MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
I think Hull's at the end of September, it'll be very flat but I'm not sure how big it is.
I've got friends who have done both York and Chester - they're very complimentary about both. I'm doing Abingdon about the same time to (hopefully) get my London GFA (I was less than 4 minutes off at MK)...
Spud, out of interest what cadence do you tend to run at? If you have a low cadence, then the longer strides and higher vertical oscillation mean more impact which will tend towards more likelihood of injury.
Requirements are:
Big, city based event – I missed the noise and the volume of people at the much smaller event yesterday
Flat-ish – Frankly, I’ve had enough of hills for the moment!
Late September/early October ideally – plenty of time to recover from Ride London and the temperature shouldn’t be at summer levels.Any ideas? Yorkshire and Chester are the 2 I’ve found so far.
If you're willing to fly there are a few in Spain around then.
October:
https://www.palmademallorcamarathon.com/english/
https://www.edpbilbaomarathon.com/ (night marathon)
November:
San Sebastian and Tenerife
December:
Valencia
Millport 10 miler event at the weekend. A great small scale event that was well organised. The strong tail wind was good on the way round. Fantastic views as well.
Canny have been a tail wind all the way round! Been tempted by this before, but always clashes with something else, this time it was a work fire competition and an overnight ridge walk on Arran, which was awesome.
There's another millport 10 miler in september IIRC, I'll have a look.
Longest run yesterday since the hernia..
22k of QECP/Head Down hack’ness.
Shame the weather wasn’t like it is today (when back in that there Lu’n’dun)
🕺
Went out for a wee tempo 5k at lunch and took 8 secs off my PB, happy days! wasn't really pushing hard either, suppose that must be weekly track work paying off.
Anyone doing the Jedburgh Ultra? Looks awesome, entries open this sunday, think I'll be hitting the button.
Jura tomorrow and for the first time in quite a number of years not a great weather forecast.
It's going to be interesting!
Anyone doing Edinburgh Marathon this weekend? Mrs Lunge is making her marathon debut so I'll be there to cheer her on.
Good luck Spin. By all accounts it's a tough place to nav in clag/dodgy weather.
Meanwhile I am doing my last big week of training prior to doing the Joss Naylor Challenge on 8th June. I have been getting up early for a pre-breakfast run on the moor with the dogs, running at dinner from work (on the roads - bloody rubbish) and then another moorland run at night. On a club night I have been running over to the pub where we meet then leading the 'Merry dance' fell run and taking an extended route home (after a couple of pints). I'm off up to Lakes tonight to get some 'proper' stuff in on Sat and Sunday so if all goes to plan I should be on track for 70 or 80 miles done this week. This will be my highest weekly mileage ever. It's been hard tbh but it's not bad for a 56 year old crock who's had cancer, I reckon. I'm hoping I've done enough to get round the JNC. We will see.
If anyone can spare a couple of quid to donate to the fundraiser then it would be massively appreciated. I am using this as motivation for getting round.
I've just come back from finishing the Dragon's Back Race in Wales. Very very tough week. Definitely Type 2 fun in places! Amazing route and amazing weather though - 5 days of mountain running in Wales and not a drop of rain. Got buzzed by a very low flying Hercules in the Elan Valley as well, that was pretty cool to see. Legs now pretty sore so I'll be taking it easy this week.
Awesome stuff guys, impressive!.
I organised our second works charity 5k which was last night, 29 last year, over 150 entries this year!.
Was a beautiful night for it, and a lovely wee flat trail course, only downside was some dog walking arsehole ripping down taping and signage, sending a few folk the wrong way.
Prick.
All of the fiver entry fee went to charity though, so between that and donations there will be well over a grand going in.
Well Jura was something of a mixed bag! Poor visibility and didn't feel great then made a stupid navigation error on the first top by just following others rather than taking my own bearing. That cost me a few mins. Felt bad over the first two paps and kind of gave up a bit. Then I looked at my watch and thought wait a minute...maybe sub 4 hrs is still on. Picked up a few places off the last top then put my head down and buried myself on the road. The result? 4hrs and 26 seconds! Bastard! But a 12 min pb and got the prize for 3rd vet40 so can't really complain. One year I'll get everything right in that bloody race!
@nobeer, how're you feeling about Arran? I've done lots of racing but not many big runs!
Did my Barden Moor/Appletreewick back to Fewston loop today in a gale and sporadic rain.
Knackered, totally shot 🤷♂️🤣🤣🕺
Spin, I'm going over tomoro to recce the route, I'll know better after that!. 🤣
Jedburgh 3 peak ultra entries opened tonight, I'm in!. Mrs is doing the half, good excuse for a wee weekend in the borders.
Did the Cateran trail race yesterday, 11 miles in the peeing rain. I had had a silver DoE group out previous 3 days so ran like I was still carrying a 13kg rucksack. The highlight was one of my GF’s mates who is a rabid vibram barefoot evangelist sliding sideways on a muddy trail and falling full length into one of the biggest, deepest cowpats I have ever seen...Does that make me a bad man?
🤣😂🤣
Tough route Spin.
The route up goatfell isnae bad, though I must be into double figures easily going up there by now, easily!.
Along ridge to north goatfell fairly straight forward.
What follows is a very techy descent, and very steep and techy climb up onto cir mhor. No much scope to make time up on either.
Then it's not bad down west side of cir mhor, and not bad up onto summit of caisteal abhail either.
Turn round and back down way you came.
Next but is a horrible bypass path of a'chir, again very techy. Then another steep techy hoist up onto beinn tarsuinn.
From here is about the first bit you can really open up along to beinn nuis!.
From beinn nuis down is a bloody mixed bag! Great at first, then techy and steep, then a boggy bastard moor, then more boggy badtardness after the burn crossing, before getting into very small but well made steps down into Glen Rosa.
Then its a few relatively flat miles honkin it back to Brodick.
Loved it, I'll post up pics tomoro, it was bloody stunning, as Arran always is. 💙
Nice one, look forward to the photos.
Would have been blowing a hoolie? Nice pics though.
Will one of the el cheap(er)o AONIJIE bladders (Amazon favourite) fit ok into a Salomon Skin 12 Set pack?
WOW! ^
Race reccie of 30k and 1800m on Sunday, my longest run to date but not the hilliest. Very, very slow, 5h10 I think, and finished absolutely wiped out - the thought of an extra 13k and 800m on race day is very scary. Rained all day, making it hard to get any traction on the steep ups and downs, so should be a bit quicker if it's dry on the day.
Anyway, relatively pain-free injury wise - aside from my right foot still being sensitive to being placed in any way not flat. Recovery run yesterday, easy but hilly 10k and felt alright. I am almost feeling like a runner! I've even seen a few 4min-something KMs the last runs, unthinkable even a couple of months ago. My mechanics still feel too wrong to go any faster though. Big progress in 6 months though - so many injuries it was hard to feel any improvement, but it is there. Considering I've not followed any plan, just gone up into the hills a few times a week, quite pleased.
Sunday is Zegama-Aizkorri, so going to try and fit in a long run which coincides with the race going over the top of Aizkorri - support on the hill is legendary so should really see it for myself.
Would have been blowing a hoolie? Nice pics though.
Not at all, stood on summit of the 4 Corbetts and wasn't a breath of wind on any of them, it was bloody glorious.
Will one of the el cheap(er)o AONIJIE bladders (Amazon favourite) fit ok into a Salomon Skin 12 Set pack?
Ciaran, I have 2 of the 500ml of those, you want sizes?.
Spin, you can see pretty much the whole route below, from Goatfell on the left all the way round over Cir Mhor and onto Beinn Tarsuinn on the right.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nobeerinthefridge/47945245921/in/dateposted-public/
Kit question, any run in Brooks Launch shoes?
Looking for a new pair of shoes since Nike made the last thinner on my beloved Pegasus. Tried on a pair in the shop and they felt amazing, just ultra-comfy from the off, seemed good on the treadmill in the shop, and their description seems close to what I want.
But, I don’t like change and so didn’t buy them, but may go back in tomorrow and treat myself!
Running has taken a bit of a knock since the arrival of baby #2 on 17th May, but I was still keen to test the legs yesterday at the Vitality 10k. This has been a PB for me every time I've run it, and was hoping to dip below 31 minutes this year, but the preparation was far from ideal. Very little sleep over the past week with even less running, so I tried to compensate with a mega dose of caffeine instead! Caffeine drink, gel and 2 caffeine bullet chews took me to 370mg, or the equivalent of about 6 espressos, quite a bit for someone who abstains entirely from caffeine apart from during racing...
This may have explained the average HR of 176, 5bpm higher than last year, but I came in for an identical finish time of 31:32, having died an absolute death in the last mile or so. 2nd V40 though, so not a complete disaster.
It does suggest an upward trajectory when last years PB is this years minor disappointment!
Ciaran, I have 2 of the 500ml of those, you want sizes?.
Thanks buddy, but no need. Having read a few reviews of them, I fronted up the extra tenner for the Salomon.
Aye, probably a good shout, they're awrite, but the flow is nowhere near as good as my wifes Montane ones.
Lunge, I ran Chester in 2017 and it's a nice route, and well organised, but it's certainly no London - the majority of the course is rural and has comparatively minimal spectators. I'm running York in October, the Masters Championship race, which I expect to be pretty similar. Depending on where you are in the field, you probably won't struggle for company, so won't be running alone.
Anyone doing the New Forest 10k in early July?
See you there 🤗
Aye, probably a good shout, they’re awrite, but the flow is nowhere near as good as my wifes Montane ones.
Yeah, that was the main bug with the reviews - that people are struggling to get a drink out of them when they're out of puff. Given that that will be how I'll feel after about a km, I thought better than to risk it...
Anyone at the Sal50k at Box Hill in a couple of weeks?
Been struggling with time and illness over the last few weeks. Seem to have a constant phlegmy throat / chest (no doubt donated by my 18 month old son!). Started to get back out running the last couple of weeks though and went out for a quick one last night - took 35 seconds of my 5k PB so I was well chuffed with that. Only 23:04 which is pretty crap when I look up there ^^^ and see turboferret did 10k in 31 mins!! Still can't get my head around how that is possible 😉
Cracking photos nobeer, looks epic
I wasn't as fortunate with conditions, had a whirl round the white mounth loop of 5 munros on Sunday, very dreich type 2 fun, lashing rain and sleet, paths had turned to streams and streams were torrents. Had to take it reasonably cautiously as not a day to turn an ankle on the slippery boulders, nonetheless got to the top of the 5th in under 3 hours running.
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Brilliant effort Mike!.
Here's a proper hardcore / batshit crazy thing that's happening right now:
http://www.randomforestrunner.com/2019/05/seeking-grand-challenges/
He's already about 5hrs down on schedule but tbh the schedule doesn't matter, completion of this in any time will be astounding.
Tracker:
https://share.garmin.com/randomforestrunner
^ been following that too. 185 miles / 85000ft running, plus 400 miles on the bike. Bloody hell.
It's been my biggest week in the hills since I started running. A slightly more modest 80k/3500m. Felt ok at the beginning of it, now very tight in my left groin, down the left thigh. Sore when I set off, settles down after a few k, though it does seem to be shortening my stride.
Another big week to come then I guess I should taper. Ouch.
very tight in my left groin, down the left thigh.
Sore when I set off, settles down after a few k, though it does seem to be shortening my stride.
Quick Q - seeing the physio about this next week but in the meantime, does it sound familiar to anyone? Not even knowing the name of the area it's hard to find stretches etc. Pain starts very top on the thigh, feels like it radiates around the hip and down the leg. Have ramped up the mileage recently. Pulling the foot up behind the buttock seems to hit the spot, wondering if there's anything better?
It’s been my biggest week in the hills since I started running. A slightly more modest 80k/3500m.
That's a solid week's work!
Aye is it. Took me 3 days to get the thighs eased off enough to run again after mondays 2000m ascending.
Hoping to top it off on Sunday with a long run up to Aizkorri to coincide with the race at some point along the course!
Hip flexor stretch? I think I get similar in my right hip / groin. Dropping onto one knee and stretching up through pelvis seems to work for me. Have a google for hi flexor stretch and see if any of those hit the spot?
First fell race ever for me next week - just a local midweek one; the Boar's Head out of Poynton. Never done one of these before and sure it'll be quite laid back but still a bit nervous at the prospect!
Hip flexor stretch?
Had a google, that might help cheers. Good luck in the race, still got to break my duck!
Boar's Head is a good midweek tester!
Summer seems to have arrived here, just got back from a 20k run at 30C... It's not too bad once you're used to it, but the next week or two are going to be pretty grim!
Boar’s Head is a good midweek tester!
Sounds ominous! I’m pretty familiar with the route though as that’s coincidentally one my regular routes - no idea there was a race there.
You'll be fine if you're used to the park. There's a few route options too. Parking can be a bugger. Might see you there. I'm usually taking it easy near the back!
Minging day on the Trotternish race yesterday. Pretty much running on a bearing from start to finish. Happy to come in fourth especially given the navigational challenges and having had a cold this week.
Interestingly, some runners were using GPS devices to navigate which gave a significant advantage in those conditions. Rules state GPS for emergency use only and I think it's a shame everyone doesn't respect that.
Interestingly, some runners were using GPS devices to navigate which gave a significant advantage in those conditions. Rules state GPS for emergency use only and I think it’s a shame everyone doesn’t respect that.
Report them, they're cheating. Or at the very least let the organisers know that people were using GPS, it might be a genuine mistake on their part and they didn't realise they were forbidden, and the organisation should make it clearer for the next time.
I might suggest to the organiser that they make it clearer. It does say in the race info but wasn't mentioned at briefing. It's possible some folks didn't really understand or felt it was a grey area.
After London I had a steady week and then got taken out while on a steady run with the missus and the dogs. Akita to the back of my knee put me out for 3 weeks. I could barely stand after the leg swelled up (this was due to a small DVT developing due to the trauma). I started last weekend and have managed to run every day since then. Still not pain free and range of motion not yet fully achieved but will try it out in a race tonight, Trunce 4. It will be a proper test...
Best of luck Alan.
Cheers Nobeer, it's good to be out running again.
Hopefully with it being only a short race (it's a tough one though) I can't do to much damage 🙂
@dashed - Boars Head is a nice run out and you should find it friendly enough. There was a route choice at one point where people took massively different lines - I battered like heck over rough ground for ages thinking I was being cute ...only to find myself running with exactly the same people when it came back together 🙂
Some superb stuff on the thread since I last posted. Love hearing it - envious of the kind of speeds some of you fleckers can wring out of your bodies! And best of luck alanf - that sounds like quite a misfortunate injury - hopefully your race has gone well?
Well, I'm 2 weeks out from a 16.5 miler - the Bristol Epic (Sorrreeeee - not my choice of name) 3 Peaks Race. It runs around the Chew Valley area south of Brizzle - it's a (badly) waymarked trail so in this race, GPS devices are compulsory! They very kindly put two free Recce events where you walk/jog the race to familiarise yourself with the route. Given that I'd not done a "navigated" race before and that the distance is quite daunting (for me), I had a bash at the recce in the heat of Saturday morning. It was quite enjoyable - some pretty sound people to chat with on the way round. It was hot. I went out with 2.5l water in my backpack and got through every drop of it. Anyway, it gave me an idea of what to expect in a couple of weeks. 500m of climbing - which is nothing for you highlanders and fell runners - but it's a whole new thing for me. I ****ing loved it and can't wait for the race proper.
As for kit review, it was the first outing for my spanking new 2019 Salomon Adv Skin 12 Set. What a fantastic piece of kit. When I picked the pack up with 2.5kg of water and my phone, a few gels and flapjacks, it felt like it weighed a ton. But as soon as I put it on, it just didn't feel like I had around 3kg on my back. Super comfy. Loads of stowage options. I splashed (pun intended) out on the Salomon bladder which fits the insulated sleeve (provided with the back pack) perfectly and has a really nice plug'n'play system for connecting the feed tube. The soft flasks are well positioned and easy to drink from, and flatten out nicely as you drink. There's even a little rubbish sleeve inside one of the pockets for empty wrappers etc. which is a really nice touch. I had no idea running with water, supplies could be so comfy. I could probably have got away with an '8' rather than a '12' for this year's activities but I have some stuff I'd like to do next year which could require the 12. 🙂 So if anyone is in need of a pack and is thinking of one of these, I can definitely recommend it. RRP £130 but can be found at around £100 with a bit of googling. Can't wait to use it in the race proper now - it was one of the things about which I was feeling anxious - the whole "vest" thing - but feel much better about it now.
Are you planning on carrying 2.5l of water in the event DD?
Are you planning on carrying 2.5l of water in the event DD?
I don’t know yet Spin - there were no feed stations on the Recce and the forecast was for 20 deg and rising from 0900 so I thought I’d rather lug extra water around than be hanging for a drink near the end.
There are three feed stations on the actual race where we can re-fill so I dunno. Before trying the vest I was set for carrying a litre in the soft flasks and refilling but now that I’ve tried it, I might just use the feed stations for nibbles but save time by not faffing with the refilling of flasks. I’m a bit clueless to be honest - it’s all new to me. I guess a lot will depend on the weather forecast on the day. There’s also the option of electrolyte in the flasks and water in the bladder. ****ed if I know to be honest. 🤷♂️ 😀
What I’d recommend DD is working out roughly how much you think you need to drink (say 2.5l), carry with you around 1l and then drink a bit at each of the feed stations from their cups (assuming they have them) and slowly work your way through your litre until you finish the race hopefully with your supply empty.
If that makes you nervous that you’ll get the amount you need wrong, take a soft bottle empty and can always fill it up at one of the later stations if you’ve got it badly wrong. Saves carrying a KG of unnecessary weight.
In other news, did Cork half marathon yesterday. Given that I did no training for it, just a couple of trail 5km to 10km runs, and one road run so far this year, I surprised myself by getting round in 1.46. Very chuffed. Though still dislike road racing with a bit of a passion.
I'd be tempted to just carry the soft flasks and re-fill them at the stations. 1.5 or 2kg is a pretty big saving on knees etc.
This Arran race, 26k and 6700' of climbing, recce last week showed I can get away with 1l in 2 soft flasks, there's a natural spring on the 3rd summit, about half way round, and a high up fast flowing burn about 4/5 of the way round.
Be reet. 😊
Thanks for the advice Spin and turboflard. You’re both probably right - I think with stations at 4ish, 8ish and 12ish miles, I should be fine with just the soft flasks. A lot will depend on the weather on the day I guess.
I bumbled my way around the Boar's Head last night - my first ever fell race. Not a biggy (12k ish and 400m climbing). Really enjoyed it! Legs feel it a bit this morning despite being too conservative on the way out on the climbs. I should have gone harder but, despite knowing the course, had never raced it before so didn't want to get carried away and blow up too early. I had no idea what to expect time-wise but reckoned 1:10 would be ok. Managed 1:09 which I was happy enough with for a first time, although I reckon I could shave a few minutes off that easily enough. Now off to look at the FRA calendar to see what's next locally 😉
Welcome aboard dashed!
It's my big day on Saturday - the Joss Naylor Challenge. I think I am ready. I'm certainly as ready as I'm going to be. Everything is hopefully in place with support etc. The elephant in the room is the weather. The forecast looks shite. Last weekend a mate had to bin his BG attempt after 22 hours of horrendous weather. I'm not going to risk anyone's safety and go ahead at all costs despite the 'pressures' of so much training, the number of people involved and the amount of sponsorship (nearly £1300). I am raring to go so let's hope it improves as we get nearer to Saturday. Wish me luck.
dashed- which route did you take after the Cage? I noticed a fair few people going straight across and I think up through the woods? I'd not seen that before in the previous times I've done it.
@MrSparkle - good luck. Not sure the weather is going to be kind to you on Saturday, can you postpone until Sunday?
Not an option, sadly. My support can only do Saturday so it's then or some point in the future, tba.
Good luck @MrSparkle- can it go back a week if the weather doesn't play nice?
Well, three days resting this hip this week. Was supposed to be my last 'big' week, taper next week, race on the Sunday. Feels like tendonitis in the hip flexor, if that's a thing. Hurts if I hop/bounce on the left leg, it did ease off after a while on my last big run but not going to risk it now.
I've found it odd that injuries come up almost consecutively - never had a run where nothing was sore! No sooner did the foot start to feel better than the hip played up. Compensation? Opposite sides, btw.
Is it necessarily a problem going into this event (43m 2800m) after 2 weeks' rest? I would be worried if it was a bike race, but my only objective is to get round within the time cut (thus giving me a soft target for a PB if I do it next year 😉 )
@mrsheen - yeah, I took that left option after the cage as I know the route pretty well. It's probably marginally more direct and a bit more of a gradual climb than the steep rocky path up the righthand side of Lantern Wood but it does add a nasty little dip and climb immediately after the cage. Swings and roundabouts probably.
I also took the steep, direct climb up the bankside at the end of the descent down from the deerpark before checkpoint 3. Doubt it was any faster but it was brutal on the legs!
One of the rules of my upcoming trail race is that competitors have to carry a “navigational device”, which thankfully for many people, can be a phone. My two training partners will have to use theirs, I have a Garmin watch which I’ll use (and carry a phone for back-up). One is savvy and on iOS (as am I). The other is not so, and is on Android. What’s the best app to use for navigation on android devices?
OS mate, 20 quid a year, it's brilliant. Download 1:25000 map before you head out for offline use, shows your position and you can download routes to follow as well, or make your own.
Viewranger is good too, but you have to buy credit and use that for maps, I eventually got a bit fed up of that.
Backcountrynavigator is good too, IIRC it's a tenner or so up front.
I forgot to mention that he’s quite tight too. 😀
I’d be tempted to just carry the soft flasks and re-fill them at the stations. 1.5 or 2kg is a pretty big saving on knees etc.
Bit late to this, but I'd do the same. Forget the big bladder, that's a lot of extra weight you don't need if you've got feed stations. There's a secondary advantage - if it's hot make sure you empty at least one between stops. It's easy to get carried away in a race and not drink as much as you need, and with a bladder it's very hard to tell just how much you've drunk. Making sure you've emptied a soft flask keeps you honest 🙂
first 10k race tomorrow night. be interesting....
also the 4 week email came through for the lairig ghru race.
"by now you should have done your longest run and be on the taper"
my longest is 24k/1000m climbing done 3 weeks ago - - offroad at least and it was back to back with a 15k..... ive worked out that gets me over the watershed and into the boulder field.
from there on its unknown in terms of running - although at least i know the terrain well from there down
Survival is the name of the game !
I know the title has the word "ultra" in but there is a lot of focus on road and Fell (Fell disproportionately IMO) but, unless I have missed it, not a single mention of track running. Or "proper running" as I like to call it.
Here you go, have a look at one of the best we have ever produced, in his prime 🙂
That's brilliant to watch!.
Track tonight, 8x600, 100 secs recovery.
Or 'horrible running' as I like to call it. 🤣