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So I didn't manage to get out on Thursday as I was still feeling stiff so finally managed to find time to go on Sunday - just the same three mile circuit as I did last week but took a full minute off my time and my legs feel much fresher today than they did for the few days after the last run so hopefully I will get out again midweek and build on it.
That looks like a great day out @turboferret
Out of interest, did you have any issues with the footpath ssections at all? I can jump on to the trail just down the road from work so wouldn't mind this as a midweek rideout some time soon.
@notmyrealname I wasn't in any hurry on Saturday, and I was aware that I was riding illegally for significant portions, so was extra considerate. I still had 2 guys giving me grief for riding on paths - one in Highgate Wood (which you have to be pretty determined to get into given these gates)
another on Wandsworth Common but apart from that, it was a nice loop. I can share a GPX file of the entire route if you like
https://runningmagazine.ca/trail-running/british-fell-runner-climbs-78-peaks-in-24-hours/
Just seen this in the news - 78 peaks, 153km and 12,000m of elevation gain in 24 hours.
@turboferret your next challenge? 😁
Think it may well be another 20 odd years before that effort is bettered. Amazing.
@ta11pau1 that's an impressive achievement for sure! Not convinced London would be the best place to train for fell running though, so I might pass 🙂
Can I once preach to the converted about the joys of club runs and I guess running in general?
I had a crap day at work yesterday, nothing was worked, felt generally uninterested and p'ed off with everything. Just felt crap.
Then I looked out the window and saw rain hurling down. I love running in the rain, but hate leaving the house in it.
But I dragged myself out and ran the mile to the club. My legs felt terrible, I debated turning round again. Today was not my day.
Arrived and saw very few people there, which means that the group I normally go with has merged so I'm either in a group faster than I wanted or a slower one. I'll go with the slower group, don't want to hold others up. Fast club mate thinks differently, "come with us lunge, it's too wet to go fast, you'll be fine with us". OK, fine, some pain will likely help clear my head anyway.
An hour later, having somehow knocked in a 6:03 mile along the way (only 1, and it was downhill!), I arrived back at the club absolutely soaked to the bone. I'd chatted rubbish for an hour and run faster than I have for a while and felt exhausted and beaten up. But I felt so good.
I felt 100% better in my head. My wife said it looked like the weight of the world had lifted off me when I returned home.
So, like you need any encouragement, if in doubt, run. You'll feel better by being out there, even if the hardest step is the one out of the door.
@turboferret thanks for the offer of the GPX, I've nicked it off your Strava!
It looks like a really interesting route, no way I'd ever be able to run it but riding it shouldn't be a problem.
lunge - I'm new to this thread, and to running in general so, for me, you're preaching to the not quite converted! I do need encouragement - and this tale was encouraging - thank you. Glad it brought a good end to your day.
I just finished couch to 5k (for about the 4th time!) a few weeks ago, and this morning I ran uphill for the first time - got home feeling pretty chuffed. When I say ran, I really mean shuffled as slowly as humanly possible without breaking into a walk! - but we all have to start somewhere - right?!
Rona, that's awesome, C25K is a great way of getting started. We all start by shuffling, and even now 4 years into my running journey, I still feel I shuffle up hills! But it does get easier, well, it either gets easier or you go faster, either works!
I read a book, I think by Vassos Alexander, that basically said if in doubt, run, as you always feel better after a run. Feel tired? Run. Feel a bit low? Run. Can't make a decision and you keep fretting about it> Run. And he is absolutely right.
@notmyrealname the strava one will include several intended and unintended minor diversions this should be more useful: Garmin Course It does take a tiny diversion around Harrow School, to get to a tap, otherwise I'd have a 34km gap between stops :O
lunge - thanks for the encouragement - very much appreciated.
Also, will look up this author - sounds interesting - thank you for that too.
I read some advice on this thread a while back …
When you get to half way ask yourself “can I hold this pace for the rest of the distance?” If the answer is “yes”, you’re not going hard enough. If the answer is “no” you’ve gone to hard. The answer you want is “maybe”.
I just looked back and it turns out you posted it. This has been working for me - not from the halfway point as yet, just for the last 5 minutes of a 30-min run, but it has helped me to try to push a wee bit harder and find some confidence with a little more speed and a slightly greater stride. It’s all good!
Vassos is a radio/TV presenter who is also a phenomenal runner, think 3 hour marathons and 100 mile ultras. He is also very inspiring writer, Running Up That Hill and Don't Stop Me Now are both well worth a read.
And I think that quote was originally related to cycling time trials, it was either Chris Boardman or David Millar, but it works great for running too.
Cheers lunge.
Bought some new shoes at the weekend. Been running in trail shoes for years for everything but figured I’d treat myself to a pair of road shoes. My brooks cascadias have been great so local running shop sold me some brooks adrenaline GTS 20’s.
Ran my hilly 5k loop from home tonight I’ve been trying to get under 25mins for ages (25:33 PB)
Just ran it in 23:49.
Happy with that.
Fine work Jam Bo.
You can never have to many pairs of running shoes.
I reckon a nice pair of race shoes, either flats or the new carbon plated stuff, will knock another 30 seconds off.
Treat yourself.
Any brands that tend to have a particular roomy toe-box? I heard Nike but wasn’t sure...
For a roomy toe box look at Altra or Topo. I haven't used either but my wife does prefer plenty of room up front and has extensive experience in this area!!!! She has quite a few pairs of Topo now, but be warned they are not cheap - check out Northern runner.
Re roomy toe boxes, Brooks are generally quite spacious, the Ghost is very roomy.
Some Nike are too, but it’s not consistent, the new Pegasus for instance is much tighter in that area than the previous one.
Brooks also do different width fittings I believe?
Saw some extra wide New Balance on Sportsshoes.com the other day.
Also, I find my Asiscs road shoes quite wide, my Asiscs trail shoes are narrower though.
Even extra wide New Balance are small.
Asics have plenty room, as for their trail shoes being narrow, I'm a shoe size 10 but wear 11.5 or 12 in trail shoes, so have plenty room in them. Last thing I want on an ultra or longer hill race is shoes getting tight due to swollen feet - happens on longer runs IME.
Weird that ASICS is mentioned, I've always found them too narrow for my feet. Or specifically, the 3 pairs of Cumulus's were anyway.
ASICS is what I have at the moment and find they pinch my obscenely long middle toes (they are longer than my big toe) and I tend to lose a bit of skin.
Also, whether it’s the sock I’ve been using from Decathlon not offering enough protection and causing severe rubbing on the mid outside of my right foot, or that my shoes have degraded lately which is causing the problem, I’m know thinking I need new shoes!! But I’m also a tight-arse.
Weird that ASICS is mentioned, I’ve always found them too narrow for my feet. Or specifically, the 3 pairs of Cumulus’s were anyway.
You bought 3 pairs of the same shoes, despite them being too narrow, but it's us that's weird?. 🙂
I’m know thinking I need new shoes!! But I’m also a tight-arse.
How many miles have they done? I go no longer than 300 on road shoes now, which makes the folk moaning about how long 5 tens last look a bit daft!
It probably comes as no surprise to hear that I'm a firm believer in lots of preparation and planning before races, or more recently FKT attempts. I like my inov8 vest/pack, with the soft flasks located in the armpits with straws up towards your shoulders - very easy to drink from on the move and you notice the additional weight much less than on the chest I find. However, I discovered during my recce at the weekend that it's quite fiddly to get flasks into the pockets while wearing the bag and I wasted quite a bit of time fiddling around clumsily as a result.
Mudstacle review picture
A few minutes with a sewing machine however and we now have some additional zips so that flasks can be inserted from the bottom not just slid in from the front
Next task will be to make some nice dangly tags on the 3D printer so that they're easy and quick to grab while on the move
Nice work Turbo, that's a good fix for soemthing that put me off buying that pack from the reviews.
Are you going to have anything broadcasting so we can follow your fkt attempt?
You bought 3 pairs of the same shoes, despite them being too narrow, but it’s us that’s weird?
Nah, bought 1 pair, the others were tried on or borrowed. I'm not that stupid.
🙂
the new Pegasus for instance is much tighter in that area than the previous one.
IMO Probably the best shoe ever (although not for everybody) I have told this story before but when at Uni I worked in a specialist running shop. Bought a pair of these (spent all my wages on running gear) then went our running in them with Benson Masya. Benson went on to become the world HM champion and ran 58:?? mins. Memories..... 🙂
With the travel restriction over, headed out for my first mountain run on Sunday since before lockdown, from Ballochbuie up past Lochnagar then back down via Glen Gelder to Balmoral. Suspected it would be busy at Lochnagar as it was a stunning day, coming round Carn an t-sagairt Beag (rarely see anybody there ever) was at least a dozen folk visible doing the white mounth circuit. Suffered a bit from the heat and carrying too much stuff (MWIS had said feels like -2 at 1000m) and despite doing sufficient distance runs, haven't been doing anywhere near the same magnitude of ascent recently. Found a snow patch that allowed me to cool off a bit. Headed back down and was running out of steam, thought I'd get in the shade at the Balmoral cairns, but fly swarms meant I had to keep moving. 29k/1000m in total. Afterwards, a bit greedy to make most of the day out headed over to Cambus O'May, another 12k up Cnoc Dubh, through the Burn O'Vat and over to Loch Kinord, ill advised move as legs were now like lead, feet throbbing, hobbled towards the end. Taken a day or two for legs to recover from that.
Falls of Glas Allt
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Nice clouds heading up
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Past the Stuic
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Made a wee snowman
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Classic view
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Glen Gelder
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Balmoral
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Cnoc Dubh
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Burn O'Vat
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Boardwalk thingy
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Loch
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@spawnofyorkshire I really like the bag, I have no idea how many times it has accompanied me to and from work bit it's a lot, with no complaints, although I've only used it with fluids a few times, and the weekend being the first to refill on the go.
First attempt at pausing a print mid-way, this was to add a bit of string
seems like it'll do the job 🙂
I hadn't thought about broadcasting apart from a live location to my wife via WhatsApp (which will have to be refreshed part-way through as 8 hours is the longest duration possible). Do you have any suggestions as to what app/website would be appropriate? I hadn't expected much interest in tracking during the run tbh!
IMO Probably the best shoe ever
As an all round running shoe I completely agree, the Pegasus just works. They do have the odd off year (I didn't like the 35) but I will always recommend them to new runners. The new version, the 37, is an amazing shoe, does all the old one does but just feels faster.
I'd suggest Garmin Livetrack, I use it when i'm doing stuff by myself. When you set it up it'll generate an email, but that just sends a weblink to your activity track and that can be shared as much as you want.
There's an option to retain the activity for 24hrs after too which is useful as otherwise when you stop your activity it will just go and unless they were watching you they wouldn't know you've finished or just disappeared off the map
lunge
Subscriber
IMO Probably the best shoe everAs an all round running shoe I completely agree, the Pegasus just works. They do have the odd off year (I didn’t like the 35) but I will always recommend them to new runners. The new version, the 37, is an amazing shoe, does all the old one does but just feels faster.
Tried a pair recently and really wanted to like them but had huge amounts of heel lift. The inner material just seemed really shiny and I could hardly keep them on my feet 🙁
Tried a pair recently and really wanted to like them but had huge amounts of heel lift. The inner material just seemed really shiny and I could hardly keep them on my feet
There have been a few online reviews that have said that. I tend to use the "lace lock" method of lacing on all my shoes and have never had that issue, maybe worth thinking about.
alanf , Ive heard altra have plenty of toe box room too so will be looking at some of them in th future too.
Was a fan of pegasus until about 34/35 but the fit has changed and doesn't suit me any more. Not wide enough toe box, tight across instep, and long at the back causing that heel lift like above. Keep going back in the nike shop and trying the new releases wanting them to work but not right yet. I have got feet like hooves though.
The "pegasus trail" one was a bit wider toebox but still slipped at back and the sole was far too flimsy for any offroad that has stones underfoot. Asics fujitrabaco has been alright and has a rock plate in there too but worth sizing up 1. Not tried the latest offering, but thats more a positive on the old ones lasting well.
Did find the nike zoom flyknit seemed to have a bit more room and stretch so got some of them from the outlet, and good reviews, but they're more of a fast road shoe so they've gone in the cupboard until I'm ready to do that.
@spawnofyorkshire 2 issues with Garmin Livetrack - firstly it's flaky as hell, I have it on as default to send an email to my wife whenever I'm running. It'll work sporadically for a few months then not for ages, so it can't be trusted unfortunately. Also I'm touch-and-go on battery life on my old Fenix 3 which has a longer battery than my Fenix 5S, so to try and stretch it as long as possible I'll have bluetooth off for the duration of my run.
Therefore I'd be looking for something to run purely on my phone, not leveraging my watch. Strava Beacon seems to require you to record the activity on your phone at the same time, which may result in a dead phone battery
@loum - if you're after trail shoes and like Nike, see if you can get some Terra Kiger or at least try them. They seem pretty wide in the toe box but I dont have much to compare to as I use Adidas road shoes (which are narrow). I picked some up from the outlet for £40 before lockdown. They are pretty grippy on rock and gravel but the sole wears out quickly too. I've worn that pair out but managed to get another off Ebay for £50. Worth a look.
Thanks alanf, will give them a try if I can find them.
I like the outlet stores , can try them on and get a decent price too. Only really go internet for shoes I already know will fit. Will get there again after lockdown and shielding. one near us has asics, nike, adidas and north face (surpisingly good running shoes) so one of them usually has something good.
eastcoastmike, stunnning pictures - looks a great day out.
Recently bought some Topo ultra fly road and ultra venture trail from northern runner. Like mentioned, not cheap but I’m sick of black, bruised toes and general pain. They have proved excellent. Still get a bit of toe tingle but much, much better. Wearing well after 300km on road.
Okay, if anyone wants to lose 5 minutes of their life they’ll never get back, you can watch this YouTube video of my 25km effort on Saturday. Perhaps the worst trail running video on YouTube? You decide.
Tore a ligament in my ankle about a month back and slowly building back up. Nice 12km this morning but hard work. I know VO2 Max is pretty unreliable but my Garmin has dropped me from 53 pre-injury to 49 now (which is as low as I've ever been I think). Took bloody ages to get from 49 to 53 in the past so pretty crap drop in a month(when I was still biking and not just sitting on the sofa eating Ben & Jerry's!!).