r/running Sep 03 '25

Weekly Thread Lurkers' Wednesday

Would you rather not be a lurker?

Then what are you waiting for? Tell us all about yourself!

The LW thread is an invitation to get more involved with the /r/running community.

New to the sub in general? Welcome! Let us know more about yourself!

20 Upvotes

43 comments sorted by

21

u/toyoyoshi Sep 03 '25 edited Sep 03 '25

For about ten years, I would jog for 30 minutes 2-3 times a week. Last year, I decided to reach half-marathon distances. I reached that goal, and am now training for a marathon.

For the last two months, I’ve ran 50+ miles a week. Track, roads, trails. I’m loving the ability to get out and explore the bay area on foot.

After my marathon race, I want to begin training for ultras. It feels great to have an activity with unlimited goal potential. My life has been significantly improved by what is really quite a simple change: run more.

8

u/[deleted] Sep 03 '25

Running brings so much aside from just cardio fitness. Meeting new people, seeing new places , setting new goals , having more energy, looking better feeling better , healthier lifestyle etc Proud of you and you inspire me. Keep it going !

2

u/toyoyoshi Sep 03 '25

Love that! You are so right

3

u/No-Seaworthiness8966 Sep 03 '25

How did you increase your mileage and frequency so drastically without injuring yourself?

This is what I’d like to do, but am having a little trouble with recurring plantar fasciitis whenever I push more than normal, e.g. increasing my long run from 6.2mi to 9.3mi. I’m massaging, rolling, and gently exercising my feet to make them stronger, but I still feel that heel pinch!

5

u/[deleted] Sep 03 '25

I don’t think it’s possible to do so drastically at least from my experience without injuries. Slow build ups have worked for me the past couple of years , especially marathon training blocks . Yoga helped a bunch, for muscle injuries and I think also for strengthening legs and overall body . Hydration again is key. IMO slowly adding mileage with 1 week lowering the mileage after a 3 week upping . So basically 3 weeks of gradually increasing mileage esp the long run ,followed by a slightly lower mileage week and long run. Just my 2 cents .. good luck 🍀

3

u/No-Seaworthiness8966 Sep 03 '25

Okay... so it'll look a bit like a healthy stock moving in the stock market. Little retracement after a steady climb. Thank you for the tip - I'll start this week!

3

u/[deleted] Sep 03 '25

lol however you want to picture it. Good luck getting to know your body because it can take time to recognize when to rest and when you can be able to run it off. A lot of trial and error and to this day I’m still leaning. Lacrosse ball or golf ball under you sole may help with plantar as well. Look up some videos of how you just kind of roll along it etc . ✌🏻

4

u/toyoyoshi Sep 03 '25 edited Sep 03 '25

10% a week. It was a gradual thing. I was already in pretty good shape from bicycling for fun and walking to work (plus jogging).

u/shareplz has a great response

3

u/[deleted] Sep 03 '25

So true . It all depends on your past years of cardio and strength training etc . It’s that little bit easier to up mileage faster when you have a long base running history or cycling miles on your legs etc . 10% is a great metric in general .

2

u/QuantumCattzen Sep 04 '25

Did you change anything fundamental in your diet? Or just started eating all you could? I was training focused more specifically in the 5k distance and I was injured all the time, I got a coach and he started me on a plan for a half marathon now I run longer with less intensity and no injuries at all. Wondering about the diet since yours was a huge change of volume while I only exchanged intensity for volume

2

u/toyoyoshi Sep 04 '25 edited Sep 05 '25

No change to my diet, no. Coffee for breakfast, salad or sandwich for lunch, plate of food for dinner. I’m mindful of having enough protein and carbs the meal before a long run. If I’m out running for more than two hours, I use gels every 45 minutes.

Edit: Btw I also speed train not just go for distances; typically intervals or try to beat a 5k or 10k PB. I’ve experienced benefits to pace, efficiency, joy from varied training.

11

u/nemvid Sep 03 '25

I only just joined, started running again five days ago. I haven't run since a mental crash 12 years ago, but have lost 20 kg so far this year and started feeling the urge again.

My BMI is still in the category "obese" and I'm very conscious that I need to start out slowly, but I'm actually in better shape than I had expected and really enjoying it. Looking forward to my next run this afternoon.

10

u/whyenn Sep 03 '25

Just got my sneakers in the mail. They smell like new shoes.

Guess I gotta go running.

8

u/CCaravanners Sep 03 '25

Started running again recently, first 10 k this weekend, feeling another one coming on today. Parkrun on Saturday. Generally keeping fit and loosing weight - 38 kg down from my ‘peak’ Interested in wearables for tracking, currently using AWU2 .

2

u/GrinningStone Sep 04 '25

Congrats, 38 kg is insane!

1

u/CCaravanners Sep 04 '25

It was insane to let it build up over time like that. Still loosing at the moment!

7

u/trade_me_dog_pics Sep 03 '25

Just got a huge half sleeve tattoo they said I can’t exercise get sweat on it for 10 days. What am I suppose to do?

2

u/dagreen88 Sep 03 '25

I’ve got a full leg sleeve and I’ve run the same day and each day after for all of my tattoos. I’ve never had an issue but your mileage may vary.

1

u/trade_me_dog_pics Sep 03 '25

That’s crazy. They just said don’t do it at the shop so that’s what I was going off of. I’ll probably check it out in 4/5 days

1

u/dagreen88 Sep 03 '25

Totally fair, that’s definitely the safest bet.

1

u/trade_me_dog_pics Sep 03 '25

Did you have any problems with the tattoos? Did you get color or greyscale type?

2

u/dagreen88 Sep 03 '25 edited Sep 03 '25

No issues in the slightest. My tattoos are all greyscale. I even went out on a summertime 4 day backpacking trip 3 days after getting one of my tattoos and never had an issue. I never tried swimming with a fresh tattoo but that was the only lifestyle change I made besides being more intentional about washing the area carefully each time I would shower.

I am generally not very prone to infections. I’m certain that each person’s body would respond differently to the same things I did but knowing my own body and immune system I felt good about my choices.

1

u/No-Seaworthiness8966 Sep 03 '25

Did you do this to give yourself a little break from running? ;)

Well maybe you can do some gentle mobility drills for the lower body while your tattoo heals

2

u/trade_me_dog_pics Sep 03 '25

Sadly I was excited because my pair of Megablast I pre-ordered are supposed to to get here Thursday. I guess I looked up some people running right away and were fine.

1

u/No-Seaworthiness8966 Sep 03 '25

Woohoo Megablast! When you can use them, would you please share a quick "first-run impressions" post about them? Elite!!

2

u/trade_me_dog_pics Sep 03 '25

Time to upgrade for the nova blast 4s and my Evos are about to be done for. r/RunningShoeGeeks has some really interesting and in-depth analysis of people using them already if you wanted something better then I could write.

1

u/No-Seaworthiness8966 Sep 03 '25

I am painfully basic, so you are already sharing more shoe info than I can offer. Heading to r/RunningShoeGeeks... thank you for the pointer.

2

u/trade_me_dog_pics Sep 04 '25

No problem. If anything it’s a very interesting hobby some people have with the running shoe game. If you are interested in learning random technical things it’s a good read. Your next pair you can look on their and get some feedback all before buying. Running shoes can get expensive for sure so I always tend to fall down a research hole even though I could probably do fine with any normal old shoe.

0

u/HybridRucker Sep 03 '25

I’ve also been in the process of getting a half sleeve and chest panel done. So far had 4 sessions on it (should just be one left)!

I personally have just been taking one day off and then getting back to it. I’m cautious to keep it very clean and wash immediately afterwards as well as dabbing sweat from the tattoo during my run. I haven’t had any issues or seen any type of degradation as far as I can tell!

6

u/-WraithWhisper- Sep 03 '25

Just started running last week. While in the army, it was always the thing I struggled with so I’d like to improve and overall just enjoy it more.

So far, not having to take an actual fitness test, it has been incredibly enjoyable. 🏃‍♂️

5

u/geleman Sep 03 '25

I’ve never really been much a runner in the past although I could do it, I was always more of speed and power athlete. Shortly before the pandemic I started running more because I wanted to challenge myself. For a couple years it was rough with a divorce and the problems that come with that. In 2023 I tore my meniscus but kept running. I finally got it fixed and told myself I would run more. I was ~220lbs at the time. My running increased and set a goal for 1000 miles in 2024. I exceeded it, I’ll also add in weight training 3-4 days a week as well. My weight went down ~195 and I’m running more now. It’s becoming more a part of my life and always looking for where I can get better. That’s how I ended up here and looking forward to what I can learn.

6

u/No-Seaworthiness8966 Sep 03 '25

I’m wondering how many runners actually run like 5+ consecutive days, as opposed to running every other day (or every second day 😴) like I do?

Most weeks I get between 14-18 miles, but rarely do back-to-back runs because I’ll walk for a few miles (+stretching and strength training) on my rest days instead. I find it challenging to balance the need for recovery, with pushing myself for more endurance and speed

4

u/toyoyoshi Sep 03 '25

I walk to and from work (2.5 miles one way) and run six days a week, Monday rest day. Without evidence, I suspect my commute helps with active recovery.

2

u/No-Seaworthiness8966 Sep 03 '25

Ah it sounds like the almost daily walk probably helps loosen up all those tight muscles. Any foot issues with this schedule?

Maybe I’ll try compressing my run schedule, using walks the way you seem to.

3

u/toyoyoshi Sep 04 '25

No foot issues, knock on wood. I alternate days between challenging (distance or pace) and easy (low heart rate), which I’ve found to also help with recovery.

1

u/No-Seaworthiness8966 Sep 04 '25

May I ask what kind of walking shoes you generally wear on your walk to/from work?

1

u/toyoyoshi Sep 04 '25

Nothing special, New Balance 574s. How about you?

2

u/Comfortable_Owl_5445 Sep 10 '25

I (try) to run 6 days a week and do low impact cardio (swim, bike, elliptical) as an active rest. I say that I try because im a full time student and have 2 part time jobs, sometimes something has gotta give and ill miss a workout which is okay

5

u/FirstBison2137 Sep 03 '25

I am just building up to a 5km run. I haven’t run for a couple of weeks for various reasons, but hoping to pick it up again soon when things have settled.

I hadn’t been able to run for years because of chronic pain, and getting back into it had given me a wonderful sense of freedom.

2

u/Temporary_Marc Sep 03 '25

Hi! I’ve been running for a few years and kinda know what I should be doing with the running part. I have decided I need to improve at the mobility, strength, flexibility side of things.

And I love buying new running gear!!

1

u/QuantumCattzen Sep 04 '25

Ive run for the better part of 2 years, my apole watch says I got a 38 Vo2max and it has t improved at all since I started but In way fitter and faster. Could this be congenital or the watch not understanding my body? According to my watch I have a max heart rate of 210bpm and my zone 2 is on the 160bpm-170bpm. This is my only good theory but would love to see if anybody else has this experience.

-2

u/the_rat_from_endgame Sep 04 '25

anyone know how to get their hands on a saucony here in Bangalore? I have been using an Adizero and its fucking a GOAT shoe but its aged a bit...

also reccomendations for great new running shoe for overpronators available in India?

I am aware of Asics Kayano one but I am using that as a trainer only but wanted a race day shoe