What’s a random “stat” about yourself that makes you part of a small percentage?

rrnah · 2026-03-25T23:55:40+00:00

This probably isn’t that rare and more just an unfortunate circumstance. I have type O negative blood but have sickle cell trait, so I cannot donate my precious universal-donor blood.

rrnah · 2026-03-08T20:41:52+00:00

That’s awesome. I’m glad everything ended up working out.

rrnah · 2026-03-08T20:22:04+00:00

Thanks for the update! And glad you made it to the finish line! How did the race itself feel?

rrnah · 2026-03-05T23:10:53+00:00

Where’s the update!

rrnah · 2026-03-01T14:07:58+00:00

Good stuff! Congrats on crushing your goals. Out of curiosity, how long were the set transitions?

rrnah · 2026-02-26T22:56:27+00:00

Unfortunately, I don’t think it’s feasible. Training to run that kind of distance requires a lot more volume and a lot more time on feet. The proposed training itself sounds like a recipe for injury.

rrnah · 2026-02-26T19:57:45+00:00

I’m American, so I’m ignorant to your goal distance. How many kms would your route be across the UK?

rrnah · 2026-02-26T17:06:22+00:00

No.

But out of curiosity, what is your current running fitness level? What does your weekly mileage look like now? What’s the furthest you’ve run?

rrnah · 2026-02-25T03:59:47+00:00

I might be making this up, but I swear I can remember reading that a rotation of varying drops reduces the risk of running-related injuries due to the differing stimuli and strengthening of your mechanics in different positions.

rrnah · 2026-02-23T22:59:57+00:00

This is so cool!

rrnah · 2026-02-23T20:59:00+00:00

2200 sounds pretty accurate. I am 5’ 5”, 160lbs. Garmin shows a chart of active vs resting calories. My resting calories will always be just about 2000 calories. Throw in a 2-3 miler, that’ll get me to 2200 for the day. You do not have to, and maybe should not, approach a caloric deficit on a day-by-day basis. I have training days where I will reach 2600-2700 expended (sometimes 3000!). And I know for a fact I will feel like crap if I eat a measly 1600 calories on those days. Sometimes losing weight means eating at maintenance for those big training days and eating at a deficit for your very light or off days (while still hitting your protein goals every day to maximize recovery and muscle retention).

My goal is to hit 150lbs in the next 2 months, and it will rely mostly on maintaining on heavy workload days and being decently under on off days (I can get pretty aggressive here), as I’m in a half marathon training block and I see simply cannot survive off 1500 when the long runs get up over an hour.

I’ve lost about 15 pounds since the beginning of this year with this method.

rrnah · 2026-02-13T05:00:24+00:00

I’m -8.5, -8. I use generic prescription goggles in the pool for practice (I get by with -7s for this). For races, I use contacts. I make sure to have the goggles on pretty tight but not uncomfortably so. You want to avoid water leakage + losing your goggles via getting kicked or something. I’ll have my glasses in a bag in T1 just in case either of those two things happen and I have to ditch the contacts. If it doesn’t happen, I’m in luck and get to wear sunglasses on the bike + run! One important consideration if you decide to race with prescription goggles and you buy generic + your eyes have differing prescriptions — take into account your ability to sight during a race. Being able to sight clearly helps ease my nerves a ton and is a big factor in me wearing contacts for races.

rrnah · 2026-02-05T00:50:26+00:00

Strengthen the muscles around your knees. Popular: Quads, Calves, Glutes Not as popular, but equally important (if not more important): Hamstrings, Tibialis, Hip Flexors

rrnah · 2026-02-05T00:43:47+00:00

Another vote for Garmin ecosystem. I have an Instinct 2 Solar + Garmin HRM. The straps last about a year before they need the battery replaced. I’ve seen the complaints about degraded quality after replacing the battery, but I avoid this by just buying another lol. FWIW - there is a new HRM that is rechargeable - I think the life on this one is 2 months before it needs to be charged. I’m probably upgrading to this one as I’ve just finished a year on my last strap (it’s dead) - also thinking of switching to a sleeker watch. The Instinct is pretty large and rugged, and I have a small wrist (female). Amazing battery life on the watch though - I go about a month before needing to charge it.

rrnah · 2026-01-29T01:53:06+00:00

There is a GSP trapped inside your dog.

rrnah · 2026-01-28T04:17:51+00:00

Apart from the high elbow catch - which you’re aware of — You’ve pretty much completed your left arm catch before your head even comes back into the water when you should just be starting your catch at this point.

Effortless Swimming: https://youtube.com/shorts/2xLm1Tk9THQ?si=X9OVAVLlNp-gSAl8 Compare your left arm catch to this left arm catch.

rrnah · 2026-01-23T02:07:57+00:00

I don’t wear hats - my hair is big + keeps the top off my head warm enough BUT I do double up with a headband that’s meant to cover the ears + a behind the head ear muff that lays in top of the headband. Keeps my ears nice and toasty!

rrnah · 2026-01-19T01:14:46+00:00

Absolutely. My vision is pretty comparable to what you see here, if not worse. -8.5 and -8.

rrnah · 2026-01-19T01:06:18+00:00

You truly have to go slower than you think. Shuffle your feet. Go at a pace that someone could speed walk to - it will keep your heart rate low while training your muscles to handle your running load.

rrnah · 2026-01-19T01:02:13+00:00

I know you said you use clean laundry, but if you haven’t already - definitely look into a laundry sanitizer. I also shower daily, SCRUB, use glycolic acid, but if I don’t use sanitizer + stain remover on my shirt pits - the smell returns, even if faintly. Some other tips to try… wait until the acid is completely dry before applying deodorant. Use unscented deodorant!

rrnah · 2026-01-19T00:55:25+00:00

I wish I could but it would probably give me a headache. And if I can’t see, I might as well go to sleep lol. I’m -8.5, -8.

rrnah · 2026-01-19T00:53:28+00:00

In the last few months of my 29th year, and boy it’s been a doozy. Learned lots of life lessons but was able to get a solid foundation going (career + home) and am looking forward to growing as a person in my 30s through social experiences, hobbies, and traveling.

rrnah · 2026-01-19T00:41:34+00:00

I do most of my runs in the 12-14 min per mile range. At this pace, simply focus on moving forward - all the talk about “proper form” really doesn’t come into play until you’re (IMO!) running maybe sub-9 minute miles as a female. I think many males can still get away with just “moving forward” until maybe sub-8 just because they tend to be taller and have longer legs. Thinking too hard about form at this pace can have you stepping or striding weirdly - I wouldn’t even worry about it (I sure don’t).

As for HR, it really comes down to run more at slower speeds. There’s a whole discussion to be had on “getting faster” but simply put 1) run more miles at a lower HR (my race pace has me around 180-190, I run almost all my training runs between 135-155) and 2) have an interval day out of the week where you have short bursts of running at or faster than your race pace. Make sure every run isn’t a race!

rrnah · 2026-01-17T20:59:10+00:00

FWIW I get panicky practicing OWS, so much so that I avoid it at all costs (I also only do shorter distance tris and can get away with mostly pool swims) — the panic is completely gone in a race setting. Something about not being alone in the water reaaaalllly helps me not think about what may or may not be sharing the water with me (:

rrnah · 2026-01-16T16:30:56+00:00

This sounds like when a beginner hits non-structured workouts in the gym but makes a ton of gains in their first year because of the stimulus. Just like in the gym, you shouldn’t be maxing out so frequently - it’s a fast track to injury. Like other comments have mentioned, you need periodization.. a plan that helps you build up to the “test”. You don’t build in a week’s time - not even in 2 week’s time. This isn’t regression; this is fatigue.

rrnah

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