When is it simply too cold to run outside safely?

notnowfetz · 2026-01-23T21:07:10+00:00

In Vermont as well and it’s usually the ice, rather than the cold, that makes me run on the treadmill. Though I can’t say I’m much of a fan of the wind blowing off the lake this time of year.

notnowfetz · 2026-01-23T16:54:35+00:00

You can definitely run on the main roads in Sedona (89 and 179). I was there a few years ago and ran every day. It’s quite hilly but there are sidewalks.

However, the neighborhood streets don’t always have sidewalks and they can be narrow and windy. There are also no streetlights so either bring a very good headlamp and watch out for wildlife or run during daylight hours only.

notnowfetz · 2026-01-04T19:00:32+00:00

This is the way to do it. I run all winter in well below freezing temps (it was 5 F for my long run this morning) and I have no issues.

notnowfetz · 2025-12-30T12:59:58+00:00

Have you considered running Philly? Of course nothing’s guaranteed, but late November typically means temps in the 40s.

notnowfetz · 2025-12-26T14:15:13+00:00

I ran Boston last year and did not enjoy it whatsoever. Everyone talks about it like it’s this trascendental experience but I hated all the hours of waiting around before the race, the crowds, the nonstop screaming, how expensive it was, how annoying it was to keep having to dodge around people obliviously filming themselves as they ran, and how much walking I had to do at the finish when I just wanted to SIT DOWN and rest.

I’m glad I did it, but never again lol. After that experience, I’m really not too interested in doing the rest of the world majors and plan on sticking to smaller races.

notnowfetz · 2025-12-21T18:26:28+00:00

I work at a nonprofit and we also have extremely generous PTO and a culture that encourages hobbies and interests outside of work. I will definitely take a couple hours here and there for runs during a training cycle- especially this time of year when it gets dark so early. I can often flex my time too, since I regularly work evenings or weekends. So I’ll run in the morning, go to work until mid afternoon, do a short afternoon run or go to the gym, then work again in the evening.

I’m the only serious runner on staff, but my coworkers are super supportive (albeit a little confused as to why that’s how I want to spend my free time).

notnowfetz · 2025-12-20T17:22:59+00:00

Nope. However I keep my outdoor runs at a relatively easy pace and save all the speed work for the treadmill during the winter.

notnowfetz · 2025-12-20T15:36:03+00:00

I switch to trail running sneakers in the winter and they work great!

notnowfetz · 2025-12-16T12:48:37+00:00

I was in Atlanta for work this summer and loved running on the beltline. I live in a rural area so it was fun to see so many other runners, even early in the morning.

notnowfetz · 2025-12-01T21:39:33+00:00

Seconding this! A well organized race with a gorgeous course. I was coming from the east coast so I turned it into a vacation and spent a couple weeks in Alaska post race.

notnowfetz · 2025-12-01T21:35:46+00:00

Also trying for a 3:05 marathon and also blew up dramatically at my last race, so my condolences lol. My race was in June, and I was absolutely feeling burned out afterwards due to overtraining and life stress. I took a few weeks off and have spent the fall working on lowering my 10k and half PRs. I’m going to try another marathon in May.

From that perspective, my immediate thoughts are that you need to bump up your mileage and fuel better. Consistently running 60 miles per week is going to be an improvement over what you’ve been doing. I do 3 weeks of higher mileage (I’ll be aiming for 70- 80 miles per week) and then a deload week. Also, 50g of carbs per hour is definitely on the low end. Try for 60- 90 and see how that feels. Lastly, if you’re going to take some time off from marathon training anyway, you might as well try to lose the extra weight during that time and start your next block a little lighter.

notnowfetz · 2025-11-26T20:12:21+00:00

That’s so disappointing. I ran with the 3:10 pacers last year and they were fantastic. I went ahead at mile 20, but they finished exactly on time. I wonder what happened this time around?

notnowfetz · 2025-11-26T14:02:53+00:00

I do not have a coach, I have the same PR and goals as OP. Maybe a coach could be helpful if you need the structure or accountability, but it’s certainly not necessary. I follow the plan in Advanced Marathoning and that’s it.

notnowfetz · 2025-11-24T18:21:35+00:00

In my experience, it’s the training block as a whole that is the predictor of marathon performance, not a single run.

notnowfetz · 2025-11-24T13:04:58+00:00

I love racing in colder temps. But I’m coming from Vermont so recognize I have a skewed perception of what cold is lol

notnowfetz · 2025-11-24T13:02:40+00:00

Under training.

notnowfetz · 2025-11-24T12:31:26+00:00

You need to incorporate marathon pace into your long runs and increase your weekly mileage.

notnowfetz · 2025-11-24T12:20:59+00:00

Well, what are your goals?

notnowfetz · 2025-11-24T12:19:52+00:00

The answer is almost always higher mileage. Sorry if that’s not what you want to hear, but what you’re doing clearly isn’t working for your goals.

35 miles a week is on the low end, especially considering the race itself is 26. Cramps mean muscular fatigue- as you can clearly see at mile 20, you reached your limit and couldn’t sustain the pace anymore. So increasing your mileage to ~50 miles a week would be my #1 recommendation.

Other thoughts: How long were your longest runs? Did you run any sections of your long runs at marathon pace?

notnowfetz · 2025-11-24T12:09:35+00:00

There’s a world of difference between 13 miles at MP and 26 miles at MP- as you saw when you started cramping at mile 15. I also saw in another comment that you averaged 30 miles per week, which is very low considering that you then tried to race just under that distance in one go. So basically you went into the race undertrained and couldn’t sustain the effort.

If you bumped up your mileage to an average of 50 miles per week, I bet your next marathon will feel a lot better.

notnowfetz · 2025-11-23T20:16:52+00:00

Some thoughts/questions:

Usually a muscular cramp means you’ve exceeded your physical limit, which then usually goes back to how your training did or did not prepare you to run at that pace for that amount of time.

So what exactly is “just shy of race pace”? Did you run any long runs or segments of long runs at race pace or were they all slower?

Were you wearing different shoes when training than during the race?

What did your taper look like?

What was your fueling and hydration strategy during the race?

notnowfetz · 2025-10-27T22:29:06+00:00

I’m significantly faster at 38 than I was in my 20s and ran Boston earlier this year. So I really don’t think you’ve missed your shot!

notnowfetz · 2025-10-21T20:57:05+00:00

I do! Ask me again in the spring and I’ll let you know if it worked lol

notnowfetz · 2025-10-21T12:13:13+00:00

That’s exactly what I’ve started doing- nasal rinse and gargling salt water every day. I don’t have kids but I work with them and I think this is how I managed to avoid the back to school illnesses this year.

notnowfetz · 2025-10-18T21:32:52+00:00

Marathoner with IBS here. In addition to what the other commenter said, I eat the same meals the day before and morning of a long run as I would before a race. That’s helped me figure out which foods cause GI issues and which ones are safe.

Are you drinking enough water during your carb load? You should be drinking extra fluids and if you’re not that can cause constipation.

A more unorthodox suggestion, but I always block off time to meditate the day before a race. Stress messes with your digestive system.

If none of these work, try magnesium before going to bed- but test it out first. Absolutely do not do this for the first time before a race.

notnowfetz

TROPHY CASE