Demotivational Monday #3 and 10QRQ

Two things on the agenda for today: Demotivational Monday and 10QRQ.

Let's start with installment #3 of Rachel's Demotivational Monday link-up! Here is my submission for the week:

I can personally vouch for this. To all the Kenyan marathoners out there who can run faster than I can ride my tricycle, you wouldn't look nearly as good if it wasn't for the rest of us.

YEAH.

Now, onto the 10QRQ. Kim posted a 10-question running questionnaire (10QRQ) last week. I am rather late to the party, but here are my responses.

1. Who is your running shoe twin?
My workhorse running shoe is the Asics Gel Cumulus. Speaking of Kim, she wears them, too!

I am also currently rotating the Mizuno Wave Rider and the Saucony Progrid Kinvara; however, I haven't personally met anyone else that currently wears either of those shoes.

Unscientifically, though, it seems like a ton of the runners I know wear either Brooks or Mizuno shoes.

2. When do you pause your watch on a run?
When I'm running a race, I never pause my watch. But during training, I pause my watch any time I am not moving forward, i.e. when I am waiting at a traffic light, guzzling at a drinking fountain, dancing around inside a portapotty, etc. If I am walking forward or moving forward in any way, I do not stop my watch. It's all about forward progress.

Although, technically "forward progress" can be accomplished in a host of different methods, e.g.:

3. What is worse - being called a jogger or hearing someone call a 5K a "marathon"?
Hearing someone call a 5K a "marathon." To me, no doubt about it. While it certainly takes effort to run a 5K, there is absolutely, positively, zero comparison to the effort that it takes to run a marathon.

4. What is your preferred running shorts inseam length?
I'm not sure of the exact measurement, but I'm going to estimate 4 inches. Basically I'm looking for something long enough that my shorts won't ride up on me in the most unflattering way. Nobody wants to see that.

Although, from a clothing fashion standpoint, it isn't all just about shorts length, of course. Case in point:

Believe it or not, this picture was NOT photoshopped.

5. Spitting when you run - gross or necessary or neither?
I myself don't spit, and having been personally spit-bombed a time or two, I don't like when people spit.

On a side note, if anyone used to watch Seinfeld, there was an episode devoted to "the second-spitter theory" (a la the JFK movie) which was hilarious. (Yes, I know I am unfortunately dating myself when I make a Seinfield reference these days.)

6. What is more exciting, randomly seeing a friend on a run, or hitting a goal pace/workout?
Sadly, the odds of me hitting a goal pace/workout are much, MUCH lower than the odds of me randomly seeing a friend. Therefore, I'd say it's more exciting to hit a goal pace/workout!

7. What has been your worst running injury?
I've had a lot of running ailments throughout my lifetime but my most nagging and debilitating injury has been IT band syndrome on my left knee. I've written about it many times. In short, the injury was so bad that for awhile it hurt just to walk, and I was sidelined from running for several months. I've been in physical therapy twice for my knee problems and to this day I still battle to keep the injury under control.

8. What is your perfect running temp?
Temps in the 40s and the 50s are my ideal range, but if I had to narrow it down I'd say temps in the 50s are perfect for me. However, I'm more than happy with anything between the 30s to the low 70s.

9. Do you follow a running plan or make your own?
Both, but I lean a bit more towards making my own. When I was marathon training, I created a hybrid of Jeff Galloway's plan and Hal Higdon's plan. I was good about the weekend long runs but gave myself some flexibility on the weekdays. In recent days I have become adept at creating emergency 3-week half marathon training programs (albeit with mixed results).

All in all, though, I try to focus on high-level training goals. But, I always allow myself some flexibility based on how things might be going that particular day, e.g. injury pains, long nights at the office, travel, don't feel like it, etc.

10. Preference - treadmill, road, groomed trail, or technical trail?
Out of these four, I'd have to say groomed trails would be my favorite. They are heavenly for their softer surface, and the usual peace that they typically offer. My dislike for treadmills is very well documented, and my one experience with a very mildly technical trail didn't leave me wanting more. I don't love roads, especially when interrupted by traffic lights and when sharing with pedestrians and other wheeled contraptions - but I do 99.999999% of my running on roads.

Your turn!

1. Who is your running shoe twin?
2. When do you pause your watch on a run?
3. What is worse, being called a jogger or hearing someone call a 5K a "marathon"?
4. What is your preferred running shorts inseam length?
5. Spitting when you run - gross or necessary or neither?
6. What is more exciting, randomly seeing a friend while running or hitting a goal pace/workout?
7. What has been your worst running injury?
8. What is your perfect running temp?
9. Do you follow a running plan or make your own?
10. Preference - treadmill, road, groomed trail, or technical trail?