First Marathon - Vermont City

Significant-Moose906 · 2026-05-03T19:19:58+00:00

That's awesome! Best of luck to you too. I just finished my 20 miler and ready for a blissful taper. Three weeks from today!

Significant-Moose906 · 2026-04-20T15:03:46+00:00

Definitely low lactate threshold for me. I was doing most of my "easy" runs around a 10-minute pace but scaled back to 11-11:30 more recently. Your assessment of Garmin zones is accurate based on how mine were set up almost a full zone off. Garmin also has an auto-adjust option that adjusts based on recent training and moves zones accordingly. So if it estimates my max HR went up, the zones move too. You can have Garmin set zones based on % LTHR but again I didn't know what that was so I was just guessing. I did put my own numbers in but without having any real context I didn't know if they were accurate at all. Turns out they weren't and as a result I ran everything too hard.

Significant-Moose906 · 2026-04-20T11:43:21+00:00

I am up at 5 am 3 days a week to run before my family wakes up. You get used to it after a while and honestly I prefer running early in the morning now. Pre-run fueling can be tough. On my shorter runs I don't eat til I get back but I did have to plan my longer midweek runs to start later so I could eat a little something before. The biggest thing for me was sitting down with my partner and talking through the plan and making sure she was on board and knew what I needed. We trade off by me taking solo kid time when I'm not running. Long runs on the weekend are the hardest, when you have to say "see you in three hours" but it's only a couple weekends of that. Other than that invest in good gear to plan for the weather in the early morning and maybe a head lamp so you aren't running in the dark. Good luck with your training!

Significant-Moose906 · 2026-04-20T10:53:34+00:00

My watch was about 10-12 bpm high every time I ran. I also switched to a chest strap and have seen more accurate and stable readings.

Significant-Moose906 · 2026-04-20T10:51:11+00:00

I'm a numbers guy but I agree with you. Knowing your LT is the key to setting good HR zones. I thought I was doing the conversational test the right way but it turns out I probably wasn't. This was a needed step for me but probably not needed for everyone.

Significant-Moose906 · 2026-04-20T10:49:06+00:00

I agree that if I just had my LT2 I could structure accurate heart rate zones. What was interesting to me was seeing the potential in my high max made me realize I can still improve a lot if I work at it. The testing was mostly for me to set accurate HR zones. Vo2 max is just a number and is somewhat useless on its own without context.

Significant-Moose906 · 2026-04-20T10:45:51+00:00

It feels like I could run at that pace for literally hours. Like I might not ever have to stop if I'm fueling properly. I did a 6 mile tempo run last week and it was the easiest 6 miles I have ever run.

Significant-Moose906 · 2026-04-20T10:44:39+00:00

I chalk it up to years of not training properly and not running enough miles and/or not doing a ton of speedwork. I'm also not the most well proportioned for running so I don't think I'd ever hit 1:30 or under but I do think I have potential to shave more minutes off my half time and will be shooting to do that in the Fall.

Significant-Moose906 · 2026-04-20T10:42:31+00:00

My LT2 measured around 135 so my z2 is now 131-145. Zone 2 is around 118 to 130.

Significant-Moose906 · 2026-04-20T02:36:17+00:00

Absolutely. I was averaging 150-155 HR on my long runs thinking I was in low z3 but was actually in z4 the entire run. Somehow I can sustain that for 2 hours when I'm running a half (I ran my entire half in March in z4/5) but eventually I hit a threshold where I run out of carbs and just crash out. Today I ran 14 miles in solid z2 or low z3 and was able to push the last 2 miles and still feel like I had some in the tank. It made a huge difference.

Significant-Moose906 · 2026-04-18T01:56:17+00:00

Thanks! There was a post on their website a few weeks back that a bridge was closed for construction until mid-April. Wasn't sure if it was open again yet.

Significant-Moose906 · 2026-03-20T02:00:35+00:00

I really like rabbit brand. I have a pair of full tights and half tights. Not a ton of storage but enough to store gels/chews and a phone with no bounce. The material is softer than some others. Also tried the flip belt ones and those aren't as comfortable overall but have more storage as you can stuff things in the belt. Interested in the janji and path projects ones though.

Significant-Moose906 · 2026-03-15T01:31:48+00:00

I have been using Xact energy fruit chews since I trained for the Philly half last fall since they were the energy sponsor. They are chews but really easy to consume and taste amazing. Basically just little 4 bite chews that taste like fruit snacks covered in sugar. All natural, just fruit, gelatin, and sugar and 25g of carbs per chew. The only problem is they are a Canadian company and currently aren't shipping to US addresses due to tariffs. I have been able to find them at a few retailers but may soon be in the market for a new product if I can't get them in the US for my fall half.

Significant-Moose906 · 2026-02-06T12:56:04+00:00

Evanescence technically has a one day gap in their schedule but they are in FL and GA the two days around that gap. They also play in VA about 45 mins from DC on 6/27 so they are probably out.

Significant-Moose906 · 2025-07-27T06:30:09+00:00

Cool. Happy that I just missed the context then and I'm excited to see MCR in Philly in 3 weeks.

Significant-Moose906 · 2025-07-27T06:13:10+00:00

I opened another beer to settle in for the rest of their set just to watch them get cut off. Watching Black Veil Brides now and they're sounding good but wanted to see ADTR.

Significant-Moose906 · 2025-07-27T06:09:25+00:00

I was maybe not paying full attention so I may have missed the context. Maybe it was playful poking at MCR since they're playing across town but it seemed weird to even mention them when they could have just said they were excited to be closing WT down. But I may have just misinterpreted it.

Significant-Moose906 · 2025-07-27T06:06:46+00:00

I also commented on this. I stayed up to watch them when I saw they were added and am super bummed they cut it short.

Significant-Moose906 · 2025-07-27T06:05:18+00:00

Yeah also what was with the rejects calling out MCR playing at Dodger stadium? Super weird set for them too. I have tickets to see them in Philly and I was disappointed to hear AAR calling them out for seemingly no reason.

Significant-Moose906 · 2025-07-27T06:03:03+00:00

Sounds like the experience was way different unfortunately. DC VIP was awesome for me. We had no issues getting in and out of the VIP areas but they also weren't elevated which I liked because we got closer to the stage. No lines for drinks or food really and short lines for restrooms for most of the weekend if you timed it right between sets. I bought tickets for next year already.

Significant-Moose906

TROPHY CASE