@firestarter As @thecaptain says there's lots of variables. Think of the mandatory kit list as being the minimum that organisers can expect runners to actually bring with them, anything more and there'd be a revolt! I'd take a good selection of poor weather kit with me to the event then decide what, if anything, over and above the mandatory kit to take with me.
Assuming there's no massive cold weather front coming in during the time you will be out then I'd look at being slightly on the cool side on the starting line as you'll soon warm up both as you exert yourself more and as the day warms up. Only you know what sort of level of effort keeps you warm in a particular set of conditions when wearing simple running kit so any slower than that and you'll likely need some sort of thin thermal layer.
The pace on these sorts of runs for most people is one where you can chat to those around you, any harder and you are likely to be going in to the red and the rest of the run won't be pleasant. Basically run your own race and don't be tempted to keep up with the super fit runners up front.
Cheers chaps
Bit of a dumb question maybe but how are people fuelling and hydrating for DIY Marathons? I'm finding my feet a bit and trying a good breakfadt, 500ml of water during and a gel every 50 mins but still struggle a bit towards the end. Interested in other war stories please.
but still struggle a bit towards the end.
If you're just getting into that distance it is probably an endurance thing rather than a nutrition thing.
So more mileage/intensity in training?
I'd say so.
Hi all,
I'm looking to start running, nothing big just couch to 5k kind of thing. The issue I have is that I suffer from shin splints and even a couple of hundred metres jog results in my ankles feeling like their on fire. Should I be looking at orthotics, different shoes, stretches, a combination of all of these?
Any help would be great as I really want to give this a go.
I'm certainly not an expert, but certain shoes have been awful for shin splints.
Worth the cost of a local shop running gait analysis?
Which GPS watch are people using? I currently just put my Garmin Edge 200 in my pocket and go. Considering a watch that would sync to my phone on my return just so looking at my activity log is easier. I don't need all the bells and whistles. GPS (be nice if it could supply a grid reference for OS mapping purposes) , HR and Bluetooth sync to phone would cover it I think.
https://www.ultratrailscotland.com/event-2019.html#
Spin, this looks a belter, I'm gonna enter the shorter distance, 26km and 2000m ascent mind!, June 2019. So expect lots of stupid questions about poles, vests etc in the next 6 months or so!.
lotto, I've had a Vivoactive HR for 18 months now, completely sold now on wrist based V specific cycle computers, so much more useable a system, instead of having a wee computer that you only use 3 or 4 times a week, I use it all the time, HR, sleep monitoring, steps, stairs climbed, it's flipping brilliant.
Going by reviews, the new Vivoactive 3 is even better, but a bit dearer.
Next up in my recovery was going to be a Parkrun but then I heard about an 8 mile trail race (Allithwaite 8) near our caravan site in t’Lakes on Saturday. After a lot of mental debate I thought ‘**** it’ and entered. My ex-boss and race rival from back in the day was there too. That added a bit of spice. It was tough and of course the climbs were all into a headwind. I was in some discomfort due to after effects of the op but kept going. I got results today and found I was 25th out of 102, 4 & a bit minutes in front of ex-boss. Surprised and delighted sums it up I think. I’m still far from ‘right’ but this is a much needed boost.
@nobeer, I looked at that last year but it didn't fit with other things. Looks like a great route. I think the fields were pretty small last year so a bit surprised it's running again.
Aye, it was cancelled in 16, small fields last year, but the 26k shorter one has 37 entered already, was only 40 odd last year. Always takes a wee while for these events to catch on IME.
It's a good alternative to the rat race one, 25 quid instead of nearly 200, and is all up on the ridge, rat race has a lot of dull fire road running.
I've never done a hill race before, best get some training in!.
Assuming there’s no massive cold weather front coming in during the time you will be out then I’d look at being slightly on the cool side on the starting line as you’ll soon warm up both as you exert yourself more and as the day warms up
Careful with that, it depends on when the race starts and how long you're planning on taking. I've done ultras that start in the evening, you warm up nicely for the first few hours, but as you head towards dawn the temperature drops... Generally speaking I'd err on the side of caution - taking your jacket off is easy (and at ultra pace stopping is not an issue!), while trying to put on a jacket you don't have... So I'd go for a slightly heavier waterproof jacket which you can use for training in winter too.
I’m certainly not an expert, but certain shoes have been awful for shin splints.
Worth the cost of a local shop running gait analysis?
In my opinion no, unqualified shop staff are not best placed to analyse such a complex thing. They will sell you shoes though.
Talking of gait analysis I was told I needed insoles and support shoes ended up with no end of issues after getting sick if trying different shoes tried a set of neutral zero drop and problems ended immediately so id take them with a pinch of salt tbh
In my opinion no, unqualified shop staff are not best placed to analyse such a complex thing. They will sell you shoes though.
100% agree.
Wow - This thread is still going. Some excellent stuff going on. Ain't running great !
I had a gait analysis done last time....
Didn't bother this time.
Didn't notice a difference.
Bought entirely difference shoes as well.
Sure if you have an underlying issue maybe Merritt of having your insoles sorted by a physio .
Went out trail running on scolty last night in the dark up to the tower and down to the river. 12k in total on singletrack that is fun on the bike and as fun to run..... Really enjoy night trail/hill running
Cross Country Season started, I did the Lauder round of Borders XC. Came in around 3/4 way down in the field but it was my first race is around 25 years.
Definitely Type 2 fun.
Ran with lots of very fast runners over the years. Some of them have had what appear to be serious biomechanical issues which on the face of it would benefit from correction. After all those years I came to the following unscientific conclusions:
1: Most will be compensated for by your body, which has an unbelievable ability to adapt, given enough time. If you over train before your body completes this process you will spend a lot of time injured.
2: Trying to correct them with "control" shoes or orthotics seldom works
Of course some will say they have anti pronation shoes, orthotics etc and it has been miraculous but in my experience of the quicker guys I have ran with I cant remember any wearing anything that wasnt off the shelf. An example being a good training buddy of mine who broke 52 mins for 10, he over-pronated terribly on one ankle when running. He claimed the only time it ever caused him an issue was when he tried to correct it. He is 57 and we ran together last week.
Just my thoughts
Cross country for me too - first time in the top 100 which was my goal for some point for the season!
Absolutely rinsed myself. We've got a much stronger team this year - so we're 7th in the league so far (it was 13th last year!).
Type 1 fun though - definitely... Look at my happy face 😉
Which sites do you find XC races? And do you need to be in a club? I fancy abusing my body a bit but not sure where to find the races.
I think you need to be in a club - as (at least here) they're run on a League basis; however, if you know someone in a club - I believe you can run as a "Second Claim Runner" for their club - a bit like being a ringer. but you'd need to be nominally registered with them and wear their club colours. TBH it's a good reason to join a club anyway 🙂
As above really - they are usually organised by the county AA so you need to be in a club, but they do sometimes have open races, so check with them as to whether they put any on.
Re waterproofs I have a berghaus vapourlight hyper smock which at 75g is super light. However, all told it's too light and tissuey fragile in a lot of scenarios: if any bushwhacking is involved, high winds on munros, getting hammered with mud if on the mtb. It does tick the box for compulsory kit though. The fact it's a smock also makes it a pain to get on and off, wish I'd bought the full zip version. Unless I really need to go light, I pack a berghaus vapour storm which is a lot heavier at 300g but far more usable if I'm likely to use it that day
I'm not in a club, our local league (Border XC) is open to all. However, it is club orientated, advertised via clubs and sells out very quickly.
Yay Gwent league cross country again this weekend I really can not wait. It is at Pembrey Park which I really like. It is a bit of a trek from Bristol though.
I just have to avoid all the sick people at work for a few more days.
I believe you can run as a “Second Claim Runner” for their club – a bit like being a ringer. but you’d need to be nominally registered with them and wear their club colours. TBH it’s a good reason to join a club anyway
You can only run 2nd claim if you are first claim for somebody else. Otherwise you automatically become 1st claim for that club. If both your 1st and 2nd claim clubs are in the same event then you have to run for your 1st claim and in their colours, or you will be disqualified.
Its worth joining a club for the company alone, not to mention the coaching and support most provide to youngsters and that is where your subs go. I have been in a running club for over 40 years. For the last 10+ years I have remained a member of a large club (they usually offer the best junior support) even though I never use the facilities. The thought of youngsters having the same experiences that I had when I was a teenager, coach trips to relay and track meetings, making friends and enjoying the sport, is my subs well spent. Particularly as many of them come from less than ideal backgrounds. I know running for me (and sport in general) is a fantastic thing. Join a club and think not what your club can do for you....
Rumours of a marathon in my hometown of Prestwick in 2019, and a new half confirmed in Ayr for next year already, happy days!.
I’m not in a club, our local league (Border XC) is open to all. However, it is club orientated, advertised via clubs and sells out very quickly.
Hey Frank, did you enter the series? Had a great run on Sunday. For anyone else, the series sells out in hours after going live on entry Central which was on October 1st.
Tweed Valley Tunnel Trail Run. Anybody participated? Fancy this next year . Did the run before the sevens thist year and it was great. Thinking this would be as good?
Some clubs might let you run as a non-scorer (often with a big X on your back) if you haven't fully joined the club or are just dipping your toe in the water. However, assuming you aren't at the very pointy end, you probably won't be upsetting the score system anyway.
2nd race in the Surrey League on Saturday. As it's a Surrey league, we have Kent AC taking part, as they decided a number of years ago that their own league wasn't competitive enough. Having been dominant for the past 5 years I think we ran them within a few points last year, but didn't quite knock them off. The first race though, despite missing a few of our top runners, we sneaked a win, and hope to crush them this week 🙂
Lotto, did it last year and it was brilliant.
I've just done a 5km test run on my ankle as it's been sore for 2 weeks it was ok thank God as I've a 22km trail race on Sat
I've entered out local peco xc league too looking forward to those 🙂
Last event of the year today, a very wet and cold Jimmy Irvine 10k at Bellahouston park. Haven't done much for a couple of weeks, showed today, 46.16 nearly 2 mins from my previous best.
Good end to the year though, this time last year is have struggled to break an hour.
A good structured winter of training ahead should see some gains in 2019...
Was a bit damp for our XC race on Saturday!
We were a little dismayed to see that Kent had brought Alex Yee along (UK 10,000m champ) and predictably he won by a pretty comfortable margin, but we packed our runners in, with our 10th guy in 29th place meaning we won by over 100 points 🙂 I had been feeling pretty flat all week and didn't have a great run, but still just about managed to score for the A team as the 9th man home.
Great photo. We had a drop of rain in Wales too. But the sandy ground drained so well there was zero mud and it could have been run in road shoes. My position in the race was a bit different from yours 109th. Best fun I have had in ages, it was a cracking course and I think the sun may have even come out during the race.
Well I feel a bit inadequate compared to most in this thread, but it *does* say beginners, right?
I used to run a bit a few years ago, then stopped after damaging my achilles tendon running in the woods at night (I was DEFINITELY being chased by a bear, and tripped over a root). Last time I ran with any kind of regularity was probably three years ago.
Mrs Monkey and I are due a baby in January, and the prep for that is already cutting into my MTB time, and obviously come babytime will do so even more - especially since I live in Hull, so it's a good hours drive to get anywhere even moderately interesting. I don't really like road biking, especially in the dark in winter (plus that takes a good couple of hours for a decent ride, AND my bikes are both currently living in an outhouse at my parents to free us up some more space).
To, to avoid me getting fat(ter) I've decided to have another crack at running. I can do it out the door (crappy pavement running, but it's better than nothing) in a morning before work, or after without eating into my day too much. Hopefully I'll even be able to do it with the baby later on next year.
So - first run was this morning! Nice early 6.30ish start, and a very steady 2 and a bit miles around the block. It wasn't pretty, and I'm feeling it a little bit now but I managed it in about 23 minutes at a steady trot after starting off a bit too enthusiastically.
Not exactly world beating, but given that I'm overweight and haven't run in years (or been on the bike that much since doing a coast to coast in September tbh) I'm not too unhappy.
Just need to get out and do it again on Wednesday now...
Well done FMC, everyone on this thread, from a near beginner like me, to the likes of TF had to start somewhere. Keep us updated mate, always good to hear how everyone is getting on.
Will do! Might give me a bit of much needed motivation for when it's pissing it down on the only hour that I can get out...
Clova half for me last Saturday, 1.52 was enough to win the 100kg weight category* A good duel with the fellow big unit from the Dundee Road Runners before I powered...sorry, ambled away from him at mile 11.
* Yeah I know...no such thing; but I can dream.
Good stuff FMC. I would say that was pretty swift for a first go. I did not even manage 10 mins the first time I tried running and was in bits 🙂
Cheers IACA, it is very flat around here which I reckon helps.
I think my aim is to get up to about 10k at a steady pace - it'd be nice to be able to use running as an alternative to riding on holidays and such, so I don't have to take a bike everywhere.
My legs are still working (I think a mile walk to work after a shower and breakfast is probably quite a big help) but I'd forgotten how hungry running makes me. Trying to avoid snacking but I'm not sure how long that'll last...
Love this thread! Keep it up everyone ..
18:54 parkrun this weekend. Big parkrun PB for me and not far off my race 5k PB.
Managed my first sub 40 10k at Leeds abbey dash last week too.
I spent the summer training for a marathon and the difference that regular and consistent running has made to my running in general has been massive.
the only problem now is keeping the momentum now that the marathon is done! 😕
