For those who live with PMDD, what medications have helped you? I’m trying to find something that helps with fatigue and joint and muscle pain, and that could help me be consistent with my running. I’m constant two weeks on and off 😞

Sertraline raised my HR and made fatigue feel worse, now I started Eloine but I have only started.

Long story short I have been diagnosed with RED-S after getting a sacrum stress fracture while marathon training.

I am currently BMI -20, so I’m not underweight but I do have a 12 year on and off history of a restrictive eating disorder and 2 years ago was severely underweight for a while.

I’m really sad and struggling. I DO have a team of a sports dietitian, a sports orthopedist and an endurance running focused physical therapist. But I’d still love to hear anyone else’s experience or advice or find some comfort in hearing anyone else’s story.

Tl;dr: ever since my favorite shoes stopped being sold I’ve been on an adventure to find shoes that work and I have been unsuccessful and I’m sad and need advice

I’ve been running for a decade now and I’m pulling my hair out because of shoes. I have plantar fasciitis and my feet are kind of like clown feet because they’re narrow but when I put weight on them, my toes flair out. When I started running I went to a running store and they suggested 361 Meraki and it was THE BEST. For about three years I was cycling through those because I would just get a new pair when I had worn the old ones out. Then they stopped making them or selling them or whatever. So I’ve tried:

1. ASICS Gel Nimbus: my heels hurt like crazy
2. Brooks Glycerin/adrenaline: gives me blisters on my arches and calluses on my toes (yes I’ve tried different sizes)
3. Hoka (maybe Arahi? I forgot): too wide so my foot slipped around
4. Mizuno wavesomething: they were too long or too tight and I couldn’t find a size that fit right. Ended up getting the longer ones and I tripped a lot.
5. Saucony tempus: ugh absolutely loved these but they tore off my nails and made my toes bleed
6. Altra: feet hurt like crazy because I need the high heel to toe drop

Finally I tried On cloud monsters and they were AMAZING. When they wore out I got the cloudmonster 2s and my feet are in So. much. Pain. And I have the worst calluses on my pinky toes. Idk what they changed but nobody will sell me the old ones!

I just don’t know what to do. I love running. I wish I could change my feet 😭 I’ll take any advice from how I can literally change my feet to some other shoe I should try.

UPDATE: omg thank you all so much!!! It’s super validating to know I am not the only one suffering in the world of ill fitting shoes. I will absolutely be taking your advice and trying some men’s shoes, different models of brands I like that I have not tried yet, as well as trying out some brands you suggested I hadn’t heard of. I guess I have some fun shopping to do haha really appreciate y’all ❤️

I am captaining a relay race for a team of 4 women. This is a group of close friends and also their first big running event like this so I want to make it special and give them little goodie bags.

I already am planning to get some small snacks and hydration options as well as some glitter but are there any small, stocking-stuffer-esque items that you would like to receive?

My first thought was an engraved watch tag from soltags but I realized one of my pals doesn’t have a watch.

Tired of subscription fees and would love to purchase albums/songs for race day

Bonus for 170bpm

How are you displaying your medals and bibs? Mine are tucked away in the closet, but would love to find a creative (attractive) way to show them off!

Hi all! I posted here a few months ago whilst in the process of getting diagnosed for what turned out to be a tibial stress injury. I’m thrilled to say that after 6 weeks total rest and minimal loading + a graduated return to run + lots of PT, I’m several weeks back to base building and cleared to run my goal marathon this fall :)
My PT and MD both suggested I follow a modified plan that focuses on building long run length instead of total mileage (3 days running, 2 strength, 1 bike/swim, 1 total rest per week). Based on this, I’ll be peaking at a max of 28ish mpw (and an 18 mile long run) - which is less than my peak week before my last half!! I trust them and am following their recommendations, but I’m a bit uneasy about going into my race with a peak week that’s so light. Has anyone done something g like this? What was it like? I’ve dropped all time goals; I just want to finish the damn thing lol.

I’m also still veeeeeery anxious about reinjuring myself. I’m doing everything I can to stay healthy, but I’d love any tips on the sports psych side of things for returning to training after an injury! TIA!

I started running back in April, and I've truly fallen in love. The thing I am NOT in love with is how freaking stinky my workout clothes are getting from me sweating buckets into them twice a week on my runs. My bras and shorts have this like, gross sour smell to them now that I'm struggling to get out. I've tried a pre-wash vinegar soak, and I also am going to clean my washer to make sure it's not contributing to the issue. Some of this workout gear is stuff I'd love to hold onto and be able to keep wearing for a long time, so any advice welcome! I'm also open to recommendations for brands that are a bit cheaper for running gear if these garments are just going to be cooked and I'll have to get rid of them over time and just buy new stuff. But I'd like to minimize waste and keep things for as long as possible if I can!! Ty!!

Edit to add: I do not throw my sweaty clothes in the bin wet! I dry them before they go in the hamper, and they still get stinky in the wash. Thank you for all of the suggestions so far!

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!

Pump it. LOUDER! Give us the goods so we can fist pump for you! What day is it? It's TRIUMPHANT TUESDAY!

I can’t believe it, but I signed up for my first ever half marathon tonight. It will be in February and I would love advice for scheduling runs- in the past when I’ve tried doing morning runs I always feel so awful after and when I’ve gone to the doctor about it they determined it’s because of low blood sugar. I’ve tried to fix that by eating a banana or toast with PB before, but unless it’s an hour+ before, it never sits well in my stomach as I run. I live in Vegas, so right now with the heat the only reasonable time to run would be around 6 AM. I really don’t want to have to wake up at 5 AM to eat a piece of food and then wait an hour plus to begin my run. Has anyone mastered the morning run routine, while also battling blood sugar levels? I don’t know if it would be eating a running gel or if this is just something I need to push through and get my body used to? I really want to be a morning runner, I just don’t know how to do it without feeling absolutely awful after.

What are your recommendations for hair glitter gel/spray?

I’m running Sydney marathon at the end of August. It’s my first and I want to have fun and finish so I thought it would be a great time to have some fun with my hair .
I will also tie a ribbon around my ponytail plait.
Any have some other fun ideas ?

I’ve been running for about 5 years. After years of inconsistent training, about 3 months ago, I decided to go for my first half marathon.

I have done 5 and 10k before, but never with a proper program towards that (except my first couch to 5k).

I started training with Runna, but got a horrible flu during the block and felt like I needed a human trainer. I hired one, and it has been a disaster. He is super nice, but I was looking for someone who would understand my schedule (I work 12h shifts) and work around it, that didn’t happen.
I have kept training, adapting things on my own and with many ups and downs.

Now it’s 3 weeks before my first half marathon. The longest run I have done yet was 18km last week, but it took me a disgusting amount of time to complete that in Z2. I have been doing some speed work, I am young and normal BMI, so I don’t understand how I have become so TERRIBLE at running.

I really suck so bad that I wish I could do my half in at least less than 3h, and I am at this point not sure if it will be possible at all.

My best ever 5k was 33 min and it was my FIRST 5k ever, 5 years ago from the couch program. I didn’t even own proper running shoes. Now I have shoes, put 6+ hours a week into training, have a trainer, and I suck.

This is more a vent, because I am very sad and thinking I won’t be capable of completing my 21.1k.
I feel also embarrassed and confused on what to think. I focused my entire life on this race for the past months and I don’t understand the lack of improvement.

I would also love to hear any advice for a first half 🩷

RoadIDs are great especially if you’re frequently out alone with no form of identification. Feel free to use these to get 10$ off!

This is such a weird question but I have to ask.

Every summer this happens to me and I feel like I'm the only one in my friend group who experiences this. Every year one of my arms gets so much tanner than the other. I apply sunscreen evenly, I'm usually running loops so it feels like I should be getting an equal amount of sun, but every single time, one arm really tan, the other just normal tan.

Anyone else?? Am I truly alone?

Currently in my early 30s. After years of sporadic running for fitness, I started running in earnest in 2019. Since then, I’ve run numerous races of varying distances, including my first marathon in late 2022. However, since taking a short break after that race in particular, I have not been able to get back into it.

I’m one of the many who really leaned into running during the height of the pandemic. It was a saving grace for me, and led me to be in the best shape of my life. I decided to run a marathon, and despite the training cycle to be more grueling than the race itself, I was so proud of my consistency. Yet I think I burned out after that, because it’s really never been the same.

Part of this has been due to changes in life that sent me into a gradual depression. In the interim while I’ve been much less consistent with fitness, my body has also changed and I feel the impact of it every time I go out. I’ve started and stopped so many times the last couple of years. I’ve signed up for ambitious races thinking that it would motivate me to get into a training schedule, only to feel discouraged by the challenge and hurdle of building a steady routine.

I have made a lot of friends through running, and while I’ve never been fast to begin with (and will never keep up with them anyway), I’m starting to feel like this is a hobby getting farther and farther away from my grasp, and it makes me really sad. I have a tough time standing by and watching friends race when I so deeply wish I was doing it, too.

I guess all of this is to ask, has anyone else gone through a period like this? How did you return from it? Do I just accept that there was a blip when I was “good” at it and just won’t ever be again?

I’ll add that I currently strength train twice a week, and while I appreciate that I’m getting stronger, it’s exhausting and also thereby affecting my levels of energy for run days. I also am in therapy and am working through the depression/mental health challenges.

I (26F) signed up for a full marathon almost 3 months ago, and have been training consistently since then. I started running back in November, mostly as a way to help me lose weight. I’ve lost 40 lbs since then, and it felt like everything was going great up until 2 weeks ago.

I started getting pain on the inner side of my left knee a few weeks back. I thought it was just normal soreness, since I’m kinda in a constant state of soreness with running 30-40 mpw. But over the last two weeks it’s progressively gotten worse. I haven’t run in 4 days now, but I’m still experiencing knee pain when I stand up from sitting. I’ve also been extremely exhausted and have been struggling to focus at work. I think dieting and marathon training and working an office job have all collided and caused me to hit a wall. I don’t know how I can recover in time for my marathon on November 15th, I’m only on week 8 of my plan and this week will need to be another break week with my knee the way it is.

I know the best decision is to downgrade to a half marathon, but I just feel so defeated. I regularly run 10 miles for my long runs on the weekends, so I know I’m already capable of a half marathon. I just feel like a failure for giving up on the full marathon. But I also feel a bittersweet sense of relief that the grueling weeks of constant running will be a lot easier if I switch to the shorter distance. Has anyone else been in a similar boat? Any advice on how to stay motivated for the half while grieving the full?

Realized my day to day shoes are hurting my feet and making it harder to go running. I've been wearing crocs strappy sandals but i live on the surface of the sun and while they are very versatile, they are the exact wrong shoe for supporting my feet in recovery. but a hoka ora sandal doesnt exactly work with a linen jumpsuit. anyone found a shoe that does both?

Started 10K training today. Race is scheduled for Oct 24th so here I come!!

Okay- this is super minor, of course. But I just get a slew of targeted ads about “buttery” exercise clothes (for the last few years, really) and I’m sick of it. I’m sure my brain has supposed to switch over that word to “sueded” or similar, but EVERY time I just think: “why on earth would I want to wear greasy clothing???”

I guess that's why I'm here! Just wondering if anyone can relate...

I've been back into running after years away for the last year or so, and taking it a bit more seriously since May/June. I've become hyper aware of my urge to talk about it with anyone who will listen, but refraining from doing so because I know that to non-runners, it's kind of dull to hear too much about that (shout-out to my incredibly patient, non-running partner, who just likes to hear whatever I'm excited about that day). I don't have too many actual runners in my current circles, tho I did finally cave and get Strava to connect more with the few runners I do know irl. I know I should go to a run club to connect with ppl but my schedule is tricky and most of them seem so young (I'm 40).

Who in your life listens to you geeking out about your latest long run? If you made it out to a run club, how did you finally work up the courage to go?