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Vassos Alexander's books are good easy reading.
Bella Mackie's is good too, though it more running for people who aren't runners.
Nearly December folks
That means marcothon.
Good motivation for cold winter nights.
Hoping my foot heals in time.....not overly confident in it but here's hoping.
Vassos Alexander’s books are good easy reading.
Yep, second that recommendation. A simple guy out for a run...
@turboferret Good going for 10th with a buggy though. Wish I could do that sort of time without a buggy!
Here’s a controversial question. I’ve got a charity Santa dash next week. 5k run then I’m joining the family for a 1.2k walk afterwards. Now, do I “race” the 5k in my full Santa suite? I reckon there might be a few competitive dads taking part. I’m figuring if it’s 300 people, then 75 will be Runners and the mums will probably stay with the kids, leaving about 35 dads. I tend to always be slightly above average in most sporting events (unless it’s football) so would be looking at maybe a top 10 finish. Sad, I know, but it’s for charity and we have a fair bit of sponsorship, so got to make the most of it.
You can never tell who'll turn up at a race, even a Santa dash!
Today's race was great fun - I've done it 6 years in a row now, and there's nothing like playing at home... The promised mudfest didn't happen, it was blowing a gale but never rained, perfect temperature and the sun even came out at one point! A fun 16km race, with some great downhills and tough climbs: a perfect start to the weekend 🙂
NOt heard or Marcothon - I might try that!
New mud shoes were great yesterday. For the first time I could run downhill, uphill and around corners without fear of crashing out. Could really lean on them and just run. It was V muddy. A revelation they were.
XC race was brutal as I was feeling rough with a cold, but pushed through and came fourth for team, albeit 4 minutes down on 3rd place man! One fast guy didn’t turn up. Faded in last half lap probably due to feeling ill. 36:53 for 7.84km so happy with that in the mud.
Did Harrogate parkrun on Saturday - it was miserable weather again and it's rapidly churning up yet more of the Stray which has been battered with the Worlds and more recently the big Bonfire Night event. It was sketchy to say the least especially on a couple of corners (which can normally taken at speed but were almost walking pace to carefully navigate them) and a couple of sections where it was so boggy the suction of the mud almost had my shoes a couple of times. There's going to be little hope of getting a decent time this side of next spring now and the rain forecast for later this week is going to make things even worse.
QECP was "squelchy" quite a few MTB'ers out in the drizzle on Sat, very quiet today in the torrential downpour earlier..
Inov-8 X-Talon 200 recommended. I was taking sloppy corners at normal speed with little or no slide. Straight through ankle deep mud without a worry about the heel slipping. Feel like proper mtb winter tyres strapped to your feet.
Inov-8 X-Talon 200 recommended.
As I was running in the gloop on Saturday I was thinking I need trail shoes but I don't really do enough distance off-road in the winter to justify the outlay. I might just avoid the parkrun until we get a spell of drier weather and just stick to road routes.
Been looking at that elevate App and there's loads of lines that I think i've got the hang of. Just wondered what others fitness score is coming in at? I'm currently on 13.1, up from 4 in August. Not that it means much but it's good geeky data.
Had a near miss this morning like the bloke who left some of his scalp on the bridge a few pages back.
Came flying down a hill, thick gloop at the bottom, slipped and just missed the corner of a wall with my forehead. Now in pain as I threw my arms out to counterbalance and felt something stretch in a bad way!
What helmet for trail running...
Checked Strava and noticed 2000km all off road have just ticked over for the year, and a hair off 80k of climbing. Not bad for one's first year (with about 2 months nursing injuries...)
Any exciting weekend plans?
Unexpected parkrun tomorrow for me as missus has flu and we've had to cancel a weekend away. THere's a new one just started about 400m from our house so I'll go along and show my support I reckon. Won't be breaking any records after a filthy cold all week though.
Then prob a club run on sunday morning.
Any exciting weekend plans?
parkrun tomorrow so it'll be 4 miles up there either way then the run. Helping out afterward doing some barcode scanning as well.
Not sure on Sunday, could help at Juniors but not sure yet.
Flying to Milan very early for a Christmas thing with our staff so no running for me until Monday. Hope you all enjoy.
Flying to Milan very early for a Christmas thing with our staff so no running for me until Monday. Hope you all enjoy.
Might have heard that mentioned on another thread 🙂
Run with a couple of mates up a mountain tomorrow, nothing serious though. Should be fun.
Did the Harmeny AC7 half yesterday. Quite simply the most enjoyable race I have ever taken part in. Colder than a witches tit and as icy as anything but stunning. And to my shame; there were a lot of proper fell runners there( vest top and shorts so small a testicle was dangling) but one fellow member of the 100kg ish club had turned up. To quote a couple of pages ago “ he was in a race without realising it.”
Hmmmm...
Entries opened for Arran Skyline and the smaller Tarsuinn races yesterday. Fancied the bigger race but it's a very early start, meaning staying the night before in a BnB - I'm not up for camping any more.
With entry costs and accom, talking 200 quid really, mibbe just stick with the shorter race again.
These views will soften the blow somewhat...
If you’re mad enough to want to do the Arran Skyline, Greg, I’m sure we can put you up for the night so you can get that early start.
Any exciting weekend plans?
Went windsurfing on Sat, QECP yesterday... and almost hurled.
It was hard going.
Has anyone had any experience with the trainasone app, I have entered the Bungay Marathon (April 2020), and I am considering using this app as a training program.
I am reasonably fit, having run a 10k race last weekend (46mins) and I did an easy 20k yesterday without to many issues, so I should hopefully be ok for a 42k by April.
I ran my first "ultra" just over a week ago. Loved it! Well i've forgotten the pain and discomfort now so not sure I loved it at the time or not.... I've got my eye on some more for next year though.
It was a pretty small low key event, only 30 participants running from Marsden to Edale in the Peak District. The route went over Black Hill, Bleaklow then Kinder Scout and came in at 44km with 1300+ meters of ascent (so just over regular marathon distance).
My longest trail run before this was about 30km so the plan was to finish and not come last.... Somehow I managed to rock up 4th overall with a time of 5hr 48min. Well chuffed! I had no idea what position I was in until I got to the last aid station, I was 5th at that point and fully expected someone to appear from the mist behind at any point. Fortunately they didn't and I spotted the guy in 4th up ahead on the last descent down Jacobs ladder. I managed to catch him at the bottom where he told me he was feeling it! I decided to deploy some mind games at that point as I too was ruddy knackered and didn't fancy a sprint for the line. He asked how feeling and I was and I was like "yea i'm pretty good actually...." (I really wasnt). I managed to open a gap of about 100 meters quite quickly on him. That gap then remained in place for the final few km on what felt like the slowest race on earth to the finish.
If you’re mad enough to want to do the Arran Skyline, Greg, I’m sure we can put you up for the night so you can get that early start.
Lol, cheers Marko!
My (perhaps skewed!) logic is that the Tarsuinn this year wasn't too bad, so Skyline should be doable. Also worked out on Tarsuinn and a couple of other races this year that runners who are faster than me normally perhaps don't fare as well in the mountains, tbh I think hillwalking is great training for the likes of this.
Hmmmmm...
Nobeer,
Did you get an invite to enter the Arran races at a reduced rate?
I got an email from SI Entries offering me an 'invitation' to enter at a 34% discount. I wondered if everybody got one or whether it was just me as compensation for dicking me about last year!
Cheers.
tbh I think hillwalking is great training for the likes of this.
If completion rather than a fast time is your goal that is spot on.
No Spin, twas only those that did the longer route that got the discount sadly.
Ah right, so everyone who did the longer race got a discount, wonder if it was because they cut the route last year?
They're not getting any more of my money anyway!
Some great runs going soon here. Most of my running seems to be struggling up and down the A217 with the occasional foray into a muddy field - living the dream!
First time on a bike this Saturday gone - a lap of Swinley on a retro bike with a load of retro blokes. Here's what I thought would happen:
1. Legs would feel it as bike muscles not been used for a while.
2. Backside would hurt the day after.
3. I'd feel sprightly on the hills due to losing nearly a stone since the summer and doing running intervals and XC. V02 max has gone up and I can push myself further than only three months ago.
So, off I went, keeping pace with the 2 fast guys up front, blast up the first hill, and here's what happened:
1. Legs felt it as expected - the burn!
2. Yes, my backside hurts today - no suspension, 26" wheels and anti brakes make for a lively ride.
3. Felt like absolute crap, lungs burning, gasping for breath, felt like I was going to die after one hill that I used to zip up on the single speed - proper oxygen debt, almost scared at one point Felt like an unfit old man and by the end I was pooped - a full 21Km of riding on what isn't the most demanding of terrain. Maybe I was expecting too much?
To be fair, I did keep up with the middle of the group and wasn't the slowest, but I was expecting to feel fit and sprightly. The wind has been taken out of my sails a bit and I get the feeling old age is coming at me head-on, and I've got nowhere to hide. If I can't hide, I'll just have to keep running!
XC racing always hurts IME. Was it an official retro race or a mates' event? Sounds fun anyway.
Back to running, I have decided to enter the Wigan Half Marathon in March - which means I have a little over three months to train for it.
Currently running 5km once a week or so, and have done a couple of 10km runs - though the last one caused some knee pain. So I'm thinking to do two or three 5km runs a week over the next month or so - then increase the distance again. This seems to be in alignment with a training plan I found on Runners World.
Any thoughts? And also with regard to integrating training with cycling?
Long slow runs, forget your pace and times, time on your feet without bursting yourself will help the knee IME and will give you confidence to do the distance.
Variation, get some trail runs in, some hills, tempo runs, intervals etc.
A half marathon can be winged, a marathon less so, you'll be fine.
Thanks, one of my workmates is signed up to a (different) half marathon in March and we were discussing pace yesterday.
I feel like I only have one speed (which feels slow-ish) and Strava says my runs are mostly 5.30 to 5.50 (mins per km).
I can't really do trail running from the door this time of year (too sloppy) but another running pal did suggest heading up the local hill (much better surfaced), does that have benefits beside being less boring? Will it strengthen my legs better, for example?
Definitely will help, both up and down. Up for obvious reasons, but learning to run downhill on the hill races I've done more efficiently has definitely helped me in road races too.
As for your pace, that'll come the more you run.
I do 90% trail running on pretty hilly terrain (Peak District) and whilst I find I'm getting quicker up and down the hills it hasn't done much to my overall pace on the flat.
Keeping it simple I think you need to do a lot of what you want to do faster in order to go faster.
I think strength from hill running does translate into the ability to turn a hard gear on the bike up steep hills and vice versa though
Should I do it?
After trying and failing to get a London Marathon place for about 368 years, I have given up and am considering entering the Manchester Marathon instead. And I have also always wanted to do a Tri and have just been alerted to the York Triathlon in August (I will just need to do some swimming lessons to sort out technique as it's rubbish). However I already have a place in the GNR in September. Would a marathon in April followed by a Tri in Aug and a half-marathon in September be a bit of an odd combination in terms of training?
I've got a bit of a marathon itch. Don't think 2020 will be the year for me though as doubt I'll have the chance to put the mileage in. I was never really a runner until a couple of years ago and generally do a couple of 10k ish runs a week, plus one or two shorter ones. I've done a half marathon distance fell race but that's literally the longest I've ever run so doubt I'd be able to do a full mararthon distance without some serious training.
Going to try and get a GNR entry for 2020 though and maybe a couple of other halfs and longer fell races and go from there...
Sorry - no help to your training question johndoh - just got me thinking 😉
Just had my London 2020 championship entry application approved 🙂
Now the simple matter of running a hundred miles a week between Christmas and the end of April...
Going to try and get a GNR entry for 2020 though
It'll be harder than usual as it's the 40th anniversary so I'd get in early if I were you.
Would a marathon in April followed by a Tri in Aug and a half-marathon in September be a bit of an odd combination in terms of training?
Nah, I think you'd be fine, particularity if the tri was early August and the half in late September. Once you've run a full marathon you'll find half's very enjoyable and something of a pleasant distance to run.
Would a marathon in April followed by a Tri in Aug and a half-marathon in September be a bit of an odd combination in terms of training?
What lunge says, you'll be fine. I'm assuming you're just doing the events for fun / personal satisfaction, if you're aiming to win then it's a different matter. (FWIW this year I've done a couple of trail marathons, an ironman, 3 half ironmans, and a couple of other local shorter trail races... I don't bother the winners, and they don't bother me 🙂 )
I’m assuming you’re just doing the events for fun / personal satisfaction, if you’re aiming to win then it’s a different matter.
Yeah just for fun (although I will be training hard to get okay times for an old bloke). Normally I just do my regular running (parkruns, occasional longer weekend runs, two or three 10ks then one 'big' event so was just concerned I might be trying to train for too much).
was just concerned I might be trying to train for too much
You're getting the "dangerous" event out the way first, if you don't get injured building up to a marathon you'll be fine for the rest. (And there's no particular reason you should get injured, just that it's higher risk than the others). Post-marathon start building the cycling, and maintain the running fitness by doing 15-20km long runs and some interval stuff. Lay off the swimming in the week before the marathon, but otherwise keep doing it.
It’ll be harder than usual as it’s the 40th anniversary so I’d get in early if I were you.
It's just a ballot isn't it? So chuck you name in the hat then cross your fingers. Failing that, sign up for a charity place and commit to raising an amount of money for chosen charity.
Or is it not that simple?
r8jimbob88 - A very good time for Sunday! I did the event too (including Saturday) and ran the whole thing with my wife. Got to say it was a brilliant event, well organised, and a good route. I could hardly walk after Saturday, so not sure where I found the ability to do Sunday.
Came away with joint 3rd (12:28 for the 60 miles) which meant she got 1st female, and course record by over an hour. Successful weekend!
No running at all last week (part recovery, part time, part cycling) and none this week as away for work, so need to get a long one on Saturday.
It’s just a ballot isn’t it? So chuck you name in the hat then cross your fingers. Failing that, sign up for a charity place and commit to raising an amount of money for chosen charity.
Or is it not that simple?
It depends on how you want to do it. If you are just doing the ballot then yes you just put your name down and wait but if you are doing it for a charity many of them are already allocating their places as they have already been given their allocation from the organisers.
Santa Dash today. Was hoping for a too 10 and came in second! Not really a race but it’s likely to be the only time I ever trouble the podium.
Stopped after 1km while an fellow Sutton Runner tied their shoelace, but I couldn’t have caught the winner.
Legs were A bit tired after a parkrun pb of 21:14 yesterday.
I have been slowly (being the operative word here, lost so much speed) getting back into my running as I’ve pretty much lost the cycling love these days.
Wondering if any of you have done the Tour of Tameside?
I’ve done the first day (10k trail) of the four a few times but work commitments in the past have meant I’ve never been able to do more than that.
For 2020 it’s looking like I’ll be able to commit to the full four days (Thu/Fri/Sat/Sun) and I am seriously tempted to just go for it.
For those that have done it, or something similar (it’s a 10k/6m/half/7m on consecutive days and a mix of trail and road) how do you go about training?
I’m doing my first half January 5th and have no issues with the other distances but on consecutive days with the fatigue etc I’m unsure how to proceed if indeed I need to do more than just suck it up come the time.
For those sorts of short distances would people just start to do consecutive days running in training or would you go about it some other way?
My google skills are only bringing up stuff relating to ultras etc.
I wouldn't change my training for that, if you're used running 4 or 5 times a week it'll be fine. If not, then aye, get some consecutive days in.
Good time at park run Root. 👌🏻
@Nobeerinthefridge I’m not concerned regarding the short one just the half at present as it’s my unknown.
Getting 3-4 runs in at the minute currently topping out around 8 miles.
I think I’ll do some consecutive runs just to see how it feels.
Aye, I know what you mean. If you're Okay with the other 3, just go easy on the half, if at 10 miles you feel okay, push on?.
Best of luck!
Cheers. Not until June so plenty more training time.
The half in January will give me an idea too.
Need a goal and the ‘Tour’ fits the bill.
Oops, sorry, I've not read your post properly at all!.
Aye, just up your miles until the half isn't an issue, don't worry about pace, keep it slow, the pace will come.
Sorry if this has been covered before but does anyone have recommendations for a running jacket. Looking for something as breathable as possible but will keep the rain out for a couple of hours if need be
Well my grand plans for 2019 have amounted to about 13miles total 😁
Nova; OMM Kamleika ticks those boxes.
New park run opened near me this year. Finally got along.
Crathes castle park run is my localist one.
It started slow to which I'm thinking eh what do these folk all know.
Ran down the only bit of tarmac on the route. Turned right into the woods. Turned right again and boom we are battering up ankle deep in places slippy muddy 3/4km hill.
Winner runs a 17min park run normally at other local events he ran a 20.10
Came in 10th with 24:10.
Also day #7 of marcothon. And today's was done with Eilidh in the buggy
Ha, no worries @Nobeerinthefridge
Intention is to keep increasing mileage and hope the pace comes with it. Seeing slight improvements already.
After doing my first (one and so far, only) half marathon a few months back in Cardiff with a 1:57, as a 50 year old I've just gone for the ballot for the snowdonia marathon, as my first marathon.
Am I mad? The phrase I see most often is "brutal", though tbh reading what half of what you lot are up to it should be a walk in the park for some of you..
Any tips (assuming I get in which obviously I may not)? It's late October so plenty of training time.
Got my first trail race (Night Nobbler) this coming saturday, then next half in early Jan in E.London, and plan the Preselli Beast Bach and whatever takes my fancy next year, plus a few cycling events.
Quite enjoying running tbh. Who'd have thought it?
I’ve just gone for the ballot for the snowdonia marathon, as my first marathon.
Me too! Not my first marathon, but my first hilly one. Really hoping I get in.
Another newbie (nearly 50) here...
Currently running 10k fairly regularly, my first half will be Alloa in March, then Mhor half in June and my first full marathon - Run Mhor - in August. Not sure if that's too ambitious, but will just be running everything to 'get round' rather than aiming for a time. My training for the marathon will start after Alloa half, with the Mhor half just giving me a taste of the Mhor route... Presently using Garmin coach training plan for the half.
Again any tips useful 🙂
Sorry if this has been covered before but does anyone have recommendations for a running jacket. Looking for something as breathable as possible but will keep the rain out for a couple of hours if need be
Running jackets are rated by water resistance + breathability, a decent jacket will have at least 10,000/10,000 rating. There are loads out there, I've got Ternua jacket (a quality Spanish brand), no idea if it's available in the UK.
Suggestions here: https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/the-best-waterproof-running-jackets/
Personally I'd get the Innov-8, it's a British brand and has a good reputation.
Edit: should say that's just the first link I found searching for "trail running jacket 10000", other sites are available. And also Raidlight is a good brand, albeit French not British.
in other news today was a public holiday in Spain, so to make the most of it 3 mates and I went up a local mountain. Damn it was cold, very windy at the top - almost to the point of getting blown over. Lots of snow and ice too, thankfully I'd remembered to pack my crampons. Good laugh though 🙂
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a decent jacket will have at least 10,000/10,000 rating
I find jackets with that kind of breathability really struggle with runner levels of sweat. Be fine for occasional use or to pass race kit check but for regular or extended use there are plenty of fabrics that do better.
I find jackets with that kind of breathability really struggle with runner levels of sweat. Be fine for occasional use or to pass race kit check but for regular or extended use there are plenty of fabrics that do better.
Oh, definitely. 10,000 is a minimum, but as I have no idea of the budget...
Can I ask a shoe question?
Has anyone tried the Salomon Sense Ride 2's?
I'm looking for a winter shoe which can handle a 50:50 mix of pavement and very wet and sliddery muddy parkruns/bridleways.
The Sense Ride 2 looks close enough to Speedcross type grip with some cushioning - does anyone have any experience with them, or better suggestions?
I find jacket ratings to be a load of shite.
I have an outdry TDMB jacket that doesn't "breath" yet it has been the best running jacket I've had in terms of being sweaty.
Anyone know any good routes starting from kenmore up to about 10k ?
Has anyone had any experience with using trainasone app for a first time marathon?
I find jacket ratings to be a load of shite.
Say what you mean Terry! 😂
I'd agree btw, you wonder where some of their figures come from.
I find jacket ratings to be a load of shite.
It's a decent starting point though.
I’d agree btw, you wonder where some of their figures come from.
I don't for one minute think they're accurate but in my experience the jackets I've had with higher numbers breathed better and vice versa.
Anyone know any good routes starting from kenmore up to about 10k ?
Loch Tay Kenmore? Up the road toward Amulree and back? Savage climb on a bike, that.
On the jacket front, my Gore Active Shell has been amazing. Incredibly light and thin, incredibly breathable, fully waterproof. Not cheap, but has had pretty much daily use for about 6 months of the year for a couple of years now.
On the running front, I've been finding my lower abs have been getting absolutely trashed recently. I tried to do a partial situp while measuring the inside of my chimney and just couldn't, was just left in a world of pain. Coughing while running has been particularly unpleasant too. Not sure what's causing this, not something I've encountered in the past...
Am I the only one who's never really got on with jackets? Maybe I sweat to much, maybe I've not found the right one, but I've never really felt the need.
If it's raining I get wet, both from sweat and the rain.
if it's cold then I wear a baselayer to suit.
Running jackets - been using of one of those new North Face Futurelight running jackets for the last couple of months. Really like it but two caveats - firstly, I didn't pay anywhere near full price so that obviously impacts on my view of "value". Secondly, I don't think any fully waterproof jacket is breathable enough for coping with the amount of sweat generated when running.
The Futurelight is good, but not perfect. I did 5k this morning in about 6 degrees, dry-ish and breezy with just a t-shirt underneath. Fine around the body where I was wearing t-shirt, but definitely condensation against my bare arms. Really waterproof though, plus lightweight, comfortable etc. I've got a much lighter Inov-8 windproof / showerproof jacket I'll normally wear if it's not raining too heavily. Much more breathable but much less waterproof.
Ambient conditions play a big part in how breathable a jacket is - if it's warm and humid outside, then it doesn't matter how breathable your jacket is, it will sweat up inside. Conversely, if it's cool and dry, water vapour will penetrate the membrane very easily. Something to bear in mind if you don't think your jacket is breathing as it should.
I've certainly had occasions where I've sweated heavily with short sleeves on under my jacket, and it being bone dry inside, apart from in the chest pocket, where a credit card iirc got very wet, as it provided a barrier to the escaping vapour.
Re Salomon sense ride - I have them (in v1) and use them exactly for what you described (50/50 terrain).
The tread is fairly shallow so ok but not great in mud. I also have inov8 trailroc 285 that I use for similar purposes (feels lighter) and brooks cascadia (more burly).
Kenmore - right beside the Rob Roy way, could do a bit of that to the falls of acharn then up to the south around the hill. A loop of Drummond hill to the north would be about 10k too. If you can extend distance to 20k and can handle a good amount of ascent there's loads of stuff to explore in the area
Turbo: I started coughing badly when running. Two puffs on the inhaler sort me out before a run. You might have fractured a rib or something.
This pain is much lower, almost down to my pubic bone, can't quite put my finger on when it started, but it's becoming rather debilitating 🙁
It's strange, 11 months ago I was happily banging out 100 mile weeks while I'm struggling with even half that at the moment. Legs just feel pretty much wrecked after most runs on top of my ruined abs....
If you are running their is likely no such thing as a breathable jacket. The perspiration will always be higher than the jacket can get rid of meaning you will eventually be wet inside it. I have tried most fabrics, including GoreTex and Event.
The trick is to keep moving and a good non waterproof jacket will keep the wind off your chest which is the main thing.