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I do like a fried egg sarnie after a run. Must be a runny yolk
Great thread and really interesting read.
I have started running this past year after frustrations with the amount of work travel restricting riding time. It has also been good to get out in the countryside with my wife so all in all a nice change 🙂 A new work colleague also runs a 2:20 marathon and loves a big run in the hills so I am in danger of catching the running bug 🙂
So the question...
Does anyone have any recommendations for a trip away this time of the year for a few days of smallish runs purely for a change of scenery and a treat? Somewhere with some nice 10-20km runs in easy access, decent enough weather and somewhere you can switch off for a few days would be good.
I was thinking of somehwere like Deia, Mallorca and making use of the GR221 route in various directions but I think the elevation changes will be a bit of a killer over my short distances and probably more of a hike. Gran Canaria maybe???
Ta!
@chomp
Brighton will be my first marathon too...
At the moment i'm working back into running.. managing a most weeks to get a half marathon in by running from school drop off, to back home.. Did a 1.44 yesterday which was pretty good after an xmas of booze and sleep!!
Going to try to add 2 more bits in:
shorter and faster runs..maybe interval..
slower longer runs.
Will see how i get on!
DrP
Toasted bagel, half with peanut butter and half with nutella, is one of my regular options for a substantial snack. Though I don't have a post-run snack that often, just have the next meal asap if hungry.
Any random sandwich or food item should do really. Nothing wrong with raiding the fridge!
County XC champs tomorrow anyone? I'm doing Nottinghamshire. It changed venue from Markeaton Park (Derby) to Bulwell Park (Nottingham) on Friday as the former is "waterlogged". Better get my 15mm spikes out.
@finbar, bit further south than you, ours is a little later on the year,
But I bloody love XC.
Mud, nasty hills, questionable timing and course measurement, short shorts, an all out sprint for the line to take that elusive 53rd position and throwing up after you've crossed the line.
I urge anyone on this thread to find a club and do an XC season, proper type 2 fun.
A little more modest than the majority in here, but I bagged the 5k of my C25K attempt a couple of weeks before Xmas. Then gained around 2.5kg and now back on running and shifting that in earnest.
My current loop is 4.35 miles with 494ft elevation gain. I seem to be knocking a minute off every week, currently at 42:15 best time. There is one steepish hill that I feel I am barely no quicker than walking up (191ft in .34mls, strava says 10.4% gradient) that really spanners me.
Aiming for three times a week and can’t decide if I aim for quicker over the same loop, or the same speed over a longer loop…..Or both!
Must be a runny yolk
I see what you did there.
4.35 miles with 494ft is tough going @rockhopper70
I think I'd be aiming to try a different loop, you risk getting very good at a set distance and elevation, mixing things up would be a good thing I reckon.
Just think how good he might have been if he’d trained properly 🙂
Spose he had to settle for being the greatest athlete of the 20c. If only STW was around in the 40's....
But I bloody love XC.
Mud, nasty hills, questionable timing and course measurement, short shorts, an all out sprint for the line to take that elusive 53rd position and throwing up after you’ve crossed the line.
I urge anyone on this thread to find a club and do an XC season, proper type 2 fun.
Completely agree. They are hands-down my favourite type of race, I much prefer XC round the corner of some dodgy park (there's a race in the Met league that goes around Wormwood Scrubs :D) than fell racing or anything really.
The standard is just astounding too. I've placed higher at London marathon than I have at the XC nationals...
Signed up for an ultra as thought it would be quite cool, 47m / 8K feet ascent. Furthest I’ve run is half marathon 6 years ago.
What’s best running vests (equipment carry,15l storage ) for a tall runner 6,3”.
What trail running shoes with some cushioning but predominantly for off road. I run in Brooks Beast on tarmac (heavy / flat footed) lots of cushioning and good support but cumbersome. Off road I use Peregrine - great shoes but no padding for hard pack.
Thanks for any advice.
@bikebob, packs are weird and seem to depend on body type. As a start have a look at the Harrier packs, they're very good, well priced and from a UK independent company. All of their stuff is good in my experience. If not, the Salomon packs are well received but not cheap. Are you sure you need 15l of storage? My last ultra was 45 miles and I had a 5l pack, it was plenty of space.
Shoes again are very personal and will depend on the shape of your feet and the terrain you're running on. Hoka Speedgoat are worth a look, and I like the new Nike Pegasus Trail 4 for less technical trails. Have a look at Innov-8 too, they do a wide selection of shoes for a range of terrains.
The standard is just astounding too. I’ve placed higher at London marathon than I have at the XC nationals…
Absolutely, my best at the National XC has been 107th I think, although I was feeling terrible prior to the race. London marathon - 10th non-elite 🙂
@bikebob if you like the Peregrine I can highly recommend the Xodus Ultra.
The standard is just astounding too. I’ve placed higher at London marathon than I have at the XC nationals…
The depth is incredible in races like the Northern/Southern/National/Inter Counties. Super fast guys at the front then sometimes hundreds coming in within a very short space of each other. I often found it difficult to race as its hard to gauge how well you are running and manage your effort when you have no idea how near (or far...) you are from the sharp end..
@bikebob the Salomon Adv Skin 12 works very well for me at 6'4". Also have the 5 litre one which is great too.
Thx for info on backpacks and shoes, really appreciated. I will check them out. Good to hear input on 5 litre pack, I was advised to go 15 but after bit more research and comments on here,5 is probably a better size.
Thanks all, will keep close to this thread.
Anyone doing Rombald's Stride in early Feb? I recced the first and last thirds on Sat and am still scrubbing the mud off 😀
Good to hear input on 5 litre pack, I was advised to go 15 but after bit more research and comments on here,5 is probably a better size.
What's the required kit list for your race? If it's a summer race and you only have to carry a jacket 5l is fine. I've done other races and there's no way I could fit it all into a 5l pack...
@ mogrim. I must carry jacket, waterproof trousers, spare top, first aid kit, small food and min 1 litre water. Presuming 5 will be ok ??
Ooh Rombalds Stride looks good and local. Unfortunately too far for me at this stage but good to know. Your right about the mud.
I must carry jacket, waterproof trousers, spare top, first aid kit, small food and min 1 litre water. Presuming 5 will be ok ??
5 sounds a bit small TBH. I'd probably get something around the 12l size - there's not that much difference weightwise, and you'll have a bit more flexibility. If you do get a bigger bag you will need to fight the urge to chuck more things in, "just in case"...
I must carry jacket, waterproof trousers, spare top, first aid kit, small food and min 1 litre water. Presuming 5 will be ok ??
5 will be work but it’ll be tight and reply on you having jacket and trousers that pack small. I’d see this as a positive as it means I won’t be able to take more than the minimum. 10 would be more comfortable but you have to be strict in your planning, you don’t need to fill it.
Thx again for info on back packs, will investigate bigger.
Daft Q. If too much space will things bounce around whilst running? I’ve never worn one and prefer not to, but know it’s a must as distance increases.
Absolutely, my best at the National XC has been 107th I think, although I was feeling terrible prior to the race. London marathon – 10th non-elite 🙂
@turboferret tasty! I'm at 365th/89th, so yeah, assuming my placings were comparable with one another, you had a rough day at the XC nats 😉 .
My favourite XC course is Parliament Hill. There's a flat-out 800m up a field at the start as 1500 runners all aim to fit through one five-bar gate-sized gap without being held up, then the race 'proper' starts with your HR already maxed out.
Daft Q. If too much space will things bounce around whilst running? I’ve never worn one and prefer not to, but know it’s a must as distance increases.
Nah they don't bounce around much. I have a 10l bag and rarely run with it full and it doesn't bounce around.
Well after years of very much dabbling with running having trained quite seriously as a kid I've bit the bullet and entered my first half marathon. Want to do a half and then a full for years but never quite found the motivation. Went for a couple of around NYD and felt really good so bit the bullet.
Sheffield Half so quite lumpy but I live in the city so finding hills to train on is just a case of opening the front door. So, 3 months to prepare. I have a training plan and have been sticking to it so far and still feeling better than I have done in many many years.
Fingers crossed I can make it round - I'll be delighted with anything under 2.30 and still very pleased if I manage to run the whole thing.
If too much space will things bounce around whilst running? I’ve never worn one and prefer not to, but know it’s a must as distance increases.
Generally they have straps on the side you keep things in place, you just tighten them up or loosen them depending on how much you're carrying.
BTW while I'm usually a Decathlon fanboy, I don't recommend their trail backpack. I got one a few months back thinking it would be ideal - 10l capacity, which is perfect for winter runs (when you carry more crap); 1l water bladder; lots of well placed pockets; and comfortable. On paper it's perfect, and when I tried it on in the shop it seemed great too. Unfortunately in practice it bounces a fair amount on the downhills, and if you use 500ml softflasks in the chest pockets it's even worse. Fortunately it was relatively cheap, but still annoying.
(Following on the reviews and targets thing...)
I had a relatively poor year of running last year, but didn't have a major running event in as a target so it was back to basics, with shorter orienteering events etc. Only bigger running event was the OMM in October, and due to lack of fitness on my part and a chest infection on my teammates, that ended up being two solid hiking days rather than much running.
2019 - 17 runs, 141km, 3540m ascent, total time 19:41:58
2020 - 50 runs, 402km, 8667m ascent, total time 50:52:12
2021 - 68 runs, 901km, 24669m ascent, total time 135:51:03
2022 - 43 runs, 450km, 13950m ascent, total time 67:56:32
After the doldrums after my A-race (Itera expedition race) I've joined a running club so it should - barring issues - be at least one run a week with them, plus parkruns, events or longer runs at weekends. I've got a couple of local XC league events coming up for them as well, I'm entered for the Great Lakeland 3-Day in early May so that's three good days in the hills that I need to get sorted for early in the year. After that, maybe the KMF 25km Trail Run in late May, another Adventure Race (Itera-lite) in July and maybe The Lap ultra in September. I'm not a speed merchant like Lunge and others on here so it's choosing long fun stuff to keep me interested.
Re: Packs - I switch between a small Mountain Hardwear vestpack (that they don't make anymore, which is a massive shame) and a couple of older Ultimate Direction vestpacks (Mountain vest and FKT pack). None of them bounce too much, all have good cinch-down straps and work fine with bottles and food in the front.
@turboferret tasty! I’m at 365th/89th, so yeah, assuming my placings were comparable with one another, you had a rough day at the XC nats 😉 .
@finbar yes, it wasn't an amazing run, and when I got home I discovered that the covid test that I had taken that morning was in fact positive 😮 I probably should have waited a bit longer to wait for a 2nd line....
my running last year was pretty abismal. The odd run here and there but nothing focussed.
So I've signed up for the Scaffel skyrace in June as a kick to getting my act together. 40km/2800m of climbing, then all going well there i'll pick some ultra later in the year.
First dropping the christmas weight and some base training!
@bikebob, I'd second avoiding Decathlon packs, they're OK and no more.
Bounce has never been a problem for me, I suspect it could be if you had heavy kit and/or packed badly, but some care in loading up and you'll be fine.
You also need to decide if you want water in the front in flasks or in the back in a bladder. I very much prefer for the former as I find a drink more, it's easier to refill and it bounces less. Others may have different views.
As someone who mainly ran shorter distances on track road and Xc I am tempted to do a long event before I am pretty much too old... (58) I fancied doing "The Lap" in September. 47 miles but not overly difficult in Lakes terms but does look scenic. Anyone done it??
I'm in the third week of a 16 week training plan for the Manchester Marathon.
Christ... I'm seriously bored of running in the rain 🙁
I don't normally mind it but I reckon the majority of my runs I've ended up piss-wet-through.
@simply_oli_y - that Scafell Skyrace looks really good.
@surfer - not done it, but am entered for September now. The Sep anticlockwise Lap is reportedly slightly harder than the May clockwise route, but they both look manageable.
@surfer - Unfortunately, it clashes with a trip to france, othwerise i'd have been entering the Lap too. Will probably enter the May 2024 event
Another for Septembers Lap. Typical run for me is 5 miles 2/3 times a week. Missed the 100 days to Xmas challenge and decided now or never. Past mid 50s and needed a challenge and Lap looks a great intro to an ultra and should have great scenery. Paid my money so I’m in.
Thanks again to all the for advice, really appreciated.
Early days but half marathon training going well. Not felt this good running for many years and so far I have been out as per my schedule regardless of the weather, work and anything else that would usually cause me to stay in on the settee 🙂
Be interesting to see how the whole thing pans out over the coming weeks and very much looking forward to more spring like weather to enjoy it all in!
Snowdonia Marathon - I know a few have done it on here.
What are your experiences of it?
Snowdonia Marathon – I know a few have done it on here.
What are your experiences of it?
@chuckmorris,
Incredible event, the best marathon I've done. I did it last year and am in again for this year.
Clearly not a PB course, but the scenery is stunning, great support on the road and just a really good atmosphere.
Just save something for mile 22...
@dannybgoode glad the training is going well, I did the Round Sheffield Run on Sunday and it was bloody excellent. Well worth signing up for the summer edition I would say. Half marathon(+ a bit) but with an interesting format.
Was proper boggy on Sunday in places but everyone seemed to be having a whale of a time.
Trying to maintain a bit of momentum this year as various illnesses took me down last year - that being said child 2 is due in May so...
Moat of the race vests are made of stretchy mesh and have some sort of bungee system. The only benefit I can see is a minor weight advantage in going down a size. I have the Montane VP12 and regulalry run with very little in the main section, but also ran with it carrying the kitchen sink, the Salomon's are probably the same. So if you only want to buy one race vest, go bigger.
Salomon are probably the best, the Montane Gecko is OK, but there's a few things I'm not totally happy with, it has a few pockets that are too small to be of use, and the straps on the front are a little feeble and fall off, although they may have changed the design, or will send you better ones aftermarket. I'd definitely go to a shop and try some on, think about all the pockets, big / medium stretchy ones are better than small ones. Think about how they'll work if half full, unless you've got lots of money and can afford multiples.
Bottles at the front are easier to refill than a bladder, its also easier to know how much water you've got left.
As a part-time runner, I'm not expecting a great result but I'm just going to put out here that I've entered the Great Wilderness Challenge this year.
https://www.greatwildernesschallenge.info/
Well outside my comfort zone, but it takes place in August, so I've time to train for it. I'm hoping the scenery will distract me.
Have just entered that Great Wilderness Challenge too, 25 mile run.
Need some motivation to up my running this year and to actually push myself. Had a look on Strava and last year I managed a grand total of 285km over 21hrs. Did manage 17th in the 7 Reservoirs trail half marathon in the Pentlands with a time of 1:39 so was pretty pleased with that, but not run anything over 21km before.