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Just in awe of @mogrim!!
Been a shit summer for me. Start of the year was great and really enjoying my running. Then had covid and a couple of chest infection which knocked me back a bit but did the Round Sheffield Run not long after - wasn’t great but managed to get round as I’d have expected having had covid and not run for a month.
then the wheels fell off with lots of breathing pain and tight chest. Obviously raised lots of red flags with GPS who have been shit. Weeks later and I think I’m heading for a haemochromatosis diagnosis, which can lead to shortness of breath. Hopefully can confirm asap and start some treatment (bit of blood letting normally)
I'm sure this gets asked every year around this time but here goes...
What's good in the way of head torches for night running?
I'm happy to spend a few quid on one that's not some shonky Chinese Amazon special that'll burn my house down when I try to charge it. For bike lights I've always spent the extra and went for Exposure stuff as they're good quality and just work.
Anyone got any experience with Exposure head torches?
I normally wear a cap when I'm running so it's a bonus if someone can recommend a head torch that'll work with a cap.
I normally wear a cap when I’m running so it’s a bonus if someone can recommend a head torch that’ll work with a cap.
Like a peaked cap? Im not sure any head torch will work very well with that. Scotroutes was talking about the chest mounted ones though.
@mogrim - amazing effort on the TdG. I can’t quite comprehend the distance.
all others - great going, and I think we are all glad it’s bit cooler.
Anyone doing the Vitality 10k tomorrow in London? I got an offer through parkrun to enter for a tenner so going along for the experience, even though 10ks are against my
religion. Horrible, hurty things. I put down my pb from a couple of years ago and I’m in wave 1. I’ll need to watch my mirrors!
headtorches: I bought a nice black diamonds but it has this stupid function when you touch the side it switches to main beam. I always seem to trigger it, unless I want to, and keep having to check if it’s on or off. I’ve tried taping the side but to no avail.
Bought an Alpkit Qark and although it’s a bit rougher around the edges, it’s functional,
comfy enough and easy to use.
What is the STW anti chafing cream of choice? as I’m ramping up the distance I suffer after a run, mainly at base of buttocks ( sorry for the detail)
I assume I need something for during, and post, run.
cheers
I normally wear a cap when I’m running so it’s a bonus if someone can recommend a head torch that’ll work with a cap.
Just turn it round when you're using the light. Fairly happy with my Petzl Iko Core, but it definitely needs a head band or hat to stop it slipping. At least for my head, anyway.
Scotroutes was talking about the chest mounted ones though.
Yeah - Decathlon do a couple. I bought one after someone in the club was using his and recommended it. As with the bar/head torch decision with bikes, it works best on straighter/wider paths, just a bit of a pain on narrow, wooded stuff as you can't "squint" into the direction you're about to be going. Works well in rain, driving snow etc as you don't get that Star Wars "warp" sensation.
Having said that, I tend not to wear a peaked cap when it's dark and any head torch I've used worked fine with a beanie.
What is the STW anti chafing cream of choice?
Whatever chamois cream I happen to have.
What is the STW anti chafing cream of choice? as I’m ramping up the distance I suffer after a run, mainly at base of buttocks ( sorry for the detail)
I've been using Assos Chamois Creme, with decent results. Decathlon anti-friction also seems to work well, but for inter-nut use the Assos stuff has been great 🙂
Cheers Mogrim. You have earned the running credibility so happy to take your recommendation!
It’s that time of the year.
4 weeks out from Snowdonia marathon.
Into week 2 of 4 high mileage weeks. 76 miles last weeks.
Everything aches, constantly. I’m constantly tired. And constantly eating.
And it’s raining outside so dragging myself out to do the session gets harder and harder.
The mojo has all but left the building.
Why do we do it to ourselves??
4 weeks out from Snowdonia marathon.
I just looked at the course profile for that, its not very flat is it?
I did my first running event for years on Sunday, Edinburgh 10km. Target was 1hr, I did it in 1hr 20sec but had to stop for a portaloo wee which splits suggest cost me 30-45secs.
Route was an out and back, it was slightly demoralising to see the lead runners on their way back when I was only 2.5km in to the outbound leg!
I'm thinking of entering a trail marathon in the new year - Will a generic marathon training plan (Runner's world, FIRST, etc) be suitable for this, provided that I do the long runs on similar terrain? I'm not aiming for a time, more just to run the distance.
There are some great trail training plans here, and all for free - SWAP training plans
You can also scale them up/down depending on how much mileage you want to do
My Wife has decided to do the short run (8km) at the Illuminator next month and casually suggested that I should do the 15 miler. 🙂 I love her really...
Winter fell running.... without going full gung ho, where best to start with kit?
I've tried running in my Altura MTB jacket but it's just too sweaty. Are there any good lightweight waterproofs (or showerproof?) or just embrace the rain?
Recommendations for layers that pack small enough into a running bag.
Can I suggest looking at it another way? If you fell and broke, say, your ankle and were stuck cold and wet for quite some time before you could be extracted/rescued, how much kit would you want to have to ward off hypothermia?
@mark88 go to Sportsshoes and look at some of their Higher State stuff if you’re on a budget.
Otherwise there's loads of good kit on the market from the likes of Montane, Haglofs and Salomon. Inov8 can be ok, the OMM Kamleika Smock / Jacket is legendary but alot of there other stuff can have some weird design features.
In winter try to carry an emergency bivi at the least https://www.tauntonleisure.com/outdoor-equipment/survival-emergency/lifesystems-heatshield-bivi-bag__6061 along with full body waterproof cover, hat and gloves, whistle and a gel. Map and Compass if you don't know the area. If nothing else its good training / practice.
For longer outings in harsh weather then spare gloves and an emergency base layer or primaloft jacket is worth carrying, as is a headtorch if you set off late. If you're out in a group consider a bothy bag.
I’ve tried running in my Altura MTB jacket but it’s just too sweaty. Are there any good lightweight waterproofs (or showerproof?) or just embrace the rain?
Recommendations for layers that pack small enough into a running bag.
TBH lightweight waterproofs are still pretty sweaty, there isn't really a fabric that will cope with what a hard working runner sweats.
The OMM Rotor smock is a good, packable emergency warm layer.
In the winter I generally run with a super lightweight pertex shell from mountainwarehouse (tied round waist if not being worn) which costs about 10-20 quid depending on sale but if I'm going anywhere more remote (or a fell race that requires it) I'll carry a very light goretex shell, top and legs. Have never run hard in the latter, too hot and heavy (and I don't go out for pleasure in a blizzard), but necessary for safety. Can't help on manufacturers for the latter as my wife made them!
Thanks for the responses - to clarify, I live in the Lakes and am experienced in the fells MTB and hiking. I'm not suggesting heading out for winter runs with minimal kit, but asking what running-specific kit is worth pursuing.
OMM Kamleika jacket and trousers, still a bit boil in the bag and relatively big and heavy, but they’re good workhorse waterproofs.
I’ve heard good stuff about the Ron Hill / ME shakedry kit, but not sure if it’s still available.
I’ve just popped back in here to get recommendations for a light waterproof jacket for winter so thanks for the recommendations above.
I'm not needing anything for Lake District type weather, just the local area when it’s pouring down as my current New Balance jacket is boil in the bag, doesn’t fit properly and to top it off has a bloody annoying hood that works like a windsock!
I still need to find some new shoes that’ll have some level of grip in the Chiltern chalky mud as my current Speed Goats are struggling already.
Well believe it or not my knee has improved quite a bit over the last month or two. I've managed a couple of fairly gentle trail runs, 4 ish miles, 500-800ft of climbing. I'm still getting the odd tightness or sharp pain, but much more manageable.
On the flat, my natural pace is about 1 1/2 minutes per mile off what I used to be. So I have a very long way to go if I wanted to be as quick as I was. Not sure I feel the speed will ever return.
It’s getting a bit cold for shorts now so I’m looking at some tights for winter.
Big question is… Underwear under running tights or not?
I just wear my standard running shorts under Ron hills. Has the obvious advantage that if it turns out to be a bit warmer than expected, I can just take the leggings off and tie them round me. Especially for the long 2h+ runs.
No risk of that today with frost on the ground though.
Oh - I should have posted a couple of weeks ago...
After slogging round the Illuminator in calf-deep mud for 15 miles, I was persuaded to enter the Dava Way 50km Ultra. Now that's about 50% further than any run I've done this year and the only thing even near to that was the Fort William marathon 5 years ago.
Anyway, deciding to just risk failure, I aimed to get along before the cut-off (8 hours) but hopefully in 7h. The day went better than expected and I finished in 5h49m - astonishing myself and winning in my age category (60-69). I felt really quite fresh at the end and could likely have carried on for another 10km or so without issue.
Not sure I'll be looking to repeat that any time soon as I want to get back to more riding next year and I find the amount of run training interferes with that.
Wish I had known you were running at the Dava, would have suggested you say hello at the finish. I do the finish line medic at this, among quite a few others.
The day went better than expected and I finished in 5h49m – astonishing myself and winning in my age category (60-69)
many congrats! that's awesome! well done!
Like Scotroutes above, I perhaps should have posted this a couple of weeks ago as I've had a really good autumn of running.
First up was the stunning Marathon Eriyi (formally Snowdonia Marathon) which I completed in 3:20, a full 20 minutes faster than last year. The ballot opens for next year on the 1st December, I'd urge you all to have a look, it's a magnificent event.
And next was my end of season goal at Derby 10 miler where I ran a very respectable 59:37. The main motivation for this was the old guy at my running club saying “If you can run 10 miles in under an hour that makes you a proper decent runner”. So now I am a Proper Decent Runner. Lovely.
After running about 3 times since the 50km ultra I did in July, I've just signed up for the 100km version for next July.
Task 1 - find my running shoes
@ lunge How on earth do you train for something like Snowdonia Marathon? That course profile looks brutal!
crossed, find some big hills and run up and down them 🙂
Bentham marathon has similar elevation gain. I just included the two big climbs on some of my sunday runs.
(Ditto for the 3 peaks which I ran a while back, which has about 50% more elevation gain in a similar distance.)
I'm up to 15 miles or so now for my longer runs, nothing compared to the ultra-milers but building up to marathon training over the winter.
@crossed, same as any other marathon but with more hills!
For me that was lots of long, slow runs and making sure there we some hills in every one. I also did quite a few hills reps and made sure my normal week day runs had some elevation too.
You're never going to replicate it exactly, so you do as much as you can.
The Snowdonia marathon looks epic. 3:20 is a fab time on that course. Great running! That one is deffinitely on the list.
I've managed to get into Dublin marathon through the ballot and I'm hoping for a Berlin place.
Just need to get my Hernia fixed now. Anybody run with a Hernia before?
Did my first 10k of the year yesterday. Not quite in the same league as scotroutes but I'm buzzing !
Anyone able to share a bit of insight into zone calculations please?
I've been doing an hour or so a week z2 (based on Garmin max HR %), but when I compared to a mate of similar ability (using Garmin lactate threshold calcs) my z2 runs were about 2 min/km slower. I'm guessing the zones aren't an exact science so will differ depending on where you get your info.
According to Garmin I have a max HR of 194 (potentially a bit high, haven't tested). 35 years old
Garmin says z2 is 60-69% so max 134 bpm, but then it also refers to Z3 (79% / 153) as aerobic
MAFs method says 145 bpm is max aerobic HR
runbundle.com says Z2 is up to 81% of MHR so 158 bpm.
A Runners World article calls z2 70-80%
Any experts in the area?
If you can talk a bit it’s probably about right. So long as you are running properly, and not shuffling along like a granny you can’t really run too slowly for your aerobic work.
All these numbers are rough guidance at best, especially as you don’t even know your max. Try running a bit faster if you want but it should be a pace you are comfortable at even at the end of your hour. I don’t even think about how fast or hard I’m going, if I think about anything it’s my running form and cadence.
Been building up my distance for the Sheffield round run in Jan. Did 17km about 10 days ago and two issues appeared. Heel pain and outside of knee pain. No running until last night for a midweek 8km and both issues returned worse. Both new on me and not sure if I can do anything about either of them to keep training and do the event.
@mark88 you could write a whole book on HR Zone calculations just by quoting everything that's been written about them on STW already. I don't profess to know much, but I did the LTHR test on my Fenix 6 and, using that, my Z2 moved up by about 10 BPM. It had previously been based just on max HR and felt ridiculously low - I'd blow out the top of it walking quickly up a gradual incline.