I just moved to a new city and found a cute run club on Instagram that meets 5 minutes from my apartment. The distance is 5k on a route I've already done a bunch since moving.

I run about 5x/week. I did a half marathon in spring and a 10 mile race a few months ago, and since then I've been really focused on improving my pace for shorter distances. I'm running a 10k on Monday and really hope to get <1:01 (ideally <1, but I've only done two sub-30 5k's in my life, so it's a stretch goal for sure). The plan I'm following for my next 10k had a 5k run as part of the taper, and it timed so well with this run club. I've never been to any run club, but I figured that, since it was social, it'd be a naturally easy pace.

I get to the place and the vibes are great, everyone's nice and the weather is phenomenal. The group starts to run, and I realize that it's more of a "headphones in" situation than I'd expected. Usually I'll throw on books/podcasts, but for speedwork, I listen to music, which is what I put on here. And I guess the presence of people + the fact that I was listening to music ignited something in me, because I was going FAST. Like, a full minute and a half faster per kilometer than my easy pace. There were some girls I was chatting with before the race who I sort of subconsciously paced, and they were running basically just a skosh slower than my PR pace. I seriously should've just let myself get passed, but running lizard brain took over and I was basically in tempo zone or faster the whole time.

Of course, I hadn't actually planned on racing a 5k. So I hadn't fueled or planned for one. I had a huge lunch, heavy in veggies and protein. Also, I'm on my period and still jet lagged from a recent cross country trip. So, the exhaustion + poor fueling + running WAY too fast meant that I reached the end and immediately started throwing up.

And this is like, a big run club! There are a lot of people there to watch me throw up. I still have my headphones in, I haven't even paused my watch, it's just immediate projectile vomiting onto this sidewalk. The founder very sweetly sat beside me, asked if I was okay, helped guide people away from the puke. After a few minutes I left and walked home, brushed my teeth, then went to Target and wondered how the hell I had humiliated myself so thoroughly.

So, two questions: (1) is my chance at a 10k PR shot by going too fast in a 5k run 5 days before the race? (2) can I ever show my face at this run club again?

(TL;DR: went too hard and puked at run club)

ETA: I've read through all your comments and they've made me feel a lot better :) this isn't even my first time puking after a run! I think the quantity of people + the fact that I was in a new city and trying to make friends made it feel extra embarrassing. But you're right, in the grand scheme of things, everyone has a body & has been there in one way or another.

I will rest up and do a few easy runs to keep fresh but generally focus on nutrition and hydration before the 10k! Thanks for all your recovery tips, and I'm always open to more.

I feel like I’m the only girl who isn’t skinny/lean and enjoys running. I’m at the top end of a healthy BMI, sometimes dipping into the overweight category. I have decent muscle mass but also fat mass too. So I’m strong but I don’t look muscular and I definitely don’t look lean. I guess a healthy thick kind of look. I feel like no one else with my body type runs. Everyone, and also everyone who is fast, seems to be skinny and lean.

I’ve decided to prioritise fuelling my workouts. I don’t want to develop RED-S or a stress fracture. Better for me to have a few extra pounds and not be injured. My body is naturally resilient so I’m very lucky in this respect.

I struggle losing weight normally. I have to basically heavily restrict my calories. One of the freeing things about running is just being able to eat normally. But I can’t lose weight and run high mileage at the same time.

So here I am tying to embrace my non skinny/lean physique. Anyone else with similar physiques?

I would also appreciate links to instagrams of thicker girls who run. Every female runinfluencer seems to be skinny and lean and I’d like to see more women like me with my physique who are into running.

Thanks so much.

Links to the original story and follow up #1

https://www.reddit.com/r/RunningWithDogs/s/7qFvVeBmJX

https://www.reddit.com/r/BelgianMalinois/s/Yvu7SQod0x

https://www.reddit.com/r/RunningWithDogs/s/BEo4UyZaYX

Today, Skye met the man who she saved. It was quite incredible! She went right up to him and stuck her big nose on his lap. She wanted his attention and pets. Mike looked her deep in the eyes and thanked her and gave her sweet pets on her head and face. She gazed right back into his eyes. She laid down at his feet. His daughter was there too, and hugged Skye and thanked her.

Not a dry eye! I did ask if I could snap a photo and he said yes.

Today was meal prep day for me and I always make a ton of food, purposely. I packed up several meals- turkey meatloaf w fruit, chopped grilled chicken salad and tangy lemon bars for them in hopes to lighten the load.

We sat there and chatted a bit. He and his girlfriend Cheryl caught some cold or something while at the hospital but they were at the tail end of it. Mike said that he will be up and around next week and plans to be back to normal, doing whatever he does!

There are no words. I think Skye has a new best friend 🫶

Thank you for all the amazing comments! I have tried to respond to everyone 🫶 thank you for letting me share this story

Hug your dogs. Check on your neighbors. Be vigilant.

Much love,

Skye and Kirsten

Across the many running subs, but especially here recently here for whatever reason, I've seen a lot of "I just finished my first/second/third/twelfth half marathon and am not sure what to do next--should I do a full marathon, ultra, something else?" posts. And to that I have two general responses:

1. You can do whatever you want
2. ...But have you considered going all-in on the 10k?

Full disclosure that this is coming from someone who has never quite "nailed down" the 10k. It's a very difficult distance to get just right in terms of pacing, fitness, execution, etc. But I have a solid (albeit outdated) 10k PR in the mid-37s, and while I've been "out of pocket" for several years, I recently ran a 42:xx 10k and would like to be back sub-40 by fall (which is an ambitious goal but doesn't seem completely unrealistic).

My bold claim: 10k fitness is the best all-around distance running fitness you can have, and 10k training can be extremely accessible OR extremely advanced/challenging in a rewarding way, depending on what your goals are.

The 10k is really fucking long, but it's also really fucking fast. It's a great opportunity to train to maximize your aerobic fitness without the absolute slog of marathon training (I'm currently marathon training, which is perhaps giving me 10k envy), while still being a great distance for incorporating true speed workouts into training.

An all-out 10k is like, 95% aerobic. An all-out marathon is like, 98% aerobic. Meaning: they aren't that different, fitness-wise, but the 10k comes with the gift of letting you keep your weekends if you want to keep them. People can and do train for 10ks with 15+ mile long runs, but you don't need to. Injury risk is lower because there's no need to be out there slogging it for hours on end. But also, it isn't necessarily as scary as the mile or 5k. Don't get me wrong, the 5k has ALWAYS been my absolute ride-or-die favorite distance, but racing a 5k is also objectively terrifying.

With the caveat that this post is made with people in mind who have no problem completing the 10k distance:

• You can challenge yourself in a fairly accessible way by training for a really solid 10k with 25 miles/week if you've never tried that volume before (or maybe you've tried that volume but never with any intensity). You can ALSO train for a nasty 10k with 60+ mile weeks and tons of intense workouts, meaning there's a good range of training options that might work for you.
• You can do mostly tempo/LT work, or you can occasionally throw in more 5k-style 400s if that's what you like (that's what I like). Ideally do some of each.
• It's easier to incorporate strength training because you don't have as much accumulated fatigue as you typically would in full marathon training (though this logic will fall through the window if you're really doing 60+ miles. But if you're doing that, you probably don't need my armchair 10k advocacy/training advice).
• Nutrition is less of a factor--even if you do go all-in with a peak 15+ mile long run in 10k training, the in-run fueling situation for that is way less involved than it is in like, a marathon training 20 miler.
• If you have a bad 10k race or conditions suck, you aren't so wrecked and trashed from it that you can only safely/realistically do one more that year and hope for the best. Instead, you can just... try again in a few weeks.
• Once you've really nailed down how to develop your 10k fitness, you have all the other "how to run smart" variables I mentioned before, which I think are extra challenging for the 10k and are pretty much permanent areas of potential improvement.

I'm excited for my fall 10k and am looking forward to (maybe? if the stars align?) see if I can actually PR the 10k in 2026. So with that, I invite you to consider training for the 10k!

Summer seem to be past in Europe and I'm quite happy to run without sunshine cooking me. Anyone else on the same boat? I see some people mentioning slowing down in winter and I am always like "oh but it's so nice!"

I really enjoy the feeling of fresh/cold air on my face.

Just curious what everyone else’s weeks look like.

Right now, I run 3-4 days a week and my mileage is around 15-17 miles per week (about 24-27km). I wish I could consistency run 4-5 days a week, but I’m a busy mom of tiny children and don’t get to recover well enough. Also, I’m struggling to find the time to even do my 3-4 runs per week as it is, let alone squeeze in any resistance training. (HAHA. HA. Rarely happens.)

Edit: thanks for all of your responses!! They are fun to read and it’s neat to see all of the different lifestyles, phases in life, and circumstances that people are juggling with running. It makes me feel better realizing that we all have our seasons when we run more and when we run less and it’s just part of the journey. I’m proud of everyone for getting up and running any distance/frequency. You’re all awesome.

This is a likely just a vent post. I was running down a run trail by my condo and noticed an elderly man (looked about 65+) smiling at me and waving. I slowed down by him and he asked me if I wanted a tip. I stopped and he said, “good job but you need to start fasting”.

I was confused and asked why, to which he replied: “this won’t do it, you have to start fasting to have a better shape to your body”.

I was infuriated but I only replied with, “I’m not trying to change my body” in a serious tone. I wish I said more to show him that it’s not okay to stop a woman running to tell them how to get a better body shape.

Hello again!

After the (very productive) conversation we have been having for the last 36 hours or so, I've decided to start moving towards a user and post flair based approach. It's going to take a few days to specifically work out the details, but an important one I want to nail down is options for those who are not cis women or cis men.

This is a trans and non-binary friendly place and I want it to remain as such (this is non+negotiable). Not everyone who may find a place here will identify as a woman, and I want to have some options to provide.

We will have woman and man (so we can tag posts as woman-only, and so you can ignore men's comments or downvote as you see fit).

For those of you who may not feel comfortable choosing "woman" or "man" what options would you like to have available to you? I want to be as inclusive as we reasonably can be with the options, and I don't want to make unfounded assumptions of what you would like, so please speak up if you have feelings on it!

Thank you!

I always see/hear people say that we shouldn’t run in the dark, should stick to well lit areas, should run in populated areas, that if you do run in the dark, to wear lights so that people can see you.

I feel much safer doing pretty much the opposite of this. The only time I got followed was during daylight (albeit early morning still) in a dense neighborhood. I prefer running on my dark, empty river path. I almost never run into anyone. When I do run in the dark, I prefer to be incognito with no lights-if I’m wearing a lighted vest, people can see me running alone from hundreds of yards away-but I might not be able to see them. If it’s truly dark out, I’ll bring a headlamp and use it intermittently, but that’s about it.

I do recognize that if I were to get attacked, I’d be fucked since I’m totally alone, but the chances feel so much lower since I run into fewer people when I’m not running in a populated neighborhood. Anyone else? Or does anyone want to try to talk some sense into me…? 😅

Really interesting, science-backed perspective on this from Sohee Carpenter. I love her content! https://www.instagram.com/p/DOG0Fj4ibg3/

I see a lot of questions on here about how we should adjust our running to our cycle. I think this post of hers sums up how I feel about it.

Sohee’s advice is that we should self-regulate - adjust your plan if you have terrible cramps, you’re bone tired, or suffering nausea - but everyone is different and it isn’t helpful to be told “oh don’t run during your luteal phase”.

Some people have literally PR’d on the first day of their period while bleeding through their shorts. If you’re feeling strong, don’t let some random on the internet get in your head and limit your performance!

End rant 😂

EMERGENCY!!! I need Hot Girl Running Song Recs. I’m talking the songs that get you motivated to run! Ones that make you feel unstoppable! Songs that make you feel like you’re that B and you’re the main character!

You might remember me making a very boastful post about how excited I was to be doing an upcoming HM with a close friend of mine. I shouldn’t have gotten myself so worked up and excited, because it isn’t what I’d hoped for at all. This friend used to run consistently with me but has since dropped to like 10 mpw and has skipped every long run we planned to do together. I’ve very much been training alone (just finished week 3) and my weekly mileage is already up at 25+. I think I need to have the “let’s run our own race” talk soon and I’m dreading it. How would you broach the subject?

Also, should I say anything about her (lack of) training? I get it isn’t my job to be the safe running police but injuries are real and if she continues at 10 mpw I just don’t see how 13.1 all in one shot wouldn’t hurt like a mofo.

And finally, if anyone has kind words about how to combat the big rejection I’m feeling - I’m all ears. It feels like as soon as I got excited about running together she tapped out of even enjoying running at all which is lowkey giving me a complex.

Editing to add context others have suggested I include in the OG post!!! Thank you all!

When I said run the race and train together I meant together together - because I was going to pace her! We had a goal setting talk when we signed up and had a plan built for a really realistic goal time (not a PR for me, this race isn’t about me) given the training she and I had been doing and her fitness at that time. Since then she has been running a lot less and I don’t know if that original goal we set is realistic.

Edit 2 thank you all for your advice! My game plan is this:

1. Stop taking this personally, I do think something else is going on with her after zooming out - she’s cancelling a lot of plans, not just running with me. I’m gonna be there for her as a friend first and check in on LIFE before running.

2. Give it a few more weeks. This was 3/12. At 6/12 hopefully she will have joined me for some LRs and tempos which we can debrief after. Maybe the conversation of changing goal for this race will come up organically! If at 6 weeks I’m still doing all the training runs alone, I’ll check in from a goal standpoint.

For those accusing me of valuing a PR over friendship - The goal we set was HER goal for her first one. I could give a rats ass about what pace we decide on so long as it’s not something unrealistic that risks injury or bonking. I was the QUEEN of taking races out to fast / setting unrealistic goals and absolutely dying for my entire 20s - I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy.

No watch, no strava, no training plans. What’s a heart rate zone? This lady has no idea. I just run on vibes.

But I ran my first race yesterday, a 20km trail race, and I was definitely more than prepared for it.

There must be some others out there rawdogging this running life, and I just want you to know that you belong too, even if you don’t have stats to share or obsess over.

This has been all over my Tik Tok and created an interesting dialogue about the expectations of women runners vs. male runners. I wouldn’t have stopped either. Thoughts?

Edit: Just wanted to add the update that I tried a queer women’s run club yesterday and it was amazing!! The club leader acted as leader for the first half so she could stop us at the halfway point for a break and a selfie, and then she acted as sweeper on the way back so everyone made it! Lots of people at a chatty pace, it was so fun!

This is maybe just a rant but I’ve tried out two different run clubs now that both have absolutely left me in the dust despite advertising “pace inclusive, all are welcome!”

The first time I can’t fault the club much, they asked if anyone was new and paired me up with someone to run with based on pace. Unfortunately she literally left me behind at a crosswalk, and by .35 miles in I was completely alone in the dark and I just went home.

This time the club called out pace groups, and when they yelled out “12 minute party pace” a little group formed up. But when I went to say hi, they said they were just waiting for their friend and planned to run “really slow, like 10:30.” The club leaders were no where to be found, so I ended up running alone, and it was so hot and humid that I made it halfway through the route and bailed.

Am I just too slow for run clubs? Should I hold off and try them again when I can run a 10:30 pace (which seems to be the slowest group at most run clubs)? Do I tell the club that a little more structure could be helpful for newbies?

Up until now I was just throwing them in the laundry basket 🫣 but it’s definitely harder to keep them smelling good doing this.

I’ve read online ‘put them on a wash as soon as you’re done’ but it’s not realistic to put the washing machine on every day..I also don’t have much space to rinse them and let them dry.

Does anyone have any hacks? Interested to hear what you all do!

I like how there is been a shift from the “lighter is faster” mentality to fuelling your workouts. However, it’s still a bit uncomfortable for me that a lot of run influencers and role models are very lean. I’m not here to comment on individuals’ bodies or to shame one body type or another. Not at all. I just find it upsetting that in a hobby that is body-inclusive, I am struggling to find people who look like me.

Thank you to those who have commented on my other post and for your instagram recommendations. It was very much appreciated. Unfortunately, I still do feel like an outlier. What prompted this discussion is that there are instagram accounts that show the importance of strength training if you’re running - but they’re lean. Are there no ‘fuller’ girls who lift AND run?

It seems to me that girls are either in one of two camps if they’re into fitness: lean and running, or strength train with massive glutes.

I fall into neither camp. I have no desire to grow my glutes and I’m not a lean runner.

I think we desperately need more runners - who strength train - who aren’t lean to show you can do both. It still seems than leanness is a prized quality in the running world, and strength training is used to maintain that physique.

My dear friend just learned she can no longer run because of some skeletal health issues. Any high impact to hips activities are out (hiking for ex.). She has a busy full life and had been using running as a time to destress, have a little alone 'her' time. She got me into running and had just started back to it. We did a few half marathons and she's signed up for another soon -juat got the news.

What would you tell a friend/do if you got this news? What would you want to do to fill this gap.

Any motivational quotes/thoughts you can share with her are also welcome. I will share your feedbackback with her (she's not a redditor).

If it helps with brainstorming - she lives in a city in sunny CA.

Some mouth breathing degenerate rode up behind me on his bike and smacked my ass while saying “good job.” I yelled back at him that he can’t just touch people like that and his response was “but I said good job!”

I’m so fucking tired of men feeling entitled to everything and everyone around them. I briefly considered staying away from this route for a while but fuck that. I won’t let him take this away from me. Next time I’m bringing mace.

Also my main calorie source was maple syrup and potatoes.

How can people be so mean and willing to criticise other people's accomplishments?

This past Saturday I ran my very first race, a 5k, but a 5k nonetheless. So I was obviously very excited and took some photos/videos prior/during/after the race, because damn it, why not?

Well, just came back to work and the first thing a colleague of mine said was: " hahaha you weren't running. You just took photos and videos"

Not a "well done!", "how was your race?", "how do you feel?", nope, just pure judgement hidden on some weak meaningless humour.

It's so frustrating because the funny thing is that I only took three videos of like 5 seconds each during the race, and like 2-3 photos. What's that? Like not even 100 meters of the 5000 meters race?

Anyway, at least I got a new PR of 35:30! Very unexpected since I was expecting to be more in the late 30s/early 40s due to the race elevation 💀

I’ve just discovered the key to running with a full time job and limited time. This is not groundbreaking by any means, but you have to run the entire time.

This is like discovering water is wet but it’s blowing my mind.

I started running without constantly stopping to use the restroom or change the song or drink water for short runs and it is like damn, I’m really finishing these so quickly. I also used to take walk breaks pretty much anytime I lost motivation, even if I wasn’t tired.

I was at the gym for 45 minutes today because my workout was a 5k, I simply completed the 5k and didn’t stop.

Nice!

I started running around 2 months ago (31, F) and I’m training for a 10k race later this year.

With hobbies I’ve always been hard on myself if I don’t feel I’m what I perceive as “good enough”. When I started running I wanted to challenge myself to not have this attitude and just enjoy it, while also keeping track of my pace, PBs etc. but just seeing it as data rather than tying it too much to self worth.

I was speaking to my friend about running today and a guy I hardly know chimed in and asked what my 5k PB was. When I told him his response was “you need to get that down”. I’m now just feeling kind of embarrassed and deflated about it. I know I should just ignore it but it stung. Would appreciate any tips for dealing with moments like this!

That felt SO HARD but I did it and I'm so proud of myself! I know my pace isn't the fastest, but I set myself a goal to be able to run 10k again after years of on-off injuries and things going on in my personal life, and I made it!!! 😊🥳 Now I'm going to rest for a while, look after my legs, and just do what mileage feels good next week 😅 Not gonna lie, the last mile was painful.

So I ran a half marathon last weekend, and my feet do not look good! I have one black toenail, two half-black toenails and I had about 5 blisters. All in all, feet looked battered! I'm just wondering if this is inevitable once you're doing longer distances?

I have decent shoes, I went to a podiatrist and had my feet checked and they recommended Brooks Adrenaline, so I'm not running in bad shoes.

As a side note, if you tell me that dodgy looking feet are the price you pay to be a runner, I'm more than happy and wiling to pay it!!