Forum menu
Aye, what he said.
Most of my runs in inclement weather feature my £11 decathlon shell, it's not hugely waterproof but with a tight LS baselayer below keeps me from getting too cool from wind and wet.
Only time I'll wear a proper waterproof is on days running summits/ridges, even at that it has huge pit vents, but can be closed down and hood up if I get hurt or hemmed in by the weather.
I'm using Decathlon's 50 quid trail shoes for 50/50 trail/cement roads. Don't want to be wearing the knobs off of anything expensive.
So how's everyone's YTD going? I started running almost a year ago (boxing day was my last bike ride), had the full gamut of injuries (couldn't even walk for most of September), did some fell races, trail races including a marathon and even a parkrun, clicked over 2000km a while back and reached 80,000m of climbing yesterday. Might ease off for the next couple of weeks and ride a bit, but it's been an interesting year. Still dog slow though. Wondering if I should train proper in 2020 instead of just plodding around in the hills but it's so much fun!
Just 600km and 6500m climbing.
Spent most of the summer after June 30th off my run due to being a cripple with planter facitus and the arrival of the daughter.
With that I knocked 10 minutes off my pb for 10k and 3 minutes off my 5k and ran my first ever half and full marathons.
Did 3200km on bike though
Back on it though day #11 of marcothon in the bag today another moonlight run
Rarely run on the flat/tarmac but I did a 48m 10k in summer (not a race, just up and down the Gironde at Bordeaux) and wondered if I could manage sub 45m. Watched a couple of YT vids and it seems like a lot of work to knock 3mins off. I can run a couple of Km at 4m20 pace but ten might kill me.
So how’s everyone’s YTD going?
Not bad, I have a bit of time of due to a hernia but other than that when I got back into it I realised just how much I enjoy running in the woods.
Not really logging Km's, just run for the fun of it.
Oh, I did finally wear out my ON Cloudventures.. so I bought another pair.
Just shy of 1000km, which recently has become my aim. Been running more than riding since August, just can’t face riding in the filth at night when I can nip out the door and run! No faff.
Down on last years distance, but more elevation:
Distance - 1,'101.3 mi
Time - 205h 7m
Elev Gain - 212,815 ft
Runs - 186
July & August was pretty much zero running due to injury, so overall pretty please.
Callander trail race last night, poor result (2.5 mins slower than last year) and fell over 3 times.
700km and 11,000m of climbing. Definitely a decent year by my standards.
So how’s everyone’s YTD going?
So far:
Distance, 1,269.7 mi
Time, 175h 18m
Elev Gain, 57,428 ft
Runs, 306
Bit gutted I missed out on averaging a run a day, may need to set that goal for next year. Looking at others numbers I also need to run in the hills more as most of my miles are along canals.
YTD:
Not bad, but nothing compared to some of you. Only really started running in August and now do a week night session with the local club and a run at the weekend. Have done XC races, run 10k and improved my parkrun time from 26 minutes to just over 21 minutes. I quite like the shorter, faster runs to be honest - the pain doesn’t last as long.
Happy to be staying injury free -
There’s always a niggle but I’ve come to accept it hurts.
Looking at doing slightly longer races and getting below 20 minutes on parkrun. I realise getting the pace down from about 4:16/km to just over 4:00/km is going to be really tough, as my improvement is a typical beginner curve and I will plateau soon. One thing I do quite well is suffer so who knows? Would like to do it before my muscles decay completely.
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.
Until I got my most recent Gore, I would have been inclined to agree, but this really has been a game changer. Read virtually any review and people say the same. I think the difference between this and traditional jackets is that Gore has previously bonded the breathable membrane to a fabric - this does away with the fabric, and is purely the membrane alone. My son calls it my bin-bag jacket as it's that thin.
My YTD stats aren't doing too badly, although I've slipped from my 6000km target at the start of the year:
Distance 5,030.6 km
Time 350h 50m
Elev Gain 31,510 m
Runs 379
improved my parkrun time from 26 minutes to just over 21 minutes
That's some improvement in 4 months!
As I don't wear a watch/GPS device I have no idea on distance or elevation but I reckon it must be somewhere approaching 2.5 to 3K miles.
I've managed a few pbs: 1M, 5K, 5M, 6M, 10K, 10M, Half, 20M, Mara so not been too bad.
I've run every day except for 6th - 24th May after I was bitten by a dog and got a DVT in my right leg (it was a 3 week rest)
I do a midweek loop once or twice a week - 15k/500m on fairly techy terrain, the first and last 2k are flat pavement - loads of roots and at this time of year, hidden rocks and holes under the leaves. Set my PB for the loop back in Feb after only having been running a couple of months. Managed to beat it last week, just, and it near killed me, which is difficult to get my head around. Must have had a ton of brute climbing strength from cycling back then, which I lost after so much resting injuries, and the small gains I've made on the flat and descending never quite made up for that lost speed. Thinking back to the races I did in Spring I always climbed up near the front of the race and just went backwards as soon as it levelled off and the terrain or contour destroyed my ankles.
According to Strava my estimated marathon time is 7h35!
Distance 2,127.6 km
Time 278h 44m
Elev Gain 81,051 m
Runs 171
Apologies if this has been asked before, but can some of you running types recommend good websites with advice (ideally videos) on stretching both before and after running?
Every time I start to get back into a bit of running I seem to end up straining/twisting/hurting something. Currently it's both calves, or maybe Achilles, not sure.
I've always known I'm bad for not stretching properly (at various sports) but now being over 50 I'm finally facing the reality that I'm going to have to start doing things properly.
Thanks in advance.
I did just 5,400km on the bike this year. Poor, but I really don't like going out when it's cold and wet, and I get put off if there is no one to ride with. Motivation is everything I really think. I hope someone doesn't say they've done more than that on foot!!!
@bob_summers that's some impressive elevation for the year - it would seem that on average your runs are over 6 times as hilly as mine!
@kennyp - theres a lot of conflicting info and personal preference when it comes to stretching and what the BEST way to do it is, or if it's worth doing at all.
In my experience, static stretching doesn't help me, but what does is more dynamic stretching or maybe what could be described as a warm up. It's more like exaggerated movements which sort of mimic what you would expect a stretch to be, but you're constantly moving and not holding a position as in a static stretch.
It sounds like what you're experiencing is your body telling you that it's not yet ready for the work you're making it do, but on the other hand when you're pushing outside of what is normal there's always going to be some pain as your body adapts to it's new demands.
I can't offer any websites or vids which would help but investigate warm up routines to get your muscles working before getting into your workout and also focus on anything that's not 100% once you've finished.
Despite doing quite a few miles this year, I still find my calf's will have taken a pounding if I do a hard/fast session and despite a good warm-up and cool-down I still need to get the foam roller out afterwards. It's just maybe a case of finding what works for you.
Some might agree and some might not, but I can say it's something that works for me. It might not work for you.
@turboferret it's (relatively) easy to rack up the climbing in País Vasco but I still found it surprising. I was climbing between 1500-2300m each week in Nov/Dec and 3000-4000 some weeks in summer (Pyrenees, Lakes and training for the trail mara) so it seems to check out.
@kennyp What's worked for me is "nerve flossing" (neurodynamics) and core work to keep Piriformis managable. When I've needed specific stretches (achilles) there's a muscly loud American bloke on YT who does some good how-tos with decent explanations. I'll try and find him in my watch history.
I also keep a monthly appt at the physio. I've never not needed it...
Edit: didn't take long, youtube ATHLEAN X (cringed a bit typing that)
Bob and Alan. Cheers guys. I’m on a night out just now but will have a proper read of those posts when I get home. Ta.
If we're sharing numbers here's mine for this year:
Distance 2,407.9 km
Time 306h 14m
Elev Gain 145,828 m
Runs 181
Things fizzled out a bit for me after September and I've taken a bit of a break.
Last year's numbers were'n that different though and I kept it going right up to christmas last year:
Distance 2,695.7 km
Time 308h 34m
Elev Gain 172,241 m
Runs 234
Wondering if any of you wonderful lot attend the Heaton Park ParkRun and can advise whether you have to pay to park?
Not been for a while but believe it’s all new ticket machines and such and the free period may or may not still be on.
Not bothered about paying just want to make sure I have some change if needed and not on Facebook or such to check/ask.
Obvious answer is take some anyway I know, still curious though!
Well in answer to last nights question, it’s still free to park before 10am so long as you leave before that as well. Only likely an issue if you fancy a brew afterwards I guess.
First ParkRun in over two years done anyway. Hardly my greatest with a 25:30ish time. Only been back running for 5wks but feel I’ve a lot of work to do to get close to old times of around 22mins. Shouldn’t have stopped last time.
Good shout on he amulree road. As it turns out we are staying right at the bottom of that road so not much warm up.
Ran up to Kenmore hill on the single-track route and then back down to the carpark and down the road. 7.5k and above the snow line
Good "run" this morning with my Argentine mate Miguel in La Pedriza just north of Madrid - it's a massive granite outcrop which just about makes it up to 2000m altitude. It's a stunning place to run, with mixed pine and oak forests that gradually disappear and turn into a very lunar landscape.
Not my photo, but this:
Anyway "run" as there was a lot of walking / scrambling, not to mention the snow and ice which made the going treacherous at times. Still, good training for the 105km ultra I've got a place for just after Easter 🙂
Thanks to this thread
https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/improving-basic-fitness-quickly/
I've just done week 1, run 1 of C25K. After a couple of false starts due to my phone killing the C25K app background task I got going, as a fairly fit mountain biker I didn't find it too hard, more the different muscles and a different type of effort required to cycling.
Happy to work my way up gradually though to avoid any injuries, I'm mainly doing it to supplement my cycling for those weeks when I haven't been able to get out much, or at all!
Happy to work my way up gradually though to avoid any injuries
That's a good attitude to have - don't underestimate how easy it is to get injured running!
Well done ta11pau1! Watch out, it's bloody addictive. 😊
Had a cracking 11 mile pre work xmas night out on Friday, from Glasgow city centre out to Celtic park, then across the city to Ibrox, was ace!.
Then a lovely chilled 5 miles with the wife this morning, trying to get back into it after her cold.
I've had an easy couple of weeks, feel a bit sluggish cos of that, need to get the legs goibg again. Only 18 miles to go to hit 1000 for the year. 👌🏻
Sciatica...bloody sciatica. Had it 10 years ago and without warning it arrived back as I warmed up for parkrun yesterday.
1954km and 58500m climbed so far - that should comfortably tick over 2000k and 60k as long as I don't get too sidetracked by Xmas parties this week. Not a bad year, albeit a bit running focused - it's the first year ever that I've run further than I've cycled!
There's a parkrun literally 1.5 miles from my house, which is also one of the running routes I can do, so that'll be my target! 😀
I don't think fitness will be a problem, in the first week or 2 anyway... finding my natural pace etc might be more difficult though. I probably walk at a lot of peoples jogging pace, around 3-4mph I think is a natural walking pace for me. Helps being 6ft 3in!
I'm signed up for the Devil of the Highlands in August, which I'm looking forward to. But not been doing much running, as I've got the Strathpuffer in January.
So my new, entirely off the cuff daily training plan is a little back to back thing. 30 minute or so run, immediately followed by a 30 minute smart turbo session.
Why? Really just to keep it interesting. It was interesting to see how ready I felt this morning, and how well it went.
Parkrun sounds good, I will give it a go.
I'm on the waiting list for the Devil Cody, completely forgot about the entry opening! 🙏🏻
Good luck NBITF, maybe see you there!
Long time lurker here - I've been inspired to up my running milage this year in no small part due to this thread. I've signed up for the South Devon Ultra (EnduranceLife) in February (first one - gulp)!
So, a gear recommendation please (shoes) - sorry prbably has been done to death already during the previous 96 pages but...
Currently running in Adidas Terrex which are fine for short runs in the woods but am finding a bit lacking in cushioning for longer distances, and lacking in mud grip on slippery coast paths.
Can anyone suggest a shoe for the above, that is also OK on tarmac / hardpack as I think there will be a fair amount of mixed terrain on the above event? Is there such a shoe that will do everything (oh and sub £100 would be good...)
@ts4or5, I’d have a look at the Nike Pegasus trail. Same cushioning as a road shoe but with a more aggressive treat. I’ve got a pair and don’t notice they’re trail shoes when on the road really.
If you can hold until after Xmas I suspect they’ll drop in price too.
Thinking about lairig ghru again this year.
Noticed the Cairngorm ultra thought that seems managable 62km. I know the entire route terrain intimately .....it's both a curse and a blessing when it comes to looking at that race
My max distance this year being 43km but up till July i might be reaching out a bit far.
I’ve just done week 1, run 1 of C25K. After a couple of false starts due to my phone killing the C25K app background task I got going, as a fairly fit mountain biker I didn’t find it too hard, more the different muscles and a different type of effort required to cycling.
Happy to work my way up gradually though to avoid any injuries, I’m mainly doing it to supplement my cycling for those weeks when I haven’t been able to get out much, or at all!
The DOMS has kicked in this evening, by 'eck! Glad I'm taking it slow - ankles, calves and outter/upper hip muscles are all aching! It's been a while wince I've had DOMS, like starting squats again (which I also need to start doing to strengthen my core). I know it'll pass though and once I get into a routine it'll be OK.
@ts4or5 I like Inov 8s, use trail rocs and roclites for the kind of stuff you want BUT the uppers always fail after a couple hundred kms.
So I've just worn out a pair of these. Just as good as the Inov 8s but no splits in the upper, and at 50 quid you don't feel too bad about wearing them out on tarmac. My regular extended work commute is probably over half tarmac or cement roads but you still need something with tread for the other half.
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/kiprun-trail-race-4-m-blue-id_8402660.html
They were so good I went to get the same again today but thought I'd try the heavier, more cushioned version. Will let you know how they are.
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/kiprun-trail-mt-m-black-bronze-id_8545328.html
Probably stick with the Inov 8s for racing or even Walshes when it's muddy enough, but the humble Kalenjis are doing 65 to 80km on trails a week with no issues.
Thanks Lunge. I saw the road version were well recommended here so will take a look.
Thanks Bob - a few pairs wouldn’t be so bad would it!
I like Inov 8s, use trail rocs and roclites for the kind of stuff you want BUT the uppers always fail after a couple hundred kms.
The uppers on my Innov8s have just failed, but then they have done just over a 1000km so don't feel too bad about it 🙂
As they need replacing I'm trying to decide what to get, and I'm also wondering about trying the Decathlon shoes, but they're not really that much cheaper than a "decent" brand, so not sure whether it's worth the risk.
Mogrim, my experience with Decathlon shoes is largely positive with a small proviso. I find they feel but, the trail shoes particularly are cracking shoes. But, they are narrow in fit so for me, they're fine for an hour but much more than that are they are not great.
i have decathlon kiprun mt trail - bought to run the lairg ghru.
They were ok up to half marathon distance in training but over the full distance they showed up to be narrow and irritated my arch on the right foot.
i also have kiprun race 4s and they are far from narrow with a nice wide toe box for running downhills (as some may have seen from the burnt foot thread i have wide spread toes) and i use these most of all on the hills - i just wanted something with more cushion for all the rocks on the LG
I do most of my running in their 21.99 run active shoes which have proved to be much better than any of the gait analysed shoes i've bought from running shops over the years (and still had calf and shin pain) .... i get about 600k a pair out of them - i know when they are done as i start getting sore shins and knees
And in other news - was out running last night , run from my side of the hill(south facing) to the other side through the woods (north facing) came out the woods onto the farm track and promptly landed on my back ..... which is ****ing agony today. - kiprun 4s - as grippy as they are do not grip on compacted ice and snow.
They were ok up to half marathon distance in training but over the full distance they showed up to be narrow and irritated my arch on the right foot.
Not good, most of my trail runs are around HM-FM distances...
I think it'll depend on the shape if your feet Mogrim. Narrow feet will be fine, wider less good. the shoes themselves are bank on bar the fit which is very personal.
Not good, most of my trail runs are around HM-FM distances…
yes but if your feet are not wide ( mines are) then it wont be an issue.
the distance is one thing the foot shape is another.
yes but if your feet are not wide ( mines are) then it wont be an issue.
Yeah but pretty sure my feet are fairly wide and flat!
I was keen to try kiprun shoes, but they were just too narrow here too.
Got asics fujitrabuco 7 from decathlon instead, they're bloody good.
The Race 4 Kipruns are 50 quid in the UK which I reckon is a bargain if they fit you. Sadly the Spanish price is 75€ which is only a fiver cheaper than discounted Inov 8s. I'm sure they've hiked the price up, could be wrong but thought they were 60€ when I got them.
If only they'd do a chunky X Talon style tread - too niche even for Decathlon?
Ran in the Trailrocs today - they just felt too soft and flimsy on the trail I did, could feel every lump and bump and not in a good way - though I was feeling quite delicate after a big week and folding my ankle twice on Sunday. Right toes covered in blood as well and I'm not sure why yet...
Inov-8 X talons (212?) have a much chunkier tread and the uppers are less prone to falling apart than some of their others.
They look a bit cumbersome but are in fact pretty light (212), flexible and grippy.
It's one of the designs that Inov-8 don't tend to change as they're such a good shoe - they are not really wide though so worth having a fitting.
Also can usually be picked up relatively cheaply ~£60
Tallpaul, I only completed c25k about 2 months ago. Jebus I ached to start with, but it gets better. It gets a lot easier when you start doing longer stints and can get your breathing sorted. Can't say I've found a great love for it, but do find it oddly compelling. Like you I just stayed wary of injury, listened to my body, and 'ran' on varying surfaces.
Club handicap 5k TT tonight, what a cracking event!.
Starting times are calculated by your last 3 5k times (races) and every one starts from slowest to fastest, theoretically everyone should finish at the same time, it's brilliant.
My first year in the club, so I decided to help out with time keeping, but I'll be running it next year!.
Had a cold 5k afterwards along the beach, while every one racing was in the pub. 😂
Sometimes a run just feel so good.
Early plod along the canal to work this morning. Ice cold, mist pitch balck bar my torchlight and a towpath that was virtually deserted. Started off a little slow but picked the pace up as I went on and it just felt perfect by the end.
The fact that I have found a banging Oakenfold Essential Mix from 1999 to run to made it all the better.
A quite wonderful way to start the day.
For those who aren't on Strava, I would thoroughly encourage joining to spice your training up a bit. Yesterday I targeted a particular segment on my morning commute, but not 100% in rather unfavourable conditions, and came up 6 seconds short of the top spot. This morning I ditched the tights and jacket, and smashed myself up this hill knocking 16 seconds off the previous record, seeing a maximum HR of 185 in the process 😮 Certainly adds a bit of interest to an otherwise unremarkable plod along to the railway station 🙂
Aye, 100% agree tf, sometimes I canny be arsed with the thought of a run, so go out and target mibbe 3 segments locally, and always end up having a good run!.
Strava cam be cruel to runners, not sure if it's because segments are generally shorter or GPS watches aren't as reliable as bike units.
Had a lousy commute the other day, tried to salvage it by smashing myself up 'the wall', only need to find 8 secs over my pb of 1.37 to get into the top 10. Was sure I'd managed it as I usually hit it at km8 of 10 on the way home from work and just trot up.
Result - nada. Segment doesn't show up. Bah.
Currently enjoying my running vicariously through this thread!! Been out of action for a couple of weeks with a rotten cold / chest infection which morphed into tonsillitis. Starting to feel a bit better today so hopefully a little run tomorrow to make sure I can remember what to do!
A lot of idiots setting very short Strava segments by me. They are pointless unless they are a real test. A 400m segment means nothing when runners are jogging then sprinting the segment then jogging again onto the next one.
A couple of years ago when I was a bit fitter I took quite a few local ones but joined them up as part of a continuous run. To see them beaten by somebody who is running 2 miles at 10 min pace and 2 x 800m at about 5 min pace to beat my times during a 7 mile run is stupid imo
I agree its a good motivator and fun but people do kid themselves a bit.
To see them beaten by somebody who is running 2 miles at 10 min pace and 2 x 800m at about 5 min pace to beat my times during a 7 mile run is stupid imo
intervals are intervals - because you chose not to is your choice
Strava is generally not to be taken seriously, and this occasion is no different. The segments I know that I 'target' on a training run will generally be pretty short, but it's more convenient than buggering about setting laps etc on my watch.
A lot of idiots setting very short Strava segments by me.
At least Strava no longer allows 200m segments, although thanks to a bit of GPS error it does mean I've got a WR time on one at the local track 🙂
intervals are intervals – because you chose not to is your choice
Think its called something else when you only do 1 🙂
singletracks running ray of sunshine strikes again...;-)
Last night was our running club fell runners pub crawl. Done this the last few years. Met at the pub as usual for a club night. We had a pint before setting off. Off into the woods to the bandstand where my mate Amy produced bottles of lager for us all from her back pack. We were going to head over to The Rock but had luckily been tipped off that it was closed so we headed over the slushy muddy fields to The Royal and got a round in. We were having such a good time that I decided, seeing as we'd missed a pub out, that we should have another in there. Then off we headed back towards the Sunnyhurst. Our mates who were in the Royal whilst on a mountain bike ride overtook us on the way back, shooting past at a rate of knots. This was lucky for us as shortly later we came down the road to find 5 of 'em on the deck after crashing on ice. We managed to avoid that and headed home to the Sunny. Another couple of beers in there and then a cautious ride home in the slippy conditions. A good night out. Not sure how I managed to get a 3rd best time on a Strava segment though! 4.35 mile 701' climb. 5 pints and a bottle of lager.
Think its called something else when you only do 1 🙂
a "who the **** cares?"
[url= https://i.postimg.cc/Xqz8q6j4/crawl-2.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/Xqz8q6j4/crawl-2.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= https://i.postimg.cc/C5sB1Wjd/crawl-1.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/C5sB1Wjd/crawl-1.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://postimages.org/ ]pichost[/url]
Cheers.
Love the idea of a Pub Run MrS..
Had a bothy weekend up in the cairngorms, mostly walking with other folk, but managed to sneak off for a run at sunrise, decent (if extremely cold)
[img] 
[/img]
[img] 
[/img]
[img] 
[/img]
[img] 
[/img]
Awesome as ever Mike 💪🏻
Those pics, wow!
I'm not a seasoned enough runner to run on beer. Had to leg it 500yds for a train last week and the beers very nearly came back up.
Practice Bob, it’s all about practice! I remember last year we were trotting down the road between two pubs so a couple of pints deep. Anyway, the pace picked up and picked up and then somebody said ‘Bloody hell, we are doing sub 8 minute miles here!’
Club training session this evening. 6x600m on flat tarmac with 60s recovery. I lazily ran the first two thirds of each interval on a shoulder and then held the pace as they faded. Man it’s nice to be in alright (for me) form.
11x600, 120s recovery tomorrow night. Oh joy.
Nice photos Mike, stunning place to run.
Decent if easy session last night - 3 longish uphills + 3 shorter ones, then a 2000m at HM pace. The swim session that came after was a bit tougher 🙂
Strava...
Well, it’s good if you are a numbers type of person... but if like me, you only use it for routes.
Whatever challenges you off the sofa.