Active Community: Message List

Best way to time the intervals

guest — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 19:17:14 GMT

I bought a GymBoss timer to use for walk/run intervals and it's great. You can set 2 intervals, loudness of beeps, and even vibrate. It cost me a wopping less than $20 bill. Google GymBoss or search for GymBoss on Youtube.

Garmin vs iPhone

guest — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 18:41:49 GMT

The thing is, just running on a different side of a street than the person measuring the mileage and rounding corners and curves on the outside or in the center instead of the inside can make a difference, too. It's pretty safe to say that unless you understand how the course was measured and follow that same course for the entire distance without ever deviating even slightly, then, your GPS watch, whatever make or model, will always disagree with the posted course mileage. Overall, I do trust my Garmin as far as distance I've run and the time it has taken.

Re: High Blood Pressure - who me?!

guest — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 18:18:06 GMT

Hi Francessmom. For me, high blood pressure is hereditary. I began taking medications when I was 23 and I am now 63 so I have been living with it a long time. I am currently taking 2 different medications, a beta blocker and an ace inhibitor. I am supposed to be taking 3, the third being HCTZ. HCTZ and your Ziac are both diuretics, or water pills. This is the reason for your sweating, and also the reason I don't take the pill. My doctor didn't question me before prescribing it and I naturally sweat heavily even without the pill. I think the quack is trying to kill me! At any rate, I have my next appointment next month it is something we will certainly discuss. As for the other BP meds, an ace inhibitor prevents your blood vessels and arteries from contracting. A beta blocker, on the other hand, keeps your heart rate low. Ace inhibitors aren't bad for runners, beta blockers are. Here's what I do. I run in the early mornings and I take the ace inhibitor before running. After the run, I take the beta blocker. When I race, I put the beta blocker in a small plastic bag with my cell phone and driver license and I take it immediately after crossing the finish line. I am training for my first full marathon in September and I was a bit concerned with not taking the pill until after the 4 to 5 hour run I expect so I tried running one of my training runs after taking the beta blocker and just forcing my way through. With the heart rate kept down your energy level will be way down, too. That was not the thing to do. When I decided to try pushing my way through it didn't occure to me that the the low heart rate would prevent nourishment from reaching my legs. It did some damage but luckily it only took a couple weeks to recover. You really need to talk with your doctor. Not taking the diuretic will mean that you are not sweating and urinating off the salt he feels is causing a problem. On the other hand, sweating too much without taking in electrolytes during a run in the summer heat can be dangerous and lead to a hospital stay or death. And electrolytes are salt so taking a diuretic and then drinking gatorade is somewhat counterproductive. Yes, it's perplexing. As far as general health without the running considerations the diuretic is the safest and most desirable medication. One of the other runners who frequents this board somethimes was quite lucky. Running brought his BP down without meds.

Re: Knees KNees, OMG my Knees

guest — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 16:49:42 GMT

When my knees figured out this running thing wasn't just a short term deal they began to rebell like, well, they hurt. Having stomped all over this pretty blue marble for the better part of sixty some odd years I figured they had a right to yell and just kept running. After awhile I knew I had to do something so I went to a local outlet of a vitamin chain and they suggested something with Glucosamine, Condroitin, and MSM, whatever that is. I took the stuff for a month and my knee pain stopped so I stopped taking the expensive stuff. It didn't take long for my knees to begin punishing me again so I went back on the big beige pills. I've been taking them for months now and these 63 year old knees give me absolutely no problems whatsoever. I met some running friends for an after race bash a couple months ago, one was 20 years my junior and the other half my age. I asked if they took anything for joints and was surprised when both said they took Glucosamine and Condroitin. And the older of the two even said he added fish oil. I don't know how many of the forum members take supplements but I figure I'm doing something really stressful to my body that most folks don't do so maybe I need a little protection. Not suggesting, you have to make your own decisions, just sayin'.

Re: DoppelLaufers Good Natured Taunting and Race Reports Thread

guest — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 17:13:13 GMT

I reserved my spot for the 2012 Gasparilla Distance Classic in Tampa. When somebody registers for the same race a second time you know they have to believe it's good.

Re: DoppelLaufers Good Natured Taunting and Race Reports Thread

guest — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 20:31:30 GMT

Today, I registered to run the ING Miami Marathon, next January. Am I excited or what?

Re: Calculating your speed/distance

guest — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 12:59:28 GMT

When I want to plan a route so I know I will be running a given distance with a change in scenery I use GMAPS-PEDOMETER and have been really happy with it. For me it has been the easiest to use because you don't have to worry about curves or turns. When I began running I used a pedometer but quickly learned the pace and distance functions were worthless because my stride was not constant. I continued to wear the pedometer but only because it was electronic and had a timer that started when I started and stopped when I stopped. I planned my run and identified 3, 6, and 9 minle points then came to a screeching halt to check my time. But, by far the best thing that happened to my running was when Amazon put their Garmin 205 on sale for less than $100. I now don't have to come to a screeching halt to check my time because it keeps track of everything. I show 4 windows on my Garmin GPS and at any time during my run I simply raise my wrist to see what pace I am currently running, what my pace is for that split (set at 1 mile) at that point in time, how long I've been running, and the distance I've run. I put off buying one, now I wouldn't want to run without it.

Re: 100 Days until my first half-marathon!

guest — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 17:32:40 GMT

Hi Helen,

If you haven't considered it, I just ran the Gasparilla half marathon in Tampa and I highly recommend it as a "must do". The expo is great and the spectators and volunteers are out of this world, and the scenery is wonderful. There are more than enough aid stations with gatorade and water, one with Gu (I use sport beans and took my own) and each aid station had three or four port-a-potty's. My only issue was with the runners themselves and is one present at all races I participated in, that is slower runners taking a starting spot nearer the front and blocking faster runners. They apparently don't realize that if they let the faster runners get away first, then, the mob thins out faster.

HelenM2002 wrote:

Hey rocdoc! Unfortunately, I ended up not doing it, but I'm gearing up for one in October, and one in November! I may skip the October one (it's on a Saturday, and if my son plays soccer, the games are on Saturdays) but I'm definitely doing the one in November -- they even have a kids' marathon, which my son is very excited about!

My goal is to do 5 HMs before I turn 50, which will be in January 2017.

Re: My last run was...how was yours?

guest — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 02:56:25 GMT

My last run was fantastic!!! I ran the Gasparilla Distance Classic half marathon in Tampa, FL. I finished and I have the medal to prove it. One more half coming up in April and then I begin training for the Air Force Marathon, my first full.

Re: Publix Super Markets Gasparilla Distance Classic Race Weekend Reviews

guest — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 01:26:49 GMT

I was very pleased with the Gasparilla Half Marathon. It was very well organized and I really appreciated the thought and concern put into it. The last half marathon I ran only had one port-a-potty at each aid station and a line of 5 or 6 people meant losing 15 to 20 minutes at least. I had to make a stop during the Gasparilla race and I would be surprised if it cost me more than 2 minutes. Water and Gatorade was plentiful and aid stations were not spread too far out. I loved the course and the people giving their support. If there was one thing I would change it would be the runners themselves. I have no issues with those who walk/run unless they are three or four people walking together and abreast, blocking a good portion of a lane. Most of us know we will never take first place overall but we are trying to place in our age division or beat our last PR.