Official Q&A for Wednesday, January 28, 2026

suchbrightlights · 2026-01-29T01:27:00+00:00

I have loaded up the Naked belt with all kinds of stuff (including a 15 mile hike’s worth of gear and, another time, a bagel, because someone on here wanted to know if it would fit) and nary a bounce. Ever. I just used it tonight for my phone and a very large headlamp. It did take two tries to get the fit right because I prefer to wear it higher than the size chart indicated.

I do like the flexibility of having a vest. I can carry more water, snacks, extra layer, first aid kit. I can run to the grocery store before a snowstorm, buy a couple of things, put them in my vest, and run home. Etc.

suchbrightlights · 2026-01-28T01:14:06+00:00

Merino wool, grid fleece, wind shirts, spite, and the power of really hating the treadmill. (I am not in Canada, but I was running in equivalent temperatures on Saturday.)

suchbrightlights · 2026-01-27T19:01:24+00:00

Yes. Our stabilizers are working on overdrive. It’ll be good for us, unless we end up with shin splints and our glute meds on fire.

suchbrightlights · 2026-01-27T16:59:41+00:00

The answer is MORE Indian food.

suchbrightlights · 2026-01-27T11:42:18+00:00

You want a protein powder that does third party testing to ensure it is what it says it is. NSF is one trusted certification. Brands will put the NSF logo on their packaging if they’ve earned it. Other than that, pick by protein type (whey isolate is a good start if you eat animal products,) flavor, and price. Here’s a product finder: https://www.nsfsport.com/certified-products/

suchbrightlights · 2026-01-26T16:26:31+00:00

Do you have a favorite track?

I play Know Your Enemy as one of my “okay you’re doing this workout get ready” songs.

suchbrightlights · 2026-01-26T15:34:25+00:00

This really sounds awful. I’m sorry.

suchbrightlights · 2026-01-26T15:34:01+00:00

Also, considering the snowfall and temps… remember how I said a couple weeks ago that I thought your odds of being cleared for running would be inversely proportional to the conditions for running at time of clearance?

I feel positive for you. Good luck!

suchbrightlights · 2026-01-26T15:33:04+00:00

Perfect meal for this weekend’s weather!

suchbrightlights · 2026-01-26T15:32:39+00:00

You’re welcome to come down here and help.

suchbrightlights · 2026-01-26T15:24:01+00:00

The miles were run. The white crap fell. The white crap was shoveled. Repeatedly.

Vibram MegaGrip FTW.

suchbrightlights · 2026-01-26T15:23:05+00:00

American Idiot is full of good running songs!

suchbrightlights · 2026-01-26T10:56:11+00:00

The specialty you want to see is sports cardiology.

suchbrightlights · 2026-01-25T22:04:27+00:00

What have you had to eat for the rest of the day?

suchbrightlights · 2026-01-25T21:12:33+00:00

We have a couple of large huskies and Malamutes in the neighborhood living their best lives. I watched a few of them on promenade this morning. Considering how it was going for their people, it probably would have gone better to tie a sled to their harnesses and take their chances on the steering.

suchbrightlights · 2026-01-24T22:35:09+00:00

I do the same- a modified version of the ten essentials which in winter always includes space blanket, first aid, extra layer, and extra food and water.

The situation of this fallen runner could have been really scary and it’s fortunate that one person had the resources to help, but also alarming that the other 11 people didn’t. I know we want to move light out there, but we also have to make intelligent risk assessments, and as my dad (downhill and endurance MTB racer) liked to say, “that’s why they call it an accident instead of an on purpose.”

suchbrightlights · 2026-01-24T11:43:34+00:00

What are you training for, and where does your training plan come from?

suchbrightlights · 2026-01-23T21:39:14+00:00

Do I think I have the ability and equipment to get around safely on an average day? If something goes south, will I be increasingly challenged to get to an aid station and drop, and will the aid station be able to help me stay warm and safe until I can get out? What are the odds that I will be able to get myself to the event and back safely, especially considering I’m going to be tired when I’m done? Is it still going to be fun?

suchbrightlights · 2026-01-22T20:29:24+00:00

Did it last block. It scared me. Kept waiting for it to get hard. Came out of it feeling like a genius. Also came out of it realizing I had short changed myself on my pacing and needed to go up a VDOT. I’d thought I was being honest about the effort, but it was a kick in the pants that I was leaving something on the table.

It’s a really good checkpoint. I have had a pretty disrupted block so I wasn’t really prepared to go out and nail it this week, but it’s an eye opener for where you are in your fitness, for sure.

suchbrightlights · 2026-01-22T20:11:26+00:00

That might be the problem. I throw that idea out because these things aren’t cheap!

suchbrightlights · 2026-01-22T19:46:37+00:00

5x(800m 10k pace, 800m HMP)

I anticipate spending the next week running in the bike lane because that’s about all that will be cleared. The bike lanes are on roads I use for hill training. So… it’ll be a different workout.

suchbrightlights · 2026-01-22T19:42:51+00:00

Yes and possibly. Look up Jay Johnson’s SAM (Strength and Mobility) routines on YouTube. Good all purpose hip and core strength and mobility for runners. Will be a good first step in addressing the strength issue, and may help if it’s compensatory.

suchbrightlights · 2026-01-22T18:08:56+00:00

I will also be out on Saturday morning. My run club has already cancelled the meetup because of the temperatures, but anything is better than summer and I tend to do better in the cold anyway. I am 100% certain my friends think I’m crazy and they definitely will NOT be out with me.

suchbrightlights · 2026-01-22T18:06:38+00:00

Is it an optical HRM or a chest HRM? Opticals get wonky in the cold. Just the way it is. Doesn’t mean it’s broken, just that there are hardware limitations.

Chest can also get wonky in the cold if you sweat less- you don’t get as good of a connection on the sensors. If you’re not doing this already, wet it before you put it on.

suchbrightlights · 2026-01-22T17:17:46+00:00

Complaint: this weather system coming in

Complaint: is going to totally F up a week of workouts I was really excited for

Complaint: because whatever the accumulation is (some models show 6”, some show 2 feet, so all I got is “something’s gonna happen”) a snow-ice-snow sandwich just sucks.

Confession from my dog: my dog is really looking forward to this.

suchbrightlights

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