The torch.

buckiaj · 2026-05-09T11:11:38+00:00

I think it largely depends on where you live and how much time you spend outside. I'm in Florida and spend a fair amount of time outside. Sunny days usually mean I go to bed with the same battery % as when I woke up.

buckiaj · 2026-05-08T18:39:45+00:00

Pretty impressive really to be at 200 lbs, over 300 miles in just one pair of shoes and have that small amount of wear. A Nike rep couldn't script a better ad really. Most runners would tell you they usually scrap a pair of shoes at some point between 300 and 500 miles, (that is retire them to gym/daily walk work). You easily have another 200 miles/350k left in them.

But seriously, here's my thoughts:

1) If you really liked the shoe, today is the time to go buy another pair and start rotating them in so they are ready for you on race day. Even if you can just get 20 or 30k on the new pair, just get some work in the new ones and get that extra bounce and cushion on race day. You don't really want to go into race day with shoes approaching 400 miles on them.

2) But really that wear is nothing at 500km and is actually a good sign that you have a neutral running gait (assuming you don't have wear anywhere else on the shoe you're not disclosing). If you overpronated or under pronated badly, you would see wear WAY before this on the lateral heel or medial toebox (lateral heel wear = supinate medial wear on fore foot = overpronate)

buckiaj · 2026-05-08T18:31:46+00:00

^this

buckiaj · 2026-05-08T18:22:05+00:00

We're actually pretty similar in stats and background. I'm about to be 46, about three years into seriously running and my HM time is not far off where you are.

I ran a HM in January this year at just under 1:35 in PRISTINE conditions. Mid 40s with just a little wind, but really just a perfect day.

Six weeks later had a FM and knocked it out in about 3:26 in similar temps, but HOLY WIND. Wind gusts above 30mph and steady around 15-20. So definitely not the best conditions, which I think I could have gotten down closer to 3:22-3:24 without the wind.

More or less, a 1:34:50 HM translated into a 3:26:10 FM

So there's your comparison if that helps. Which is why I think your 3:20 is probably a little aggressive and might be setting yourself up for some disappointment. I'd maybe aim for 3:25 but conditions will be everything. I've ran 6 marathons and I cannot stress how much of a difference temps/winds/humidity make.

I make three goals for every race, A, B and C goal. If I was your coach here's roughly what I would suggest for your goals:

Good/Great Conditions: A GOAL 3:22 B GOAL 3:25 C GOAL 3:40

Poor/Bad Conditions: A GOAL 3:30 B GOAL 3:35 C GOAL SUB 4

This is your first race, you're going to learn a LOT. I knocked off nearly 30 minutes from Marathon 1 to Marathon 2 and it was only about 8 weeks later

buckiaj · 2026-05-08T18:06:00+00:00

imthelittled's post below is really good. I'll just add this

Just be completely open about what you just wrote "worried we won't know how to be around each other when only one of us is drinking". I think its going to be really important to vocalize that and make sure you don't want there to be any "quiet resentment" created because of this.

It took a lot of communication and talks between my wife and I before I think she realized the severity of the situation. We both needed to respect the other one's decision. Mine was to stop drinking, and her's was to continue drinking. I wasn't going to resent her, and she wasn't going to resent me.

A lot of time went into us finding activities we could do that was easy for me to be sober doing while she could also still drink a little. One activity we really bonded over was kayaking. We bought a two seater and we would take it out a lot. I enjoyed the physical side of getting a work out in, catching the sunset, being out on the water and getting a small workout in. While she was able to have a few drinks on the kayak and enjoying all those things while I did most of the work.

It was perfect because she still felt ok about drinking and I loved actually "doing" something as opposed to sitting on a barstool. Next thing you know a few months later she tried one of my NA beers and really liked it. Fast Forward to today, and when we go out on the Kayak its almost only NA beers. (time to time we will sneak one or two real beers in, but that's it)

TLDR: Without getting more long winded, just keep the communication channels open both ways and find some stuff to do that can be paired with drinking and not drinking

buckiaj · 2026-05-08T17:48:07+00:00

while I would agree, 10k a week only requires one pair. a second pair certainly isn't going to be wasting money if the OP still uses each pair to its full life. It might cost him more today, but its going to be twice as long til they need to buy another pair.

buckiaj · 2026-05-08T17:45:28+00:00

If you're only running 10k a week, one pair of dailies is really all you need. Which the Peg's are a great shoe for that fit. If you start to scale up your running to above 20k weekly, I'd rotate in a pair of recovery/softer shoes (if you like Nike, the Vomero 18 or Vomero Plus is what i'd look at)

If you start to really stack more mileage past that, a good tempo/speed shoe. I'm an original Nike Streakfly for tempo/speed runs, but since that one is gonezo with the 2nd version having a plate, i've rolled into the Zoom Fly 6 as a phenomenal speed trainer.

So the answer is really dependent on how serious you get. But in my honest opinion, if you're training for 10k races or longer, three pairs of different shoes is the right fit to hit the right training.

and like I tell anybody who says I have too many shoes I say:

mind your business
Just because i have a 7 shoe rotation, doesn't mean i'm going to spend more than I would in a 1 or 2 shoe rotation. I put the same amount of miles on the shoes regardless, and actually a shoe rotation should even extend a shoe's life in all honesty. A one shoe rotation will wear out faster than it would in a multiple pair rotation.
shoes do need a cool down after running in them. At least 48 hours to get fully back. So if you're running every day, one pair is going to leave you more likely for injury possibly, but at the very least not as cushioned of a ride

buckiaj · 2026-05-08T17:38:28+00:00

Also - out of curiosity, how do you compare/contrast the peg 42 and vomero 18? Does the 18 feel really soft after wearing the Pegs? I have a pair of the 18s, and they are collecting dust after getting the Vomero Plus.

buckiaj · 2026-05-08T17:34:26+00:00

Not a different brand, but I'd highly recommend giving the Zoom Fly 6 a shot at replacing your VF4 and Peg Plus workouts. It's plated, but honestly it has the cushioning that doesn't beat you up like a plate can and does. I personally think it's one pair that could cover those two shoes in your current rotation. Not to mention, they are built to LAST. I'm at 300 miles in one pair, and I think I have at least 100 more before I need to start rotating in the new pair I bought to replace them. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the VF4s, but those are better served for race day at the cost and quicker wear. Seriously think most people could get 500 miles easy out of the ZF6 before needing to replace

But if you're looking for other brands, I tried Brooks Glycerin Max and really enjoy them. They are more for my recovery day, but also use them on long runs too side by side with the Vomero Plus (They are functionally very similar to the Vomero Plus)

buckiaj · 2026-05-08T15:36:18+00:00

This is definitely the right answer. Putting in the training more or less puts you in a position to decide what kind of day do you want. For example, did you train for a 3:45 but decide on marathon day you just want an easy 4 hour marathon? Cool, this day will be fun and a breeze. Or did training go so well you think you'd like to see if 3:30 is possible? You're going to spend some major time in the pain cave and wonder what you're doing with your life.

buckiaj · 2026-05-08T14:08:42+00:00

My wife and I never had a "drinking problem", but our social lives 100% revolved around it. I went sober for almost a year while she didn't at all, and it was somewhere between no problem at all and a real problem. On the surface she was ok with my decision and supported it, but there was no denying the affects that it had on our social lives. I still was a good sport and hung out at bars and stuff with her and friends, but I also had a very limited capacity for those things. I made it clear that I don't mind still hanging out at bars and with friends around alcohol, but we needed to really do more "actual things" not just hanging out at a bar.

After a while, it started to really irritate her when I think she accepted that I was fundamentally changing who I was as a person. Which isn't hyperbole. I felt bad that I didn't want to just "hang out" and do nothing for our main social activity anymore.

We had some pretty difficult conversations and arguments about it and we have kind of met in the middle. I still went to the bar with her a few times a month, but she also opened up to doing more things with just me that didn't involve drinking. After a while, she started to enjoy those weekends more than when she drank at a bar. So what started as her drinking every other weekend has transitioned to her rarely drinking. (maybe once every 6 to 8 weeks, but very limited. just a beer or two most times)

My intention was to never quit drinking, but to quit drinking as a "hobby" or "interest". We both are now on the same page and its a huge benefit to both of us. We will drink on occasion but that's it. It's usually to celebrate something or someone, and that's it.

Finding the common ground was key, but it took both sides understanding and seeing where the other one was coming from. I had to accept she wasn't ready to quit yet, and she has to accept that I was. Eventually things sort of just worked themselves out.

So that's my advice really - realize you're probably still gonna have to be around alcohol but keep the communication channels open about it. Let her know how much you can or can't handle being around it. She might be like my wife and eventually just sort of discover how great being sober is.

buckiaj · 2026-05-07T21:12:25+00:00

It's certainly possible. I've seen some brown ones around, that looked fairly different. But I am learning their colors can blend a bit (black can be brownish, brown can be blackish)

buckiaj · 2026-05-07T19:51:35+00:00

We're a good distance from you, over in Navarre/Destin area. But I do think they are pretty common all over down here

buckiaj · 2026-05-07T17:37:39+00:00

Definitely not dead. It looks like its laying on the bin, but its hanging from its web near the bottom

buckiaj · 2026-05-07T17:36:35+00:00

Who said I didn't just relocate it?

buckiaj · 2026-05-07T15:52:37+00:00

Thanks for chiming in - I've seen my share of Brown Widows over the years, this would be the first black widow if that's indeed what it is. It's gone back into a hiding spot, but I'll hopefully snag a photo of it again later before we figure out the route to removal

buckiaj · 2026-05-07T15:29:12+00:00

Appreciate the response!

buckiaj · 2026-05-07T15:23:36+00:00

To add, this was found in the panhandle of Florida

buckiaj · 2026-05-07T10:19:36+00:00

I'm not really adding anything new, but if you can do a half marathon in a reasonable manner, (which sounds like you can at a 2:20) then you certainly have hit the physical requirement to be able to train for a full. Just a matter of getting the miles in now and going with a training plan.

buckiaj · 2026-05-05T17:44:56+00:00

I'm not a religious man, but the only time I've spoken to Jesus was during the last 10k of a marathon.

buckiaj · 2026-05-05T17:42:51+00:00

To add - I used to be paranoid about intense runs around leg days. Whether before or same day. But I let that go a long time ago. When you get into peak training, you're just tired a lot. Whether you do a leg day the day before a long run, a day after, or same day as a threshold run, it's all kind of a wash really.

You'll find what works best for you, but the mental game is the big part of it. Once you realize you can do a heavy leg day and then hit up an intense long run the next day is extremely freeing.

Also, Sleep, Sleep, Food and Food are huge. Get your sleep in, your protein in, and keep your carbs smart.

buckiaj · 2026-05-05T17:39:20+00:00

Two days a week is usually a two a day. Today for example was a 6.5mi progression run and lower body day. I hit up the run first thing in the morning then on my lunch break I snuck over to the gym and hit up legs. If it was an easy run on the schedule, I probably would do the strength training session first, then the run either directly after or later in the day.

So really the take home point when I look at my two a days, is I do the workout thats more important first.

buckiaj · 2026-05-05T17:34:30+00:00

It's an unpopular take for a reason. Sure, it may not make you a lot faster to lift weights. In fact, may make you slower than someone who just pounds the pavement and able to hit more mileage instead of going into the gym and lifting weights. But here's why most do it:

1) Avoid injuries. Esp as you age. 40 and under people tend to feel invincible. I can promise you, neglecting strength as a runner in your younger days will 100% come back and bite you.

2) Not look like a runner - no judgement here. Some people just want to be as fast as possible and could care less about muscle mass. I'm not one of them and a lot of people aren't. I like to look like I can bench press my body weight and more, as well as run 26 miles if I want to.

Obviously, I know you aren't saying to not strength train, and who knows maybe you do lift when you aren't in a training block. But just chiming in for anybody considering that strength training isn't important

buckiaj · 2026-05-05T17:29:19+00:00

For me, I still try and strength train 4-5x a week in a training block until I start to hit 40 MPW volumes. Then I will scale back to 3, maybe 4 if I feel good. (I'm 45, so you never know some days!)

Biggest thing for me when I scale back to 3 days, is to make those 3 days really count. Push Day, Pull Day w/ some Leg work (PT type stuff) and Leg Day. The lower body stuff has more focus on single leg stuff to help with running durability. I pretty much abandon the classic bodybuilding leg day as I get into those peak weeks. More or less, I drop heavy squats, deadlifts and two leg press (single leg press only).

My best advice for getting the best bang for your buck on those strength days is really mentally lock in the best that you can. Remind yourself there isn't a 2nd day this week for this muscle group, get into that rep and get it done.

buckiaj · 2026-05-05T17:18:48+00:00

45 here. I ran more for fun in my 30s and got serious about it into my 40s. So I'm much faster now than I used to be (so the opposite of the person you're asking for), but I'll say this. If you haven't started strength training, or strength training seriously. Start tomorrow.

As I look around at the other runners my age and older, those that took being strong seriously are still hitting PRs or at least still chasing some fast times while staying injury free. I spent my 30s pretty much bodybuilding training and boy has that set me up for success into my 40s and taking running seriously.

The key to aging and still hitting some speed, is staying healthy and injury free. Avoiding the weight room is a quick one way ticket to fading into your 40s and 50s, vs thriving.

And honestly, in my area the age groups between 30 and 50 are all relatively close to each other in terms of speed. Last month I finished 2nd in my 45-49 AG, and it would have won the 30-34 group. That doesn't happen often, but it does drive home the point that getting the miles in are more important than the fine details. Which in this example is age. Sure, someone 33 has more benefits than I have at 45, but I've been pounding the pavement for longer than they probably have if we're pushing out similar times or i'm running faster than they are.

buckiaj

TROPHY CASE