u/kaitlyn2004

Hot back from backpacking with my dog for the first time in years. Overall great trip BUT the bugs (mostly mosquitos with some black flies) were relentless. It’s the worst I’ve personally experienced in ages.

And I’m really not sure how to handle this situation moving forward? We were in an alpine meadow with plenty of lakes and ponds… and mosquitoes! The bugs completely cut dinner time short. Nobody was having a good time and could stand them… I opted not to use bug spray but my friend did, and I guess did a bit better but absolutely was still fighting them constantly.

I put him in the tent for a bit, which definitely helped… but it’s summer and long days, can’t just spend all afternoon and evening there! Also bear territory so can’t cook/eat at camp either.

I knew in advance the bugs would be out in the area but it was far worse than expected. I don’t want to have to choose between going and not going, and wonder if there’s actually stuff we could do to keep them at bay?

I did wonder if there was maybe some backpacking-friendly giant netting tent of sorts which would at least give us a bit more space and away from camp to cook and hang out under? But even then, prisoner to a pretty small space…

Will be going backpacking with my dog next week, which we haven’t done for a few years.

We’ll be camping nearby a lake and I just know he will absolutely want to go in and therefore end up soaking wet. He’ll likely also collect mud/dirt on his wet fur afterwards.

How do I actually deal with him and get ready for sleep? I don’t want him brought into the tent all still very wet/damp and muddy… but I also am not planning to bring a proper bath towel?

I don’t think those ultralight microfiber towels will actually do any decent job drying him or getting the mud off?

Will be going backpacking with my dog next week, which we haven’t done for a few years.

We’ll be camping nearby a lake and I just know he will absolutely want to go in and therefore end up soaking wet. He’ll likely also collect mud/dirt on his wet fur afterwards.

How do I actually deal with him and get ready for sleep? I don’t want him brought into the tent all still very wet/damp and muddy… but I also am not planning to bring a proper bath towel?

I don’t think those ultralight microfiber towels will actually do any decent job drying him or getting the mud off?

The other day I ran 27.5km, 2100m elevation gain. It was almost entirely uphill to a summit and then back down (with an added detour to a lake)

It was fairly runnable but obviously plenty of power hiking and then light scrambling towards the top. But I really felt a bit confused about how I should fuel. On the way up it made sense to take my gels every 30m as usual. When things slowed down even more I added in an uncrustable sandwich.

But then on the downhill, I was largely feeling I didn’t need to fuel which I think is just wrong. My HR and effort were definitely lower on the reverse power hiking sections and then lower runnable stuff I was a bit more cruisey - I don’t think I could have elevated HR outside of race pace on those downhills.

So being out there for almost 6 hours, how do you fuel the return trip when the exertion is far less than the first half? Stick to consistent fueling? Front-load (could cause GI issues…)? Still do gels just not as often?

My understanding is literally if my HR is in those lower zones on the way down I’m simply not burning through those glycogen stores anything like I was before

I’ve tried to read through various blogs and summaries but am also a bit confused.

I’m a heavy sweater and have always struggled in the heat. I live in the PNW so we don’t tend to get TOO hot, but we do - the bigger problem is it’s random and drops back down to cooler temps so you never really get to fully adjust to those hotter temperatures.

I was thinking I’d finally try heat training this year (already late but better than never?) but I don’t have my own sauna. I can buy a sauna pass at a local place, but they also require you coming in clean/showered/etc.

A lot of what I read online talks about doing a heat session immediately following a training session. For a number of reasons I think this simply wouldn’t be feasible.

Sooo - would “randomly” but consistently sprinkling in 20-30min sauna sessions still be beneficial or am I still missing something and I wouldn’t get the adaptation benefits? Would a longer session help?

I’ve tried to read through various blogs and summaries but am also a bit confused.

I’m a heavy sweater and have always struggled in the heat. I live in the PNW so we don’t tend to get TOO hot, but we do - the bigger problem is it’s random and drops back down to cooler temps so you never really get to fully adjust to those hotter temperatures.

I was thinking I’d finally try heat training this year (already late but better than never?) but I don’t have my own sauna. I can buy a sauna pass at a local place, but they also require you coming in clean/showered/etc.

A lot of what I read online talks about doing a heat session immediately following a training session. For a number of reasons I think this simply wouldn’t be feasible.

Sooo - would “randomly” but consistently sprinkling in 20-30min sauna sessions still be beneficial or am I still missing something and I wouldn’t get the adaptation benefits? Would a longer session help?

I’ve tried to read through various blogs and summaries but am also a bit confused.

I’m a heavy sweater and have always struggled in the heat. I live in the PNW so we don’t tend to get TOO hot, but we do - the bigger problem is it’s random and drops back down to cooler temps so you never really get to fully adjust to those hotter temperatures.

I was thinking I’d finally try heat training this year (already late but better than never?) but I don’t have my own sauna. I can buy a sauna pass at a local place, but they also require you coming in clean/showered/etc.

A lot of what I read online talks about doing a heat session immediately following a training session. For a number of reasons I think this simply wouldn’t be feasible.

Sooo - would “randomly” but consistently sprinkling in 20-30min sauna sessions still be beneficial or am I still missing something and I wouldn’t get the adaptation benefits? Would a longer session help?

Last year I bought the Prodigio Pro and loved everything about them except the hard/stiff tongue which was completely solved by removing the padding. I use rhem on my long alpine run days and in a 50k ultra last year. I am running that race again.

My shoes are at just under 500km and it’s time to consider rotating in a fresh pair. But I wonder if- should I get another pair of identical Prodigio Pros, or are there better options now? I’ve heard of things like the Cascadia elite and the very new Norda 055’s… but I’m not entirely sure how they all compare? And I’m sure there’s other options too?

On the one hand, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it and I think buying another pair I wouldn’t regret. But can I also unlock ever more comfort or speed?

Last year I bought the Prodigio Pro and loved everything about them except the hard/stiff tongue which was completely solved by removing the padding. I use rhem on my long alpine run days and in a 50k ultra last year. I am running that race again.

My shoes are at just under 500km and it’s time to consider rotating in a fresh pair. But I wonder if- should I get another pair of identical Prodigio Pros, or are there better options now? I’ve heard of things like the Cascadia elite and the very new Norda 055’s… but I’m not entirely sure how they all compare? And I’m sure there’s other options too?

On the one hand, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it and I think buying another pair I wouldn’t regret. But can I also unlock ever more comfort or speed?

As we roll into summer, my mileage is increasing along with mixing in other activities like hikes or sports etc. Last week I did about 65km and 2,700m of gain, mostly trail running.

I have a standing strength group (proper heavy lifting with some conditioning, but not runner specific) class Monday and Wednesday evenings, along with group run workout Tuesday evening. I really like the Tuesday run workouts. I most often am doing my longest runs on Sundays.

I don’t love the gym, but enjoy the social aspect and the commitment and seeing improvement. And I buy into the idea that it helps mitigate injury and helps with endurance.

The problem I’m facing - it feels like strength training is the first thing I want to give up. My legs feel too fatigued to be productive at the gym, or if they are okay I’m worried that a good gym session will result in fatigued legs really hampering the rest of my week. Combined with the sunny summers that really drain me, I also feel like a hard gym session really stresses my nervous system that much more.

How on earth do you guys continue going to the gym and lifting heavy? Do you just accept sub-optimal gym sessions or what?

As we roll into summer, my mileage is increasing along with mixing in other activities like hikes or sports etc. Last week I did about 65km and 2,700m of gain, mostly trail running.

I have a standing strength group (proper heavy lifting with some conditioning, but not runner specific) class Monday and Wednesday evenings, along with group run workout Tuesday evening. I really like the Tuesday run workouts. I most often am doing my longest runs on Sundays.

I don’t love the gym, but enjoy the social aspect and the commitment and seeing improvement. And I buy into the idea that it helps mitigate injury and helps with endurance.

The problem I’m facing - it feels like strength training is the first thing I want to give up. My legs feel too fatigued to be productive at the gym, or if they are okay I’m worried that a good gym session will result in fatigued legs really hampering the rest of my week. Combined with the sunny summers that really drain me, I also feel like a hard gym session really stresses my nervous system that much more.

How on earth do you guys continue going to the gym and lifting heavy? Do you just accept sub-optimal gym sessions or what?

As we roll into summer, my mileage is increasing along with mixing in other activities like hikes or sports etc. Last week I did about 65km and 2,700m of gain, mostly trail running.

I have a standing strength group (proper heavy lifting with some conditioning, but not runner specific) class Monday and Wednesday evenings, along with group run workout Tuesday evening. I really like the Tuesday run workouts. I most often am doing my longest runs on Sundays.

I don’t love the gym, but enjoy the social aspect and the commitment and seeing improvement. And I buy into the idea that it helps mitigate injury and helps with endurance.

The problem I’m facing - it feels like strength training is the first thing I want to give up. My legs feel too fatigued to be productive at the gym, or if they are okay I’m worried that a good gym session will result in fatigued legs really hampering the rest of my week. Combined with the sunny summers that really drain me, I also feel like a hard gym session really stresses my nervous system that much more.

How on earth do you guys continue going to the gym and lifting heavy? Do you just accept sub-optimal gym sessions or what?

Despite the flair, I have Hubitat and HomeKit (and Google Home...) and plan to add/migrate Hubitat to home assistant.

Wondering what the recommendation for smart lock in 2026 would be? I feel like a HomeKit one is the best bet? But am open to suggestions and reasoning?

I feel like I don't really need remote lock/unlock as primary function, I mainly want:

- Create/manage access codes and see log of usage

- See status of locked/unlocked

- I guess a thumb print / apple key sort of proximity would be nice

- I've heard it's better to have "manual turn" vs a motor lock/unlock to improve battery life and ensure it actually engages the deadbolt?

- Work in power outage or internet down (either key access, battery "jumpstart", or whatever)

I’m local but don’t go looking for them, and I’ve got two kids coming to visit next week. We’ll be going to feather park, but is there any hot spots to see seals, otters or anything else?

I haven’t been hearing the sea lions lately so I assume they’ve moved on?

i realize this is very loosely tied to running, but my running activity is the #1 thing I’m thinking about regards to the piercing and healing…

I had a navel piercing AGES ago, though I'm not convinced it ever truly reached 100% healing and I had eventually taken it out. Now I kind of want to get it pierced again, and just wonder if I should even bother... but also when? I am active year-round mostly as a trail runner but also a skier, hiker, gym, etc. It seems like summer (now!) would be least ideal to get it... but does it ultimately matter?

Or should I just wait until fall/winter to get it done? One major tip I've come across is using those perforated eye shields to protect it during the healing... but obviously through all my sports activities, my stomach area will always be twisting and bending.

Or do I just skip the whole idea and maybe it’s just not the right piercing to get for my active lifestyle? 🥺

I’m looking for a bit of a unique solution. My dog has a bit of OCD when it comes to water and over-drinks (he’s 4 now, we’ve done plenty of tests he’s healthy)

I’ve seen those water bowl solutions that basically keep it topped up from a reservoir, but I moreso want to dispense a set amount (not ml-accuracy-critical) either on a set time or on demand/button press sort of thing

I would love for there to be a set amount in there, he’ll (likely) drink the full amount, but then when he disengages and goes elsewhere I can have it filled up for the next time he wants water.

Or, like every hour it dispenses 1 cup of water (but doesn’t overfill, so maybe moreso replenishes up to 1 cup) sort of thing

Anyone know if something like this exists or what device(s) I might be able to easily rig together to accomplish this?