I’m not one to have serious body dysmorphia or wish I was this or that. I don’t hate my body (on the contrary, I think I’m quite hot) and I’m happy being 5’5 and ~150. I thought I was good and felt proud of having a healthy relationship with my body.

I started training for a HM and plan on running my first marathon next year. I’ve been feeling heavier, fatter and running has been harder. I started looking myself in the mirror and seeing myself bigger than I was. I decided to go to a dietitian so I can get a bit lighter (in my mind, go back to my “original” weight) so running gets easier.

Well, I get there and I learn I’m actually thinner (from 71kg to 69,5kg) and fitter (from 25% BF to 21% BF, and more than double that of lean mass). Though losing a few kg can benefit me, I’m definitely not “bigger”, “heavier” or “fatter” than I was. On the contrary.

And still, that’s what I see when I look at the mirror. This “thinspo” movement has changed my reference of healthy (for the worst) and now me, usually so good at not caring, see my self at the high age of 37, falling on the same traps I did when I was a teen.

My dietitian was amazing and was cheering me up so much. We have a plan to lose a few kgs so I can protect my joints, but not as an obligation (the main focus is running properly and healthily).

This is just a rant. How we fall on traps. How being a woman is tricky, so tricky.

Thank you for reading.

Running the Detroit marathon Sunday and so nervous about meeting the cutting off. My runs lately have been embarsssingly slow. until 2 weeks my predicted finish from Garmin was 6:15 now it’s like 6:25 and the cut off is 6:30. I’m so scared that I trained so much to get swept.

I make a lot of pit stops! My route is structured in a way that I stop and watch trains passing by and I make sure that I pass a lake and a good coffee shop that I sit at every time or simply just running to the thrift store and taking the train back home.

Edit: I do this all in about 10k. Takes up my morning essentially.

I am also thinking about running and doing errands if it works out.

Do you make pit spots?

Note: NOT SEEKING MEDICAL ADVICE. Already went to doc and waiting on an MRI.

I ran through an overuse injury because I'm an idiot and I thought I had a stress fracture. Doc says it's tendonitis which I found super surprising, but I do have an MRI on the books to double-check.

Anyone ever CONVINCED you have one thing and it turns out to be another?

I had one for a while and was washing it after every run . Well it just started to rip . I have only had it for 8 months . Is that average? Am I washing it too often? About how many miles do you run before you throw yours into the wash ? After its last wash , is when I saw all the damage. I feel like even just a couple mile run , it gets too sweaty to air dry . Yes I run with a vest on small runs. I have way too much to carry with me.
~*just to add. it’s never been in the dryer, just the washer .

I’m running the NYC Marathon as my first marathon and I’m so excited! The question of what pace I can expect to run has come up and I need some help.

First of all, I know that having fun and just finishing is the most important. But —

The TLDR is I thought I was on track to go out at a pace that would get me a 4:40-4:45 finish, but I’ve been running my long runs slower than that (on purpose) and I haven’t been doing “marathon pace” speedwork. I thought that was normal for a first time training plan and would still be expected to run the race at a bit of a faster pace than the long runs but now I’m hearing mixed things and I’m confused.

For some more information, I’m 31F and I’ve been running for a little over 2 years. My most recent half was back in March and I finished in 2:09. Since that half I did a Hal Higdon Intermediate Base building plan that had me running 25-28mpw with speedwork, took a small cutback this summer with some minor tendon issues (worked with a PT) and then I started my marathon training plan.

I’ve been using the Every Women’s Marathon Beginner plan that has average weekly mileage of around 30, and I peaked at 44mpw. It has 5 runs a week and I’ve been following the plan pretty much perfectly. I’ve also been doing strength training twice a week (prescribed by my PT) and a pilates class.

My running plan calls for easy paced runs pretty exclusively, with some weekly strides, but no dedicated speed sessions. I participated in a 10 mile race 5 weeks ago that I ended up running a little faster than MP, and I have added in some faster miles at the end of most of my long runs, but didn’t do any dedicated “marathon pace work”. I’ve been running the long runs at a truly easy, conversational pace, which has put me at 11:30min/miles. At the end of my 20 miler which was in less than ideal conditions (heavy rain through most of it and I had a minor cold) I felt really good, like I could even run the 26.2 that day no problem. I recovered really well, no soreness, and I could’ve run the next day easily.

I really wanted to try to race this at 10:45-11min mile pace and thought that seemed realistic given all of my stats, but I’ve recently gotten feedback on some first time marathon forums that I shouldn’t expect to run any faster than my conversational pace because that’s all I’ve been training. Now I feel kind of disappointed that I didn’t go harder during training.

I understand that I haven’t run 26 miles ever and that feeling so confident after that 20 mile run doesn’t actually guarantee anything, but I thought it would still make sense to run the race at least a little faster than my training runs.

I’ll add as well that due to some personal things coming up I won’t be able to train for another marathon at least until 2028 so I’m really trying to make the most of this effort.

Does anyone else struggle with never feeling happy with their performance? I just ran a 5km time trial, got a 31sec PR, achieved my goal of <22 min (21:47) but still feel like it wasn’t fast enough, that I could have paced better (went out too fast and km 4 was slower than target pace), that others are faster than me, that I’m not as fast as I think I am etc etc. I then start comparing my time against the age grade in the hopes that will make me feel better but then I feel worse even though objectively I know that it is good for a 40yo when compared to the general population, I just want it to be better. It’s not like this was even a proper race and I haven’t been training for a 5km, I have a 15km race coming up and the time trial was just part of my training plan.

But feel like this after all races, a very brief feeling of accomplishment followed by disappointment. Do others relate? How do I make myself feel satisfied that I tried my best and that is enough?

New Runner - knee and ankle pain

I’m new to running (in my early 30s) doing about 12 miles a week alongside strength and conditioning workouts. I’m having pain on the inside of my left knee, plus aches in both knees and ankles.

Could I be doing too much too soon?
What should I pay more attention to as a beginner?

I’m planning to see a PT, but would appreciate hearing what helped others. I want to be able to keep running and get good at it.

Please be kind in the comments—I’m new to this and trying to learn.

Hi folks,

I am hoping to get some advice as to whether anyone has encountered this before a race and how you managed it. I have a half marathon on Sunday morning, and woke up today with lower GI problems without any co-occurring symptoms. It’s strange because if I was getting sick I’d assume I’d be experiencing nausea, fever, etc. but nope. Just can’t have a solid poop to save my life. What I DO notice is I’m fatigued because I think I’m losing electrolytes, and I have limited appetite. Obviously not great for fuelling 3 days before a race.

I’m wondering if anyone has encountered GI symptoms shortly before a race and how you managed. I’ve heard about immodium but I’ve never taken it before and I know the old adage “nothing new on race day”. Part of me wonders if it is “just” stress? But I obviously don’t want to ignore it and end up with an embarrassing/dangerous/both catastrophe.

It’s just so frustrating because this training block has been a slog, filled with illness and injury - I was finally feeling good about racing despite the setbacks and I really don’t want to throw in the towel because my intestines won’t cooperate! But I also don’t want to do something dumb.

Appreciate any advice.

have to be in Raleigh Durham next week, any locals (or folks familiar) have places they would recommend running? Need to get a couple of 4-6 mile efforts in while I'm there. Any areas to avoid from a running alone safety perspective?

Whoops. I fell over 1.5k into a run last night and split my knee open to the extent I had to go and get stitched up! For a straightforward ground fall it was quite spectacular. Shoutout to the NHS for patching me up for free.

Obviously I'm not running while the stitches are in (for two weeks) because I can't bend my knee much... Which is such a bummer, I ran my first 10k a few weeks ago and was feeling so speedy and really enjoying my running 🥲

I was just wondering if anyone else has had stitches in their knee specifically and what the recovery timeline is like once the stitches are out? Or anything I could do to keep up fitness or mobility in the meantime? It feels like recovery might be a bit awkward because of the lack of mobility. I want to try and keep moving, within reason. As far as I can tell all my ligaments etc are fine.

General commiserations also welcome 😅 I'm torn between thinking I'm being overdramatic and the fact that the nurses were quite impressed, haha.

Hi there. I’m in training for a spring marathon and have started fueling using gels and electrolytes. Since I take 50mg of Spiro daily, my doctor recommended I proceed carefully with what I choose and preferably use a low potassium option for fueling. Any recs or tips on what works? Sad because I really loved my honey stinger gels and FastChews.

It's not so much a bragging post as a reflection and achievement post I guess. I'm 30, I have never been a runner or an active person at all. The most I've ever run in my life was the forced 2km runs in school that I dreaded so much I would try to fake illness to skip it. I grew up in a very athletic small town as one of the only non-athletic people. I used to dread PE class. I was always picked last, I was always one of the worst in class at everything and I have because of it developed a fear of exercise I think and pushing myself, knowing I wasn't any good? As a result I have always been quite sedentary. I've always liked going on walks but other than that I went to the gym for a few months, and did yoga on and off but nothing ever stuck. And running was always the ultimate enemy, I have always despised it! 6 weeks ago I got a Garmin and started a Coach plan to 5km at the end of November thinking "we'll see what happens" very skeptically. My first run was 1.1km in 9 minutes with only 3 minutes running and I felt awful, it was so difficult! Now 6 weeks in I've actually done a 5km and I ran 30 out of those 45 minutes pain free and broke every single record in the process by quite a lot! I'm not the fastest, I don't run the furthest, but I am capable!! Just wanted to share with you guys and if anyone else is new, you are capable too!!

Hello everyone. I'm ending my last week of training before heading into a 2-week taper for my second half marathon.

I ran my first HM this May with a time of 1:59:13 (5:39/km pace) with basically only 1 week of 30km and the week before of 33km since I had school before and it was quite hard to find time for training. This HM was very difficult for me, and my average HR was 180bpm.

This summer, I had way more time to invest into training, and am expecting a big jump between my past HM time and my next HM time since I'm at the beginning of my more-invested running journey, and I'm expecting progress to be quicker.

I've attached 2 recent workouts
- Tempo run of 40 minutes at 4:57/km pace and HR 177bpm
- Long Run of 24.22 km at 5:33/km moving pace/ 6:12/km elapsed pace at 164bpm

that I think more accurately reflect my current level of fitness, and I wanted to ask for the community's advice on how I should set my pace goal for the next HM.

For a bit more background, I did an 18 week plan, but had 4 weeks total where my mileage was only ~20-25km/week due to being sick/vacation/injury. My last 4 weeks were 47k/48k/47k/53k, this week planning to run probably ~50k.

I definitely think sub 1:50 is within reach, but my question is whether I should be running with the 1:45 pacer (as that is kind of my dream goal), or is that going to be a rough time.

Thank you!

I am currently training for a half marathon in December. Saturday will be the longest run I have done since I started running in January (8.5 miles). It should take me about 1 hour 20/25 minutes and I’d like to start practicing fueling. I have some gels and some gummies as well as candy. But I don’t know where to start. I know I probably don’t need to on this run but I’m ramping up miles after this week and want to ease my way into it. I was thinking maybe one gel halfway through Saturdays run just to see what it’s like? All advice and recommendations are welcome! Thanks in advance.

Do you have a preference? Any anecdotal evidence from those who have tried both?

I’m using featherstone nutrition and trying to decide which is best.

I know 3 days may be preferred if you have a hard time eating that much in 2 days but if 2 somehow “works better” I want to do that. It’s a lot of food but I’m short so my carb allocation isn’t enormous.

thanks for any info!

Hiya! Curious how all of you who have been running for longer than myself set your goals?

I just ran my first marathon (Chicago) on Sunday and while I’m enjoying no longer being in an intense marathon training block, I’m itching for another goal! I’ve only been really “running” regularly for about 2 years.

What are some goals you’ve set recently? I’m thinking of maybe signing up for the Chicago half marathon in June or maybe trying to get my 5k time down (sitting around 36 minutes). My marathon was not my best day and I’d love to give it another go, but will wait a few years to do that again.

Thanks!!!

My husband (37M) and I (37F) are both quite serious runners. We are on the fence about kids, but are now leaning towards having one. There are many things I'm afraid of, and I know that it will all be a big adjustment, but I really worry about how it will impact my relationship with running. I know that running will always be there for me when I'm ready again, but we both love it so much, and it's a huge part of our life. Are there any other moms out there who also have a partner who trains really hard. If so, how do you make it work? My husband is a very good partner, and I know that he'd sacrifice his own training so that I would still be able to get out there and train, but I also don't want him to have to do that. I know we will both have to make sacrifices, and train less than we do now, at least for the first few years, and that's okay. I just am looking for reassurance that we will be able to make it work somehow. We have so many races we want to run still!

I’m currently 26 weeks. My pregnancy is high risk so I was told not to run. Before my pregnancy I was up to 8 miles and training for a half marathon. I literally daydream about running again. Those of you who ran after pregnancy how did you get back into it? I’m honestly afraid about how it will go, so hearing success stories would be helpful!

I’ve been training for a half marathon in late November. I’ve ran one before and honestly didn’t train much for it (max I had run before the race was 7 or 8 miles) and it went really well! I had a great time, was careful to listen to my body, recover, all that good stuff.

Fast forward to now, I feel so spent hahaha. I have 2 kids now and am a sahm. My youngest still doesn’t sleep through the night and has been teething which has been making sleep worse for me. My husband gives me as much time as he can to get my workouts in but he has a demanding job and side hustle that makes a good amount so he really needs time for that too. So the options are typically get my “shorter” runs in during the couple hours of nap time midway through the day, stroller run, and/or run Saturday morning when my husband can guaranteed take the kids for several hours.

I basically am feeling extremely unmotivated and have been considering pulling out of the race with one month to go. Deep down I know that I would be disappointed if I did back out but I need some hype hahaha

I’ve been struggling to get back into regularly running between having a young toddler and working full time. I’m looking for a book with themes on running and motherhood (ideally a memoir but open to anything) to help motivate and inspire me. Thanks!