2026 getting/staying in shape motivation thread

[GreginPA]

Hill repeats should be at the hardest pace that you can maintain for the duration of the hill. If you are starting too fast and floundering at the top of the hill, you went out too fast. Figure out that pace and then each repeat try to make it just a little further up the hill
Time really depends on your hill. but you can do 60/30, 90/60. it's really dependent on the hill and your ability. you want the rest to be essentially no extra time than it takes you to get back to the start if you are doing a fast walk or light jog back to the start. If your rest is too short, you will end up working yourself further up the hill and possibly run out of hill (assuming you are still going when the rest timer is up). If your rest is too long - you are just not getting the maximum benefit that you could be. So you might need to practice on a hill to figure out what time works for you.

However, as you get better at it, you will have to find a hill longer than your work timer, so that it's ok that you work yourself up the hill instead of making the rest too long for the sole purpose of getting to the start. you want the rest to actually be a rest and not making you work too hard just to get back to the start in time. hope that all makes sense.

I've not done bleachers but I imagine that is more of a stepper than a run.

Hills build your ability to do.......... hills! and build your ability to recover quickly from a hill

 

[thedutchtouch]

Walked the dog yesterday followed by 2 hrs of ice skating (with kids including a 4 yo so it was a lower back workout for sure lol) and capped it off by finishing the first round of mudding. Sanding and remudding isn't much more fun but the end of drywall is in sight. Of course I'm much better now than when I started so the last walls/corners will be so much easier to sand than the first few, but that's how things go I guess.

Trying to get done with work early enough to squeeze in a late season after work sit today, if not I should likely be able to go tomorrow. Would love to arrow one more deer for the freezer, didn't really get to hunt at all for Nov/december

 

[BTaylor]

We do hills and bleachers a few different ways. A lot of our cycling is hill repeats. The main hill we use for that is close to a quarter mile. What we did yesterday is one of our our primary hiking hills for repeats. The section we use is between an 1/8 and a 1/4 with a kick up the last 20 yards. We mostly just hike it at about 90% of as fast as we can walk and normally do 7-8 repeats. Sometimes we jog it for the last 2 reps. When we do bleachers, we typically run them up and back down followed by 10 push ups. Late summer I usually switch from the vest to frame pack with 50-70 pounds and do repeats on one of the 2 primary hills we use mixed in with some rucking which usually gets a mix of at least one fairly steep hill with some longer more gradual climbs. I try to keep those hikes in the 3-5 mile range. I am sure there is more organized or proper way to hill train but that's what we do.

 

[hokiehunter373]

Way to stay at it guys. I’m a couple weeks into PT and just when I can see the light of recovery from the ankle I’ve got an appointment with a doc for a hernia that I was told wasn’t a hernia over a year ago

Ankle is a lot better. Still a bit of pain but I shed the boot this weekend and don’t plan on going back to it. Got a return to run play from PT. Pending the hernia outcome I’m going to start that this week. This time off has crushed me and my diet hasn’t helped. Have a lot of work to do but a new gym is opening up the end of this month complete with sauna. I’m ready to get back after it

 

[Just_Hangin_N_GA]

35 degree 4am pavement run.
5.01 miles, 42:59, 8:34/mile and average HR of 140bpm.
1.15 mile cool down run.

 

[BTaylor]

Yesterday was a 5 round box circuit with the vest, 10 step ups per station paired with db curls, cable tri's, bulg. split squats and hanging knee raises.

 

[IndyBowhunter]

Got the Indy Mini half marathon first weekend of May. Trying to add more this year.

Yeah, I live in Johnson County, and work in Indy, so the Indy Mini was definitely on the radar as I was making goals. I just wasn't quite ready to commit to run the Mini in May given that I'm still around 5k in my comfort range. I could definitely finish the Mini now (I hiked a tough 10 without much trouble at all on NYE), but I want to be ready to run it and try not to quit and walk so I was willing to give myself more time to work up to the goal.

 

[-CRASH]

Yeah, I live in Johnson County, and work in Indy, so the Indy Mini was definitely on the radar as I was making goals. I just wasn't quite ready to commit to run the Mini in May given that I'm still around 5k in my comfort range. I could definitely finish the Mini now (I hiked a tough 10 without much trouble at all on NYE), but I want to be ready to run it and try not to quit and walk so I was willing to give myself more time to work up to the goal.

If you started now you could easily get the stamina to make the Mini without stopping. That was my first goal when I decided to run it and start running. Then it was a few years of chasing a PR number.

They have a 5k too if you wanted to do that. Just an option as well.

 

[-CRASH]

Thought maybe I could ask some of those veteran runners here....

How many miles are you replacing your shoes? I am at about 530mi total on the pair I have now. In the past I have replaced at around the 400mi mark. But was thinking maybe that was too soon and had some more life in them.

 

[thedutchtouch]

Thought maybe I could ask some of those veteran runners here....

How many miles are you replacing your shoes? I am at about 530mi total on the pair I have now. In the past I have replaced at around the 400mi mark. But was thinking maybe that was too soon and had some more life in them.

I rotate mine out around 300 miles. Still use them for other stuff a bit but not running. I can definitely feel a difference between 300 mile shoes and new shoes re:springiness/dampening, but generally the shoes don't look visually worn out. I'm 225 lbs though and earlier in life was prone to shin splints so I'm likely on the lower end of the spectrum for mileage/shoe.

 

[Bigterp]

Walked the dog yesterday followed by 2 hrs of ice skating (with kids including a 4 yo so it was a lower back workout for sure lol) and capped it off by finishing the first round of mudding. Sanding and remudding isn't much more fun but the end of drywall is in sight. Of course I'm much better now than when I started so the last walls/corners will be so much easier to sand than the first few, but that's how things go I guess.

Trying to get done with work early enough to squeeze in a late season after work sit today, if not I should likely be able to go tomorrow. Would love to arrow one more deer for the freezer, didn't really get to hunt at all for Nov/december

Rent a drywall sander!!!!!!!! Mean shoulder workout but waaay less dust.

 

[BTaylor]

Yesterday was 2 hours of pickleball.

 

[GreginPA]

Thought maybe I could ask some of those veteran runners here....

How many miles are you replacing your shoes? I am at about 530mi total on the pair I have now. In the past I have replaced at around the 400mi mark. But was thinking maybe that was too soon and had some more life in them.

I take daily trainers to 500ish. but 300+ they become bad weather or gravel trail etc shoes.
Trail shoes generally fall apart on me after 200 due to rocks/roots/repeated creek crossing
I'm still on my first pair of super shoes - 14 miles - I used them for one workout and one race and then I got injured. but my understanding is that they will fall apart by 200 as well.

I was just saying I need to get to the shoe store soon. Normally I like to get new ones broken into before they become my main shoe.

 

[Just_Hangin_N_GA]

I rotate mine out around 300 miles. Still use them for other stuff a bit but not running. I can definitely feel a difference between 300 mile shoes and new shoes re:springiness/dampening, but generally the shoes don't look visually worn out. I'm 225 lbs though and earlier in life was prone to shin splints so I'm likely on the lower end of the spectrum for mileage/shoe.

Wow… the more I read the more I realize that I know nothing about running. Almost all my 600 plus miles last year was on a single pair of shoes, that I am still using, lol.
I will say that I changed to a newer pair of the same shoe on my run yesterday and I felt like I was springing of the payment,
It is tough being dumb.

 

[K98Al]

Thought maybe I could ask some of those veteran runners here....

How many miles are you replacing your shoes? I am at about 530mi total on the pair I have now. In the past I have replaced at around the 400mi mark. But was thinking maybe that was too soon and had some more life in them.

I run in Luna sandals, probably get 500+ out of them. I generally replace them when the tread is gone, or it's gets close to my Pecos run in September. (new, thick sandals absorb more mesquite thorns and cactus without reaching my foot)

 

[GreginPA]

thought you guys might appreciate this. strapped a one stick to my trail running vest along with a solar panel and back up battery for a trail cam I need to visit. Gonna try to kill two birds with one stone.

 

[Just_Hangin_N_GA]

thought you guys might appreciate this. strapped a one stick to my trail running vest along with a solar panel and back up battery for a trail cam I need to visit. Gonna try to kill two birds with one stone.


View attachment 124865

Appreciate the picture, I have been thinking of getting a vest but not sure what to look for. I need a dual purpose one that is reflective for road running which is 98% of my running terrain.

 

[Just_Hangin_N_GA]

I run in Luna sandals, probably get 500+ out of them. I generally replace them when the tread is gone, or it's gets close to my Pecos run in September. (new, thick sandals absorb more mesquite thorns and cactus without reaching my foot)

I just can’t understand how you don’t have blisters between your toes where the thong thing goes. How long have you been running in sandals… my simple mind just can’t comprehend how they would be comfortable running in. Not knocking it just amazed.

 

[-CRASH]

Appreciate the picture, I have been thinking of getting a vest but not sure what to look for. I need a dual purpose one that is reflective for road running which is 98% of my running terrain.

I have a Solomon branded one like pictured above. Accept it's black. But I will say that I have been extremely happy with mine. I wear it on long runs and I also wear it for races. It can carry my phone and anything else I need so I have everything during and after the race. I don't fill the bladder up near as much for races. But I do prefer my own fluids. I avoid the water/Gatorade stations like the plague. They are a slow trap and I've seen too many people get injured from slipping on wet pavement from Gatorade. Plus I hate trying to drink from a cup while running. Lol

My wife has an Osprey brand and she likes it. But it isn't near as sleek and fitting as the Solomon.

 

[-CRASH]

Thanks for all the responses on shoe mileage. I appreciate it. I've ran most of my shoes to at least the 400 mark. Unless I was really wanting something different. Then I'd expire them between 350 and 400.

I may bring these for maybe another 100 miles or so. Just because I don't want another new pair close to my race. If I run my full training plan, I'll be at 642 miles before my race.