MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
That sounds great, might have to give it a go some time. Might be good post ride too.
NoFearOnTheBridge, what were those NB trail shoes you’d almost convinced me to buy before?
I went out for a run today, ran across a bridge and thought “oooh, I’m sure there’s a trail that runs by the river back towards home down there” so off I went. Probably not a great idea to run it in the pissing rain in road shoes. I was slip-sliding all over the shop and had to use grass and branches to get me up some of the steeper sections. Coming down another long steep grassy bit, a chap at the bottom walking his dog said, “you looked like you were skiing down there mate...” 😂
My first properly muddy trail run in ages. Absolutely bloody loved it. Really nice change from pounding the roads, albeit getting used to seeing slower min/km times popping up on the watch. But never mind - it really was fun if a little “whoah - don’t go twisting an ankle out here...” My training partners and I are on the verge of signing up for a 23 mile off-roader in Cornwall in July (Man Vs Coast) so I need to be doing a bit more off road stuff heading into spring.
I've been using Brooks Pure Grit shoes for my trail runs - they're quite low drop, 4mm, which I prefer. Nice and grippy but feel very firm on tarmac so for me not that good for 50/50 tarmac/trail runs.
It's nice to mix it up with a few off road runs though.
Phew.
It's been over a week since I last ran as I put my back out (pulling my sock on no less. Yeah, I'm a wreck) and with impending baby I don't want to take any chances with incapacitating myself, so I waited 'till it felt healed then gave it a few more days to be on the safe side.
Anyway, I managed to get my socks on this morning with no untoward effects, and apart from it being very chilly (round about 0 - 1* according to the forecast) managed to have a pleasant, if unremarkable run. Which was pretty much what I was hoping for.
I consciously took it fairly steady for the first half mile or so, then eased up the effort a little bit as I got more into my stride. Overall pace was 9:48/mile which is not where I was before I stopped but it's not a million miles off. Hopefully subsequent runs this week (assuming Mrs Monkey doesn't go into labour) should be able to up the pace and maybe distance if I can be bothered to get up early one morning.
I set off for a 10km yesterday and ended up doing 10 miles at just under 9 minute mile pace. Nothing special but my target for the GNR in September is sub-2 hours so pleased with progress this year.
I am at the end of a block of training pretty much every day for the last month so wondered what my approach should be until September. Fewer runs but better quality? i.e. a Parkrun, one interval and a longer one thrown in now and then? I need to get some bike miles in the legs before an event in April so I need to juggle things a little.
By the way, that was my first run with headphones and it was a bit of a revelation. I need to curate a better playlist though. Struggled to keep cadence consistent.
Darcy, the NB have been relegated to fashion duties, struggled in the slidey stuff, got a pair of asics fujitrabuco which are decent on tarmac too.
I set off for a 10km yesterday and ended up doing 10 miles at just under 9 minute mile pace. Nothing special but my target for the GNR in September is sub-2 hours so pleased with progress this year.
I am at the end of a block of training pretty much every day for the last month so wondered what my approach should be until September. Fewer runs but better quality? i.e. a Parkrun, one interval and a longer one thrown in now and then? I need to get some bike miles in the legs before an event in April so I need to juggle things a little.
By the way, that was my first run with headphones and it was a bit of a revelation. I need to curate a better playlist though. Struggled to keep cadence consistent.
Honestly, just being able to run 10 miles (or 10k!) is pretty special when 4 miles is a struggle. And let's be honest, there are a lot of folk to whom the idea of running 40 meters is anathema, so just by getting out and running you're already doing pretty well.
That's what I'm loving the most about this thread - some of the stuff people in here are doing is just way beyond what I can imagine doing, but running 10 miles in an hour and a half feels like something that might maybe happen one day if I keep putting the miles in.
On headphones, I think I'd struggle to run without (though I do have a really, really dull local loop). I tend to listen to podcasts rather than music though today was the end of Mayo and Kermode's film review show.
I went for a bike ride last Monday. It wasn't particularly cold wet or windy but the barren landscape and leaden skies threw the switch in my brain that says 'enough' so I've started running again. It happens every year around this time.
I'm a big unit and usually run 10-11 min/miles in full 'Rocky' mode. This winter I'm not going to measure anything I'm just going to plod round according to how I feel and keep telling myself one day it'll be warmer. Good luck everyone
FMC: Thanks. 6 month ago I was doing 30 min 5ks and to be honest, yesterday was the first time I'd actually felt like a 'runner'. My background in more in football, then MTB and road biking so not what you call a typical runner in terms of physiology. Shifting nearly a stone has helped me no end.
I need tunes for running though I think. Is air guitar frowned upon whilst running?
By the way, that was my first run with headphones and it was a bit of a revelation. I need to curate a better playlist though. Struggled to keep cadence consistent.
I love running to a musical beat. If you need to do a better playlist, you’ll need to know what cadence you want to run at first. This will be equivalent to a BPM for a song. If you use a bit of google-fu, you can find looooonnnnnggg lists of songs at certain cadences - say, 150-160, 160-170, 170-180 etc. At this point you just have to start going through the list and picking songs you like then setting up a Spotify (or whatever) playlist.
If there’s a song you heard while running and thought, “yeah, that was perfect for me” then download a BPM counter app. Play the song, tap your fingers on the screen to the beat and after 15 secs or so it’ll settle on an accurate BPM count.
IIRC, Spotify also has a bit where you can start runnning and it senses your cadence and plays you songs roughly relates to your other followed artists and/or library. I found with this that I just ended up ff-ing through most songs but occasionally it threw up a song I really liked.
So, it’s a bit of work, but it’s possible to set yourself up a playlist of songs you like at a BPM you run at. I’ve found it a big help to getting my n”natural” cadence up into the mid 170s. On the downside, I’ve become a little dependent on it.
Is air guitar frowned upon whilst running?
I’ve been caught hand-dancing to The Pointer Sisters “I’m So Wxcited” by some walkers who appeared around a bend. 😂
Any runners here visited a podiatrist? I've got a couple of pain points on my feet and figured they may be the people to see rather than a normal physio. Wondered if anyone else had needed to visit, and if so, was it any good and what should I be asking?
Is air guitar frowned upon whilst running?
I’ve been caught hand-dancing to The Pointer Sisters “I’m So Wxcited” by some walkers who appeared around a bend. 😂
I have definitely indulged in air drumming whilst running.
I like the idea of setting up a BPM related playlist, might be an interesting way to set up intervals as well. A few folk on here have said once you've put a few miles in and running becomes more natural it gets a bit easier - at the moment I get really bored running, and need something to listen to to take my mind of the relentless plodding, hopefully I might reach a point where I can daydream a bit more and maybe then music will work better.
Biggest ever week of running (173km) followed by running quite a bit on snow in Paris for a few days and I have a bit of a sore left Achilles. Was supposed to be racing the Southern XC Champs at Parliament Hill on the 26th, but wasn't sure whether it was a good idea. Warmed up, then thought I'd start and drop out if I was in pain. Started really steadily, and on the 3rd lap was in my stride and making progress through the field. Unfortunately I lost a sprint finish with a Ugandan Olympic 800m runner, finishing 49th. Not necessarily unhappy with that given how conservatively I raced, and much higher up the field than I've ever finished in this race before. Hoping that I can work through a sore tendon without dropping too much mileage. 13 weeks until London!
(173km)
Are you Forrest?
I have a bit of a sore left Achilles
Jeez, if any normal person had run over 100 miles in a week, they'd be a throbbing, broken wreck. RICE and a massage I guess. Well done on the result. Sounds like you were in good company.
My training partners and I are on the verge of signing up for a 23 mile off-roader in Cornwall in July (Man Vs Coast) so I need to be doing a bit more off road stuff heading into spring
From what I've heard of this race .. Hills lots and lots of shortish, very sharp hills should be in your training program.
Good luck
Top work TF - I often find a conservative approach plays to my strengths and I get stronger (maybe I just maintain and others drop off) towards the end.
Only a meagre 68.5 miles for me this week, I doubt I'll get to 100 mile weeks but hoping to get into the 80s and see how I fair.
Good luck
Cheers man. Never run more than a half-marathon before so it’ll be a test of endurance for me. However, got the best part of 5 and a bit months to prepare so no excuses if I go into it unready. It does seem a lot of it will be short sharp semi-scrambles and some cliff-jumps. Should be good fun and a tough test at the same time.
I did a bit of the North Cornish Coastal path last year. Just run up and down steps. Lots of steps... It's beautiful but has no flat.
In terms of music, I can highly recommend Trekz Titanium bone-conduction earphones - you can still hear ambient noise.
Lunge - another option rather than spending £££ on bespoke insoles, if you haven't got any biomechanical issues, try some maximal padded shoes like Hoka One One - I now run with far less muscle pain since switching.
DD - having run a fair bit of the Cornish Coastpath - if you can't run steep off-road, then running up and down lots of steps as it's lots of small steps, elevation and working on having 'fast feet'.
5 weeks into my programme and managed 23 miles of trails in 3:30 with a fair bit of climbing yesterday - encouragingly, no lasting pains considering I haven't run this far since 1992. Seriously looking at some trail ultras to enter. We've just rescued a 14 month-old Labrador who is full of beans and I've just found myself a new training partner
Did my first couch to 5 K session yesterday evening despite bitter icy wind on the ridge I was run/walking on. Managed it OK. been for a swim today to loosen up a bit.
Not run for years.
Well done burko73 mate, good job.
been meaning to do it for ages but just got on it yesterday. felt ok. will see how it goes. not had time for the bike much as 4 yr old and 8 week old are keeping us busy! been doing a bit of swimming, 1K a couple of times a week but could do with kittening up and losing a bit of weight.
Nice one @burko73, keep it up and let us know how it goes. If nothing else the cold weather is good for making you go faster to keep warm!
Burko, nice one. Let us know how you get on.
Stick at it. As I've said earlier in this thread, I could barely do the end of the road when I started c25k.
I'm now running 3-4x a week, usually about 5k with upto 10k on a nice day...
It's worth the hard work, it really is.
Nice work burko. Stick at it - it gets easier.
It's weirdly addictive too.
On a side note, do any of you guys use Sweatcoin?
Another vote for Aftershokz Trekz bone-conduction headphones. I have the Air as they were about 6g lighter than the titanium 😀
Certainly didn't sweat much on my gentle run this morning!
Well that was mental!.
Had a 2 hour window after work, wee yin at brass band, wife out with friends, decided to go for an easy paced half marathon.
I've never seen as much ice in one place. Got to what I thought was gonna be my bail out option, the pavement by the A77, it was flippin mental, couldn't walk on it, never mind run. That was 6.6 miles in, so I was forced to turn back, and ended up doing the half anyway, at a very slow pace!
Character building. 😊
Ha! Sounds like a proper adventure.
I'm debating whether to go out tomorrow morning for much the same reason. Normally I'd just chance it but I can't really risk borking myself at the moment.
Biblical rain here in Basque. My usual 10km mountain loop is pure clag, the Walshes are getting some use.
Touch wood, I've turned a corner on the constant bloody sore, swollen ankle & Achilles tendons. Even thought I had shin splints at one point, but after hammering the ankle strength exercises and resting more than running, I've had a couple of pain free runs. Though, having hung up the bike since Boxing Day, I've lost a bunch of fitness and might have put a few kilos on. Very steep learning curve, this running lark.
I’ve never seen as much ice in one place.
I've had to use microspikes on my local trail run the last few days. I've never felt the need for them anywhere else ever but they'll pay for themselves this week!
It was nuts Spin, I literally couldn't go any faster than about 10 minute miles, at best!
I've been meaning to do some longer threshold runs tbh, had no choice today!.
Sometimes you've just got to concede to the weather!
Our office did today - three of us in running kit sat having a cuppa rather than going out on that ice.
Yip. How's training going anyway Spin, On plan?.
2nd c25k tonight. all good again. weather horrible and pretty much dark as I got out of the woods. should have taken a head torch.
parked at the pool we use and ran from there straight into the woods. finished me run and straight into the outdoor hot tub. what a luxury. sat there listening to the scrum v rugby podcast. kids at home with the missus. bliss.
seemed to be less stiff after my run than before it?
Well, I had a bit of a hissy fit last Thursday after attempting my 'normal' 6km loop and getting a really sore IT band/knee after only 2km in. Cut it short and came home in a grump.
2nd shortish run in a row where it flared up after only a short distance..
Also ran both times in compression tights I got for Christmas so wonder if there's a link there.
Decided to redeem myself on Saturday and headed out on a short local loop that I could easily cut short if needed.
My IT band was loads better, there were times it started aching and then it would go, come back, go etc. but it never got to be actually painful, so I just kept going.
I ended up doing 14km at around 5:15/km pace, which I was pretty pleased with.
I had a very achy IT band/knee for 2 days afterwards but have just carried on stretching it out.
I'm going to see a local bloke on Thursday who is supposedly good with sports injuries. It's only £40 for a session, so I thought it was worth it to see if he came up with any new ideas about how to sort my IT band/knee out. Stupid bloody thing!
So after two weeks off on physio advice due to possible shin splints I can run tomorrow! I need to be sensible about this and take things easy for another couple of weeks and have been thinking walk 5mins, run 10, walk 5 for my next 3 runs and if pain free run for 15 mins the following week. Anything different I should be doing or a better way to build back up?
Sound good, only you will know when you're going too hard, best of luck.
@stayhigh similar here, physio has me doing ankle strength work which feels like it's made a difference quite rapidly. Balancing on one leg with a tennis ball under ball of foot. Repeat with ball in different positions, under heel, instep... Meanwhile I did similar to you, alternating walking and running. I can walk to work (10km cross country), mixed that with some mountain trails where some sections are unrunnable (for me anyway) so forced to walk.
Early days yet but certainly felt a lot more confident on Sunday with foot placement, fairly techy trail, lots of step downs, jumps etc.
Our office did today – three of us in running kit sat having a cuppa rather than going out on that ice.
I bottled it this morning, and I'm quite pleased I did. Lots of patchy ice on the pavements, and the streetlighting round us isn't brilliant so I'd have struggled to pick out where it was. Had a long walk into work instead and still nearly managed to go arse over tit crossing a road!
2nd c25k tonight. all good again. weather horrible and pretty much dark as I got out of the woods. should have taken a head torch.
parked at the pool we use and ran from there straight into the woods. finished me run and straight into the outdoor hot tub. what a luxury. sat there listening to the scrum v rugby podcast. kids at home with the missus. bliss.
seemed to be less stiff after my run than before it?
Good job! Can't beat running in the woods at night.
On another note, I think somebody a while back mentioned Hoka shoes - SportPursuit have a few different styles on offer, seem to be quite well priced and a good range of sizes. Not sure how I feel about the ultra-cushioned style, but I'm tempted to give them a go - my current shoes must be 9 years old, although they've not done a vast amount of mileage.
Signed up for a half marathon last night, down by the coast near Alicante in March so the weather should be reasonable. Rashly put the 1:15-1:30 start box on the entry form, so I suppose that's something to aim for 🙂
Had a glorious run last night. It's pretty snowy in East Lancs at the moment so ran over to the pub to lead the club run. 8 of us out for the headtorch run. Chose a route that I knew would give us chance to charge down long snowy fields, screaming like little kids. Loads of fun. A couple of pints and a chinwag after and then ran back on my own via the scenic route over the moor. It was wonderful. I ran with my headtorch off for a while just to savour it more. It's just so satisfying running in deepish, untouched snow.
my current shoes must be 9 years old
Bin mate, they won't be doing you any favours, you'll notice an incredible difference in a new pair, get on sportshoes.com, you'll get a very good pair for £50.
Yeah I probably should do - but every time I look there's such a baffling array of technology and styles to choose from, plus sizing I get all stressed out and think 'these'll do for a few more miles' - which they probably will, I've only run maybe a couple of hundred miles in them over the years, if even that.
At least buying a bike I know what I like!
Nice and refreshing this morning - plenty of ice about, but not cold enough to be properly frozen. A thin crust of ice before dropping through to mud/water wasn't great for some of my route...
A tempo run on slushy snow in Paris last week was quite interesting!
I did buy some Saucony Razor Ice shoes recently which have some magic vibram bits on the sole which are supposed to be great, not tried them yet, hopefully get the chance soon 🙂
I got a pair of Inov8 Arctic claws for £50 in Pete Bland's sale at the end of 2017 thinking I might get the odd run out in them. We had snow on the ground near us for a month and I used 'em about 3 or 4 times a week! Just the job on ice. Very confidence inspiring. Not used them so far this year as it's not been icy enough yet. (Kiss of death).
Yeah I probably should do – but every time I look there’s such a baffling array of technology and styles to choose from, plus sizing I get all stressed out and think ‘these’ll do for a few more miles’ – which they probably will, I’ve only run maybe a couple of hundred miles in them over the years, if even that.
If in doubt, buy a pair of Nike Pegasus. They're not 100% perfect for everyone, but they are a damn fine shoe that suit a heck of a lot of people. If you think you need a bit more support then the same applies to Nike Structure. In time, you'll develop preferences and know what does and doesn't work for you. But until then, a pair of Peg's will likely be fine and certainly a lot better than a 9 year old pair.
Cool, I'll have a look for some of those. I just worked it out and I'm pretty sure I had these shoes when I trained for a 10k in 2011, so yeah. About 9 years old. I should probably treat myself.
And try on a few sizes, not just what you think you are.
I need about a size bigger for running shoes than normal shoes.
Currently wearing Pegasus one size bigger.
If you have one of the shopping outlet villages near you, most have a Nike store, some Adidas and ASICS too.
You can try loads on and get about fifty to sixty percent off last year's model.
And if you do go for Nike, they do a "shield" Pegasus that s a bit like winter tyres for your feet. Bit deeper tread, more reflective, bit warmer, and water repellant.
Got some for 40 at the outlet and should have got 2 pairs.
Well, shit just got a bit more real. Entered Man v Coast. Bye bye roads (not really). Hello trails. 😀
Guid stuff Ciaran!
And try on a few sizes, not just what you think you are.
I need about a size bigger for running shoes than normal shoes.Currently wearing Pegasus one size bigger.
If you have one of the shopping outlet villages near you, most have a Nike store, some Adidas and ASICS too.
You can try loads on and get about fifty to sixty percent off last year’s model.And if you do go for Nike, they do a “shield” Pegasus that s a bit like winter tyres for your feet. Bit deeper tread, more reflective, bit warmer, and water repellant.
Got some for 40 at the outlet and should have got 2 pairs.
I agree with every word of this. I wear 46 in normal shoes and 47.5 (12's) in Nike runners. I also agree that the Shield model is a revelation, though I don't like the 35's as much as the 34's.
Either way, if you can't get to a shop, a pair a Pegasus, perhaps a size or a half size up, will likely sort you out.
Aye, half a size up for me, for the feet swelling.
We don't have a big outlet that close to us, but I've a day out in York in April and there's one there so I might leave it till then.
How’s training going anyway Spin, On plan?
I'm ready to go, just waiting for the weather / conditions to play ball. I decided pretty early on in preparing for this that I was only really interested if sub24 was a realistic possibility. I think it physically is but looking at the other 3 sub24 winter rounds it will need really specific conditions. Jim Mann and Donnie Campbell did it with pretty much zero snow and John Gay did it with good cover of hard snow. Anything else is going to result in either more than 24hrs or a dnf.
If it doesn't come together in the official time slot (by end of February) I'll either 'just' do a winter Tranter round or wait for good conditions and do a 'winter condition but not officially winter' Ramsay Round.
Cap doffed sir, Best of luck.
Cheers. Fingers crossed! Either way I've done some great training and had some brilliant days out.
I got on sports shoes.com and picked up some Salomon sense ride non goretex for £66 or something. Had to size up a whole size which surprised me a bit as I usually size up half a size only in Salomon walking shoes.
Sportshoes are excellent, only downside is they use my bastard Hermes.
Daft Q maybe, probably overthinking but at what temperature do you get the tights out?
I am going to visit my dad tomorrow where there forecast is -5º, a good 10º colder than I've run in before. Wanting to get a run in on Saturday morning but I only own porn shorts.
I could use my bibtights (like running in a nappy) or legwarmers (fall down) I suppose, or just HTFU? Got plenty of upper layers.
For me around 3-5 degrees I reckon, but my knees seem to suffer when it's cold so I err on the side of caution.
Daft Q maybe, probably overthinking but at what temperature do you get the tights out?
I have a set of compression leggings - yeah, I know, they do **** all etc - but I wear them pretty much all through late autumn into winter. I don’t like proper running leggings so the thin compression layer works well under my normal running shorts.
Depends, high tempo runs, I don't bother, longer slower runs, if it's very cold, then I will.
Ooft.
Finally took the plunge and joined a running club!. I assumed, wrongly, that it'd be kinda elitist, but been taking my daughter along for a couple if weeks, and it's great!.
Yours, Nobeer of Seaforth harriers. 😂
Glorious winter weather for us on Saturday. A mate and I did an 11km's of a well used fell run route a few miles from home. Felt the benefit of losing 5kg's and properly enjoyed running on crisp and powdery snow. The boggy section was of course frozen which helped a lot but even so, I reckon I was 7% quicker than when I last ran the same route in June. Awesome views of the Lakes massif. Loved it.
Nobeer, as the Chairman of a running club can I say - you've done the right thing!
Aye, really looking fwd to it sparkles, particularly getting some track work in. We're getting a new facility next year too, so good time to join I reckon.
Run the blades ultra (50k) looking like Mrs and I are gonna go for it. 😁
What Mr Sparkle said. Been a club member for over 40yrs. The support they provide particularly for younger athletes is worth the subs alone. I am actually a member of 2 clubs (4 if you count the FRA and NVAC) but the local "harrier" tradition is what its all about.
First commute of 2019 this morning, in fact, first cycle of 2019! Further confirmation of the power of running fitness, I only ever go sub 30 mins if I have a big tailwind and put a decent effort in (it's 8.5 miles, but lots of furniture and a fair few crossings/junctions) but was sub 29 this morning, and never above threshold heart rate either.
Happy days. 🙂
Yeah doesn't work well for 24 hour training though. Running up to 20km prior
Did 14.5 hours at top end of Z2 .
Mangled my back.
Still can't beat time on bike for time on bike.
Just getting back to the grind now after letting my back muscles recover.
Just got the email to say I haven't got a ballot place in the Great North Run 🙁
And neither has my wife! She has a charity place application in as well so that may come good, but raising enough sponsorship for two places seems like a bit of a stetch.
Same here:( Hopeful of getting in on a charity place though. Last time I did it was 13 years ago!
Tbf, you were going great before that injury Terry!
Anyone know if FRA membership is required to enter their races? I'd like to try a few races if they coincide with visits back to UK, unlikely to get to many though.
I'll probably just join anyway for the sake of 16 quid.
On my second week of c25k and going well except for stiff and squeaky knees? Walking upstairs, I’m like a proper old bloke!
Any ideas?
If you really start to struggle with your knees, rest. They're right buggers if you damage them.
I'm currently sat here with 4 day old Mini Monkey giving Mrs Monkey a break, so it may be a while till I'm out again. Keep up the good work guys, I'll need inspiration!
Anyone know if FRA membership is required to enter their races?
Not sure exactly what you mean here. Most races are organised by clubs under FRA rules rather than the FRA itself. Some races (not many) require that you be a member of a club to enter and I suspect individual FRA membership would count in that case.