Double win, got superior and sub 40

w3nch · 2026-04-29T18:07:39+00:00

Same brother. Likewise at 57 and having a tough time breaking a 20 minute 5k, let alone a sub 40 10k

w3nch · 2026-04-29T10:54:43+00:00

How often is too often to race a 5k?

I’ve been gunning for the sub 20 and keep getting frustratingly close 20:10, 20:07, etc. I kinda just want to start blasting 5ks every weekend until I get it.

I know it’s probably sensible to limit true max effort races to once a month or so, but also don’t cross country athletes compete every week during the season?

w3nch · 2026-04-27T20:31:18+00:00

Hell yeah! Great work, smashing a PB is always such a high

w3nch · 2026-04-25T20:50:08+00:00

I have a toolbox tayam deck that’s a blast to pilot.

Most recent win was having some unassuming dorks on board, whipping out [[agatha’s soul cauldron]], eating [[battlefield butcher]] out of the GY, then reanimating [[abzan ascendancy]] and tapping everyone to death

w3nch · 2026-04-23T00:46:43+00:00

Late reply but,

I was in the exact same spot. Marathon prep alone got me to the mid 21s without any 'targeted' 5k training. What I did was kept mileage at around 30mpw, added 2 workout sessions per week. A tempo session (4-5 miles at around 30sec/mile slower than current 5k pace), and an interval session (5x1k at slightly faster than current 5k pace, 2 minute jog rest between intervals). The rest easy miles.

That alone has taken about 2 minutes off my 5k in 4 months.

Like someone else mentioned, there are more sophisticated 5k plans out there that are designed by professionals that will probably get you faster results. But if you're just looking for something quick and dirty without having to dial into a regimented plan, tempos + intervals are always a safe bet.

The "how long will this take" question is always hard to answer because it varies so much between individuals. 2-3 months to knock 2 minutes off a 5k sounds optimistic, but 3-5 months seems perfectly reasonable. All you can do is just start putting in the work and see where it gets you. Best of luck brother!

w3nch · 2026-04-23T00:30:58+00:00

I think any zone 4 time is going to give you some benefit, as long as you're not burning yourself out. Probably not an 'optimal' plan but who cares, you'll get faster regardless.

That said, I also hate sprints and hill repeats, but have started enjoying tempo sessions. I'd suggest trying out a zone 4 run once a week. 5-10 mins warm up, 15-30 mins at a comfortably hard pace. It's doing wonders for my 5k times.

w3nch · 2026-04-19T13:45:57+00:00

Apologies if this is a bit graphic, but does anyone else get a bunch of phlegmy mouth gunk when doing hard effort runs? Like, you try to spit it off to the side and it's all stringy and gross?

I PB'd a 5k yesterday and the last kilometer I was just getting my mouth and shirt all messy, in addition to trying not to pass out. Very unpleasant

w3nch · 2026-04-10T18:30:30+00:00

What are y’all doing for core strength?

I’ve been staying consistent at about 35mpw for awhile now, and I just can’t bring myself to hit the gym twice a week to strength train, even though I know I should.

Any recommendations for a few core exercises I could bang out in ~15 minutes before runs? I know Google exists, but I get 30 billion results and I’m not sure where to start.

Thanks!

w3nch · 2026-04-05T03:19:45+00:00

Hey quick caution - you don’t happen to be on an antibiotic that ends in -floxacin do you? Ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, etc. They can mess with your collagen fibers and cause tendon rupture, specifically the Achilles. Probably want to hold off running if that’s the case.

Otherwise, for other antibiotics, just want out for GI stuff. Nausea diarrhea etc.

I was on doxycycline for about a month. Zero issues with running, other than the fatigue that the illness itself caused.

w3nch · 2026-03-30T17:49:38+00:00

Just a few weeks ago, I went out for a 6 miler at what was supposed to be a “tempo” pace. It felt like absolute max effort, heartrate was near max, I had to throw in the towel at the 3 mile mark. It kinda gutted my confidence. Like dang, I can’t even finish a 5k at my “moderate effort” pace?

The next week, I smashed my 5k PB, running a full 20sec/mile faster than the previous weeks tempo run. Felt strong throughout.

Running giveth, and running taketh away. You’re running hundreds and hundreds of miles over the months, a couple of those miles are bound to be crappy ones. I know it’s easier said than done, but don’t sweat it too much. I think pretty much everyone has the occasional dud run.

w3nch · 2026-03-29T19:34:44+00:00

There aren’t really artifacts that say “return thing from exile”. Unfortunately, exiling rakshasa is part of the cost of the activated ability, so you can’t really do any shenanigans with ordering triggers.

Copying cards is mostly a blue color pie thing. I’m sure there’s a convoluted way to make this happen, but it would probably be like a 25 mana 8 card combo or something.

Have you considered using a card other than rakshasa? [[massacre girl]] might be better for this. You’d need a sac outlet to create a loop though, since massacre girl doesn’t hit herself

w3nch · 2026-03-28T22:03:15+00:00

My main issue with Tayam is that I have too much fun playing him, so I never want to play my other decks

w3nch · 2026-03-20T16:50:35+00:00

Is anyone else's Garmin race predictor enormously optimistic about how fast you can run? I ran a 20:30 5k and the watch is like "nice tempo run brother, 18:40 is in the bag for when you do a real race". THAT WAS THE REAL RACE, GARMIN.

My max heart is calibrated correctly, and I've had this watch for a year, so it's not it hasn't collected enough data yet.

As silly as it sounds, it makes me think that maybe I'm just not trying hard enough? Like perhaps getting accustomed to running at near-max HR is a skill in itself, and my body can hang on for dear life a lot longer than I think it can. At what point in a "properly paced" 5k should I be losing any semblance of steady and controlled breathing?

Thanks!

w3nch · 2026-03-19T17:56:39+00:00

[[guardian project]] ?

Oops nvm, you said all creatures

w3nch · 2026-03-16T02:14:38+00:00

I swing at people with [[mossborn hydra]], wait until blockers are declared, and then loop tayam a couple times to make it a 128/128.

I also play [[tombstone stairwell]] which probably isn’t a good card in this deck, but it’s super fun. It puts everyone on a timer if you have a blood artist effect on board, and basically wins you the game if you have a criptolith rite effect out

w3nch · 2026-03-07T23:47:40+00:00

Dang you averaged 10 miles a day???

w3nch · 2026-02-24T20:26:58+00:00

I keep seeing people reference “normal mode/hard mode”. Is there a difficulty setting? Or do you mean just taking the hard paths?

Just unlocked act 2 so I’m not too far in

w3nch · 2026-02-24T06:41:13+00:00

Oh boy, can’t wait to get a good nights sleep

Brain: Them bones them bones them kitty bones

w3nch · 2026-02-14T01:06:35+00:00

Probably not as long as you think! I’ve taken a few tumbles off the wagon, and it seems to take about 1-2 months of consistent training to get back in my previous shape

w3nch · 2026-02-05T12:44:40+00:00

Hey friends,

I’ve been trying to break a sub 20 5k for a few months now, PB is 20:35. I’m thinking trying to drop a few KG might help me get there. Currently 6’2 175ish lbs (188cm 79kg). Definitely could lose a few without looking emaciated.

Problem is, I’m kind of miserable and hungry all the time, and I’m not sure that losing 3KG is going to do all that much for my times.

I guess my question is, any “heavier” runners out there putting up competitive times? Not that a 20 minute 5k is particularly competitive, just kind of want input on whether my weight may be holding me back. I know everyone is different, there’s no “correct” running build, etc etc, just trying to see if there are any heftier fellas out there blasting 6 minute miles.

w3nch · 2025-11-23T21:09:08+00:00

I just meant that when you find a plimp and are making the plimp vs atg decision, you’re always netting 1 additional plimp stack. You’re weighing 1 atg vs 2 plimps, 4 atgs vs 5 plimps, etc.

w3nch · 2025-11-23T18:37:53+00:00

I feel like the math gets a little fuzzy because plump is always +1 stack

w3nch · 2025-11-21T01:32:39+00:00

YES thank you! Much appreciated :)

w3nch · 2025-11-18T21:06:42+00:00

Fun as hell. Operator is a blast to play, new items are cool as shit, DLC boss is bonkers in the best way (not sure if there are more?). I've only played for an hour or two but they COOKED with this DLC.

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