Totally willing to accept I’m being a complete baby about this.

My husband and I both ran a 10K at the weekend. He’s a very very good runner (~35 minutes 10K). He came second overall in this particular run. I ran my second quickest ever 10K (just under 49 minutes).

My parents were there to watch. My sister messaged the group chat to ask how it went. My dad replied to say ‘[husband] came second’, with a picture of him, and literally… no mention of me at all? Not even an also-ran?

I’m 32, so I know that this absolutely shouldn’t matter. And yet, I’ve trained really hard, just come back to running from having a baby, and was really proud of my run.

Is it a non-runner thing? Anything that’s not a podium finish just isn’t very impressive?

For context, I’m pretty sure they’ve never said they’re proud of anything I’ve done, so I’m not sure why I’m feeling this way about this particular run, but… 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

Hi! Does anyone have any tricks to help with chafing from your sports bra? When I run >10km I end up with a painful what I think is chafe under my boobs in the centre of my chest. It usually takes about 4 days to heal too.

Hello all! I am wondering if others in this group may be able to relate and provide some insight or personal experiences. I am a new runner, I started at the end of February with goals of increasing mileage up to a half-marathon distance sometime next year. Currently I run ~12mi/week, so still early days. I (33F) have been diagnosed with PCOS for several years now, and while my cycles are regular (30-32 days) my testosterone-driven symptoms like acne and hirsutism are an ongoing issue. I started taking Spironolactone late 2024 and after increasing my dose to 100mg/day my acne had been almost nonexistent for a year. Since I started running though it has been bad again 😕 I am good about topical treatments, thoroughly washing my face after morning exercise & again before bed, changing my pillowcase every 5-7 days, and using good quality sunscreen. The breakouts are almost all around my mouth/chin area so it’s likely hormonal and I assume my dermatologist will recommend increasing my Spiro dose.

I typically don’t take medication if I can help it, so being on a daily prescription is already something I don’t love and I worry I’ll just have to keep increasing as my running mileage increases. Increasing my dose before made me feel dehydrated (headaches & nausea) for a couple weeks until I got used to it so I dread dealing with that alongside training. But my adult acne was really ruining my self-esteem and nothing else worked* as well, at least when it *was* working.

Sorry this is long. I guess I’m just wondering if any others in this group have experience with Spironolactone, and if so if they can share their experience on it in relation to running? If you have had to increase your dose or if you’ve found other ways to prevent hormonal breakouts?

*I understand that PCOS management has a nutrition element. I have a history of disordered eating so please don’t recommend restrictive eating, thank you.

I posted this in my local running thread and maybe i shouldn't be surprised but it was met with lots of misogyny and victim blaming and ultimately removed by mods, so posting here instead.

Apologies for the long post but I need to get this off my chest. For the most part I am always pleasantly surprised with how kind and wonderful fellow runners are but last night I had a pretty shitty experience that I just need to put out there.

I'm a woman in my 30's, living in a big city. Last night I had to do a speed workout but unfortunately the track in my area has been under construction for what feels like 84 years and so I do most of my speed work on an area of waterfront piers that are designated for exercise and that I've run on a million times.

On the piers it can can be kind of hard to see around the corners and it can be fairly crowded (but still lots of space!) so its common to have to navigate other people and throw out an occasional "whoops sorry didn't see ya coming!" On my last repeat I was looping the pier and kind of hauling ass, running perpendicular to --what i would soon find out--was the path of a middle aged man also running.

I come around the corner, I don't see him at first, --and while I in no way ran into him--I did perhaps cut him off slightly for about 4.5 seconds. Complete accident but maybe minorly annoying so I wave my right hand as I pass him and say "sorry! didn't see you!" Which I have done and witnessed many others do countless times. I finish my rep and slow to a shuffle and the dude catches up to me and starts shouting "DO YOU KNOW WHAT I WOULD HAVE DONE TO YOU IF YOU WOULD HAVE TAKEN ME OUT BACK THERE?!?" (mind you I'm 5'2 and he's prob a foot taller than me-- I was moving but I wasn't going 45 mph). I call after him and just say "my bad, we're all just doing our best out here and thankfully I didn't 'take you out'"

My minute of recovery ends and now I have to run a couple easy miles home and I catch back up to the guy and he makes a face at me. At this point I'm pretty pissed because did he really just threaten me? So I try to point out that it's kind of ridiculous that he's threatening me over something I didn't even do by saying calmly "so, back there you asked if I knew what you would do to me if I had bumped into you...what would you have done?"

He responds, "I would have called the cops on your ass," I was taken aback and said, "sorry you would have called the cops on me if I had accidentally bumped into while running?" to which he said "1000% I would have called the cops on you bitch." I asked if he had a wife or daughter or sister (since it seems like so many men need PERSONAL examples to experience empathy) and started to ask how he'd feel if a grown man was treating one of them that way but he cut me off screaming at me that I was a Karen (my tone was calm and I wasn't the one yelling about the cops). Just repeatedly calling me a Karen until I just stopped running so that he would pass me.

I'm so upset and angry at this point that I'm on the verge of tears but I collect myself and keep running. I hit the next pier -- the one with the soccer field--and cannot BELIEVE my eyes: he is with his WIFE picking up HIS TWO DAUGHTERS from soccer practice. I'm enraged and decide I'm not letting this dude just get away with this poor behavior. I try to get his attention but he beelines away from me. His WIFE however, does notice me. I tell her that her husband threatened me and at first she is confused but as I explain her face drops. I let her know I'm just a woman--like her and like her daughters will one day be--running alone, and being threatened by a grown man for hypothetically bumping into him made me feel really uncomfortable. I told her that I HOPE this was just a one time thing and that she didn't need help. I could tell by the sick-to-her-stomach look on her face she understood and also that she wanted the conversation to be over. And honestly, if someone told me this about my husband I'd be so icked out, I'd probably want a divorce.

In short: I am SO angry. These are the men that claim they are leaders, protectors and providers. The men that vote against women in leadership positions because they're just "too emotional to handle the responsibility." The men raising children with kind and strong partners who have to answer for their poor behavior. I am lucky to know some very wonderful men who I cannot FATHOM behaving this way but I also have had many an unpleasant, unsolicited, and unwarranted encounter with strange men who are just never held accountable. I hope the upstanding men out there will start holding these assholes accountable because they're making you look bad and the burden shouldn't have to be on the women who happen to cross paths with them (literally and figuratively).

Hello all!

I’m looking for ideas on how to feel cuter during my runs.

I’ve always been primarily a solo runner, and haven’t really cared much about how I look while running.

Lately I’ve started running some of my runs with someone else, and do a weekly group run. As much as I try not to care, I’d love to find ways to not feel like a drowned rat so much.

No one has made comments or anything, if anything it’s the opposite. This is just to give myself a little confidence boost.

Any advice you have would be greatly appreciated!

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!

Hi Ladies!
Looking for recommendations of tank tops you like to run in when it’s hot out.
Thanks!

Hi all,

Hopev to get some insight into zone 2 running particularly when trying to conceive.

I have never been a fast runner but I enjoy running. 1.5 years ago I did a half marathon and I was in my best shape. Then I focused more on gym, so running took a back seat. I have gained some weight recently and I really want to get back into running.

I've had 2 heartbreaking miscarriages in the last 6 months. After the surgery for my 2nd miscarriage exactly a month ago, I started to get back into running. I am doing 5 km runs now at pace 6:30-6:40 min/km so as I said I am not a super runner but I enjoy it a lot. I already am feeling so so good about running that I looked into running guidelines when trying to conceive (we'll try as soon as my period comes back).​

General guidelines say moderate intensity running is fine apparently, especially during implantation window/early pregnancy. I calculated for my age moderate intensity means heart beat never going above 130 max. The issue is even on my regular jogs my heart beat is never below 160... if I run up a hill or speed up it gets to 175.. I dont know if it's because I am anemic with low blood pressure and my body is compensating with a very high pulse.. I wanted to sign up for a 10K race but I worry this will cause me to over exert myself and also I don't even enjoy running if I know I am hurting my chance of conception/potential pregnancy.

Question: if my heart beat can't reach this zone 2 moderate running does this mean I am not supposed to run after ovulation/during pregnancy or is there significant leeway with this rule? Am I supposed to just do a fast walk instead or keep building up my stamina until I can jog at 130 pulse before trying to conceive?

PS: please understand because of my unfortunate history I am paralysed with fear and anxiety about working out during ovulation/pregnancy. I have read all the stories about women getting pregnant while preparing for ultra marathons and running marathons 8 months pregnant. These aren't helping me. During my 1st pregnancy I was ignorantly continuing my super high intensity dance classes (ignorance is bliss) when people were saying I shouldn't.. I still wonder if this caused the baby to stop developing. During the 2nd pregnancy I toned down workouts significantly out of fear.. I also am almost 34 with diminished ovarian reserve, so I dont have much time left to get pregnant naturally. Please take this into account, I know people have cool stories around this but I can't get over this fear.

Thanks for reading my whole post and any advice will be appreciated 😊

Just have to shout my frustration into the void. Had a visit with a podiatrist today to be fitted for custom orthotics (not the usual one that I see)- he straight up told me to stop running just because I am over 35 and have had two kids. I didn’t realize my feet had gone up a full size since having my second, which led to me wearing too-small shoes for a long time and resulted in my needing to fix some issues.

My frustration is that he didn’t focus on my actual issue at all- just a lecture and diatribe about how I’m about to go through my second “change” (duh, I know and I have discussed with my PCP). The conversation wasn’t even about my foot/foot issues, and he at one point went “have whatever opinions you want about this administration but Kennedy got it right that mothers are the ones that have an impact in the health world!” Amidst hm telling me that he used to do martial arts and could jump over a man but had to stop at age 65. And he pushed supplements and intermittent fasting nonstop. Again… not even my normal podiatrist, let alone my PCP. Like I am totally open to feedback if it’s from a provider who takes a second to talk WITH me instead of AT me and one who knows my history. But this was just bizarre.

Edit that I forgot to include originally: By the end he had told me that because I had “boy hips” I could likely run without issue for (gasp) a whole 5-10 years more. And did I have my kids naturally? Because it’s rare to have “boy hips” after two natural births. But I do so I’m lucky and can have some more time to run.

I ran the national women's half this past weekend which I'm very proud of, but my experience with my run club has me feeling off and I'm wondering if anyone has felt a similar way.

For context: I'm a paid member of a pretty large run club in DC which I trained with for this race. Anyone can run with us, but being a paid member comes with extra perks like a shirt only for members, discounts on races, etc. I made sure to wear my run club member shirt for this race.

I’m curious if anyone else has experienced any of the following dynamics at a race. I finished later than a lot of members in my club (many people either finished earlier or ran the shorter distance option), and by the time I made it over to where the ladies were gathered, they had already taken the group photos/TikToks/etc. When I asked if they'd be willing to film one more time, one of the club captains brushed me off and said "they already did it so many times.” I feel like they could've at least asked the group. They also took the main group picture without me which sucks because several ladies saw me on the course, so I'm bummed they couldn't wait. You had 4 hrs to finish this race, and I finished more than an hour before that. In short, I'm not in any of the post race tiktoks or photos posted on socials, and I feel very left out.

I don’t think this was intentional or malicious at all. I know race days are chaotic, people finish at different times, and I was also dealing with some pretty rough chafing/soreness so I wasn’t moving quickly after the finish to walk the half mile back to where they were 😭

But I’d be lying if I said it didn’t make me sad, especially since this was my first half marathon and I've shown up to support runners at previous races. This was the longest I've ever run, and I was really looking forward to going through the cheer squad for the first time and my joy being captured like it has been for many others.

I think what especially got to me was that they seemed to get photos/videos of pretty much everyone else except me. Apparently camera settings were off when they took pics of me, so there weren’t any good cheer squad videos/photos of me specifically. When I mentioned feeling disappointed, another captain told me “there will be other races.” And logically, I know that’s true. But emotionally, it still hurts because there’s only one first half marathon.

I guess I’m wondering:

• Is this just a normal reality of larger run clubs/races?

• How do groups usually handle people finishing at very different times?

• And if you’ve felt this before, how did you reframe it?

I’m still really proud I finished and overall had a positive experience. I think I’m just processing the emotional/social side of race day more than I expected. It makes me not want to go back to run club :(

[Edit to say thanks to everyone for reassurance and good advice which I’ll follow. Happy running everyone.]

Sorry if it’s not ok to ask beginner questions here - please skip/delete.

I’m getting back into running after a long time. Ran in my youth and now firmly in midlife.

It’s been humbling. I don’t seem to remember feeling it so much in my calves/shins as opposed to my quads/glutes.

Granted my efforts as super beginner. I’m back in run/walk and firmly in tortoise mode. My shoes are fine. Surely my form can’t have slipped that much. Although perhaps but I’m trying. I wonder is it because I just have to get used to things again, build up the endurance or do I need to really zone in on form (get someone to video me). I’m striking mid foot. My knees aren’t coming as high as if I was at full stretch but still. Leaning from ankles (as far as it feels).

Has anyone got any advice? Even if it’s just toughen up 😉

Thank you.

I just need to vent because I’m still shaking with anger. I was out on my weekend long run this morning. I have to cross a busy intersection to get to the park I run in. This is a very popular intersection to turn right on red at. I always wait for the white cross signal and I also am om the defensive about drivers turning right on red while I’m in the crosswalk. I got the walk signal and a car turned right on red in front of me but the next car fully stopped and appeared to make eye contact with me so I started walking across (remember, I have the right of way). As I get within a foot of her car she suddenly starts to go and then thankfully slammed on her breaks. I gave her a “wtf??” hand raise and she had the nerve to yell at ME for being in her way. I yelled back at her that I had the walk signal and she had a red light and then some red neck douche in a truck with a PA system behind her interjects himself to say “relax, she didn’t see you”. Mind you, it is broad daylight and I’m wearing a full high vis lime green outfit. I just really really hate idiot drivers and also men in general.🤬 I can’t avoid this intersection so I’m going to have to deal with people being idiots and just not cross if anyone is trying to turn right on red from now on.

Several of you asked I provide an update after I recently fell, and was helped by someone nearby. Here’s a link to the last post:

https://www.reddit.com/r/XXRunning/s/LPO73ElywQ

After I texted him, he replied pretty soon after. After some flirty back and forth I asked him to meet up so I could give him a card and some cookies I made to show my gratitude. We ended up getting dinner that night, and I got incredibly sick halfway through. He came back to my place and took care of me until I fell asleep, and left me Gatorade on my doorstep the next morning.

We went out running yesterday, and I found out he runs a similar pace to me, and on similar routes to me. He had previously worked different hours, which is why I had never seen him before, but they changed recently. I’m supposed to see him tomorrow to go for another run.

Also, thank you to all of you for sharing your own stories about falling. I was so embarrassed in the moment, but I guess those things happen to all of us.

Update: I’m very appreciative of those who replied with concerns for my safety. As someone who experienced a sexual assault in my teenage years, there are some safety steps that I didn’t outline in both my original post and follow up that I had implemented. We ran this morning (combination of road and trail) and then had bagels afterward, and everything went well.