Debating Runners!

[FinalEnigma]

An idea struck me while out running today, I'm trying to get in shape and get some exercise, and I'm sure there's others on here who are as well, so why not do it together and be accountable to one another? we all know that if you just do it on your own, with nobody to keep you honorable you're gonna cheat.

Now You don't have to run if running isn't your thing, you can walk, swim, bike, skip, fly or marathon somersault down the street if you like, the important thing is to get some exercise and keep up with it. You don't actually have to debate while running either, although that is worth bonus points.

I'm making a usergroup for this, and I know it's a bit silly and has nothing to do with the forum, but this is for everyone who's trying to get in shape, lose weight, or bring down their mile time.

I know I'm a few days late, but here's my new years resolution: To outrun everyone on DC&R! Now who's gonna stop me?
That's gonna be a tough one I know, as I'm not much of a runner at the moment, and I know at least Confused can outrun me, and I doubt shes gonna give ground without a fight.
And I know some of you have resolutions to get in shape. according to a poll on the news a few days ago that's the most common resolution, so who's up for doing it together? maybe a little competition and fun while we are at it?

So if you are interested, just post here with your current status(running time and distance, biking, swimming, walking, weight you're trying to lose[don't have to tell us your weight, just how much your trying to lose!]) and keep us updated every week or two weeks and post your latest accomplishment. Feel free to join the usergroup Debating Runners as well.(which I'm making right after this post)
I'll put up my mile time tomorrow once I get it timed.

[FinalEnigma]

Okay, sw we are running the Speed Demon trail and less than 10 minutes into it, I missed a root covered by scattered leaves. Yes, I know, warning bells were going of in my head, I just chose to ignore them as I have the newest Nickelback album on my mp3 player and I didn't pay attention to the terrain. So I slip on the leaves, invert my foot and bring my entire body weight down on my ankle that is pressed against the ground inetrucs and is serving the sole and heel of my foot. Now see, what is messed up here is that most people would say that someone who is 5'4" weighing all of 128 pounds doesn't have a lot of weight to put on areas like the ankle that will cause injury, but let me tell you, my ankle is now three times the size it should be and hurts like aldjlahoaeadlfa. But I still made the complete 4 mile circuit with the plyometrics I may have to skip the run in the am. Elevatng it nad prutting ice on it with taking Motrin may not be enough wil have to se in the am.

And you think your the one with the guardian saint? I don't think I'll be borrowing him anytime soon. :p

In the spirit of this thread, I'll have to see if I can get attacked by a bear when I go running in the woods in a few days.

[Cathar1950]

I am just here to make the rest of you look good.

[Confused]

I am just here to make the rest of you look good.

LOL, you are doing a great job of it babe!!!!!

Ankle and foot are now three times the size it should be. Not so sure that is a good sign for running in the morning, but I can bare weight on it just fine, so I will likely run. Won't be able to do the harder trails, but I think we can repeat Speed Demon and my ankle will hold up. I have an ankle brace that if I can get on over the swelling, it will help. Then I have to get my foot in the shoe....... Hmmm..... Could be tricky, but the alternative is going to see a doctor, getting xrays, blah blah blah and I just don't see me willingly going into another doctors office again for a while. So I guess I will find a way to make it fit!!!

FinalEnigma:
I have run across 5 bears in the past and been okay. However, you getting mauled by one is not acceptable considering there is no one else here who runs. So, running in woods=good (excellent really). Mauled by bear=bad!!

[FinalEnigma]

I am just here to make the rest of you look good.

LOL, you are doing a great job of it babe!!!!!

Ankle and foot are now three times the size it should be. Not so sure that is a good sign for running in the morning, but I can bare weight on it just fine, so I will likely run. Won't be able to do the harder trails, but I think we can repeat Speed Demon and my ankle will hold up. I have an ankle brace that if I can get on over the swelling, it will help. Then I have to get my foot in the shoe....... Hmmm..... Could be tricky, but the alternative is going to see a doctor, getting xrays, blah blah blah and I just don't see me willingly going into another doctors office again for a while. So I guess I will find a way to make it fit!!!

FinalEnigma:
I have run across 5 bears in the past and been okay. However, you getting mauled by one is not acceptable considering there is no one else here who runs. So, running in woods=good (excellent really). Mauled by bear=bad!!

I'll try to bear that in mind.

btw, is there a particular reason you always type it 'bare'?

[Cathar1950]

Every few months or so I eat something wrong and get gout where my foot swells up and I can hardly make it to the bathroom.
Never once did I think about running. Bears are enough to keep me home but I hear if you roll up in a ball and play dead they just play with you and maul you until they are sure you are not a threat. I wouldn't test this idea unless you need to.

[Cmass]

Every few months or so I eat something wrong and get gout where my foot swells up and I can hardly make it to the bathroom.
Never once did I think about running. Bears are enough to keep me home but I hear if you roll up in a ball and play dead they just play with you and maul you until they are sure you are not a threat. I wouldn't test this idea unless you need to.

It depends upon the bear.

Grizzlies often attack for territorial reasons or because they feel threatened. Many Grizzly charges are bluffs. When they are not and the bear decides to further mess with you, curl up and interlace your hands behind your neck. If they begin to munch on you, go down fighting aiming your fingers for their eyes.
As a general rule, black bears are rather shy and not particularly dangerous unless they have been habituated by humans. I've had hundreds of black bear encounters and in no case did I feel threatened. Nonetheless I carry a large can of bear mace and some small Roman candles.
If a black bear mauls you, fight back since they are not nearly as territorial as Grizzlies, they are more likely to be looking for a meal - and since humans are not their preferred prey there may be something wrong with it. (such as starving or sick.)
Unlike bears, with mountain lions, show aggression from the get-go. Always fight back and make as much noise as possible. If you see one looking at you, don't take your eyes off of it and start throwing rocks and sticks. They are a bit like your house cat in many ways and are startled by loud noises. But, again, humans are not generally on the menu (which is why attacks are very rare) and they are so stealthy they are rarely seen. So, if you are attacked, there is likely something wrong with it such that it feels desperate. Our neighbor had one in the tree in his back yard that wouldn't leave. It was obviously very old and emaciated and would have eaten most anything including humans......so they shot it.

BTW: Don't let people EVER feed bears. I've seen people around here who put dog food out on the porch to entice bears so they can watch and take pictures. But, a habituated bear often ends up a dangerous bear, a sick bear and a dead bear. The best thing you can do for a bear may not be intuitive for people who read Bambi-based wildlife stories: Get out the bottle rockets and scare the hell out of it. Humans are extremely dangerous and the more frightened Bears are of them, the better chance they have at survival.

One time I was jogging on the path above my house and a bear literally jumped out onto the trail directly in front of me which startled me and caused me to trip forward damn near landing on top of him. He actually jumped out on the trail because he heard me coming and had no other escape route. This is actually a bear who dens nearby and I've watched him grow up from a cub. Unfortunately, he is getting a bit too at ease with people such that a couple of summers ago came within 100 feet of the house despite 2 large German Shepherds hassling him. A friend of mine was actually visiting at the time and filmed me getting seriously pissed off and chasing after him. Last fall I finally bottle-rocketed his ass and haven't seen him since.

Here are some frames from the video:

[Cmass]

An idea struck me while out running today, I'm trying to get in shape and get some exercise, and I'm sure there's others on here who are as well, so why not do it together and be accountable to one another? we all know that if you just do it on your own, with nobody to keep you honorable you're gonna cheat.

Now You don't have to run if running isn't your thing, you can walk, swim, bike, skip, fly or marathon somersault down the street if you like, the important thing is to get some exercise and keep up with it. You don't actually have to debate while running either, although that is worth bonus points.

I'm making a usergroup for this, and I know it's a bit silly and has nothing to do with the forum, but this is for everyone who's trying to get in shape, lose weight, or bring down their mile time.

I know I'm a few days late, but here's my new years resolution: To outrun everyone on DC&R! Now who's gonna stop me?
That's gonna be a tough one I know, as I'm not much of a runner at the moment, and I know at least Confused can outrun me, and I doubt shes gonna give ground without a fight.
And I know some of you have resolutions to get in shape. according to a poll on the news a few days ago that's the most common resolution, so who's up for doing it together? maybe a little competition and fun while we are at it?

So if you are interested, just post here with your current status(running time and distance, biking, swimming, walking, weight you're trying to lose[don't have to tell us your weight, just how much your trying to lose!]) and keep us updated every week or two weeks and post your latest accomplishment. Feel free to join the usergroup Debating Runners as well.(which I'm making right after this post)
I'll put up my mile time tomorrow once I get it timed.

I think that is a cool idea. However, 1 mile above my house is like 10 miles for Michelle who lives in the flattest state in the union! You can actually see the beginning of one of my trails in the bottom picture - and the hill it eventually climbs. If I jog down to get the mail I will go 2 miles and lose & gain 1,400 feet. So, just to make it fair, perhaps we can work elevation gain and loss into the mix! Something like this might work: 1 mile flat = 1 mile. 1 mile at 1% grade = 2 miles. 1 mile at 10% grade is 10 miles etc.. We could then add some for conditions. For example, it is muddy as hell here right now and the trails are soft and mucky. However there is snow further up toward the top of the hill, so running becomes even more difficult.

[Confused]

An idea struck me while out running today, I'm trying to get in shape and get some exercise, and I'm sure there's others on here who are as well, so why not do it together and be accountable to one another? we all know that if you just do it on your own, with nobody to keep you honorable you're gonna cheat.

Now You don't have to run if running isn't your thing, you can walk, swim, bike, skip, fly or marathon somersault down the street if you like, the important thing is to get some exercise and keep up with it. You don't actually have to debate while running either, although that is worth bonus points.

I'm making a usergroup for this, and I know it's a bit silly and has nothing to do with the forum, but this is for everyone who's trying to get in shape, lose weight, or bring down their mile time.

I know I'm a few days late, but here's my new years resolution: To outrun everyone on DC&R! Now who's gonna stop me?
That's gonna be a tough one I know, as I'm not much of a runner at the moment, and I know at least Confused can outrun me, and I doubt shes gonna give ground without a fight.
And I know some of you have resolutions to get in shape. according to a poll on the news a few days ago that's the most common resolution, so who's up for doing it together? maybe a little competition and fun while we are at it?

So if you are interested, just post here with your current status(running time and distance, biking, swimming, walking, weight you're trying to lose[don't have to tell us your weight, just how much your trying to lose!]) and keep us updated every week or two weeks and post your latest accomplishment. Feel free to join the usergroup Debating Runners as well.(which I'm making right after this post)
I'll put up my mile time tomorrow once I get it timed.

I think that is a cool idea. However, 1 mile above my house is like 10 miles for Michelle who lives in the flattest state in the union! You can actually see the beginning of one of my trails in the bottom picture - and the hill it eventually climbs. If I jog down to get the mail I will go 2 miles and lose & gain 1,400 feet. So, just to make it fair, perhaps we can work elevation gain and loss into the mix! Something like this might work: 1 mile flat = 1 mile. 1 mile at 1% grade = 2 miles. 1 mile at 10% grade is 10 miles etc.. We could then add some for conditions. For example, it is muddy as hell here right now and the trails are soft and mucky. However there is snow further up toward the top of the hill, so running becomes even more difficult.

I think you underestimate Northern Florida there Cmass. While I will concede that we don't have the same gradient as you, but then, what I do compete against should balance it some. Like the extreme trail runs where we have to cross a quarter mile of muddy swamp to catch the trail, the sinkholes that require us to nearly slide down before we can run back up, the complete washout hills that we have to climb with our hands and feet before we can get back on the trail.

As for the flattest state in the union... I thought that was Kansas. Learn something new every day I guess.

Currently, I am back to a sustainable 10 minute mile but with the plyometrics included, it hurts to walk, sit, reach.... well, just about everything. The ankle sure doesn't help, but what a bruise. One for the collection book to be proud of ( ). We are sticking with the Speed Demon trail except when we do hill intervals. Speed Demon is a little under 4 miles from the second trail entrance and a little under 5 from the first. Sustaining 4 miles despite the ankle and up to 100 push-ups (various forms) a day with at least 5 different core workouts added in. We will stick with the 4 miles until I can sustain about an 8-9 minute mile before I increase the distance. Once I do that, we will have to back off on some of the plyometrics. Camp Pendleton....HERE I COME!!!!

[Cmass]

I think you underestimate Northern Florida there Cmass. While I will concede that we don't have the same gradient as you, but then, what I do compete against should balance it some. Like the extreme trail runs where we have to cross a quarter mile of muddy swamp to catch the trail, the sinkholes that require us to nearly slide down before we can run back up, the complete washout hills that we have to climb with our hands and feet before we can get back on the trail.

Unless they go below sea level, none of the sink holes are more the 345 deep though. (see note at bottom) Snore.
As for wetlands & swamps try traversing a muddy wetland on the side of a slope covered with devil's club and vine maple, or an avalanche gully with massive debris fields.
Besides, that is not really running, it is more of an obstacle course.

As for the flattest state in the union... I thought that was Kansas. Learn something new every day I guess.

Yep, its Florida....much of which will not exist in another couple hundred years or so - except as a shallow fishing area.

Currently, I am back to a sustainable 10 minute mile but with the plyometrics included, it hurts to walk, sit, reach.... well, just about everything. The ankle sure doesn't help, but what a bruise. One for the collection book to be proud of ( ). We are sticking with the Speed Demon trail except when we do hill intervals. Speed Demon is a little under 4 miles from the second trail entrance and a little under 5 from the first. Sustaining 4 miles despite the ankle and up to 100 push-ups (various forms) a day with at least 5 different core workouts added in. We will stick with the 4 miles until I can sustain about an 8-9 minute mile before I increase the distance. Once I do that, we will have to back off on some of the plyometrics. Camp Pendleton....HERE I COME!!!!

Nonetheless, by your description, you are probably more fit than anyone I know. And you are completely insane with your bush-whacking-extreme-sports-on-broken-bones mentality! That in itself is nothing short of inspiring.

Which U.S. state has the least elevation difference?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You might expect that the flattest state in the United States would be one of the Great Plains states, like Kansas. Actually, the state with the least elevation difference is Florida, which ranges from sea level to only 345 feet (105 meters).
Part of the reason for Florida's flatness is its geology. Florida is mostly made of sedimentary layers that built up when the sea level was slightly higher than it is today. If global warming raises the planet's sea level over the next century, much of Florida will be submerged.
The second flattest state is Delaware, at 442 feet of difference (135 m). Like Florida, much of the state is recent sediments. In the western part of the state there are low, eroded hills, part of an ancient range that once towered as high as the Alps.

[FinalEnigma]

You see why I started this knowing darn well I wasn't gonna win?