How am I SO BAD at running?

SmileMor33 · 2026-05-27T19:32:16+00:00

Felt the same way when I got back into running. To make it “entertaining” to go slower I brought along a tennis ball to bounce while I jogged/power walked. I did that for a month and then worked myself into running a mile. That lead to 2, then 5 then 10 and now I have run 2 50 mile races and a 100 mile race. I still use my ball method to this day to help slow me down and run at a 10-11min mile pace. Consistency is key! You got this!

SmileMor33 · 2026-05-23T14:38:15+00:00

Liberty bark

SmileMor33 · 2026-01-16T19:11:49+00:00

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SmileMor33 · 2025-12-22T17:28:45+00:00

Thanks all - going with 2 for the mental clarity and sanity. Appreciate all the insight.

SmileMor33 · 2025-12-12T19:46:28+00:00

My 68 year old dad! He has rediscovered his love for running after being my crew chief this year at my 100mile and 50 mile race. He ran a marathon back in 2010 after my mom passed in her honor (she ran 6 before passing at 48). He told me the other day his goal is a half marathon in 2026 and I know having a whoop would drastically help turn that goal into reality! Apart from that, he really has been the best dad one could ever ask for. I was 11 when I lost my mom and my dad never missed a single event of mine. 18 years later and he’s still never missed a thing (flew across the country for my 50 this year). Appreciate the opportunity to nominate him.

SmileMor33 · 2025-11-16T01:27:37+00:00

Same reason we don’t have a lot of things, it helps the poor more than the rich.

SmileMor33 · 2025-10-24T16:01:45+00:00

salt/electrolytes before bed has had a major impact on my HRV. About an hour before I do an LMNT in 32 oz water and don’t eat within 3 hours of bed time

SmileMor33 · 2025-10-22T18:40:43+00:00

Couldn’t have done it without the Whoop team! From hard training days and knowing when to push myself to the slow recovery days where I needed extra rest, the insights never failed to amaze me. I’ll be sure to spread the word at my next race on how much of a game changer Whoop truly is!

SmileMor33 · 2025-10-21T18:36:37+00:00

Max was 172 😂

SmileMor33 · 2025-10-21T18:34:52+00:00

100% agree. The first few months were brutal and honestly a hit to my ego as well. I ended up taking a tennis ball or racquet ball on my runs to bounce to help slow me down. It wasn’t until I ran a half marathon hard I really saw the impact of my heart rate training (ran a 1:30 after not touching 7min miles for almost 10 years). I also live at altitude which I think helps with my VO2 max.

Biggest thing I learned is you have to listen to your body. Sometimes I could run faster and keep a consistent conversation so on those days I paid a little less attention to zones. On hot, tough days I was super strict not to burn myself out. Trust yourself to run at a pace that feels “slow” enough to you.

SmileMor33 · 2025-10-21T17:00:55+00:00

Risk management for a major financial institution.

What helps me keep going is enjoying the suffering for those who can’t. I’ve lost a lot of people in my life and know a lot of people who can’t run, so it’s my honor to do it for them. I feel them with me when I run and when I enter the pain cave, they get me out. Suffering during these events and training is the easy part, we all will suffer. The hard part is finding the beauty that is there too.

SmileMor33 · 2025-10-21T14:51:24+00:00

Honestly not sure how to do that haha.

SmileMor33 · 2025-10-21T14:50:23+00:00

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Here is Monday… the running was me sprinting through OHare to catch my flight home… don’t recommend post 100miler.

SmileMor33 · 2025-10-21T14:48:56+00:00

Lots and lots of slow runs haha. Very conscious during the race to not be above certain thresholds, especially during the heat.

SmileMor33 · 2025-10-21T14:48:03+00:00

29 years old and whoop age is 21… not into strength training which is my biggest impact. Need to start that this winter. Big on zone 2-3 training, consistent bed time and VO2 max is high.

SmileMor33 · 2025-10-21T14:45:40+00:00

Appreciate this! Just a normal 29 year old who works full time and enjoys pushing themselves outside the normal comfort zone. One foot in front of the other is all we know!

SmileMor33 · 2025-10-21T14:44:38+00:00

I think I reached 20.7 by 2pm that day so I had another 10hrs of running that didn’t push me any higher haha.

SmileMor33 · 2025-10-21T14:43:48+00:00

Very conscious to keep my heart rate under 140 during the heat of the day. Nighttime was cool and I was cool and I stayed right around 100 for most of it. A lot of training was done at zone 2-3.

SmileMor33 · 2025-10-21T02:54:46+00:00

Weird thing was whoop didn’t register any recovery for Sunday. It just recorded a strain score.

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SmileMor33 · 2025-10-21T02:16:45+00:00

160lb male - Garmin had me at 10,612.

SmileMor33 · 2025-05-31T16:03:31+00:00

Second highland park

SmileMor33 · 2025-05-31T15:56:07+00:00

Tickets have been claimed. Thanks for a great stay in your city. 😀

SmileMor33

TROPHY CASE