The Annual Running thread - beginners/ultras/whatever

Solid effort, Alanf!

I had a 5-mile XC race of a much lower standard than our Surrey League, and was a bit disappointed to finish behind some folk I'm normally well ahead of.  Don't think I mentally committed and felt pretty fresh at the finish...

I've just put my London training schedule into my diary; I'm following the Pfitzinger and Douglas 85+ miles per week 18 week plan, which means I won't have a single rest day between Christmas eve and the end of April :O  Double runs for about half of those days too.  Championship entry confirmed, goal is sub 2:25 and a podium in the V40.

In terms of best runs of the year, London Marathon is top of my list.  Set a target of sub 2:30 and exceeded that by a couple of minutes, while everyone else struggled with the heat.  Unbelievable 13th place of the non-elites.

Cheers Rich, I reckon you are well placed for you VLM target next year.

I'm hoping I cab stay injury free in the build up and see where I am come the end of April.

Your VLM run this year was outstanding given the conditions on the day. My run of the year was possibly at the weekend, but up to that point, probably the Boston (UK) Marathon, getting 4th and a sub 2:45 for a championship entry to London, which was the target.

That plan sounds horrific TF! 🤣

dunno about my run of the year, lots of PBs as I hadn't really trained properly before.... but I'd say it was the Jedburgh half with Mrs Nobeer,  she was loaded with the cold, weather was horrible, but she managed a PB anyway. I love seeing her PB as much, maybe even more, than a PB myself.

Up until last winter, at the age of 39, she had never really done much in the way of exercise, she's slim and never though she was unfit, like lots of folk I think. Now she rattles out 8 minute miles with a smile on her face! 😊

She bloody loves running now, can't get enough, mega proud of her!. We've signed up to Marcothon, minimum 5k a day for December, I like stuff like that, will force me out the door, and that's always the hard part.

Manchester for me alanf, I'll be aiming at the V50 podium which is of course a softer option than London. I'm not at 2:45 yet but if I get there before age catches up with me I'll definitely head down for the championship.

Best run this year was of course 2:48 at Manchester. But I've really enjoyed all my racing. With the possible exception of a couple of 10ks in the middle of the summer where I completely wilted in the heat!

Some serious times up there.

My best run of the year was Birmingham Half where I managed to drop 7 minutes of my PB in the pouring rain and cold. Never has a half felt so effortless, had so much in my legs, just felt wonderful. It reinforced my suspicion that I am a much better and happier runner when the weather is grim.

Worst was the Birmingham 10k in the raging heat, 45 minutes of pure suffering, hated every step, just no fun at all.

Got 1 more "proper" run lined up this year, a 20km (I wanted to do the half but I refuse to pay an extra £5 for 1km!) job on the 19th December before spending the winter trying to get my 5k time under 20 minutes and deciding if I want to do another marathon next year (who am I kidding, it's more which one isn't it?!).

Managed to get a couple of runs on the Lakeland Fells again at weekend. On Saturday we had an ill fated jaunt up Seat Sandal from Dumail. It was raw on the summit so we binned off going up Fairfield and dropped back down. My Mrs then managed to smack her knee cap on a pointy rock as she was passing some walkers and ended up hobbling down using a stick as support. On the plus side I managed to have a look at the 'good' line back down from summit to the road. Sunday was glorious and we headed up to Langdale for a trot up Pike o' Blisco and  Cold Fell. This was an opportunity to tick off a couple of Wainwrights and get some climb in the legs. Stunning views. The dogs enjoyed it too!

I’ll be aiming at the V50 podium which is of course a softer option than London. I’m not at 2:45 yet but if I get there before age catches up with me I’ll definitely head down for the championship.

Thats a good time. I am 5 yrs ahead of you, 55 in October. Always wanted to do the NYC Marathon and although I could manage a sub 90 min HM which would guarantee me a good for age (at 54) there is still no guarantee that it wont be over subscribed. May just buy an entry to be certain....

Edit: Cheer up Mrsparkle!

Did my first xc race at the weekend , tough but fun

Just for you, surfer! ;0)

Out again this morning, second time this week and it rained literally all the way round. Lovely. Felt a bit warmer than the last couple of mornings though. Unfortunately my stopwatch decided to pause itself halfway around so I don't know how long it took me, but it felt like I held a pretty steady pace all the way round, and going by the time when I left / got back it was probably around the 20 minute mark, which I'm pretty happy with.

I also ran the HRM on my watch out of curiosity (it's not accurate enough for training I don't think) which seemed to sit around the 140-150bpm mark while I was out. I have in the past used a Garmin chest strap, and that seems about right - puts me somewhere in the middle of zone 3 and 4 (my theoretical max is 182, and from doing intervals a while back that's about right. Resting is about 58).

I'm not really fussed about HRM based training for the moment, I'm mainly going by feel, but it suggests I'm somewhere in the right kind of ballpark. I may dig out my old Forerunner at some point, but for now I reckon I might just start Strava tracking on my phone to get a better idea of times, and as I start to mix up routes.

I'm now starting to think about goals for next year, as long as I can keep going without injury. We're staying up at Loch Katrine for a week in July, and there looks to be a good path along the lochside there. I'm thinking it might be nice to be able to run from the lodge to Stronachlachar (just over 14 miles, but I think quite flat) then get the ferry back over.

I don't really want to enter any events as we've a baby on the way and I don't want to commit to too much, plus I much prefer running when no one else is around, but I like to have something to aim for. 14 miles seems a long way away at the moment, but that's about 8 months to train so should be just about doable...

Good stuff fmc,  there's a marathon along LK,  looks fairly flat.

http://www.audreymcintosh.co.uk/loch-katrine-info/

Ace, I think we walked a bit of the track a few years ago, I remember it as being a bit like the track round Ladybower in the Peak, kind gently undulatey rather than proper hills.

I struggle to train on hills 'cos it's so flat around here, I have to drive to get to any and if I have that much time I'd kinda rather be on my bike.

**edit** There's an old railway track that pretty much goes from my house to the coast for 14 miles, that might be a good training plan for next year.

Any one trying a marcothon this year ?

I tried last year and made it to 12 days of minimum  5k a day.

I feel like my legs will have a much better chance of supporting my ambition this year.

Also got a duathlon next Sunday 4km and 20km bike. Get to dust down the olde TT bike......it's been a while since we have entered the Hurt locker that bike is the utter pain cave for sure.

A week off here - loads of travelling with only hand baggage, plus after Mondays run one of my upper thigh / groin area was strained and painful over night...

Last weeks SDW was fun, wedding in the afternoon meant I drank loads and slept lots.. even managed a  doze/snort during the speeches (how rude)

This weekend back on the trails of QECP, a couple of laps should be fun.

Back into it all after my hernia scare..

Weather looks kinda warm, i’m holding off dragging the long legs out yet..

I'm doing Marcothon Terry, planning 5 miles a day minimum. Hardest bits getting over the door, once out, another couple of mile isn't much.

Currently waiting to get out and do a parkrun somewhere in Northampton. It’s pissing down.

Dry is good. Wet is good. It’s the going from dry to wet that I don’t like. 😀

Did my first ever 10k yesterday. It was on a treadmill and took me just over the hour to do, but feeling pretty chuffed after building up to it throughout November. Just need to keep it up throughout December as ski season training

Did my first ever 10k yesterday. It was on a treadmill and took me just over the hour to do, but feeling pretty chuffed after building up to it throughout November.

👍

good work dude.

Nothing wrong with that tennis shoes, 10k is 10k.

Cheers guys! 🏃‍♂️

Nice one oldtennisshoes....

I did my first a few weeks back, well chuffed.

First proper coast path 10k for me today. Love the challenge of hills, slipperyness, tourists and rain

Having only started running in 2017 I clocked up a nice little milestone this week and exceeded 2000km for the year.

Still trying to beat 23 minutes for a parkrun which was my other target for this year.

Annoyingly finished on 23:00 dead a couple of weeks back and 23:03 last week.

Just started doing a bit of Pilates and a military fitness style boot camp to improve .

I’ll get there soon....

Also signed up for first marathon in April.

After having done very little running in the second half of this year I did my first event in ages yesterday. The last running of the Grim Challenge in Farnborough (off-road on army vehicle proving land). Sold as 8 miles I think it was about under that however I finished in just under an hour in 22nd place (of 1000). Happy with that :). Would have been a few places further up if I'd managed to get to the front before the start. Not run Grim for nearly 10 years and I was 20 minutes faster than my younger self to boot.

If you had told me a year ago I would run up Dumyat for lunch, I would have laughed in your face while stuffing another sandwich down. Once again, thanks to this thread I just did... 5k and 217m up.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/xCcPDvUyakNTB3Ui6

Last night was my second run of the year!

Combination of zero motivation and niggling injuries have stopped me running this year! Hopefully get some decent mileage in over winter now I seem to have found my mojo again.

L hivernale des Templiers for me at the weekend.

12km and 600m elevation off road .the main downhill was so steep had to use my hands a few times.

Good fun.

Not doing a specific marcothon as such but I have been doing run every day since 30th September and managing to stay committed so far.  I can squeeze some lunch time runs in with one of my dogs instead of taking both for a walk.  My minimum distance is I think around 4 miles, but I don't use a watch and don't really track my runs too closely so it's a bit vague, but it's certainly no less than 3 miles.

It's helping that I've got plenty in the calendar coming up to train for and also I seem to be hitting a rich vein of form.

I managed another PB this weekend in the Percy Pud 10k (Loxley, Sheffield) and knocked 62 seconds off (34:27) and won the V40 category.

I'll be doing my last monthly half this coming weekend at Keyworth.

I mean after the last post I feel a bit inadequate, but it's all good right? 😉

Anyway, been out a couple of times this week, and after a false start with Strava on Tuesday where I managed not to track or time anything, I managed to track the whole run today. I say whole run, all 2.1 miles of it.

According to Strava, I covered 2.17 miles (sounds about right) in just under 22 minutes, at a pace of 10:05 min/mile. Fastest split was 9:51 min/mile. I've set up a segment so I can track it better, but that's not showing up yet.

I'm pretty happy with that - I know it's a million miles from most of the folk on here, but it seems to be heading in the right direction, 10 minute miles seems like an achievable aim. Hell, even 9 minute miles doesn't seem too crazy.

I think the plan next is to up the distance a bit, we're away this weekend so no riding which means I should be pretty fresh next week. I think I'll go for a 3 miler early in the week, then back down to a 2 midweek then ride on Sunday.

ran with a local club last night at their speed work sessions.

8 x 300 hard with 300 jog recovery

all a bit structured for my liking I've never liked someone else telling me what to do - but then for speed work i probably need that.

managed my 5k a day for 6 days so far.

Racing sunday so 2 easy 5s the next couple of days and then its duathlon time.

Should be on for a PB run - its been 10 years since i did this event and i didnt run at all back then !

since august 1st this year I'm down 12kg , instead of being 1 belt hole away from needing a new belt ive moved 6 belt holes to the right and am 1 away from needing to punch more in so it can go smaller. ive gone from 25% BF to 18%. and ive gone from 5k being a battle to 10k being a trivial matter.

5 weeks till Spine time and I'm struggling with tendon pain down the front of my shins. I've not got half as many miles in as I would have liked. Just got to hope the body holds together long enough, and some proper weather kicks in.

since august 1st this year I’m down 12kg , instead of being 1 belt hole away from needing a new belt ive moved 6 belt holes to the right and am 1 away from needing to punch more in so it can go smaller. ive gone from 25% BF to 18%. and ive gone from 5k being a battle to 10k being a trivial matter.

Love it. Hopefully I'll be posting something similar in a few months. Getting out regularly is definitely making me feel better in general, I definitely miss commuting every day (well, some aspects of it anyway).

I probably need to up to more runs a week, but I'm happy to take it steady and build up.

I’m pretty happy with that

I think that's all that matters to be honest. Given where you are now, you have the chance to see that steep improvement that comes with taking it up, and getting more into it. It's a really enjoyable phase. Good work!

Anyway, I hadn't read my parkrun email properly from last week, where I ran, with a bloody hangover again, a soggy 5k in Northampton with 190 others while we were visiting friends for the weekend.

I knew I'd finished top 20 because of the place chip they'd given me. But I came first in VM45-49 category and wasn't beaten by anyone pushing a buggy. That's probably one I won't be repeating any time soon as the fields in the other runs I do tend to be 400+ runners and there are always a few VM45-49 gazelles that come in well sub-20. Obviously, there were none of those types turning up on Saturday where I was. Still, you can only compete against who turns up, yeah? Yeah!

@trail_rat - training needs to have a structure. Whether that's a run "leader" or trainer telling you: "full effort to the end of the road" or yourself telling you the same, it doesn't really matter. Possibly a bit easier in a group as hopefully the competitive instinct kicks in and you work harder as there isn't the temptation to ease up 50m before the line.

Not all sessions need to be structured though - you can get a good workout with fartlek sessions for example - and it's good to mix things up to prevent it all getting a bit stale.

I think that’s all that matters to be honest. Given where you are now, you have the chance to see that steep improvement that comes with taking it up, and getting more into it. It’s a really enjoyable phase. Good work!

Yeah I reckon. There's a benefit in comparison I think, especially as you start to get a bit 'better', but at the moment I'm taking the posts of epic runs and 5k a day as inspiration more than anything. Am I there now? Nope. Will I get there? Maybe. Am I enjoying trying to get there? Actually yes, pretty much for the first time I'm enjoying running on the road (I've always liked trail running more, but that's a drive away).

while i agree .

ive had good results in other sports training at my own pace to my own set schedule
so structured sessions with shouty people dont really appeal to me.

ill give it a few more and see how it goes.

Does depend on the person leading. I used to run with Ilkley Harriers and their weekly training runs were understated and varied from semi-structured like The Big Dipper: a series of road climbs around the town. To a run out to Burley and back: "anyone who wants to can do an effort from the next lamppost to the bridge" type stuff. There were certainly no Sergeant Major type characters.

indeed , its just the nature of the beast i think im generally by nature a solo trainer

ill probably benefit greatly as you say but it will take time to adjust.

If you want to maximise your performance then yes your training should have structure. The more considered and structured the better. On the other hand running to a plan can take away much of the fun and without enjoyment you are never going to train hard over a long period of time in order to get good results. If you can stick to a plan and that structure helps, then fine. IME the best way to introduce structured and hard workouts is to train in a group.

I was lucky I loved running so much the main issue was trying to do less, not more! My enthusiasm and (like most competitive runners) my "enjoyment" of "pain" meant that even if I wasnt as strict in terms of specific sessions as I should be my overall volume and intensity probably meant I got there in the end. If you dont enjoy running for its own sake then no schedule in the world will get you training.

Day 7 of 5k+ per day and still going. Get to Christmas Eve and I've promised myself a Garmin Instinct watch.
My legs seemed to have stopped aching in the night which is a bonus.

"If you dont enjoy running for its own sake then no schedule in the world will get you training."

Diffrent strokes.

Ive always been the sort that sets goals/targets and works towards. Ill put up with alot of shit to get to that target - as i said above its worked for me many times when ive decided i want to do something.

I have my 2019 focus and know that i need to train towards that - thats my motivation.

my goal i set in august for this weekend is whats got me this far.

Ive found if theres no goal - there is no need for structure - and thats not to say i dont see why training should be structured but theres my structure and there is what someone else who doesnt know me from adam thinks i should be doing.

How ever i am enjoying running right now and especially hill running. Steeper the better it seems.

Bit of a late "buy-in" to this 2018 thread but after recently getting fitted for some running shoes to stop my ankle pain (it turns out I'd mistakenly bought the non-support version of the Nike Zooms I had previously when I tried to replace them like for like ) I've been gradually getting back in to running. Hopefully off to my local parkrun for the first time tomorrow if it's not lashing it down!

The struggle I'm having at the moment is I have a nice flat and well-lit 4k or 5k route to default to in the evenings after work, and over the last month I've gone from running the 4k at 5:15/km to the 5k (same route, with a small extension loop at the end) at 4:44/km which I'm really happy with, but I can't seem to stick to a slower steady run pace?

Ideally I want to start adding distance, and pegging back the pace a little for those longer runs but I seem to find myself just running faster & faster until I finish up flat out and completely wasted at the 5k mark. Does anyone have any strategies to keep pace down/steady? I know it sounds like an odd 'problem' to have!

Heart Rate Zone training?

HRMs

Once you're feeling fitter, runner slower is hard. If you've a smart watch you can set alerts if you get above Zone 2 for example.

Did the Percy Pud 10k in Sheffield last sunday and it was pretty grim. I usually run first thing before breakfast or later in the day but it was a 0930 start so had a decent bowl of porridge but it was definitely still sitting there a couple of hours later on the start line! On the upside, the stitch passed at the 7k mark... Lesson learnt 😉

Does anyone have any strategies to keep pace down/steady?

Dont worry too much about slowing down. Your training should include a number of core sessions. Some will be longer and slower, some uphill and intense and some in the middle. if you find you are exhausting yourself and cant complete the session the it is really a case of discipline and as a runner you are going to need some of that!

Into the marathon training for me now, bog slow at the moment but should have measurable improvements by Christmas.

Facian. I would imagine you will adjust the pace to what it needs to be if you know when you set out you are going to run further. Raising the pace a bit as you go through the run is fine in my limited experience but keeping a lid on it is discipline as mentioned in the wise post above.
A way to practice pacing and effort is to run one way for 15 minutes, turn around and get back at the start in bang on 30, while paying close attention to how you are feeling and keeping your breathing nice and steady. - I believe that is how Arthur Lydiard started out his joggers?

Funny how we are all different. I have absolutely no problem running slow. Apart from at the moment as I cant run at all (damn those slippery stairs)

Facian, get out with someone who can help you with the slowing down, run at their pace.

My plan for 5 mile a day Marcothon never lasted, been pressed for time all week so just did the minimum 5k every day.

Really enjoying my running just now, the more I run the more I enjoy it, funny that? 😊

@facian - run/jog for fifty metres, walk for fifty metres, repeat.

Slightly less sarcastically (though the above is an old technique for managing pace for very long distances) is to run at your 5:15 pace and get a feel for how it feels. Could you hold a conversation at that pace? If so then that or thereabouts is the pace you can hold effectively indefinitely.

I’m interested in having a go at this HRM training. What exactly should one be doing...going out for 40 mins in Zone 4 (which I think might be Zone 3 for anyone without a Garmin who have 5 zones from resting (1) up to max (5)?

I can programme in a HRM plan on my watch - and would like to try something s bit different from pace-based stuff all the time.

Terry, are you noticing any difference in yer biking since starting your currently running?.

In the last year I've probably only averaged out on the bike on average twice a month, but feel really strong on it, especially attacking stuff, and climbing out the saddle.

Dont really seem to be losing the skillz either, I think my confidence from my fitness carries me through?.

Darcy, I'm interested in that too, tick!.
Bil is a very good runner and swears by long n slow miles mixed with intervals and hills to get speed up.

Anyone down to do the Marsden Edale in January? I’ve got a score to settle with it, done it a few times but last year I had to DNF it at Snake Top as was carrying a lung infection and probably (definitely) shouldn’t have started it in the first place.

Hopefully this year it’ll be the first time it’s not wet, cold, snowing or 50mph winds, as that’s all I’ve ever known on it previously. A cold crisp day would be wonderful.

And it’s all a build up to doing the High Peak Marathon in March, so if anyone else is doing that I’d be keen to know how your preparation is going!

Tight legs today after club session last night .

Ran into the village to get yeast and coffee. 7.5km at 7:04mins/km.
Skins and beer have been deployed. Off to give the TT bike a wee tidy up and tweak it's been a long time.

Another easy run immorn before Sunday's 4km sprint.

And yes Greg I do notice a big correlation between bike and running I certainly don't lack in speed up the hills from.the running work. And a hard climb on the bike feels I'm all the same places a hard running climb does. Probably why I like climbs on hill runs so much

Tight legs today after club session last night .

It was probably too structured. 😀

Good pace Terry. 👌🏻

@turboflard - the HPM was one of the hardest races I did, I got drafted in five days before because one of the team broke their ankle in training. Running along the "ridge" between Cut Gate and Bleaklow in rain then sleet then snow is not something I ever fancied repeating! From memory we finished in 13hrs30 or thereabouts.

Sounds like a tough one @whitestone. I’ve reccied that section a couple of times in the day, the route now actually drops down cut gate to Slippery Stones and along the shooting track before climbing up to Swains Head so not as exposed, but Bleaklow will still be, er, bleak.

Turboflard- We’ll hopefully pass each other in January as I should be running in the opposite direction. I’ve never competed in the HPM but often run the course in training as it’s a great route.

I’ll be the one carrying everything but the kitchen sink in a Totley vest @marcus, guessing you’re doing the Spine Race? Good luck!

I am not convinced by HRM training. I think it may be useful at the extremes but there are too many variables to control in my view. "recovery" effort running is important but once you slow down too much the training effect is so trivial that in my view the risk of injury and energy use (ahead of an important, fitness contributing session) is counter productive. From my experience the athletes who use it generally do so for their easy runs and when training with them they appear too slow (talking about athletes I am used to training with)

Well psychological pacing today.

Said to glupton I'd run 4:15m/Kms today

Ran 4.14m/km

4.3km in 18.33 for 25th place from 120

Jumped on the bike and got into target fixation mode.

Over took the same tractor 3 times .

Over took 16 people on the bike with 36.30 for 20km and crossed the line in 9th over all 6th in senior.

Very happy but no doubt about it all the work on the running and dropping the 12kg made the odds. Last time I did this race 10 years ago I'd be watching folk ride past on the road a km into while I was still a km from the finish. This time folks were only riding our of the park while I was a couple of hundred meters from my bike.

Lotta work to do as round 2 has a second 4km after the bike so 4-20-4 and the third is 4-40-4(hopefully I can put in enough space to get a good placing on that one )

DD - my PT has suggested I spend a few weeks over Christmas running only in zone 2. It has resulted in my average pace plummeting! But I’ve found I can keep running for longer without starting to get sore hip flexors - this is great for me, being new to running. It’s just getting me and my feet used to running for longer durations. Then after Christmas I’ll start a half training plan.

Good work that Terry! Well done.

Superb Terry, good stuff.

Did a very wet muddy 10k today bloody hard work and super sloppy after a night of rain, disappointed with 53 mins but came 79 out of 400 so not too bad I guess

wallop, have you targeted a half? Bath prob a bit early for you? Bristol/Cardiff maybe too late? Got your eye on anything?

A couple of nice Meon Valley Trail events coming up if anyone’s interested..

Cheers guys , still work to do. Probably shouldn't vomit coming off the bike when I have a second 4 km run to do.......

DD - Westonbirt, mid April. Got 19 weeks so might be OK!

By 'eck it were chilly this morning! But to be honest it was a lot nicer running in cold, clear air than in constant sheets of drizzle. I even saw stars!

Spent the weekend sitting in the car (in laws stuff down in Dorset) so I had fairly stiff legs this morning. I'm not sure whether it was the lack of activity (I usually at least walk a couple of miles a day, if I'm not out on the bike or doing something more fun) or the extra chill in the air but I really felt it in my legs from about half a mile in today. I was up early so I upped the distance a touch - just a gnats whisker under three miles.

I managed it, but I definitely knew about it by the end. Average pace was down by about a minute over my last two mile effort, which I expected - I was consciously knocking it back to try and make sure I had enough in the tank to make it round. About a mile from home I (unsurprisingly) struggled a little bit, and found myself hoping that I'd have to stop at the crossing but as it turned out I got straight across and found a nubbin of a second wind, and made it home fine.

I think I'm gonna rest tomorrow then do a shorter, faster run Wednesday, then a shorter gentler run Thursday. Then play on the bike at the weekend!

I've never tracked the mileage I do in my shoes, but I've had 'em for a few years and they must have covered a few hundred miles by now so if I'm still going after Christmas I might treat myself to a new pair.

DD – Westonbirt, mid April. Got 19 weeks so might be OK!

You’ll be grand.

Thank you, kind sir ☺️

Thanks all for the advice (haven't been online over the weekend).

I went out last night and made two changes:

*Set a target of 10k from the outset, rather than "start running and see how I feel"

*Ditched the headphones and music.

Had a nice steady run at a comfortable ~5:15/km on the flatter parts, suffered a little on the hills at the end to bring it to a 5:36 overall.

I think setting the distance overall beforehand definitely helped me pace myself, also I knew I was running a much more hilly route so I deliberately left some in the tank and felt like I could have carried on almost indefinitely.

Planning to do this at least once a week now, I may introduce the music again but find something slower-paced than the usual stuff I listen to. My friend who runs a lot suggested a podcast or audiobook if I really do need something for company!

@bikebouy Do you have a link to the Meon Valley runs? My brother lives in Droxford so that's quite a convenient place to run!

I'm a big fan of listening to podcasts while I run, unless it's a hard session, in which case I can't concentrate. Not so keen on music though, and never listen to anything during a race. Lots of entertaining, interesting and informative podcasts around - the running ones I subscribe to are Marathon Talk, Let's Get Running and Bad Boy Running.

Running Commentary is another very good running podcast, nicely amusing to while away the time.

I'm with turboferret, though I do find marathon talk a bit boring.

I like science of ultra podcast for easy/recovery stuff on the road/path or on the bike

i like the radio for longer stuff on the road/path/commuting by bike

I dont like music for out in the hills.

day 10 of Marcothon yesterday starting to feel the cumulative fatigue of 10 days of running + racing. My right gluteus is tight. Calves are ok though and they have previously been a bone of contention to stopping me running.