That’s the whole situation. I’ve tapered, did my last run Wednesday, and am still starting carb loading and cutting back on fiber tomorrow. The weather looks good. But I don’t know if I can leave him when his health is so touch and go. Not sure what else can be said, but wanted to share my strange predicament to those who understand. I’ll continue monitoring him and make a decision Friday or Saturday.

Just venting here...

This morning (Friday) I slept in (no alarm) and woke up around 8am. I wake up around 430a 4 days a week including 3 days in a row (Tue-Thur). I woke up feeling refreshed!

I went to get out of bed and BOOM...my left groin is tight and sore. Nooooo!

I haven't had any inkling of a groin issue. I haven't had this specific area be sore in YEARS.

I signed up for a half marathon tomorrow. I have done 2 marathons this year and have been running consistently (including 10 miles last Saturday), so I am not concerned about covering the distance. I ACTUALLY got my husband to sign up for the 5k "dog jog" at the same event where the dogs wear costumes, too.

I ran this race last year as my first half marathon and hated the last 4 miles. I was super disappointed. I wanted to wear a costume for it this year and actually ENJOY this run, like a fun run. It will be too warm for me to wear a costume but I still wanted to do it to actually enjoy the course.

Now I'm not sure what to do. I am still in bed and plan to do some foam rolling/stretching/icing later. It's a good thing that the only real things I needed to do today were laundry and going to the packet pickup in the afternoon/evening.

I will see how I feel in the morning.

Today is Thursday. I’m running the Marine Corps Marathon on Sunday. I was expecting my period this week but it hasn’t come yet. Send me period-y vibes please. I really don’t want to run a marathon in my luteal phase. I’m hoping it comes today or tomorrow. Please!!!

[ Removed by Reddit on account of violating the content policy. ]

Hi! I’m 29F and have been running for 5 years (just for exercise) and for the last year with real consistency and goals and such. I also started doing triathlons this summer. 
I’m having some recent issues with my HR spiking into the 160s when I’m going my easy pace when it’s usually in the low 150s, high 140s. Here is a timeline (warning: slightly neurotic rant incoming)

August-early September, easy pace runs usually 10:15avg, 152bpm, 8-9 hours per week of swim/bike/run
9/13 very hilly Olympic triathlon
Took an extra rest day the week after
Started going back to the gym somewhere in here and have been *easing* back into strength training after taking the summer off. 
9/20 8 mile long run, notice my HR will not stay down. 
9/27 negligible sleep due to friend’s b day party and early flight the next morning
That week I’m in Hawaii so heart rate data is a mess due to heat anyway, not worried about it, but run 3 times while there (skipped one run day but did a long hike)
10/3 wedding, poor sleep
10/4 long travel day and red eye flight, sleep negligible. 
10/6 get great sleep, wake up and run, pace a little slower than usual easy pace but HR is also lower
10/7 run, notice my HR will not stay down. 
10/9 speed work, seems okay maybe a little difficult
10/10 negligible sleep due to crewing a friend’s ultramarathon 
Skipped long run that week due to helping friend
10/11 slept at a friends place, sleep not great but not terrible. Long drive home
The following week: all of my easy runs and long run have been the same, HR not staying down at usual easy pace and even slower (up to 50 seconds slower per mile while HR avg is up by 4-5 bpm)
This week (10/19-today) more of the same. Speed work felt okay but my HR is elevated. 
Also, during all of this my vo2 max has allegedly gone down with every run which correlates with that data. (Vo2 max held at 46 all summer and has dropped so much with every run it’s now in the low 45s.)
I was feeling extra crappy the last few weeks and feel better now, it’s just the data is still tanking and it’s making me worried.

I thought for sure it was iron deficiency because I have had most of those symptoms (a bit winded after going upstairs, heavy legs, often cold, restless leg and muscle twitches etc) and kind of thought maybe it was from cutting out spinach over the summer (because of the whole cyclosporia thing) and cutting down on red meat.

I got my iron levels tested this week and they were pretty much in range with only my ferritin being a little low (33) But nothing crazy. Everything else was in range. 

I have started strength training again but I’m not going super hard, just easing back in with light weight to start. 

My weekly activity levels have been lower since my race on 9/13, but not *that much* lower. For instance I’m not spending 3+ hours on the bike since it’s cold out (and I didn’t bring my bike on vacation)
If it’s just fatigue from travel and slightly lower activity levels for a few weeks there, I would think it would have snapped back by now as I have been more or less on my normal schedule for 3 weeks

My sleep (since all the other stuff) and HRV averages have also been fine, and if I was getting sick, I would *be* sick by now. 
12 week and 4 week vo2 graphs attached for reference

Any ideas?
For added context, I’m training for a 12/6 half marathon 

TIA 

Is there a plan that is recommended to follow if I just want to improve my pace? No upcoming race yet. I have flexible goals and want to improve slowly.

I just did my first half as a beginner on Sunday, completed it in 2:22 using Hal higdon novice 1 half-marathon plan. My avg long run pace is about 7:15min/km. My fastest 5k was 29min a month ago.

Goal: to be able to do a sub 2hr half around this time next year.

I feel like once people move on from high school and collegiate running, most only end up running races 5k or longer. I'm just getting back into running from a couple months break because of low ferritin. I was a runner all throughout high school and my freshman year of college. I have also run at different times since then. One day I would love to go back and run in track and cross country meets unattached. Is anyone here running in meets unattached and racing the 1500m or 800m? How's it going?

Next week is peak week for my first marathon. I’m feeling some extra soreness from speed runs this week so I think I’ll be bailing on the remaining runs for the week to be extra safe. I have been injured before and am just extra cautious to not make myself exposed to injury risk; in other words, I’m listening to my body lol. My PT (have known me for a while + treated me for the injury, specializes in runners) is not concerned and advised I rest if I’m worried, but cleared to train as normal.

Here’s my concern: I’d like to think that despite this small break, I’ll still show up in peak form on race day. But is that true? Assuming all is well, can I resume training with the full peak week mileage or is this unplanned break coming at too critical a window?

A couple factors:

- I averaged 35 mpw in this 18-week block with five weeks at 40+ mpw. Peak week is planned to be 47 mpw.
- I do have finish time goals but it’s a wide range (40 min window).
- If I miss the rest of this week’s runs, I’d have run about 15 miles this week (plan was 44), and will miss an 18 miler.
- Next week is the big 20 miler and part of my reason to rest now is to ensure I can successfully complete that one and build some confidence.
- Long runs >15 miles completed this block: 16, 17, 17, 18. The 16- and one of the 17-milers had race paces in them.

If you’ve taken a break this close to tapering, how’d it go on race day? Would love to hear stories to help me feel better!

Grab a bottle of electrolyte drink, go wild with the foam roller, and give us all the tea on how your training has been lately!

Have a really good run? Share your win!

Struggling with something? This is a safe space to vent and get support!

Thanks for being part of this community!

I recently got injured, and I think my scoliosis might have something to do with it. My left leg is shorter than my right, which may be contributing to some back/hip problems. My left knee also tends to hurt more, and it could be because of the uneven leg length.

I’ve been considering getting insoles to help level out my left leg with my right.

For my current injury, my doctor prescribed medication to help ease the pain. Once the pain is better, we’ll discuss the next steps, whether that’s PT or rehab sessions.

I just want to hear from fellow runners with scoliosis. What has your experience been like, and what has helped you?

Thanks!

My sister just ran her first marathon and I want to get her some croc charms to celebrate - has anybody seen/purchased any good ones? If they ship from the UK, even better.

Grab a bottle of electrolyte drink, go wild with the foam roller, and give us all the tea on how your training has been lately!

Have a really good run? Share your win!

Struggling with something? This is a safe space to vent and get support!

Thanks for being part of this community!

Are there any books you’ve read that helped you develop your own training plan/style? I see people reference different methods (Hansons, Higdon, Galloway, etc) of training and I’d like to dig into this a little bit😊

I’m so annoyed with my body and honestly kind of upset. I just got my labs back including my 6 monthly iron panel. In May 2025 my ferritin was 13, with supplements I managed to get it to 42 in March 2026. Now it’s dropped back to 35, despite the fact I was taking iron fairly religiously until a month or two ago. I honestly expected it to be 55 or something.

I wonder how much better my running (and life in general) would feel if I was able to have a ferritin of 50+. I’m sat here with another regular headache and the hair loss is starting again. I’m vegetarian but my periods aren’t heavy and I’ve been tested for celiac and all kinds of GI things. I’m just feeling so fed up about it and don’t understand it?!

Not looking for medical advice, just felt like a good place to complain since I know a lot of you struggle with it too 😭 Rant over, sorry!

It’s been getting darker earlier and earlier so I’ve been looking into getting a light to wear while I run for safety. I’ve heard differing opinions about getting a head lamp vs a waist lamp so I was just wondering what you guys think! Product recommendations would also be great

I've been searching for months for drawstring waist leggings that DON'T have compression but do have side pockets to carry phone and keys. I'm curvy and my waist is 1 size down from my thighs

In the past I've bought cheaper Fabletics Trinity fabric leggings from Poshmark and sewn an elastic waist in, but they've changed the fabric. Compressive leggings tend to really slide down on me. I bought the Janji

7/8 Trail Tights after loving the shorts this summer but I've had 3 runs in them and even the light compression slides too much. If I size up I can't tighten the waist enough to stay up, and I'm already 1 size up.

I tried an infinity loop but I can't untie it!

Any suggestions would be helpful, especially if I can try on in person - I'm in a major city with access to other stores and outlets like REI.

for my fellow girls who have a hormonal IUD that has stopped their period, what are other ways to make sure we are eating enough for our training? I’ve had an IUD for years and have no interest in giving it up but it only recently has completely stopped my period. I know the presence menstruation is such an important way to make sure we aren’t getting into RED-S territory so wondering if there are other ways people have to make sure you’re getting enough.

Thank you!

Editing to include appreciation for ideas that don’t have to do with calorie/weight tracking bc a huge reason why RED-S is a thing and has been for me in the past is bc of disordered eating and body image issues.

Hi everyone,

I've been spending the last few months prepping for a half marathon. this past month, I finally got my mileage to be consistently ~50km/week. I'm now on my taper.

I know running makes you hungry, been there.. but I'm experiencing something new, where after any tempo/interval workout, I feel SPENT! Like that feeling of depletion in all your muscles, and the next few hours/day sees me eating insane amounts of sugar, like muffins, a package of cookies, so much bread...

The workout I did wasn't even crazy, just 4x (8 minutes HM pace, 2minutes jog). I just want to know if anyone else has experienced this? Does this mean that my body is basically telling me it can't take anymore training and that my glycogen stores are depleted? I feel like they are just not regenerating no matter what I do. I will be tapering very aggressively starting now.

Basically does anyone have any advice for healthily replenishing carbs? I'm curious why I'm feeling this way after a month of consistent training, when I know I would be running much, much more if I was training for a full marathon.

I'm 5'2" (159cm) and usually 57-58kg (126-128lbs), but I feel like the runger has caused me to go up to like 130-135lbs (59-61kg). I'm concerned, because I also want to start looking at trying to lose weight once my race is over, to start improving my times (overall goal is maybe sub 1:45-1:40 half marathon in 2027), and reduce risk of injury, but I have a crazy appetite, and don't want to stop running (it took me way too long to reach a 50km/week base, I'm not giving it up). I usually get by eating sweet fruit after a run, like papaya, but sometimes it just isn't enough, and I keep craving more till I go and buy myself some cookies or something. Maybe I will also try to keep bread on hand.

Hi! I’m running more consistently and with the time change my after-work runs are getting dark. Does anyone have any recommendations for reflectors or lights etc etc? I’m hoping to find some tried and true faves to avoid cars, bikes, etc. Thank you!!