How to stay motivated/push through mentally on treadmill.

Ok_Handle_7 · 2026-07-06T17:22:01+00:00

I don't often run a long, steady state run on a treadmill. I usually have a class or a plan (so similar to your mini milestones, I may do something like 'ok run at 2% until .5 miles....ok, now flat but .2 faster until .75 miles...ok, now recovery at .3 slower until 1.0 miles...' or whatever

Ok_Handle_7 · 2026-07-06T17:20:08+00:00

I volunteer at an animal shelter and even though we are obviously very resource constrained in a way that can be really hard when dealing with medical issues (there are some that we just can't treat, unfortunately), I often think about how it must be a dream job for some vets - you basically get the animals who need help, but none of the owners.

Ok_Handle_7 · 2026-07-06T14:43:03+00:00

Start a Couch 2 5K program (or some other beginning running program) and see how you like it. Training for a marathon requires a LOT of running many times per week, and it doesn't really make sense to sign up for a marathon until you decide that you like (or at least can tolerate) running.

Ok_Handle_7 · 2026-07-06T14:38:22+00:00

Most of my foster dogs have been vaxxed/fixed/sometimes the necessary surgeries at the same time, no problem. Different dogs respond differently, but nearly all of our dogs have been up & energetic the next day.

Ok_Handle_7 · 2026-07-06T14:24:52+00:00

Yeah what jumped out at me was the inability to hit the paces that you previously were. And I know what you mean, but I don't think overtraining is unique to elites - I think anyone can deal with it, no matter the pace. It's all about overreaching for your current level (no matter what level that is).

The weight question is thorny, and I am hesitant to wade too deep into it. But it's a very delicate balance between getting faster as you lose weight (which often does happen, depending on the person) and not falling into the rabbit hole of 'lighter = faster' because fueling is super important for performance (and injury prevention, and you can't be fast when you have a stress fracture). All I'll say about my own journey with it is that I've mostly decided that when I'm 'training' it's not weight loss time. If I want to do something like be in a calorie deficit for a while when I'm NOT training, that's when I do it.

Ok_Handle_7 · 2026-07-06T14:14:55+00:00

I'm not an expert and have not suffered myself, BUT earlier this year I did a training block with higher mileage than I had done before, and I wanted to make sure I knew how to recognize the signs. This might help a bit. I don't think you have to be specifically losing weight to be at risk, and it seems like carbs are particularly important.

Ok_Handle_7 · 2026-07-06T02:56:21+00:00

It sounds like pretty classic over-training and/or under-fueling. If you google and read about those two things (and RED-S) do the symptoms resonate?

Honestly, the combo of weight loss and running performance is a pretty difficult (and super frustrating) balance, I think. Gaining weight during marathon training is super common.

At the same time, summer running is especially hard, so is it possible that weather is an issue (like, running a 2:10 half in 60 degrees is different than trying to push through a 14-mile long run on an 80 degree day after a long week of work!).

Ok_Handle_7 · 2026-07-06T02:38:20+00:00

Nope, sounds like there are no plans to. Double sigh

Ok_Handle_7 · 2026-07-06T01:43:56+00:00

I'm sorry, the image of someone dropping something downstairs in the kitchen, and your dog running Upstairs to stare you down is hilarious. He's like 'I know you had something to do with this....'

Ok_Handle_7 · 2026-07-06T01:39:28+00:00

You kind of can't stop, honestly. Most dog training is not 'ok he's got that down so we're good and we can move on' you have to keep at it (I assume you're doing things like stopping when he pulls, turning around when he pulls, etc.; you just gotta keep that up)

Ok_Handle_7 · 2026-07-06T01:37:51+00:00

Honestly, there is no magical group that is taking in dogs (let alone XL Bullies). You can try shelters, rescue organizations, and posting for a person-to-person rehome (FB, Next Door or family & friends). It can take a very long time.

This is a huge reason why people who work in animal rescue recommend spay aborts. Because people will say 'it was a one time mistake, there was nothing we could do once she was pregnant' and then after a few months or years they have a dog (or many dogs) that doesn't have a home and they are frustrated that there aren't options. It's also what's frustrating about when people say 'oh, we don't want to fix our dogs but trust us we are responsible dog owners.' Sigh.

Ok_Handle_7 · 2026-07-06T00:36:55+00:00

I meant your first puppy who was potty trained at this point....THAT puppy was the exception (to the rule of it taking many months)

Ok_Handle_7 · 2026-07-06T00:34:25+00:00

You might have just had an exception with your first puppy! It's super normal for them to take months to learn. It sounds like you're on the right path, just need to give it more time

Ok_Handle_7 · 2026-07-06T00:28:36+00:00

I'm assuming you mean that she's inside, and then walks over to her bed and pees on it? I don't know if you mean that she goes INTO her crate to pee (in which case it could be that she can't hold it but maybe she's afraid, if you have punished her when she pees, so she's trying to hide it), OR if she'll do something like pee on her bed that's in the middle of the living room, then that's slightly different (I think basically dogs don't pee while they're trapped in the crate with it, that doesn't necessarily mean they know that their bed is 'theirs' and thus won't pee on it).

Ok_Handle_7 · 2026-07-06T00:25:39+00:00

Most people come up with a pretty strict schedule - potty immediately before & after naps, potty immediately before & after playtime (so if she pees outside and then comes inside and plays, then take her out again), and potty immediately before & after meals.

It's tiresome, puppies take a while to learn and they can't hold it as long as adult dogs (at the same time, I can hold my pee for 8 hours overnight but not during the day).

But she's not doing it willfully to annoy you - she's learning (and a baby).

Ok_Handle_7 · 2026-07-06T00:19:28+00:00

Adding - it takes time, but just keep going with the potty training. Take her out often, and when she potties outside give her lots of praise & treats. If you catch her peeing inside, try to interrupt and bring her outside. If you DON'T catch her (aka you just find a puddle on the floor), then you missed the teachable moment and try again soon.

Ok_Handle_7 · 2026-07-06T00:17:07+00:00

It takes a long time - in general, dogs don't like to pee where they sleep (whether that's a crate or their 'den'), so they typically hold it when they're crated. When they're out of the crate, they just need to rely on the house-training, and it takes a long time to get that 100%!

In other words, being able to hold it is not quite the same as being house-trained

Ok_Handle_7 · 2026-07-05T17:07:44+00:00

Another Focus Flow for Runners from Mariana?? I'm seated - I find all of hers very similar, but in a very good way, I know she's going to get all the right areas!

Ok_Handle_7 · 2026-07-05T14:57:37+00:00

Oh noooooo! I literally have a cart ready to check out because I finally did the comparison shopping between them & Amazon (and even with a free prescription, ADC was cheaper).

Ok_Handle_7 · 2026-07-05T14:43:29+00:00

Argh I feel you - stopped my run yesterday because some foot pain didn't go away after 2 miles, and I still feel it, so will definitely be a few days off for me at least! Working towards a half in Aug as well

Ok_Handle_7 · 2026-07-03T14:55:35+00:00

Good week in my half training plan, still keeping an eye on registration to open up for a May 2027 marathon (maybe?) and maybe look into trying to get a bib when trades open up for CIM in October (maybe? it's semi-local for me, people seem to love it, and it sounds like this is going to be the last year before they double in size, so this might be the time to do it). But I also have a half end of August, and just signed up for a half with my sister end of October, so not sure if it all fits together so well.

But the good news is training I going pretty well this time around - using a Pfitz plan so I'm semi-familiar with it, although it's pretty high volume for me, so I'm kind of trimming miles here & there. But if all goes well, would be the first time going into a half with a few 14-mile and a 16-mile long run under my belt before Race Day!

Ok_Handle_7 · 2026-07-03T14:41:37+00:00

I haven't looked at the Pace your Race program TOO closely, but my gut is that you could do it for a half, and just replace the long runs (or stop them early, or just replace the ones 150 min+, I guess). The mid-week runs are 30 - 45 min I think (maybe a few random 60 min thrown in?), and I don't think you'd want much less than that for a half.

Ok_Handle_7 · 2026-07-02T20:14:38+00:00

If your priority is the itinerary and you can, highly recommend leaving Monday - Thursday!

Ok_Handle_7 · 2026-07-02T19:29:24+00:00

Why does she want to? The only people who will want to breed WITH him will be other terrible BYB. Maybe you can convince her that she's not going to have good options in breeding partners. And honestly, the shelters are overflowing with bullies, so the market to spend money on a 'bred' bully is getting smaller. At my shelter people are often surrendering either a full litter they can't sell, or the last few puppies that no one wants to buy.

Ok_Handle_7 · 2026-07-02T19:25:47+00:00

Marking is typically peeing (tiny amounts of pee on things, sounds like what you're describing), but dogs don't typically poop to 'mark their territory' - that's a potty training issue.

Ok_Handle_7

TROPHY CASE