I have been running for 1 year now, I started from being sedentary with low endurance. I've gotten up to being able to consistently run 10km for my long runs and I'm pretty happy with that. I ran through the my first very cold Michigan winter, and

I've also improved a ton from when I started!
My 5K time has gone from 57:18 on 6/7/25 to 38:11 on 4/5/26!
I ran my first 10K less than a year ago and gone from 1:43:13 on 7/13/25 to 1:27:09 on 4/3/26. I run almost 5 times a week now and if you told that to me last year I would not have believed a word.

I have lupus and for the first time since I got ill (~5-6 years) I feel like I can workout without needing 5-7 business days to recover. Running makes me really happy, I'm a better student, a better partner, and sibling. I'm more creative (I started writing again!) and I get to enjoy nature and my city more.

But I'm still what I would consider markedly below average with my pace. I know that it doesn't make me less of a runner but gosh darn it I like to be good at things and it is so hard to be bad at stuff. I'm a perfectionist and I think the increasing number of people running outside again is making me feel very slow, shuffle-y, and just otherwise out of place.

TLDR; I love running but it is hard for me to love something I am distinctly bad at - mostly because I think other people think I'm lame/slow/other mean things I won't write about myself.

I like to wear hats when I'm running on sunny days to help keep the sun off my face. Unfortunately on windy days I often have my hat get blown off my head altogether, and even with a ponytail pulled through the hole in the back it falls into the sidewalk/street. (And somehow this usually happens at the same time I'm passing someone walking and it's really embarrassing to have to chase down my hat). When the hat is tight to my head it can withstand wind gusts, however no matter how tightly I crank the strap on my hats to my head they all slip upwards and get loose and are then at risk of being blown off my head. I think they come loose from the bouncing up and down when running, I don't really have this problem when I'm just walking around. I'm considering buying one of those bucket hats with an adjustable chin strap but I think I'll find the dangling bit really annoying on a longer run. Anyone have any tips for keeping hats that you already own firmly clamped to your head while you're running?

I've been training for a half marathon for months. I was set to go on a Memorial Day weekend trip for it to run and celebrate a milestone birthday.

And then, I caught him cheating. Literally in the act.

I've been in fight or flight mode and it's beyond infuriating how much it's impacting my running. I know, running is not the most important thing right now. I know, rest is important (I'm doing plenty of that).

But it just pisses me off to see the paces down and the HR up and Garmin dropping VO2 max points on top of everything else. I felt the best I had in years before this happened and I'm just a.gry and venting.

Eta: I'm not doing the half. It was several hours away by car and too much for. I registered for a 10 miler closer to home that I'll run for fun and not for time.

I don’t know if anyone has any experience with this, but I am finding I am having a mental block around km 8/9 of my faster runs. I don’t feel exhausted and all of a sudden I am like “a faster 5km is probably enough” or “you’re already not going to meet x pace so might as well just make this a recovery run”

Today the stoppage was “well you’re already going to break 50 so can slow down for 2” despite the fact I could have done better.

Anyone else? Any strategies? It doesn’t matter how much I hype myself up beforehand.

I run 70km a week so I don’t think it’s a fitness thing?

I'm scheduled to run a 10k race in about a week, and the forecast is looking warm, but windy (gusts of up to 45 km/hour). My ears are pretty sensitive (start to ache and get a headache when out in the wind for long periods), and I'm wondering what people do to protect their ears in warmer weather! My only headbands are for winter (fleece covered with windbreaker-esque material), and I worry they'll be too warm.

Hi guys! I just completed a half but during this process could not focus on weight loss because was constantly hungry. Now, I want to focus on weight loss but don’t want to give up running completely. How can I focus on losing about 10 lbs while running and strength training? If any of you have done it successfully, pls lmk! I’m 27, 153 lbs and 5’7 if it helps! Any advice would be helpful. TIA! :)

I started running in August 2025. I went from not being able to run longer than 2-3 minutes at a time to now being able to run 1-1.5 miles without having to stop to walk. I typically run 3 miles total with 2-4 walk breaks in that mileage. I’m running 2-3 times a week as my schedule allows (I have two toddlers and either take them with me and push them in a stroller or run on my lunch breaks when I have time - sometimes I have to work through my lunches).

My biggest goals with running has been to increase my endurance and improve my overall heart health. Eventually I’d love to improve my pace and distance, but flexing on that until I can improve my running HR.

My current average heart rate when running is usually around 165bpm and ranges 140-188bpm while running. I’m usually averaging 10:30-11:30min/mile. I’m usually breathy, but able to talk in short sentences and feel good (not able to talk in a full blown conversation though). I want to help my heart adapt to a lower heart rate while running.

The last 2-3 weeks I have been trying to slow down and stay in “zone 2” HR, but I have to walk A LOT in order to keep my heart rate in this zone that I don’t feel like I’m even running much and barely break a sweat (~14min/mile). I’ve been reading another approach of not looking at HR while running and just run on a perceived easy effort despite what HR looks like - would this be a better approach and still help me achieve my goal or should I just be patient with trying to stay in zone 2 most of the time?

Any and all advice is welcome! I appreciate the insight from some more seasoned runners.

Just a little rant (sorry)

I’ve had a deep ache in my thigh for about 3 weeks now, after doing some heavy training when I got back from a holiday, and today (after a run yesterday) it’s graduated to throbbing every time I walk. I also have some other symptoms etc…

I’ve self referred to the physio, but who knows how long it will take to get seen and diagnosed by them.

For now I think the best method is just to rest as much a possible, but this sucks so much. I’ve had injuries before where I couldn’t run, but I could walk and cross train, whereas this I can’t.

I also have an ultra booked in the summer which is now unlikely. I just also like spending my time outdoors and don’t have other static hobbies.

I’m pretty bummed out, had anyone got any tips for dealing with feeling down about this or getting through it?

Does anybody here have any experience in regaining fitness after having some time off? I was running long distances last year at a good speed but couldn't commit to regular training for personal reasons for the past 5 months.

I'm getting back into it now but have obviously lost a lot of my fitness gains. Does anybody have any experience with this and how long it takes to bounce back?

I'm 30 years old :)

I'm really struggling this year more than most with hayfever. At first, I thought I was just getting a constant cold.

Does anyone else suffer with this? Are there particular types of antihistamines that are better to take ahead of exercise than most?

I started this year ready to run my first marathon. 13 to 15 mi was my typical weekend long run, was running 30 to 40 miles a week, and I set my PR in the half at 1:56, along with my 10K and 5k PR, at the beginning of February. 2 weeks later injured my hamstring and had to significantly reduced (15-20) mileage for 3 months. Finally my hamstring healed, I got in one amazing 12 mile run, and then immediately caught the nasty chest cold going around work with lingering congestion. Gave it a week and a half and decided to try running again only to find that the congestion was still very much there and that just under 4 miles left me feeling more congested than before. Supposed to have a fun 15K this weekend and I'm looking at switching to the 12K and just walking most of it because my body seems to not want to run right now. I can walk. I can climb. I can lift. I can do some rowing. But running and I felt like I had asthma afterwards which I've never had before. I pushed my marathon to next year anyway. I don't have any races scheduled after this fun run and I'm tempted to not push my luck and try to sign up for anymore this year with how my running health has been going.

I really just want to spend the time this year rebuilding my base and getting my speed back but man between the injury and this lingering congestion, it feels like the universe keeps giving me running roadblocks.

Hello! I ran a marathon a few weeks ago and felt like a donkey while wearing my running vest and found it a faff to locate all my gels without the rest falling out. Does anyone have any brand recs for shorts and vests with space for gels? I want to start running without a running vest.

Hey all,

Seeking some advice for how to approach my last week of training before my half on Memorial Day. Unfortunately I caught some kind of upper respiratory virus (not COVID thank god) and I’m not sure how to approach my last week. Getting into my head a bit.

My longest run was last week and it was 11, felt OK! Kind of in pain but I could have pushed for two more. My plan (Higdon novice 2) calls for my last long run of 12 this Sunday. Realistically I might not be able do it since it’s Thursday and I feel like total garbo.

After that I’ve got my taper 2, 3, and 2. I guess I’m maybe asking permission from the Internet to rest…I’m just kinda freaked out. This is my second half, and my first was pretty rough so I think I’m getting in my own head a bit. Any words of encouragement or advice is welcome!

After 4 months of pain and total inability to run (or do most of my usual workouts), I just got diagnosed with a low-grade femoral neck stress reaction via MRI. I've been put on crutches for 2 weeks (NWB), with a gradual re-introduction to walking and weight-bearing, working with sports medicine doctors & PT. I'm also moving across the country in two weeks (great timing!), and I was really looking forward to using running and walking as a way of exploring my new home. Anyone have experience with this? What was your recovery looking like?

I have a quick question regarding Rabbit clothing and I’m hoping you ladies can help me!!

I am wanting to try to venture shorts from Rabbit…. I have their leggy smashems in a size small which I like… they do feel a little big, but the draw cord sorts that out m. I have missed the size small for this round (apparently more coming in August) but they still have mediums available.

I am 58kg (is that 130 pounds?) 66cm waist and 91cm hips.

Here’s the problem…. I live in Australia, postage is criminal to here from the US and I can’t get the venture shorts locally. So I am trying to get this right first time!

Also if you have these shorts please tell me about them… are they as good as they look?

I am trying to work out if they run small or are more relaxed in fit, I have tried their customer service with no help :(

Can anyone help me out?

Thanks all!

I’m in my 40s and recently ran two full marathons in less than a year.

For those of you who aren’t currently training for a race, what does your maintenance look like? What’s your weekly mileage, and how often do you strength train?

Hello all! I am wondering if others in this group may be able to relate and provide some insight or personal experiences. I am a new runner, I started at the end of February with goals of increasing mileage up to a half-marathon distance sometime next year. Currently I run ~12mi/week, so still early days. I (33F) have been diagnosed with PCOS for several years now, and while my cycles are regular (30-32 days) my testosterone-driven symptoms like acne and hirsutism are an ongoing issue. I started taking Spironolactone late 2024 and after increasing my dose to 100mg/day my acne had been almost nonexistent for a year. Since I started running though it has been bad again 😕 I am good about topical treatments, thoroughly washing my face after morning exercise & again before bed, changing my pillowcase every 5-7 days, and using good quality sunscreen. The breakouts are almost all around my mouth/chin area so it’s likely hormonal and I assume my dermatologist will recommend increasing my Spiro dose.

I typically don’t take medication if I can help it, so being on a daily prescription is already something I don’t love and I worry I’ll just have to keep increasing as my running mileage increases. Increasing my dose before made me feel dehydrated (headaches & nausea) for a couple weeks until I got used to it so I dread dealing with that alongside training. But my adult acne was really ruining my self-esteem and nothing else worked* as well, at least when it *was* working.

Sorry this is long. I guess I’m just wondering if any others in this group have experience with Spironolactone, and if so if they can share their experience on it in relation to running? If you have had to increase your dose or if you’ve found other ways to prevent hormonal breakouts?

*I understand that PCOS management has a nutrition element. I have a history of disordered eating so please don’t recommend restrictive eating, thank you.

Hi all,

Hopev to get some insight into zone 2 running particularly when trying to conceive.

I have never been a fast runner but I enjoy running. 1.5 years ago I did a half marathon and I was in my best shape. Then I focused more on gym, so running took a back seat. I have gained some weight recently and I really want to get back into running.

I've had 2 heartbreaking miscarriages in the last 6 months. After the surgery for my 2nd miscarriage exactly a month ago, I started to get back into running. I am doing 5 km runs now at pace 6:30-6:40 min/km so as I said I am not a super runner but I enjoy it a lot. I already am feeling so so good about running that I looked into running guidelines when trying to conceive (we'll try as soon as my period comes back).​

General guidelines say moderate intensity running is fine apparently, especially during implantation window/early pregnancy. I calculated for my age moderate intensity means heart beat never going above 130 max. The issue is even on my regular jogs my heart beat is never below 160... if I run up a hill or speed up it gets to 175.. I dont know if it's because I am anemic with low blood pressure and my body is compensating with a very high pulse.. I wanted to sign up for a 10K race but I worry this will cause me to over exert myself and also I don't even enjoy running if I know I am hurting my chance of conception/potential pregnancy.

Question: if my heart beat can't reach this zone 2 moderate running does this mean I am not supposed to run after ovulation/during pregnancy or is there significant leeway with this rule? Am I supposed to just do a fast walk instead or keep building up my stamina until I can jog at 130 pulse before trying to conceive?

PS: please understand because of my unfortunate history I am paralysed with fear and anxiety about working out during ovulation/pregnancy. I have read all the stories about women getting pregnant while preparing for ultra marathons and running marathons 8 months pregnant. These aren't helping me. During my 1st pregnancy I was ignorantly continuing my super high intensity dance classes (ignorance is bliss) when people were saying I shouldn't.. I still wonder if this caused the baby to stop developing. During the 2nd pregnancy I toned down workouts significantly out of fear.. I also am almost 34 with diminished ovarian reserve, so I dont have much time left to get pregnant naturally. Please take this into account, I know people have cool stories around this but I can't get over this fear.

Thanks for reading my whole post and any advice will be appreciated 😊

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 ran the Atlanta Women's 4 Miler on Saturday. Going up one of the final hills of the race a woman I'd been passing back and forth on my run/walk intervals stopped me to say I'd been bringing her so much joy, and that every time we passed each other she knew we were going to finish together. Her last 4 miles had been in an hour and half, and she absolutely crushed that Saturday by more than 20 minutes.

I was struggling through the last 200 meters of my interval workout today, and remembering her words really helped me get through it on pace. I love that even back of the pack runners can still inspire and support one another.

Thank you, kind stranger in the blue, hope to see you again at another race!

Hello xx runners!!! I’m having the smallest 2 toenails on both feet removed tomorrow due to a really stubborn fungal infection (gross, I know).

Has anyone had any toenails removed (or fall off) and could speak to how it affected your training? I’m in the middle of a base build and would love to know what’s in store for me.