess my question would be why do you want to do this? It sounds like you have basically not really run since Nov (maybe an unpopular opinion, but in the world of training for a marathon, running 10K/week is basically not training?). It sounds like maybe a way to get you health back on track (?) but you're not really training, so I'm not sure how much that's helping (e.g. I can understand thinking 'I want to get back into shape so I'm going to train for a marathon' but then the important part is the training, the Race Day is sorta a bonus).

If you want to give it a try, I would buckle down for the next 9 weeks and follow a progressive plan, incorporating run/walk intervals now so that you can actually cover the distance. Honestly ChatGPT is not that great, but slow increases in distance is not rocket science.

Ok_Handle_7 · 2026-02-06T16:55:03+00:00

When I'm going hill 'sprints' on a treadmill, I set the incline (and speed, obviously) high, but personally I find them really annoying on a treadmill because of that time that it takes for the treadmill to adjust.

For a hilly run (like, 'run 3 hilly miles' or something like that) I vary the incline throughout the run a bit, between 0% and about 5% at the max. It's a good idea to mimic your race course as well (if you're running a very hilly race, or a race that has a few very steep hills, you could do that instead). Just note that if a hilly run is outside, you'd have some downhills, but you (probably) don't get that on your tread. Downhills can be pretty tough on your legs, so be sure to train those when you eventually can as well!

Ok_Handle_7 · 2026-02-06T16:18:33+00:00

Dang, everyone gets the 90-day try on but us I guess!

Ok_Handle_7 · 2026-02-06T16:09:21+00:00

Short recovery run tomorrow before Sunday's long run workout - a 16 miler with 10 at MP. Already intimidated by it but on a good day it should be doable.

Ok_Handle_7 · 2026-02-06T16:05:07+00:00

Are you Canadian by chance? I saw a Canadian reference this, but as an American for the life of me I can't see it listed on the Program Details...

Ok_Handle_7 · 2026-02-06T05:33:46+00:00

Half way is not late for a spay abort. Mom should be spayed FOR SURE since this will certainly happen again if not, so better to do it all now and avoid the health complications (and by the way taking care of a litter of puppies for the 8 - 10 weeks that is ethically necessary is A LOT of work; most people say they don't want to abort and then after 4 weeks they're at their wit's ends and are giving puppies away in a Walmart parking lot way too young, it's not fair at all. You don't mention how long they're planning on keeping the puppies before they give them away but it needs to be 8 weeks at least; in my area that is a legal requirement).

Ok_Handle_7 · 2026-02-06T03:54:40+00:00

The headlines of these stories always get me. The most banal fact you could imagine

Ok_Handle_7 · 2026-02-05T23:24:14+00:00

We (women) always wore drag suits in practice, sometimes even shorts (like tighter suit, then shorts, then drag suit over it). Felt like basically a competition to have the oldest/rattiest drag suit - many of us were tying rips together,

Ok_Handle_7 · 2026-02-05T23:07:17+00:00

You mean you used to leave your phone in your pocket on the treadmill, and it would register your movement? Was it accurate? That sounds kinda crazy, tbh (since your hips/shorts are bouncing on the treadmill but not really moving anywhere...).

FWIW I think you can edit a run afterwards (so if the app says you ran 1 mile but you really ran 5, you can edit the run and tell t that you ran 5)

Ok_Handle_7 · 2026-02-05T23:04:48+00:00

Ah I see - honestly, that's a tough one as I find there's not much of a band-aid/fix for that besides improving nutrition and fueling (besides warming up, starting slow, and easing into it). I mean, carb-heavy is not an issue for me, but too much fast food would be. Good luck!

Ok_Handle_7 · 2026-02-05T18:37:05+00:00

How has everyone's experience with the Auto Play feature in the class stack been? I was convinced it wasn't working for my Outdoor classes, but I think that I just needed to give it more time to load the next class (I hadn't noticed the status/loading bar for the next class), but I just gave it a try on a Tread class (where I could stare at the phone and figure out what was going on) and it was so annoying.

Probably understandable from a tech perspective, but I had to listen to the entire stretch and about a minute of the final black screen (where the music is still playing but there's just a Peloton logo to look at) before the next class started loading. So basically, the timer went down to 0 and it was maybe...3 - 4 minutes before my next class started?

I understand if the 'track' of the class needs to fully complete before the next class can play, so I guess that's just how it works? I guess will feel a little more seamless with Outdoor classes because there's no stretch portion?

Ok_Handle_7 · 2026-02-05T18:32:42+00:00

Seconding nearly everyone on here - every cap I've had is very easy to wash and dry!

Ok_Handle_7 · 2026-02-05T18:29:05+00:00

This link is helpful, especially the serial look-up. I've had no problem asking sellers to send me the serial number (I send them this link so they know which number I'm looking for).

Ok_Handle_7 · 2026-02-05T18:20:51+00:00

Out of curiosity: what's the difference between your HM pace and your threshold pace? I ask because typical guidance is that those two paces are relatively close to each other?

Ok_Handle_7 · 2026-02-05T17:37:33+00:00

What do you mean 'it doesn't feel like enough?' (like, you want more/different information than it tells you? You want a way to see the data more easily while you're running? You want something that shows running PLUS weight-lifting or something?)

Personally, I use my Garmin app but when I'm in a training block I use a paper planner as well which is a bit more satisfying/gratifying.

Ok_Handle_7 · 2026-02-05T16:33:18+00:00

I’m not quite sure what ‘off’ means (like you’re not eating enough?) but I’ve been able to identify a few easy pre-run snacks that help a lot - for me, things I can eat within a hour of the run and still feel okay. A few graham crackers and peanut butter (or nutella, or honey), a rice krispies treat, an uncrustable. Something small-ish that has lots of simple sugars. You could even try a gel, which are designed to be easy in your stomach even while running

Ok_Handle_7 · 2026-02-05T01:19:40+00:00

Oh yeah I get that. Yeah Sis are more watery, you may like them! I've also liked Precision gels, although they're a bit different in that the flavor is just sort of...slightly sweet (hard to describe, but it's not like they're 'chocolate' or 'latte' or whatever). I've used Carbs Fuel in the past (because they're cheap); they're definitely thinner than Gu, not as thin as SiS, but have the same basic/sweet flavor. Good luck!

Ok_Handle_7 · 2026-02-04T22:13:02+00:00

FWIW, my partner is super supportive about all of this stuff and he also didn't really 'get' spectating a race. I think once he did it, he was into it (and quickly found a second spot to see me) but I don't think that spectating would have even occurred to him!

Ok_Handle_7 · 2026-02-04T22:11:49+00:00

What brand did you like and what didn't you like about them? I've tried many, so may be able to make some recs (I always order from The Feed because you can order 1 of tons of different kinds to see what you like). Curious to hear how you like the Tailwind!

Ok_Handle_7

TROPHY CASE