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So what’s the deal with poles?
Are they pretty popular in the uk ultra scene?
I’ve done a fair bit of running this year and have done a handful of trail races up to 30km with 1,500 meter ascent. I’ve never used poles for running but did for trekking many year ago and think they’d be beneficial.
I’ve just entered a 45km trail race at the end of this month and wonder if I should grab a pair and train with them...
Will I be the only person with a pair?
Did my first race on Saturday following 4 + months off with tendinitis after Joss Naylor Challenge. It was a bit of a gamble really as I wasn’t sure if the ankle would hold up. 8 mile trail race. Terrain was mixed but not too rough. Descents were mud and grass rather than rough fell so was ok. Anyhoo - 15th out of 80 and 2nd V55. About a minute and a bit slower than last year but I’m bloody happy with that. Not in too much pain after either. Result.
Well done sparkles!
Jimbob, I've not seen many using them, one at Jedburgh ultra, other ultras I've done they've not been allowed (I think Scottish athletics events don't allow them?)
So what’s the deal with poles?
Having been DQ'd from a race for pole use when it wasn't even in their rules I'm fairly clued up on this.
Basically, check in advance and don't assume.
As for whether they help or not, the jury is out. I'd say if you haven't been using them then it's probably not worth it.
What's the race you were thinking of using them in? They tend to only be of use in races with large amounts of ascent and descent.
Poles are definitely allowed in this event. It’s the Peak District South 2 North although I’m going to do just the 2nd stage (which actually runs north to south...)
The mandatory kit list is a bit frustrating -
Paper map and compass (I have neither but have run these trails for a long time. They’re on my doorstep). I have GPS watch with GPX route and built in compass. My GPS watches have failed exactly 0 times in the last 10 years of owning one.
Spare head torch battery - spare batteries are £32 and mine would last 16 hours....
Just seems a bit overkill. Would rather they say use common sense although I know that’s not always particularly common.
Can't speak for the race you refer to but a paper map is a reasonable request. A GPS watch might be reliable but unless it has OS mapping it won't let you work out an escape route or navigate to the nearest help if it goes tits up.
As for being local, they can't really accept that, it needs to be same rules for everyone.
Torch AND spare batteries seems a bit excessive for a 45k trail race.
Well done Mr Sparkle, was that Allithwaite?
So I got a new MTB and thought I'd be running less as a result but it hasn't stopped raining since it arrived so I had a 70km week last week (off-road/hills) which put me at the top of the club's Strava leaderboard. So I guess I'm recovered (couldn't walk a month ago).
Anyway, now to the other leg. Sore deep in the glute. Nervy pain (piriformis?) which makes the whole leg throb, right down to the ankle/heel. Can sometimes ease it by getting right in there with a tennis ball, and a few stretches. What's it likely to be?
Hi Bob, aye it was the Aliithwaite 8. Not a bad ‘un to try if you are over when it’s on.
Yep, that sounds like piriformis. Get some physio and be prepared to cry. HTH.
Completely forgot I have the Glentress winter half marathon in a couple of weeks! That's the last race for a while, I'm keen to get back to more training and just enjoying my runs.
Looks like it goes up to the mast and uses some of the trail centre descents, should be fun!.
I was looking at that nobeer and was going to go if I didn’t get into the 7r. Still tempting as it looks a cracker and unlikely another 33 folk will sign up now. Cheapish as well.
Spare head torch battery – spare batteries are £32 and mine would last 16 hours….
You can probably also use a spare head torch instead - can you borrow one off someone?
So what’s the deal with poles?
They definitely help on long, draggy uphill climbs. They'll also good if it's slippery underfoot. They can be a help descending, but you really need to practise this a lot.
Yep, that sounds like piriformis. Get some physio and be prepared to cry. HTH.
I'm guilty of laziness here. I had physio on it years ago and daily strengthening exercises really helped (a lot of one legged bridges) but of course once you feel better you lose the motivation to do half an hour of exercises every morning!
Time to get back on it, also doing a lot of nerve flossing but not sure if that actually does anything.
Spare head torch battery – spare batteries are £32 and mine would last 16 hours….
best place to keep spare head torch batteries is in another head torch...
£32 gets you one of these:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B076ZTCLJQ/
90g. edit: actually 35g.
I was going to say exactly the same thing - a complete spare head torch would be a good alternative to batteries - need not be an expensive one if it's just a backup.
Certainly see the value in a physical compass and paper map - not much to go wrong with either of those. Having said that in an OMM several years ago (the wet one in Borrowdale where the event was cancelled on day 1 and caused a bit of a media fuss) I managed to carelessly let one of our maps blow away in the howling wind - so nothing is completely idiot proof 😀
Caught up on this thread last night to help me get motivated for my first run in months (family and job stuff has had to take priority) and stop me bailing cos it was a bit cold.
So thanks all, you inspired me to get out and run a very slow 2 miles and remind myself how much I love it, even on the shitty pavements around us. Calves are feeling it a bit now (although that'll be partly due to humping boxes up and down stairs all weekend) but overall it went well.
Just need to knock a couple of minutes of my pace to get back to where I was now...
Well my daughter did her county cross country competition, absolutely hated the gloopy mud through Dalby Forest, chose not to race and took the organisers words to 'help anyone in trouble' literally and jog/walked with a girl that was struggling with a stitch. This made me smile inside.
Reckon you've got a goodun there @johndoh.
I always thought Dalby would be a better run than ride, mebbe I was wrong!
Happily my piriformis eased off enough to run home from work. Does tend to leave aching post spasm muscles around the hip though.
Quite happy to knock out the 10k in 50 odd mins, considering there's around 250m climbing and it's pitch dark farm tracks, I was quite pleased with that.
Anyway.. any genius ideas for stopping keys rattling? Usually wrap a rubber band round them but couldn't find one.
Hide them in the garden in the morning, saves carrying em all day.
Reckon you’ve got a goodun there @johndoh.
yeah, it’s in her makeup to always look out for others (even down to tiny bugs and spiders) so not entirely a surprise but conversely she wants to win everything she competes in. Still, she’s qualified with her schoolmates for an indoor athletics competition which she is doing tomorrow, then a swimming competition on Tuesday 😍 I wish I had so many opportunities as a kid to do this stuff!!!
Re keys rattling - cut a chunk out of an old tube
For rattling keys get a zip lock bag or similar just big enough to get the keys in and then squeeze out as much air as possible. Added bonus of keeping keys dry should that be required.
I use this when I do the Trunce as there are 3 river crossings to contend.
It works a treat and no jangly keys.
Re. Keys ratting, I just take a single front door key in a shorts pocket.
Re. Keys ratting, I just take a single front door key in a shorts pocket.
I use a running belt - that way I can store my phone, car/front door key (depending on where I am running) and parkrun ID card. It also has little straps for race numbers which is great for when I inevitably forget to take safety pins with me. It can also be used to store gels/gloves etc. I find it an invaluable piece of kit.
Right then, just seen a comment on Insta about it now being leggings weather, I was horrified.
I can't be the only one who won't wear them until it's sub-zero temps? It was 3 degree this morning and I was forced into a base layer but we're a good distance away from covering the pins.
^^^ Depends on how far I am running. For a parkrun I have 10 minutes of being stood around in an exposed place for a 25 minute run so I would wear them.
If I am running from home and doing (say) 6 miles, then I wouldn't but some people simply feel the cold more than others.
Also depends on how quickly a run is planned - a gentle recovery run will require more clothing in chilly conditions than an all-out effort. I must admit that I've been wearing tights for my morning commute for a week or so
WHOO - proud dad update. My daughter was in her athletics competition yesterday (local finals of 'Sports hall Athletics'). She was anchor in an obstacle relay and, on changeover, she was in second place then was incorrectly held by a marshall for a couple of seconds but she absolutely blitzed her run and brought home the win for her team who went on to win the final by two points so proceed to the regional finals after Christmas.
Even better (as she suffers from severe anxiety issues when going to school), when she got there this morning her sports teacher was in reception spotted her and said 'Here's Super Speedy Izzy' which made her really happy and she proceeded to go into school with a massive beaming smile on her face.
Now for the regional finals of her swimming competition next week 🙂
Well done to Izzy! It’s a confidence booster. Good stuff from others too.
Second round of the Surrey League XC on Epsom Downs yesterday in filthy conditions. Mud, rain, cold, lovely!
Last time out I took it easy as didn’t know if I could run 5 miles. Turns out I could but got slow time. This time thought I’d up the pace a bit and I’m really happy with my run - 11 out of 25 in team so I don’t score (first 10 do), but I was 3rd from last the previous time. Probably went a bit fast as got a new 5k record of 23:26 during race, hit the wall at 6k up the long drag of a hill at the back of the race course and felt properly crap, but picked it up again and managed a good finish.
Main problem was lack of traction - Bambi on roller skates for most of it, hunting out the long grass for grip which isn’t good for speed or energy conservation. Looking at some grippier shoes but without a big heel to toe drop as this seems to make my knees and groin flare up. Currently running Merrell Trail Glove with zero drop and despite tight calves, they are treating me quite well on road and dry trails. Any recommendations for the muddier stuff? Cheers.
Got to work on my route planning. Meant to do 10k yesterday on trails I would normally ride, less than halfway round I was on 7k, cut a big corner off and still ended up doing 12k and late home for lunch...
Looking for a winter running tight that is both thermal and windproof, ideally with the Gore Windstopper material. Any recommendations?
Ey up all , cant remember what my last doc update was on here regarding my collapse but I was made to wear a 24 hr ecg and it turns out they found a strange thing where my heart misses beats at night this was again some more worry but I was seen by cardiologist very quickly had an echo and all is well and apparently quite normal with fit (haha) people, nothing to do with the collapse and an accidental find as it were I still think lack of food or water the heat and a bad day were to blame
Anyway I did a really muddy hardmoors marathon in goathland yesterday it was very tough, but i enjoyed it, ripped open both my bloody shoes by mile 12 so had another 16 in shoes with big holes in 🙂 great event though
Oh lotto I have some thermal gore salamon tights that are very good
Did my first 10km the other week, just got to 7 so decided to keep going.
Hopefully my legs are getting conditioned for running now, using insoles and the plantar fascitis has not returned.
Been advised not to increase distance for a while, but how often should a relative newbie be looking to run each week?
After obsessing about running longer today, after an aborted junior parkrun as Izzy had hurt her foot in the competition earlier this week, I had a precious few minutes to myself so did a 1.5 mile run as hard as I could - painful to say the least !!! Ran just over 7 minute mile pace for the first mile (the last bit was really steep so it dropped off a bit) . I have never felt so screwed despite running much much further this year. Such a buzz though.
I’ve now ticked off the last of the running goals I set myself a few years ago: sub 90 for a half; sub 20 for 5k (both done in 2017); and did a 10k in under 40 last month. For those of you who set similar goals, do you just set faster ones and carry on? It looks like fast for age marathon qualification for me would entail going under 85 minutes or quicker in a half...
Chaka, I generally ran 3 times a week when I first started. A 5k tempo, a lunch 5k with workies, and an easier paced longer run at weekend.
Mornings and lunchtime are a good use of dead time, if work/logistics allow.
Plantar seems quite common in new runners btw, I got a bit too, but tennis ball under the foot sorted it.
root - sounds like you need some proper XC spikes! The vast majority have a tiny heel-toe drop so fit the bill from that perspective. No need to spend much on them and with a variety of spike lengths you will have a pair of shoes that will suit all conditions. You shouldn't struggle for grip in anything other than shoe-stealing mud.
Well done on your run, unfortunately I'm missing the Surrey League due to kids swimming lessons on Saturday afternoons, was very jealous of my club-mates getting wet and muddy at Wimbledon Common at the weekend, and a friend had a stormer of a run to finish 2nd at Epsom.
I had a good outing yesterday with my Argentine mate Miguel, 20km up a local mountain. Bloody freezing at the top, -5C or so and blowing a gale. I clearly need to switch on winter mode: while I got the clothing basically right, I forgot to carry the emergency blanket, overtrousers, crampons etc. If we had got into trouble it could have been quite serious as we weren't really prepared for it. Fortunately nothing went wrong, but if it had...
For those of you who set similar goals, do you just set faster ones and carry on?
Interesting question. I never really set any time goals (other than trying to break 2 mins for 800 when I was much younger) I tended to be wrapped up in races with clubmates which eventually drags you to faster times. Racing really gets the best out of you so I would say train hard then race and wherever you are in the field against whoever is next to you. Its nice to be racing for a win or the podium but you need to be able to race when you are further back in the field and still be motivated to hurt yourself. One of the hardest races I remember many years ago was trying to break the first 100 in the Northern XC champs. The field was very good back then, much less so now!
running buggies.... with big wheels for farm tracks etc....(we live rural so no pavements but plenty tracks)
what you using.
Currently using a croozer bike buggy with jogger attachment but its handle is too short , and the buggy its self is too wide/too low so scrapes on some of the deeper tracks and not handy for wife to get in the car on her own. + far too wide for my local Parkrun.
looking at the out and about nipper sport
Big inflatable wheels a must and ground clearance Can live with HI COG
I can vouch for the Nipper sport - we've had one and covers some rough ground no problem. Adjustable height handle so fits both me and my wife with no issue. Wheels pop out v quickly and folds flat to go in the car. Nothing else to compare to from a running perspective but I've done a good few miles with ours. Only minor down-side is the brake is on the front wheel which has little effect when going downhill (as v little weight on it when descending) but it's only a minor thing.
Had a really good run yesterday. I've had manflu for the last week and was begining to panic about the trail marathon i'd entered for later this month! I was feeling a bit better so figgered i'd just go and see what happends. Turns out I managed my longest run to date! 32km and 1,130m ascent around the Derwent Valley area in the Peak. It was extremely boggy in places but mostly ok.
Best part was taking my newly aquired Alpkit BruKit and having a mid run brew and a pot noodle in one of the shooting cabins on the top of the moors with a friend. Loved it
Chaka, I generally ran 3 times a week when I first started. A 5k tempo, a lunch 5k with workies, and an easier paced longer run at weekend.
Mornings and lunchtime are a good use of dead time, if work/logistics allow.
Plantar seems quite common in new runners btw, I got a bit too, but tennis ball under the foot sorted it.
Cheers, ironically I got PF from a nasty hike-a-bike in the Lakes then re-activated it by running too soon.
Been useful in a way though as it's prompted me to use insoles in more of my shoes and I now seem to get less of the flat-footed slapping that used to characterise my running.
Turbo - I'll check out some spikes as been looking at Inov-8 shoes costing upwards of 100 notes and they seem a bit excessive. Thanks.
Your mate must have been flying/skating to come second - some proper fast people on these races - great to be a part of, but a loooong way back. And we're only Division 3!
Turns out my time does count toward the team result as we had a rogue runner in our results - I have now been promoted to 10th place, but because I'm obviously placed lower we score less and we have dropped into the relegation zone. There's no way my 38:22 should be counting to our result as the next person in our team did a 35:59, so I'm way off the pace. I think our leader got a 22 but 3 of our faster runners weren't there. Hopefully I won't be in the top 10 again as feel a bit guilty, but I guess I was faster than the guy behind me so did what I could. Even so, it does feel good to be part of the "A Team"!
Best part was taking my newly aquired Alpkit BruKit and having a mid run brew and a pot noodle in one of the shooting cabins on the top of the moors with a friend. Loved it
Ooh... now there's an idea!
This is what I use, it cost me £25 from eBay
Superjogger, rather old-school, and I have fitted a 5-point harness upgrading the original 3-point. 20" wheels roll really well, copes admirably with anything I've run on - grass, mud, steps. Have done up to 20 milers in a group at a pace. Certainly no need to to spend silly money. Ironically the expensive Phil & Teds I bought turned out to be dangerous at speed so I sent it back for a refund!
Brilliant photo, Turbo! The look your child's face.
Found some Saucony Havok XC2 that look good and are half the price of the trail shoes I was considering. Might try to nip into Run And Become to have a look today. Any experience of these?
He does look super-bored, Sam, but despite appearances was happily chattering away 🙂
I have wide feet and find Saucony too narrow me. I did rate the Kinavara's I had briefly before bulging through the sides. However, there isn't a massive amount distinguishing different XC spikes (not much padding required), so assuming they fit you should be fine. Once you have spikes you can engage in exciting pre-race debate about what lengths are best for the conditions!
looks good rich
Ill keep an eye out , I'm a couple of months away from being safe to be jogging with her. We were out for a walk with the croozer yesterday to see how it was , the big wheels are definitely a must.
Will see what pops up and ask about the club too.
I've got that post run smugness feeling.
Usually my runs on work days need to happen at about 11am (pre lunch) or it doesn't happen. I debated sacking it off and going to the shop to buy a pack of chocolate biscuits to be consumed at my desk instead for about 3 hours. Finally I forced myself to leave the office at 2pm and my usual 5.5km loop wasn't enough so i trotted along and notched up 8.5km in the end.
Nice to force yourself to get out there and come back relieved you did it!
Keep running everyone/
Nice to force yourself to get out there and come back relieved you did it!
Absolutely.
Running and biking, my mantra when I'm procrastinating about whether to go out or not is that I always regret not going, and never regret going.
First snowy mountain run of autumn on Saturday, 34k from Crathie to Braemar via Lochanagar and Loch Callater. Started off good, nice and crisp, but got to the plateau and the weather closed in, a total white void heading across to Carn an t-Sagairt Mor, navigating was difficult and knee deep snow, no sign of the path. Thankfully got a window of clear skies near Loch Callater, stunning visibility (though had forgotten an sd card for the camera so only phone pics unfortunately). Started banging it down with snow on the track down glen callater, by the end was pretty beat and walk/jogged into Braemar
Snow starting about 650m heading up from Crathie
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Snow getting deeper heading up Lochnagar
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A minute after this cloud came over and didn't see much for next couple hours
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Quite a few walkers out looking a bit cold
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Brief opening in the void
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All of a sudden contouring around Carn an SM..boom
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This bit was shit, hidden holes up to balls deep in snow
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I can just about see a path over there
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Loch Callater. trail was icey and seems to have suffered some flood damage, odd deep rut that will be a mare on a bike
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End of callater track
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As mogrim mentioned, reckon I could prep a bit better on 'white-out' navigation, was pretty hairy on the plateau, had a map and compass and gps as backup but trying to gauge distance travelled and calculating and staying on bearings with big mitts on was a mare
Ace pics Mike! Stunning.
Once again, amazing pics Mike. 💙🏴
@trail_rat - I can also recommend the Nipper Sport. I've only run on road with it so far (for which it's brilliant) but done a fair bit of walking offroad and it handles pretty much as you'd expect. Brake is fairly useless as mentioned, but it's better than nowt.
MiniMonkey loves it, until she falls asleep and I have to walk home, usually in the pissing rain.
Great photos. Cold here, but not that cold.
Tried on some XC spikes yesterday and they are strange shoes. Nothing to them and very narrow so not sure they will work for me. Made the mistake of getting gait analysis done and some Saucony road shoes were a good fit and so comfortable compared to my minimalist things. Also offered support to stop foot collapsing inwards. Didn’t buy them as £120
Quid which seems a lot for A Pair of shoes to me.
Seems I need some new road shoes and some proper off-road shoes, so it’s a bit like bikes - N+1.
Sportshoes.com or asics outlet for my shoes.
Sportshoes.com or asics outlet for my shoes.
This and the Nike Outlet stores if you're lucky.
Although I feel like I ought to be boycotting Nike subsequent to the Kara Goucher/maternity leave/NOP/Mary Cain issues which have been coming out, but I have just succumbed to an offer GAMETIME22 for a 22% discount on the Nike store...
Been looking around and it seems that #120 isn't that much for a decent pair of road shoes. Anybody got any experience of the Saucony Omni Iso2? Seemed very comfortable to me so might invest in a pair.
Cheers.
I have just succumbed to an offer GAMETIME22 for a 22% discount on the Nike store…
Pair of NEXT% then I presume TF?
Been looking around and it seems that #120 isn’t that much for a decent pair of road shoes.
80 quid tops for me, only use them for 300 miles, usually look around on SS and I'll get a pair of asics that were 120 quid for around 50, last years model.
Jumping into the running a bit late in the year! Going to start tonight and if all goes well, I might be more into the 2020 thread 🙂
Using it as an alternative to MTB, shift a bit more weight and to compliment the weight training. Seems like it will fill a void nicely.
Doing a 15 minute run tonight after work to start off with and build up from there. Trying not to go too hard too soon. Cardio is decent so there's always the temptation to go too fast or too far and end up hurting myself.
Got some Asics trail runners that I've had for ages and not worn a lot. I'll buy some proper running shoes if I stick to it.
@johnw1984, good cardio and no running make you a prime injury candidate!
Take it slow, slower than that, stretch lots after each run, build slowly.
Couch to 5k will feel slower than you need to go but will really help you build slow enough.
Ideally, try to run off road, even if it's just round the local football pitches as it'll really help reduce impact.
@lunge
Cheers lunge, that's pretty much what I'm thinking. I'm not going to repeat the last mistake of running 6.5 miles out of the door after not running for over a year! Couldn't walk right for a week after that!
Saucony road shoes were a good fit and so comfortable compared to my minimalist things. Also offered support to stop foot collapsing inwards.
Were they the Guide ones? That's my current choice and they are by far the most comfortable running shoes I have ever worn. As recommended above, I bought from Sportsshoesdirect.
They recommended the Omni iso2 which seem to have more extreme stability than the guide, but are of course less common and can’t find that many on discount. I’ll keep looking.
alanf, I'm afraid I have just pledged another large sum to Nike, although I think I might do as Stephen Scullion did for the Dublin Marathon a couple of weeks ago, and black them out. Not because I'm sponsored by another brand of course, just as a bit of a statement, which will probably mean absolutely nothing, as I've already given them my money...
Apart from the hypocrisy of just spending over £200 on a single pair of shoes, the majority of my shoes have cost me considerably less - my general go-to trainer is the Nike ZoomFly which are often on offer for about £55 despite the newer ones retailing for ~£130.
Once you find a style/brand that works for you, then you can generally find them cheap, assuming you aren't dead set on getting the new colour scheme etc
@turboferret - I think you said in a previous post that when everyone else has the advantage, then why not, and with the times you run then I think it makes a compelling case for you to get a pair.
Some other runners maybe not so.
Of course Nike wants everyone to get on board so they can make more money, but I don't think everyone would benefit from the shoes, so in a lot of cases they're not warranted. In your case though I think they are. Still spending that amount on a pair of shoes would definitely hurt a bit!
Agreed though on your last statement. I wear Adizero adios most of the time and I can usually pick them up for around 45-60 quid when the retail is £130 (I think) now. I've got a few boxes lined up (4) for the coming year...
As above, I think you can justify spending a fair bit with your ability Turbo.
Found some of the shoes at a much cheaper price. The saving will slow me to buy the trail spikes from the shop so I won’t feel so guilty. Road isn’t my favourite type of running, that would be trail, but the club sessions are on the road so I feel I should have some decent cushioning and support for my old bones. Hopefully they’ll work out.
I've not ventured into spike world yet, trail and hill race duties are covered valiantly by Asics Fujitrabuco 7s, the only time they've been found wanting was the mud chute on the Jedburgh ultra, but there's a bit of tarmac on that too, so there's always gonna be a compromise.
Quiet week this week running wise, gym sessions and Tennis instead, saving my powder for the Glentress half on saturday, Peel center up to the mast and back, via walkers paths and some of the trail centre black too, should be fun!.
Indeed, it would be nice for everyone to compete on a level playing field, and if shoes make a difference, then everyone needs to wear the same. There was 13 seconds separating me from 2nd place in York a couple of weeks ago, and the difference in prize money was £250 - would upgrading my shoes have made a difference?
What is annoying is the fact that Nike have completely dominated the market. I think things will improve when the other players catch up with comparable shoes. One assumes there will be an adjustment in the prices too. Until then I'll be wearing these:
I hate my competitive self.
Ran to work along the canal today, normally a gentle plod at 8:15 ish minute miles. There was a fella ahead of me on the canal and I had to chase him. This means I ended up running the 5 miles in a smidge under 7 minute miles. He may not have know he was in a race, but he definitely lost...
This was not the gentle start to the day I anticipated.
lunge - I know exactly how you feel, totally screws up recovery runs 🙂
+1!
Gentle club run last sunday morning. I got hooked into racing the last 2 miles with a nice lady who'd spent the rest of the run telling me how she was on a recovery run and saving herself for some event she had coming up. We were both about ready to puke by the time we finished and had a good laugh at each other 🙂
Laughed at the "He may not have know he was in a race, but he definitely lost". Been there.
I did some solo hill sessions last night - 25 minutes of fast up and slow down. It was ok and I quite enjoyed it and was suitably frazzled at the end, but when I do it with others the competitive spirit kicks in and I push myself much further into the danger zone.
Might be a good thing as I want to be a bit fresh for a PB attempt a the Saturday pARkrUn. Hoping to go under 23 minutes from a current 23:48 PB. Not sure if I can on the winter course as I don't know it and might be a bit slippery, but will give it a go.
350m of hill reps in the dark, cold air dragging at the throat and lungs, legs complaining. Leaves covering mud and roots, headtorch and memory combining to pick through the worst of the descents. Welcome to the gloom! Guess this is what gets you out of the slump 🙂
Turbo: are those Nike shoes the ones Kipchoge used for the sub 2 hour marathon? Look subtle - think I’ll get a pair for work.
Root; with reference to previous page, I wear Guides on my big wide flippers. £80 on Amazon as well and really stable.