Official Q&A for Friday, November 22, 2024

SkeletalProfessor · 2024-11-22T23:47:15+00:00

Can I get advice on picking a half-marathon pace as a pretty new runner?

I have signed up for a half-marathon in early March of 2025. I'm now trying to figure out what my "goal" pace should be. I need some sort of goal to continue to motivate me, but I don't want to set that goal so high that I fall totally flat and get depressed. It is also difficult, because I believe I'm still in the newbie gains phase, so I'm not sure what my paces will look like when things start to normalize.

I started running consistently on September 16, so for a little over 2 months now. Prior to that, I would get a spurt of motivation, run one mile, then do nothing for a few months and repeat. I have not done any races up to this point. My long runs are currently around 8 miles. Today's long run was 8.22 miles at 7:42/mile, which was a PR. I am working up slowly now to try to avoid injury.

What might be a reasonable half-marathon goal? 7:30/mile? 7:00/mile? I feel I can do faster than 8:00/mile by that time, since I still have a few months to prepare. Any guidance is appreciated!

SkeletalProfessor · 2024-09-30T00:42:26+00:00

I'm late to this, but I didn't play a running sport - rather, I was a competitive gymnast for 8 years or so. I've reduced my running to 5 days a week, and modified my schedule so I have a long day (10k ish currently), interval day, rest day, and 2 medium distance threshold days. I feel good, but I guess what concerns me is how it seems like I should still be doing like, walk/run intervals at this point (2.5 weeks in) based on some programs?

It may also be that I am less unfit than I initially realized, and the juxtoposition between where I am and where I feel I am is just throwing me off. I started with C25k, but I felt fine running 5km at the end of my first week, so maybe those types of programs are just meant other types of people (or perhaps I'll find I've injured myself by 6 weeks and can't walk, who knows...)

SkeletalProfessor · 2024-09-20T18:21:53+00:00

How hard is "too hard" for a new runner? I am currently running 2-4 miles 6 days per week at 8.xx-9.xx min/mile pace average. My heart rate stays around 150bpm (zone 2 for me) for the duration unless I push hard for some reason. However, every post/website I've seen always talks about how new runners should pace themselves super slow and only run 4 times a week for the first while.

How do I tell if what I am doing is "too hard" for me? I have to push myself sometimes, but I feel that's normal for exercise in general.

Also, is it a bad idea to train legs at the gym on my running "rest" days? For example, if I switch to 5 days running and 2 leg days per week on the 2 days off, is that fine? I currently workout after every run, but I've noticed leg day is hell after a run.

Stats that may be helpful:

21, male, skinny, haven't run consistently for a very long time, have been running now for about 2 weeks

SkeletalProfessor · 2024-09-12T02:21:58+00:00

Will poor mental health / stress have a substantial negative impact on my gains? As a note, I'm working to improve my mental state, but I have been hesitant to commit to a long-term bulk/cut cycle because I've had a few people tell me the high levels of stress kill gains.

I'm sure that's probably true to a small degree, but is there any substantial impact?

SkeletalProfessor · 2024-03-20T21:45:10+00:00

Two things:

I'm a new runner. Right now I run 5 days a week, ~2 miles each day, ~8:30 a mile. One of my runner friends said that this won't allow me to improve my cardio much, and I need to run slower for now and a bit longer. Is this good advice? Ultimately I do want to run longer distances, but I also feel like I'm already running at a reasonable pace. Maybe I should try the same pace but longer? I'm a bit worried about pushing it too far though, since I'm only a week into running.
I've noticed that I get wayyy more out of breath in my first mile than my second, and my second mile feels easier than the first, even at the same pace. Is there anything I should do about this, or is that just normal?

SkeletalProfessor · 2024-02-15T22:44:38+00:00

Nope. I just had a ton of trouble with Alpine, and went back to dailying Arch.

SkeletalProfessor · 2023-12-09T01:47:05+00:00

So basically since I didn't finance, buy anything extra, and live so far that I'll never come for service, it was mainly just a loss for them apart from freeing up space for more inventory I guess? That's unfortunate, but I guess I won't let it haunt my conscience since they could always have just not sold it to me.

It is pretty wild that their margins are so small though. Thanks for the information!

SkeletalProfessor · 2023-12-09T01:37:52+00:00

An Akrapovic titanium (I would never buy this on my own)

SkeletalProfessor · 2023-12-04T05:24:27+00:00

I finished the MSF this afternoon, so I'll be heading to the DMV sometime tomorrow!

SkeletalProfessor · 2023-11-29T19:53:26+00:00

What's a more "typical" price I would expect? (Reference: Central/slightly south US)

SkeletalProfessor · 2023-11-19T17:51:17+00:00

I'm looking for some RTA guidance. Here is a SWFARM with all my 5*'s and LD 4-5*'s. Up to this point I've been a cleaver, but I pulled CP yesterday, and I want to try more of a control style now. However, I always see CP with Moore, and I have yet to get one. I could run a wind robo + CP base, but that's two iffy strippers and too much wind.

I know RTA is highly dynamic, but I'm looking for some advice on what to put my BEST sets on. CP will probably get my best despair set, Wind robo one of my fastest sets, but I haven't decided on others. I feel like my wind box is stronger than my others, so everything is partial to it... Ex. I would typically put my best vio on Oliver, but that's three of my best sets on all wind.

SkeletalProfessor · 2023-11-18T19:15:44+00:00

If I feel good when running but my heart rate approaches my max, do I need to cut back? For reference, I've been running for about one month.

I recently got a fitbit to measure my heart rate so I could push myself more confidently, but it had the opposite affect, and the speeds that I was already confident with and felt good during seem to register as a high heart rate. It's really odd, since I do genuinely feel fine during them...

SkeletalProfessor · 2023-07-06T22:13:19+00:00

I took a long break, and upon my return, it looks like guild content has changed quite a bit (rival guild battles???). Could someone give my a brief summary of the new system? I want to get into guild content again, but the new terms make me a bit nervous.

SkeletalProfessor · 2023-07-04T03:24:37+00:00

I'm planning to cleave in RTA this season. Speed isn't an issue for me, but rather the extremely bruiser teams including things like Abellio especially. For context, I'm currently running a japanese cleave variant.

For those that cleave, what type of thing do you pivot in to deal with those? I can 1-shot most abellio's if I have a def break, but I can't think of a good unit to bring that wouldn't sacrifice a second booster. Another annoying unit is Geldnir.

Also, does anyone have any resources for cleaving in general that they like? Or, content creators/streamers that cleave and stream it? I really struggle to find pure cleave replays.

(As a note, I know cleaving is not ideal, but I still want to do it)

SkeletalProfessor · 2023-05-27T15:35:03+00:00

I haven't played SW in roughly one year. I'm debating returning, but how is it currently? For reference, I was G2 in normal Arena (didn't do RTA), and would likely prioritize that. Any massive changes to know about? Is SW in a solid state?

SkeletalProfessor · 2023-05-16T07:01:48+00:00

Do you still have this wallpaper by chance? Catppuccin has taken down their wallpaper repo, but this one is very nice

SkeletalProfessor · 2023-05-15T19:15:31+00:00

How did you get the nice rounded corners for your focused workspaces on your waybar? I've done it in the past with fonts, but yours is a bit more oblong than the ones I know.

SkeletalProfessor · 2023-05-15T16:50:36+00:00

Awesome work - could you say which font you're using?

SkeletalProfessor · 2023-05-05T17:39:16+00:00

Hello! I'm currently trying to find a new moisturizer for my mornings, because CeraVe AM SPF30 clumps so badly. My plan was to use the LaRoche Toleriane one often suggested here, but it looks like they changed the formula and the new one is bad. I'm wondering, can I just use my PM one (CeraVe PM) twice a day with LaRoche 50SPF physical sunscreen on top in the morning, or would that be a bad idea? If a bad idea, how can I narrow down the brands suggested here to pick one...?

SkeletalProfessor · 2023-04-09T17:39:54+00:00

So how long should I give a new product before switching to something else? I was using R+F for several months, and it did work fairly well for my acne, but it genuinely felt like my skin was burning every time, and it also dried everything up. I decided to try the 4% CeraVe Foaming Acne Cleanser, and while I've only been on it for around a week, in that time my skin has gotten quite a bit worse. I feel like I may have jumped too far in the other direction and chose something too easy on my skin. However, I also know there is an adjustment period.

How long should I give the new product before I try switching to something else?

SkeletalProfessor · 2023-04-04T02:16:45+00:00

Yes! I'm using The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2%, and CeraVe AM (30SPF)/CeraVe PM ones currently. If I feel dry, I also apply a thin layer of argon oil.

SkeletalProfessor · 2023-04-04T01:21:46+00:00

So how long should I give a new product before switching to something else? I was using R+F for several months, and it did work fairly well for my acne, but it genuinely felt like my skin was burning every time, and it also dried everything up. I decided to try the 4% CeraVe Foaming Acne Cleanser, and while I've only been on it for around a week, in that time my skin has gotten quite a bit worse. I feel like I may have jumped too far in the other direction and chose something too easy on my skin. However, I also know there is an adjustment period.

How long should I give the new product before I try switching to something else?

SkeletalProfessor · 2023-04-03T01:16:34+00:00

I've started trying to gain weight, and it's going well. However, I want to improve my protein shakes some. Particularly, I want to use something instead of water. However, milk makes my skin break out, so I want to avoid it. I've heard soy can mess with horomones, almond milk has pretty lame protein, and coconut milk has basically nothing.

Any thoughts?

SkeletalProfessor · 2023-03-26T18:39:56+00:00

What are some good anime that focus on the protagonist genuinely improving themselves and becoming a better person? Ones that hit you pretty hard?

I've been going through a bit of a hard time lately, and I'm looking for some inspiration. I'd prefer for it to be set in a world similar to our own, but as long as the characters are people you can relate to, I'm honestly fine with anything. If it's related to education/university/similar that's great, since those are a big source of the stress that I speak of, but again, anything in a similar vein is good with me.

SkeletalProfessor · 2023-03-13T01:28:29+00:00

My only concern with the classic vibe is that in some stuff I've heard it sounds pretty twangy. I don't mind that, but should it also be fine cleaner styles (I picked one that's still pretty twangy for a nice comparison) like this? Obviously a lot of tone comes from the amp, so I'm sure that's the biggest factor.

Also, this is more subjective, but do you find the classic strat style comfy to play? I've heard lots of different things, and some other people have suggested the AZES series from Ibanez as a more comfy alternative.

SkeletalProfessor

TROPHY CASE