Yeah, I can see that, though a simple assessment would place that way down the list of potential hazards on the hill!.
Yeah, I can see that, though a simple assessment would place that way down the list of potential hazards on the hill!.
It's only really a problem at the start of races, when you are all still bunched up. At the Transvulcania for example poles are banned for the first 10K or so. Once you're a bit more spread out you just need to leave a bit of a space between you and the person in front. Anyway I'd certainly use them for a mountain marathon, assuming you've had a chance to practise. Not essential of course, but definitely a help.
New PB for my boy this morning at junior Parkrun. Made it all the way round without stopping for a walk 😀 in 12.11 over the 2k. Not too shabby for a 6 year old.
Good going!
Here's something to aim for next year:
http://www.planetatriatlon.com/sara-meloni-record-europeo-10k/
(Can't find a link to the news in English, but the headline's pretty clear...)
Anyway I’d certainly use them for a mountain marathon,
I take it you mean marathon distance over mountains rather than a mountain marathon? I find the navigation element in a MM means I've often got map and compass in hand making pole use awkward.
I take it you mean marathon distance over mountains rather than a mountain marathon
I meant a marathon distance trail race with course markers, at least here in Spain they rarely have any navigation element.
Here’s something to aim for next year:
😮
It’s the likes of her that's dragging his age grading percentage down. 😅
Seriously though, that’s mad.
Yesterday was the first day he listened when I said not to go off like a train at the beginning and just go a bit easier. He seemed to enjoy reeling in the sprinters over the second lap. Put in a sprint at the end to grab another few places which was nice for him.
What a lovely event - 70 kids all out doing a couple of laps in the park. As it was deaf awareness week, all the pre-amble was signed and the kids learned a few basics. We signed “Thank You” to the marshals as we passed. Lovely. 🙂
Right then, after a brief foray into riding bikes this weekend, I now have 1 week to go until Worcester Marathon. Not sure 100 mile bike rides the weekend before is a textbook taper, but there we go.
3:45 is the goal on what is meant to be a hilly course at Worcester.
Did Leeds half yesterday my first road event. very hot, first half is hilly, got to halfway point then speeded up to try get inside 1.45 ended up chip time of 1.44.16 very pleased
@spin - Thanks, felt great on the up, and handled the descent well. Good time yourself!
Cracking weekend with Lomond Saturday, then Arrochar Alps recce on Sunday. Some day for it.
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Well done everybody who raced, especially DD's lad! Brillinat.
lowey - there's a new running group started up locally to you North Bolton Runners. They run from the War Memorial I think. They might be of use?
Meanwhile I have been cracking on with the JNC training. This weekend I was asked to help out pacing on a BG attempt. I'd never met the guy before but that is often the case with these things and part of it's appeal. We did Leg 4 from Wasdale over to Honister. He couldn't have chosen a better day for it (although he did have a bit of ice and snow overnight and on Scafell Pike and Scafell). It was beautiful on our leg. Anyway, the lad was an absolute machine and stormed round in a very impressive 21:01.
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That's phenomenal, well done Sparkles.
30k of assorted hills, moors n glens in the Edzell area last Sunday
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Bloody hell Mike, looks mega.
Q for the fellrunners.. I'd like to do one of the longer lakes races, thinking of going to the UK for a couple of weeks to visit family in S.Lakes in July or August. Just seen on twitter that Borrowdale entries open on 31st May. Given that I'd probably have to sort flights out before then, what's the crack with the entries? First come first served, draw...? Daft idea to have a shot at something like that as a first fell race? Otherwise, I'll just aim for my club's race (Bootle show) tail end of Aug. Any other ideas within an hour from Furness? Kentmere? Sedbergh?
Still a bit peeved to have DNSed the anniversary waltz thanks to a wrecked hire car.
I think Borrowdale require that you have finished an A-long race before you can enter. Kentmere's a good 'un, not run Sedbergh as a race but run most of the course on training runs, all very runnable terrain.
@MrSparkle - Mr Beales I presume?
Always love your photos Mike! 💙
After reading this I think I'm going to advise my kids to go into the sports injury industry.
Well after a couple weeks hiatus recovering/down on energy after 10under the bens effort
Got back from offshore on Thursday at 12
Had a shower and packed my bag. Ran 15k to town @5:30kms (slow by most of your standards but quick for me over that distance.)
Today I've been hacking sticks all day but my mate text saying -hill of fare ?
So we did a half marathon on the hill out to the shooting hut then back over meikle tap.
Felt good Both times, feeling happier about ability to finish now.
Well, I relented and got the boy a pair of “proper” running trainers. Tbf, as long as you’re happy with an older model sportsshoes.com do plenty of ASICS etc for under £20 which is fair enough. He chose these goppers: 🙀🤢
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We’ve just finished junior Parkrun and if my Garmin’s correct, he’s done his 2k in around 11.15 which is nearly a minute off his PB last week. 🙂
Superb sir! Well done lad.
14th out of 42, 9th JM10, 53 seconds off his PB. Going to be hard to top that for a bit. 😀
I've been running for a couple of years, mostly trail, as a shoulder injury curtailed biking. I'm now refereeing rugby so have to be fitter than I was but still struggling to go more than 4 miles in one go and then it's broken up with short stops whilst the dogs swim etc. I think I'm getting quicker but any advice on nudging the distance up? The last time I did around 7 miles my knees played up (old injury and surgery, was told don't run again). I really enjoy it, clears my head and gets the dogs out (two birds and all that). Now the rugby season is done I've been thinking of Park Run, I know I'm getting quicker but today fr instance I've struggled with shins and calf niggles.
I think I’m getting quicker but any advice on nudging the distance up?
Take it easy, and it'll get there. Add at most 10% extra time/distance per week. When you can comfortably do 6-7 miles you should start thinking about different types of run, things like doing a shorter interval/fartlek run midweek, long run at the weekend, that kind of thing. But I personally wouldn't worry about that at the moment when you're still "struggling to go more than 4 miles".
You haven't said how many times you go running per week, but assuming you're doing 2 or 3 outings there's no reason you couldn't make one of them a parkrun.
And if you can/need to, lose weight 🙂
Cheers, when I say struggling I think I might be pushing myself too hard too soon and then not being able to maintain it consistently. I am running around 3 times a week at the moment. It's usually less in rugby season esp at the weekends. Weight loss is one reason I am running, I lost a reasonable amount last year but a little has crept back on. It is one exercise that seems to work for me in that regard.
Hot and damp in the showers down this way, upping the distance and coming together nicely.
Plenty of dog shit hanging from the bushes, but on the way back it’d all disappeared..
All hail the dog shit fairy 🧚♀️
when I say struggling I think I might be pushing myself too hard too soon and then not being able to maintain it consistently.
Running is definitely a sport where consistency is key, if you're doing less during the rugby season you'll find it very hard to make much progress. Anyway, life gets in the way so given that I'd definitely change one of your runs to a parkrun (and don't be tempted to do the parkrun in addition to what you're doing at the moment). If the park's close a nice idea is to gently jog to the event, do the run, and then either jog or walk back.
Worcester marathon for me this weekend. Was targeting under 3:45 but the course was super hilly so ended up at 3:50 which was really not bad at all.
First smaller marathon I’ve done as opposed to the big city runs and it was a very different experience. Odd being out on your own at 17 miles with your own thoughts!
The only problem with that time is it means I’ve now got to find a flatter autumn run to do!
Nice one lunge!
I think Borrowdale require that you have finished an A-long race before you can enter.
Makes sense. Ive done that length but marked trails. Will have a look at Kentmere.
Reccied the 2nd half of my upcoming 43k trail. Slightly more climbing in the second half, 1400m Vs 1200, two main climbs. Hasn't stopped raining for two days here, flooding everywhere so wasn't expecting an easy run but it was total crap, slithered up the first climb and struggled to run down, the trails were rivers. Second climb, last on the day and smallest at 600m just beat me up, nauseous cold and dizzy, questioning the wisdom of being up there on my own having seen one solitary soul all day. 4h for the 25k - time limit on the day is 10h so I shouldn't get cut but will definitely be a contender for lanterne rouge!
Right then, in the wake yesterdays marathon I think I fancy another on in autumn. Requirements are:
Big, city based event - I missed the noise and the volume of people at the much smaller event yesterday
Flat-ish - Frankly, I've had enough of hills for the moment!
Late September/early October ideally - plenty of time to recover from Ride London and the temperature shouldn't be at summer levels.
Any ideas? Yorkshire and Chester are the 2 I've found so far.
First Parkrun for me on Saturday - was pushing the littleun in the buggy and did a nice but quite hilly 10k on Friday afternoon so wasn't ever going to be a quick one and bumbled round in about 28 mins. I actually quite enjoyed it - very friendly and laid back atmosphere and will probably do a few more in future.
Would you venture abroad Lunge? I really fancy Reykjavik, we just couldn't make the timings work this year.
I think Hull's at the end of September, it'll be very flat but I'm not sure how big it is.
I've got friends who have done both York and Chester - they're very complimentary about both. I'm doing Abingdon about the same time to (hopefully) get my London GFA (I was less than 4 minutes off at MK)...
Spud, out of interest what cadence do you tend to run at? If you have a low cadence, then the longer strides and higher vertical oscillation mean more impact which will tend towards more likelihood of injury.
Requirements are:
Big, city based event – I missed the noise and the volume of people at the much smaller event yesterday
Flat-ish – Frankly, I’ve had enough of hills for the moment!
Late September/early October ideally – plenty of time to recover from Ride London and the temperature shouldn’t be at summer levels.Any ideas? Yorkshire and Chester are the 2 I’ve found so far.
If you're willing to fly there are a few in Spain around then.
October:
https://www.palmademallorcamarathon.com/english/
https://www.edpbilbaomarathon.com/ (night marathon)
November:
San Sebastian and Tenerife
December:
Valencia
Millport 10 miler event at the weekend. A great small scale event that was well organised. The strong tail wind was good on the way round. Fantastic views as well.
Canny have been a tail wind all the way round! Been tempted by this before, but always clashes with something else, this time it was a work fire competition and an overnight ridge walk on Arran, which was awesome.
There's another millport 10 miler in september IIRC, I'll have a look.
Longest run yesterday since the hernia..
22k of QECP/Head Down hack’ness.
Shame the weather wasn’t like it is today (when back in that there Lu’n’dun)
🕺
Went out for a wee tempo 5k at lunch and took 8 secs off my PB, happy days! wasn't really pushing hard either, suppose that must be weekly track work paying off.
Anyone doing the Jedburgh Ultra? Looks awesome, entries open this sunday, think I'll be hitting the button.
Jura tomorrow and for the first time in quite a number of years not a great weather forecast.
It's going to be interesting!
Anyone doing Edinburgh Marathon this weekend? Mrs Lunge is making her marathon debut so I'll be there to cheer her on.
Good luck Spin. By all accounts it's a tough place to nav in clag/dodgy weather.
Meanwhile I am doing my last big week of training prior to doing the Joss Naylor Challenge on 8th June. I have been getting up early for a pre-breakfast run on the moor with the dogs, running at dinner from work (on the roads - bloody rubbish) and then another moorland run at night. On a club night I have been running over to the pub where we meet then leading the 'Merry dance' fell run and taking an extended route home (after a couple of pints). I'm off up to Lakes tonight to get some 'proper' stuff in on Sat and Sunday so if all goes to plan I should be on track for 70 or 80 miles done this week. This will be my highest weekly mileage ever. It's been hard tbh but it's not bad for a 56 year old crock who's had cancer, I reckon. I'm hoping I've done enough to get round the JNC. We will see.
If anyone can spare a couple of quid to donate to the fundraiser then it would be massively appreciated. I am using this as motivation for getting round.
I've just come back from finishing the Dragon's Back Race in Wales. Very very tough week. Definitely Type 2 fun in places! Amazing route and amazing weather though - 5 days of mountain running in Wales and not a drop of rain. Got buzzed by a very low flying Hercules in the Elan Valley as well, that was pretty cool to see. Legs now pretty sore so I'll be taking it easy this week.
Awesome stuff guys, impressive!.
I organised our second works charity 5k which was last night, 29 last year, over 150 entries this year!.
Was a beautiful night for it, and a lovely wee flat trail course, only downside was some dog walking arsehole ripping down taping and signage, sending a few folk the wrong way.
Prick.
All of the fiver entry fee went to charity though, so between that and donations there will be well over a grand going in.
Well Jura was something of a mixed bag! Poor visibility and didn't feel great then made a stupid navigation error on the first top by just following others rather than taking my own bearing. That cost me a few mins. Felt bad over the first two paps and kind of gave up a bit. Then I looked at my watch and thought wait a minute...maybe sub 4 hrs is still on. Picked up a few places off the last top then put my head down and buried myself on the road. The result? 4hrs and 26 seconds! Bastard! But a 12 min pb and got the prize for 3rd vet40 so can't really complain. One year I'll get everything right in that bloody race!
@nobeer, how're you feeling about Arran? I've done lots of racing but not many big runs!
