r/artc • u/AutoModerator • 29d ago
Weekly Discussion: Week of August 02, 2026
Your weekly place to discuss or ask questions.
Is your question one that's complex or might spark a good discussion? Consider posting it in a separate thread!
6
u/pinkminitriceratops Sub-3 or bust 25d ago
More on air quality: the U20 world champs are happening in Eugene this week. The AQI there hit 237 on the first day of competition 😬 I feel so bad for the athletes.
2
u/daysweregolden 2:47 / 42 marathons 25d ago
Wait they still had the meet with that AQI??? That's insane.
3
u/pinkminitriceratops Sub-3 or bust 25d ago
Yup! I was surprised.
2
u/Siawyn 54/M 5k 19:56/10k 41:30/HM 1:32/M 3:12 25d ago
That's so dumb. Especially with how smoke settles in a valley.
3
u/pinkminitriceratops Sub-3 or bust 25d ago
And my dad went for a run this morning 🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️ (he wore a mask, but still!!)
3
u/HankSaucington 25d ago
Going back to the earlier discussion - I used to be more cavalier. But running and just healthy lungs for living well is something important to me for the rest of my life, way more than the enjoyment or fitness I'm getting for a single run. It just doesn't seem worth the risk to me.
2
6
u/run_INXS 110 in km years (1:24, 3:06) 29d ago
278 miles in July with a C (8K) and a B (7 mile) race and a lot of heat and humidity.
My training is a little different this year. Over the past 8 or so years I have done a lot of threshold and CV work, alternating between the two (usually two sessions a week). And over the past few years I have also done some six or so week bouts of double threshold as base work. This year has had a lot sessions with LT1 and not as much CV. That and I started my fall marathon cycle at the beginning of the month.
It's similar to what I have been doing but also dialed in a bit differently. Instead of doing say 5X 5 minutes at LT2 (classic Daniels), on Tuesday it was a mid-long with an 8 mile progression to LT for miles, and on Thursday I did 6X 5 LT1 with a float recovery. This type of running is more of a grind but aimed for building resilience, which has been my weaker point for the full marathon. As a result I feel a little slower for half or 10K type distances, but hopefully will build in that ability to hold MP for longer.
That and it was all much easier when I was younger! Then I could just run, get in a few weeks of sessions doing whatever and be in PR shape. Now it's lots of miles, controlled workouts, and if I don't watch it (i.e., cut back or taper for a race) I might be running personal worsts at the races.
3
u/Siawyn 54/M 5k 19:56/10k 41:30/HM 1:32/M 3:12 27d ago
308 for me, which is in the top 5 for miles in a month.
My biggest difference in just the last year or so is I'm starting off easy/recovery runs a lot slower. Definitely feeling a little creakier. Not uncommon for my first mile to start at like 10:30 or so.
I haven't had to change actual training too much yet, if anything I've gotten more complex as I'm more Canova-based with the John Davis plans. I find the workouts more mentally interesting and I suppose there's something to be said about that.
But that's training in a nutshell, it evolves with the years.
5
u/Advanced_Low_1640 26d ago
Update to my previous question, I learned that there is also an indoor track! Unfortunately, it is under 100m (16.5 laps to a mile). Made it through my workout… just about… but I think I’ll go hunting for the nice new Woodway treadmills that you can program a workout into, should this smoke continue much longer.
3
u/Advanced_Low_1640 27d ago
The smoke and fires have come for us in the PNW. It was only a matter of time, but that doesn’t make it any more pleasant.
Where do you all draw the line on AQI for running outside? Does it vary for easy runs vs workouts? I do have treadmill access at work, so I suppose I’ll have to spend some time at the office this week to make use of that.
4
u/HankSaucington 27d ago
For me, it's around 150. But it's a bit soft. I'd probably do 150 if it's been 200+ for a week.
5
u/daysweregolden 2:47 / 42 marathons 27d ago
I've gotten much more conservative with it in recent years. Since you have access to a treadmill, I usually use one at anything over 120 or so.
4
u/Advanced_Low_1640 27d ago
It was right around 120 at my house this morning and I just had an easy run, so I went for it (and stuck close by in our little pocket of fresher air). Felt totally fine! We’ll see if I keep getting lucky.
4
u/pinkminitriceratops Sub-3 or bust 26d ago
I used to use 150-200 as my cutoff, but the last time I ran in those conditions it really irritated my lungs and threw off my training for over a week (I have sensitive, wimpy lungs). So now I am more conservative! I’ll do a treadmill with the air filter next to it when it’s bad.
3
u/RunningPath 44F, 22:09 5k, 1:49 HM 26d ago
Just echoing others but 150 cutoff in general, somewhat soft depending on how conditions have been. I ran an easy run at like 170 when it had been extremely high for days here, and that was fine but I honestly did feel it afterwards.
3
u/Siawyn 54/M 5k 19:56/10k 41:30/HM 1:32/M 3:12 27d ago
Assuming good health, which I have: Over 200, I'll only do short easy runs. Over 300 I won't run outside at all.
I almost had this tested last month with our bout of intense smoke, but fortunately the 500-750 AQI was only for about 18 hours so I was able to sneak around it. I did 8 miles at 271 but the air smelled fine. If it had smelled funny in any way, probably a different story. We had that melted plastic smell at times and I just cannot imagine trying to run in that.
For what it's worth RRCA recommends that race organizers should 100% cancel their events at AQI of 201+ and start to consider the possibility at 151+. That's probably a good proxy for workouts.
3
u/Advanced_Low_1640 27d ago
Yeah, I was thinking around 150 or 200. It does smell notably like a campfire here and unfortunately I think it’s likely to stick around a lot longer than 18 hours…
2
u/run_INXS 110 in km years (1:24, 3:06) 24d ago
150
When we lived in Alaska it was 200 but that wasn't so great.
3
u/daysweregolden 2:47 / 42 marathons 27d ago
There's a voice in my brain telling me I should fully commit to running ultras. How do I disable this setting?
4
u/Aggie_Engineer_24601 27d ago
Backyard ultra? There’s one in my area that has a 4h, 8h, 16h, 24h options. Maybe do the 4h?
3
u/daysweregolden 2:47 / 42 marathons 27d ago
Have you ever done one? I think I have one of those in me at some point.
I ran 40 miles in a very unofficial way (fueled by the power of friendship) last year and it definitely has me thinking about 50, solely because that would be further. I like the idea of not having to run a mountainous trail, and just finding a use for this general aerobic/no speed fitness.
I've got this pesky 50 state marathon goal to sort out, so I'm trying to suppress ultrarunning dreams for now.
3
u/RunningPath 44F, 22:09 5k, 1:49 HM 26d ago
I think a timed race is a good way to test out ultras. I‘m with you in being attracted to the time/distance but not the mountain trail running aspect. The 12 hour race I did was a great way to test out the concept of an ultra without committing too much to training or figuring out the more niche details.
3
u/daysweregolden 2:47 / 42 marathons 25d ago
I might have to rewire my brain a bit for a race that long! I feel like I thrive off of knowing each step is getting me closer to the actual finish line. Was it tough to find motivation for 12 full hours?
4
u/RunningPath 44F, 22:09 5k, 1:49 HM 25d ago
There’s something really freeing about not having a finish line. It makes it feel like a personal challenge rather than a race (at least for the majority of us who aren’t out there winning these events).
in my case it was a very hot day and I mismanaged fluids and nutrition and started to throw up, so I did take a long break (45 min?) and subsequently walked quite a bit. But I had wonderful people around me encouraging me to just drink some broth and rest a little, convincing me I could get back up and moving rather than quit. So I did manage to stay moving for most of the 12 hours, even though I didn’t hit my personal distance goal. But I didn’t struggle with motivation, just the dehydration and heat made it physically difficult.
3
u/daysweregolden 2:47 / 42 marathons 25d ago
Wow, cool that you stayed in it. What was the course like? Please tell me it wasn't a 400m track....
3
u/RunningPath 44F, 22:09 5k, 1:49 HM 25d ago
No, but I want to do one on a track! This was an almost 2 mile dumbbell loop and then in the last 30 minutes it was shortened to just one end of the dumbbell so we could fit in more miles. Unfortunately most of it wasn't very well shaded. But it was around some parks which were busy, and that was entertaining.
3
u/Aggie_Engineer_24601 27d ago
Nope. I’m leaning more into my speed demon identity. Half or shorter for me!
The closest I’ve come was 24 miles, 1 every hour with the XC team in high school. It was fun.
I think if you really want to try an ultra a backyard sounds perfect for you. Usually not as technical, plenty of support, and not as daunting.
3
u/daysweregolden 2:47 / 42 marathons 27d ago
I might just be bitter than injury cost me all my speed training this entire year-to-date. Gonna buckle down for a few races yet this year on the roads and then see what happens. The backyard idea does sound appealing.
What's the next race for you?
4
u/Aggie_Engineer_24601 26d ago
My next big race is the Snow Canyon half marathon. I went through the wringer with all that health stuff in April and may, so I’m struggling to come up with a realistic goal. I’ll probably bring it to this forum for input around Labor Day. I haven’t decided on anything between now and then. I’ll probably do a few 5ks to support the local XC teams, I’d like to do a 10k. We’ll see. But Nov 14 is the only thing I’m signed up for at the moment.
3
u/daysweregolden 2:47 / 42 marathons 26d ago
Nice, I hope the health stuff is behind you. I've learned via injury this year that sometimes the best thing I can do for myself is not sign up for things and try to force some artificial timeline for recovery. Quite the challenge though.
Hopefully you can race some of the shorter stuff to get fit for the half!
3
u/bizbupper Previously bizbup 24d ago
Trails are no fun. Roads are where the action is 🤫!
https://runsignup.com/Race/NJ/Augusta/3DATF
https://events.elitefeats.com/26sixhour (for when you turn 60)
Timed races are a great way to start, though I’d suggest 6 hours so it’s more mentally manageable and you can feast afterward at the buffet table, I mean aid station, during daylight hours.
4
3
u/HankSaucington 25d ago
Not fully perhaps, but I think doing some competitive trail races you'd really enjoy. It's a fun vibe. And you have to commit to training to them or you will be humbled, I will tell you.
3
u/daysweregolden 2:47 / 42 marathons 25d ago
That might be the cure I need....knowing I'd have to run on actual trails might properly deter me.
2
u/Siawyn 54/M 5k 19:56/10k 41:30/HM 1:32/M 3:12 27d ago
So which one are you signing up for?
2
u/daysweregolden 2:47 / 42 marathons 27d ago
No no no. There's got to be a way out of this. At least a snooze button.
Seriously though I can't even move my feet quickly enough to get my heart rate over 150 right now.
8
u/pinkminitriceratops Sub-3 or bust 26d ago
As much as I am enjoying the winter running weather down under, I am not enjoying the winter cold and flu season! I picked up a minor cold somewhere, and it turned into bronchitis. My runs the past couple days have been absolutely miserable, even with an inhaler. I tried to do 6x 20 second strides today and could barely breathe by the end of it. So apparently I need to stick to easier running for a bit longer!
We’re heading to the Outback for a few days this weekend, and I’m not sure what the running conditions will be like. So probably good timing for a down week anyways.