MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
@MrSheen - Nick Syrett is your man. Fell runner and the go-to physio for all of Chorlton Runners. Was spot on the few times I used him when living there. Not a one for dragging you back for loads of follow ups. Tells you what's wrong and how to sort it. Has a practice in Chorlton called KNS with his wife.
Well done yourself @ChuckMorris, sub 3 in your first attempt is a great result.
I've heard a little bit about painkillers, paracetamol is also reckoned to reduce overheating (not a huge issue at Mancs this time, or any time really) but there's also a possible risk of stomach and/or kidney effects and I've never tried it myself.
A friend of mine said the key is to take 3 paracetamol at the 20 mile mark. Is this a thing? is it safe?
I've never heard of this as a general strategy. Not taking pain killers is the usual advice although it's more specifically ibuprofen that's warned against. What's your pals experience in this?
Painkillers- please avoid, in general. I've got to keep this really brief as I'm due in a meeting shortly but here are the key points.
Firstly, NSAIDs (Ibuprofen, diclofenac, naproxen etc..) can be very harmful indeed over distances, causing or worsening rhabdomyolysis, which can lead to kidney failure and ultimately death. Acute rhabdo is a medical emergency and I see it in runners several times each year. These products make it much worse than it needs to be.
Just to be clear, this is a specialist field of mine and I have instituted a ban on these drugs in Scottish ultra marathons. if caught in unauthorised possession, it's an automatic DQ.
Paracetamol is another creature altogether. There are no specific contras against taking this in running, however, a dose of 3x500mg is above the recommended and could in theory cause harm to an already compromised liver. The lowest known fatal dose of paracetamol that I've heard confirmed was 12 in a 24hr period. So if you are already working with a stressed liver, it could in theory be harmful.
The second side to this coin is, if you are in so much pain that you genuinely need these to finish, should you still be running in this race? Pain is a sign of damage & harm, so think about it carefully. Personally, I used 2x500mg to help me finish my West highland Way race. That was very much a one off though and I've not used them on any other run.
amazing work on the manchester runs, rapid times, feels like spring has arrived at last.
I went over to to run the Rotterdam marathon at the weekend, as my second ever after a disastrous Frankfurt attempt last October where mainly due to a lack of appreciation of what I was about to endure and crazy temperatures I pulled out at round km 35. I had trained reasonably well for it but apparently not!
Started the training for Frankfurt weighing around 112kgs (covid and being unable to control my calorie intake - fat b'stard) 49 and had ran a few 10ks before - wanted to run a marathon before I was 50. Managed to get down to 105kgs for Rotterdam and more training but was still bricking myself whether I would be able to finish. There were a few close calls where I nearly jacked it again but managed to keep the demons under control. Was hoping for a sub 4 hour finish, 1:57 at half way was looking close, then got half way through the back half and was getting tough, stopped looking at teh overall time and just wanted to complete it. put the watch back onto time at km 41 and was still under 4, managed to find some boosters and crossed 3:59:47 close but the first number was a 3 so was a win for me 🙂 didnt get one in the bag before 50 but pretty close
crossed the line stepped to the side, stood for no more than 5 seconds before starting to move again and left hip had totally sized, reckon it took me over 30 minutes to exit the finish area
Rotterdam was an amazing event, if you like loads of noise and spectators its rammed pretty much for the entire course and pretty much a city centre-ish based course. Its great to see the city buy into the event in such a way. The winner stays back to bring the last runner over the line and give them their medal - pretty cool. course gets a little tight with runners at around km 17 - 22 and the water stations were carnage but apart from that no complaints.
Id thoroughly recommend it as an event, easy to get to and nice chilled city to hang around before and after.
Going back to get my soul from where I left it on the Frankfurt course this October, would like to be able to finish around 3:50. Planning to shed more timber, at least down to 98kgs, hoping that will have a benefit.
not going to say Im hooked but definitely going to try for a few more - maybe Copenhagen or Hamburg 2024 - possibly the ring of steal this year for a bit of variety - anybody done these?
Has anyone paid for a training plan in the past and was it any good?
I have a hankering to go after a fast marathon next year and think to get the time I want I need a proper programme to work to. I've got a pretty good idea of what I need to do, but some guidance may be worth taking.
@turin top work. As a heavy bloke myself I feel your pain. Once you're below 100kg that 3.50 is on!
@lunge a mate uses Ollie Lockley and has nothing but good things to say. Ollie was third in Manchester at the weekend so certainly has the running calibre!
With regards to the paracetamol question, another reason to avoid taking it during an event is because it messes with the bodies ability to regulate your temperature correctly, it's why we take it for fevers, this is drummed into us firefighters every time we do hot training and we have to inform the instructors if we have taken any so that we can be monitored more closely.
@spin - He's an experienced runner and said it helps him for a fast finish. His split chart would back that up.
Blue is his and orange is the average.
@highlandman - thanks for the info! I'd like to protect my liver at all costs. 🙂
@turin - awesome, well done! Rotterdam sounds amazing. I assume it will be one of the flattest courses as well. Love the idea of the winner bringing the last runner over the line. Rotterdam is getting added to the list.
@chuck it was pretty flat, big chunks actually around 5m below sea level..... think my strava showed 78m of ascent and Im sure its held world records before. Most of the inclination is on the underpasses so not a long drag to get over them.
Worth noting that there are no gels provided on the course - know a lot of people carry their own, but not everybody. Water/iso drinks every 5km, expo was decent as well and only 20 odd minutes on a direct train from Schipol or eurostar
@lunge I have been with yelling performance for the past 6 months both team GB/multiple Olympian athletes and have had a program with Liz for 6 months or so. Works for me.
He’s an experienced runner and said it helps him for a fast finish. His split chart would back that up.
The chart would back up that he's a fast finisher, not that the paracetamol does anything!
Thanks for filling in the details @highlandman, that tallies with what I'd read.
Best (only) way to achieve such a fast finish is to run well within yourself over the first three quarters! Anyone speeding up that much just wasn't trying before then.
So, my Leeds marathon training hasn't gone to plan. Just coming off the back of a nasty chest infection so haven't been able to do much apart from a couple of light effort bike rides in the last couple of weeks. Completely reassessed my 'target' from 4hrs 30 to just finish the f***ing hilly b**tard
Cragg Challenge 10K. Usually do the 10 mile but had to enter at the last minute and the 10K was the only one with space.
The course is simple - 5km up the hill, turn around, 5km back down.
Didn’t feel brilliant at the start having ridden the day before and slept badly after too much food. Stuck with a group of 2 who started fast, then one of them dropped back and we traded places for the lead the rest of the way.
I was planning to run to a Stryd power target but the two ahead were working as quite a good windbreak going up the hill so I just followed them.
My lungs were OK but started to get a stitch in the last 1500m, so was 5 seconds behind the winner. He really went for it though and was being tended to by St John’s, while I sauntered off for flapjack. His was definitely a well deserved win. Wishing I’d tried a bit harder now as I didn’t put any effort in for the sprint at the end.
Overall 2nd in 39.40, according to Strava. The return 5K was in 17:02, and I shall not be admitting that it was entirely downhill.
The atmosphere and closed road is great and it’s chip timed. Done it a few times, including bike and run.
2 weeks off running with a cold feels like it's set back my training by about 3 months - I was feeling pretty happy about July's Serpent Trail 50 but now it's like I've forgotten how to actually run.
Given I only started training at the start of the year this isn't reassuring.
I'll have to give a marathon a go soon as I've never done one.
However, I just did the 'marathon with mountains' aka 3 peaks fell race on Saturday for the first time and really enjoyed it surprisingly as I thought it would be a bit much
Time was 4:50 but really the latter half of the race was ruined with really bad cramps. I was really hampered on the descent from Ingleborough as I felt I couldn't extend my legs otherwise they'd be seized with cramp
I really need to work on cramp prevention for my next race . I think it was more lack of regular stretching rather than hydration issues
I'll be back next year!
Realised I've been rather quiet on here recently, thought some might be interested to hear how London went:
<p style="font-weight: 400;">London marathon has been a major annual focus for several years, and despite concentrating more on ultra-marathons, I still managed a personal best in 2021. This year has been somewhat different having picked up some injuries in August last year which I haven’t yet sorted. Comparing my usual training block to a marathon I would run about 2,200 miles, this year has been less than 600 in the same time period, without any focus on speed or long runs. As such I had slightly different goals for the race:</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">A goal – sub 2:40 to qualify for the championship start again</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">B goal – sub 2:50ish to get good for age again</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">C goal – finish</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">D goal – not injure myself further</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Some goals were potentially mutually exclusive, I didn’t want to put myself out of action for a long time even if A was achievable etc.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">So, with very little training, and a sore left glute, I started at slightly lively 2:35 pace, and after about 5km started to drift slowly backwards through the pack, feeling somewhat uncomfortable but not in any significant pain. I had pre-arranged Max to hand me some nutrition at 3 key points along the course, which was a great help, knowing exactly what I was getting and where. Lots of vocal support from friends and clubmates on the roadside, but I did manage to fail to spot Natalie and the kids on Tower Bridge. Halfway split of 1:18 was pretty much perfect, however I expected everything to go wrong from 30km. This is where lack of training reared its head in October where I had similarly poor preparation and I missed my A goal that day by a frustrating 4 seconds…. Remarkably I was feeling pretty good and fairly confident, and started to drift forwards through runners with the A goal looking increasingly sure. With some time in hand I didn’t need to push particularly hard to the finish, knowing that I could slow significantly without missing the goal, and enjoyed the last ¼ to come home in 2:38.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Always a spectacular day out, regardless of the weather – while the drizzle was probably a blessing for most of the runners, it didn’t appear to have dampened the spirits of those supporting.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Hopefully I’ll be back next year in full fitness with some slightly more ambitious goals. I expect I’ll be the youngest in the V45 category, the race falling 2 days after my birthday, so hopefully I’ll do better than 83<sup>rd</sup> in my age group!</p>
Didn't realise you were such a spring chicken turboferret, that's a great effort off limited training. I'm definitely now at the stage of hoping to minimise losses, I'll be 55 next time and won't see the short side of 2:50 again though should have a few more sub-3s in me if I stay injury-free.
Great effort @turboferret on virtually no training, that is mightily impressive. Looks like I may well see you in the Champs start next year, I managed a PB this year and got a top 10 in the V45s with a sub 2:35. I'm over the moon with this given I've had a foot problem/injury since last August and I've not trained as I would normally expect to (not quite to the extent that you've missed though) but maybe there is something in less volume and intensity for getting the job done. Hopefully will be injury free come next years training block.
Quality running Mr Ford, you'll be some of my competition next year 🙂
Sorry about the horrible formatting in my post, didn't realise it had all copied through and it's too late to edit now...
I also think that my days of marathon PBs may be behind me, but I do have another silly goal next year - V45 world record 5k. It's 14:29, and I ran 14:33 a couple of years ago, so it potentially within reach...
Intersting points above which makes me wonder, at what ate did you achieve your marathon pb? Im approaching 40 soon and im fearing not being as fit as i used to be!
I'm not sure I'll be competition but will certainly still be in the v45s (49 next year).
A bit of focussed training will see you do the 4 seconds I'm sure.
I've managed a 10K PB this year, god knows how at 48 but there you go, it must have been ideal conditions I think.
@edward2000 - at 40 you've got loads of time to keep improving. I did my first marathon at 41 and 3 months later I had a massive cardiac event (effectively died for 10 minutes) and since then I've just kept improving. 7 years later I'm doing a pb at London and I think I can maybe squeeze a bit more out too. The thing with getting older is you need to be smarter about your training but more so your recovery, diet and lifestyle. If you can get things to align effectively and not feel like you are persecuting yourself to achieve goals then you can go on improving as your age.
I think a number of factors determine when you are likely to peak - the main one being when you started running, and when you started training with intensity. I started running relatively late, in my early 30's but didn't start training properly until a few years later. I ran 2:23:08 age 40 (marathon 13), and 2:23:06 age 42 (marathon 16). It also takes a few years of training to nail a marathon, and also a few attempts.
If you've been running for years and years and have seen a peak then steady decline with age, despite consistent training, then probably yes, you are unlikely to improve. However, if you've just dabbled and there is plenty of scope to ramp up your training volume/intensity without risking injury, then you may be surprised at what you can achieve.
Of course this ignores at what age you could theoretically maximise your potential, as world marathon winners seem to be getting younger, but that's a different question.
Like many, I’ve put my name in the ballot for a London Marathon place next year. It’ll be about the 12th or 13th time I’ve been in the ballot and never got a place, I expect the same result this year!
When I was running yesterday I was thinking about other running challenges I can train for for next year. As I was running on the Ridgeway I had the idea of running the length of the Ridgeway over the space of a few days.
It’s 87 miles end to end so I think four days might be reasonable. I live on the route so can have a night at home part way through but the other nights would be in B&B’s as I’m not sure I’d fancy camping.
I’m not going to be aiming to break any records, I’d just be get to the end.
How would people suggest training for something like this?
I think a number of factors determine when you are likely to peak
Interesting point. I saw some data may years ago that showed you are likely to peak 10 years after you start running. It seems quite vague but the study was quite comprehensive. Doesnt mean you cant perform well before and after but as bell curves go it was quite compelling.
At 58 I have to say its very tough just running for me, never mind trying to run a little quicker but I was still running high 33 min 10ks in my early forties. At the moment even running a 6 min mile seems beyond me. Anyway you only lose if you stop running and I have no intention of doing that.
Its the Maurice Collins 5 mile road race tomorrow in Liverpool. If you are nearby I can recommend it. 2.5 laps around Walton park. Maurice was a mate of mine and we battled together for years (different clubs but same Xc leagues and road and relay events) sadly succumbed to cancer last year.
Morning all, everyone well, up to anything interesting?
We’re well and truly into 10k season here in the Midlands. 3 races so far, 2 top 15’s and the other I was 2nd in my age group but took 30 seconds off last years time. Also managed a parkrun PB at the weekend so the speed seems to be slowly returning. The trails are so good to run this time of the year, so it was a nice contrast to run a very gentle 17 miler yesterday and just take in the scenery.
On the shoe front, spending a lot of time in Puma at the moment. The Deviate Nitro 2 is a brilliant every day/tempo shoe, the outsole means it works well off road too, and the Nitro Elite is arguably the perfect parkrun shoe. Oh, and you can pick up a pair of Velocity Nitro 2’s for under £50 at Start Fitness at the moment which is an absolute bargain of a daily trainer.
I've been kind of following the daily suggestions that my Garmin gives me and ran a local trail 10k yesterday. My previous 10k PB in a race was 1:00.59 a couple of years back so I knew I'd beat that. It was pretty hot yesterday with some tough climbs on the course and I was running off the back of not having ran for a week due to a niggling calf injury.
As ever, I set out way too fast and just hung on until the end. Like pretty much everyone apart from the few fast folk at the front, a couple of the climbs were more walking than running.
I decided I'd be happy with anything under the hour so needless to say I was over the moon with a 54:05.
There's a local road 10k in five weeks which is nice and flat so I'm now aiming for a sub 50 in that.
I was hoping that I could manage a sub 50 10k, a sub 2h half and a 5k somewhere close to 20 minutes before the end of the year and if things keep going the way they are then I might actually manage it.
I should really sort out some new shoes as I'm doing all of my runs in trail shoes (Hoka SpeedGoat) which probably isn't ideal on the road. I've no idea what I need as I run on the forefoot so I'll probably try and pop by a local shop and try a few pairs on.
up to anything interesting?
Jura hill race on Saturday. A country mile away from my best form but I'm just going to go and enjoy the crack.
Just pottering on the trails of the Peak District. I had a couple of years of chasing Strava goals, entering fell races and generally pushing myself (not that I was any good!). Kinda lost my mojo a bit so ditched the aspirations and went back to running for the fun of it and really enjoying it. I'd had 2 days back to back mtb Fri & Sat but sunday morning was just too nice to stay in bed so I did a short one over the moors above Burbage and it was absolutely stunning. Best run I've had in ages and no PB or targets beaten 🙂
Well I completed the Leeds Marathon just over a week ago. My goal of 4hrs 30 was well out the window after illness and not exactly perfect training. But i got round in 5hrs 15 in the end.
A fair chunk of walking in there, I felt great through 14 miles, on target for my 5hr goal, then my lack of training kicked in and i really struggled through to Otley. The crowds were amazing and i got a march on up the chevin, walking but overtaking a lot of people. I don't do well in heat and it was hot and muggy. Hit a low point after the big hill until mile 21 when i started to feel good again and ran in the last 4 or 5 miles at a comfortable pace.
Hard route, but the crowds were amazing
@lunge - I picked-up the Velocty Nitro 2 from Startfitness a couple of weeks ago. Great value and very impressed. I'm intrigued by the Deviate and Elite now.
Did the Great Manchester 10k yesterday. An out & back course where I was passed by Sir Mo Farah which was a surreal moment.
Edinburgh marathon this week, hoping for sub 3 but the forecast looks pretty warm.
Keswick Mountain Festival 25km at the weekend - was hot, sweaty and very pretty. Steady 3:49 shamble for me, hilly and hard first half, flat and therefore harder when you've no excuse for walking second half. Went through 3L of electrolyte (topped up at each of the 3 drinks/feed stations) and was still on the verge of dehydration at the finish.
So, I've got my first half marathon coming up at the end of June and was wondering if any of the good runny folk on here can offer any good advice on nutrition / snacks to carry round with me? If at all?
I've not really run for long enough to bother yet, but I didn't want to get caught out on the day. My longest training run will only be about 17k so thought I'd take some snacks with me to see if they help / make a difference.
I've never been a fan of things like Gels or anything too artificial when I'm on the bike but figured some dried fruit or a Nakd bar wouldn't be too much of a faff to stuff in a pocket?
Any tips or pointers gratefully received 🙂
@mrwhippy, you may struggle to hold much down when running with any pace. I can eat normal food when running slow, but at half marathon pace it’s gels all the way.
I’d normally do 2 for a fast half, 6 miles and 9 miles.
Not sure if that helps.
Thanks @lunge , perhaps that’s the way to go as the thought of chewing my way through some food whilst trying to breath doesn’t sound good!
With regards to peaking I knocked 3 minutes off my previous time on the Fairfield Horseshoe fell race the other week, both occasions it was a Championship race, 10 years apart.
and was wondering if any of the good runny folk on here can offer any good advice on nutrition / snacks to carry round with me? If at all?
I was about to ask much the same. I've been doing 15-18km runs on a couple of Shot Blocks but feel that's not enough.
For a half marathon I'd probably take just the one gel, and take it about an hour in ideally just before a water station. If you're not a fan of gels you could just stick a handful of chewy sweets in your pocket and start eating them at about the same point.
Standard advice: try the gels (or sweets) in training before the big day!
So, I’ve got my first half marathon coming up at the end of June and was wondering if any of the good runny folk on here can offer any good advice on nutrition / snacks to carry round with me? If at all?
A little and often would be my advice, say 20g of carbs (an energy gel) every 20-30 minutes. Some folks find gels difficult to digest so definitely try them before race day - I prefer the isotonic ones better as you don’t need to invest with water. If running at effort, it can be tricky chewing any type of dry food without water.
Thanks for the advice so far, I'm going to try a few things over the next few training runs to see what works best. I'm quite happy to go for a few hours without fuel whilst on my bike or in the surf but I think I'd be silly not to have something for the half.
Anything 'solid' (e.g. flapjack, bananas, sandwhiches) are for long slow / steady runs when you are going to stop and eat, or moving very slowly. Its difficult to not choke when racing, even on gels sometimes. Shot bloks are ok, but tend to be a bit fiddlier than gels, and require chewing, which means you either risk choking on them, or get very out of breath, depends how hard you're pushing.
I'm experimenting with putting a load of gels in to a small, locking soft-flask (150ml from Decathlon). This is because sometimes a whole gel can be too much, or the wrappers can be fiddly to open. The danger is that you consume all your gels too quickly.
I don’t eat anything for a half, maybe if I was going to be over 2h I’d think differently but it’s too high intensity for me.
I did once have a couple of jelly babies in a hm as a dry run for upcoming marathon, nearly choked and had to slow right down to recover, bit embarrassing as it was right next to a marshal.
As with all these things it is what suits you. I fuel in HM's, usually a gel about 35-40 mins in and then 35-40 mins again after that.
As others have said, find what works for you on training runs. You may find a pocket full of jelly babies will work for you, or firing in a gel is easier.
Try different brands of gel and flavours too. I can't stand SIS gels, my mate swears by them. I save my favourite gel flavours for when i'm in races and feeling like crap
Well, that was a thing. My 5th Jura fell race done and although it's the least fit I've been it wasn't my worst time. Quite happy all things considered.
Can I ask a shoe question?
Thought I'd have a crack at some road 10k - half marathons.
I've done a half when I was new to running 18 months ago and managed 1.30. My current parkrun pb is 17.46.
I like to run on my forefoot but will consciously 'get lazy' on longer runs to allow for some heel strike. I supinate slightly.
I'm currently wearing Clifton 8s which are great but they're getting on a bit and I fancy trying a race day shoe. Are carbon plate shoes the only option these days for a fast shoe? I liked the idea of a simple racing flat but there doesn't seem to be many out there.
Are carbon plate shoes the only option these days for a fast shoe? I liked the idea of a simple racing flat but there doesn’t seem to be many out there.
There are loads out there - maybe not 100% "flat", but with a 4mm drop or similar. I use New Balance Fuelcell, for example.
Are carbon plate shoes the only option these days for a fast shoe? I liked the idea of a simple racing flat but there doesn’t seem to be many out there.
There’s no question that old style racing flats are less prevalent than they once were. Mainly as they’re not as fast as carbon shoes and not as comfortable either.
There are the odd one out there, but they’re few and far between. The New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Pacer is low stack but still has a carbon plate and 25mm of stack.
Your best bet if you really want that kind is shoe is to look 2nd hand, I’d be looking at Nike Streak 7’s as a start.
If not, look at lower stack carbon plated shoes. The Puma Deviate Nitro (version 1) os a good shout and is dirt cheap on Start Fitness.
Nike also do a flatter version of their super shoes - supposedly aimed at 5-10k runners. Possibly not as fast as the thick soled ones.
The new vaporfly is ridiculously light - the pair is barely heavier than one of my pegasus that I've been using recently. I've just got a pair of VF which I'll use in a 10k race on Monday.
Yep, most manufacturers do a lower stack shoe aimee at 5/10k work, but most also have some kind of plate. Nike Streakfly and Adidas Takumi Sen 8 or 9 are the 2 that spring to mind.
Something like a Vaporfly has 40mm of stack and weight loads less than your standard daily trainer.
Pretty much anything will be quicker than a Clifton (well maybe not a Bondi) but it would be a big jump down to a racing flat. I've done a lot of racing in flats, back in ye olde day, and while they can be quick they can also get you in a lot of trouble if you get tired and your biomechanics break down, your feet start to hurt and so on. That's where the carbon plate shoes really help you.
What about trying a Mach5? A racer trainer
I plumped for an Adidas adzero Pro which was heavily discounted. I'll see how the brand works for me then there's a fair few different models at sensible prices to look at in the future.
I know it's far from a flat btw. It just caught my eye and if the style works for me then there's other more traditional options available.
Thing I'm finding is that you just have to throw a few eggs at a wall and see what sticks. Currently I see my Clifton 8s as my super fast, I'm going to kick ass kinda shoe. To me it feels light and springy, despite being almost 2 years old. I use it at track night as well as on club runs and enjoy trouncing the super shoe gang. It's all about the legs really isn't it?
It's 98% about the legs and if you just want to train and race hard and do your best, that's fine. But these days it is also 2% about the shoes and they really do make a difference if you care about small margins.
Race shoes might seem pricy but they are certainly cheap compared to bikes!
Race shoes might seem pricy but they are certainly cheap compared to bikes!
The £200> are clearly expensive however running shoes themselves are actually not very expensive at all. Some time ago I dug out an old Bourne sports flyer that we used to get in stores, at races and with the Athletics Weekly. In the early 80's when I started competitive running a particularly popular shoe at the time was the Reebok Aztec (it was slightly before the much better US shoes were widely available in the UK) There were alternatives but these were considered the best training shoe for distance runners at that time. I can assure you they were crap, they had almost zero cushioning and even looking at them makes my shins ache. We are spoiled today and even cheaper shoes are 100 times better than the Aztec. They would cost £104 today after inflation!
I think it's the £200+ price tag plus the fact that they are only recommended for a couple of hundred miles use that seems a bit vulgar.
I was genuinely a bit gutted when after leaving the arms race of cycling, I discovered that carbon had sent running down the same path.
I for one am grateful for carbon plated shoes, mainly because I have arthritis in my Toe joint which makes it painful to flex. I am too old and slow to get any performance benefit but it does allow me to keep running. I realise I am not their target demographic 🙂
Yeah. I've given a mental shrug and look forward to when I get to race in super shoes. I bet if you're on a good day it feels amazing.
It's why I've come to love track night with my running club. Even in Cliftons you feel so fast and springy.
Shoe prices are silly, but only if you buy them at full price.
I’ve had 4 pairs of Nike Vaporfly’s, the same shoes as the fella who won the London Marathon wore. Full price they’re £240 ish but I’ve never paid more than £140, often less. I can get 300 miles out of them so I don’t think that’s bad value for a high performance product.
There are always deals to be had for non-race shoe too. Lots of manufacturers have a 2 year cycle on their models so the 2022 model will often be the same as the 2023 bar a slight change to the upper. Saucony Ride 16 and 15 are very similar, Nike Pegasus 39 and 40 are similar too. So just buy last years.
Also never buy when the new model is released. The new asics Nimbus came out early this year, it was £165 new. They’re great shoes, but I waited a few months and picked up a pair for £110 which is still not cheap but is a lot more palatable.
Finally, look at other manufacturers that aren’t the big names. I’ve said a few times that Puma for instance offer ridiculous value shoes, Reebok are the same. My latest purchase was a pair Puma Velocity Nitro 2’s, a really nice daily trainer for £45.
Follow EDDBUD on YouTube, he puts out a monthly running shoe bargains vid, you’ll see some good options there.
Cheers lunge. I'll probably get another pair of clifton 8s as my everyday shoe at some point. They're down to about £70 now and I really like them.
In preparation for the Serpent Trail 50 in a month's time I've developed a crippling back injury.
It wasn't too bad initially because whilst standing, sitting, bending, or laying down all sent waves of pain across my lower/mid back, running and cycling actually seemed to help.
Unfortunately running has shifted from the helps category to the hurts category. So I'm now training for an ultra by singlespeeding around on my gravelbike.
The saving grace remains the extremely generous cut-off time which requires a 3.6kph average - that means I could walk it in it's entirety.
Mid-season 'see where we are' Ultra-type event at the weekend - Dalby's Inferno
Basically: A 5km trail lap with ~100m of climb, starting on the hour every hour for 10 hours, so Ultra distance but with enforced rest breaks so long as you were under the hour. If you were over, you sat the next lap out but could rejoin up until the 9th lap. You could only run the 10th - which is the only officially timed 'race' lap - if you'd completed all 9 previous laps.
Wasn't intending to 'race' any of it, it was just a bit of a benchmarking event to see how my legs were and how they'd cope with the distance (and, given the weekend we had, the heat!). Paced everything steadily and used the downtime between laps to drink, eat and stretch. Turns out I'm an absolute model of consistency when it comes to endurance running pace - about 8mins/km and I can trot away all day - these are my lap times:
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(Intermediates are the downtime between running laps, seemed like the best way to record...)
I knew I'd be walking some sections - the laps were basically one big down then a big back up rather than undulations - so over the first few laps I set some marker points of "I start walking for this hill at that tree, and I start running again at that signpost" etc, and I stuck to them rigidly in the later laps, which helped loads. While I'm not at all bothered with what positions were, I know started near the back of the pack each time and tended to pass a good few people just by being disciplined and hiking with a bit of purpose on the climbs.
All in all, a really fun day, nice course, good chat in the pit area between laps, and a nice concept for people who might be trying their first foray into Ultra distance - talked to quite a few who were doing that for the first time.
@pyro seeing your consistency is really satisfy to the bit of my brain that likes data and patterns
Cracking effort, especially in the heat over the weekend
Has anyone done the Ladybower 50km? https://www.runthroughtrails.com/ladybower-reservoir/
I'm looking for another 50km ultra to enter around that time of year and it's only an hour from home for me
@spawnyofyorkshire - not done the event but know the area well. Some pretty chunky climbs in there but not a huge amount of elevation overall for an ultra I don't think? A big bit of it is also along the main path around the reservoir which is flat but busy so doesn't have much of a feel of "far from the madding crowd" so depends what you're after.
@dashed - thanks that's useful info. I am after something a bit more interesting than that so i'll keep looking. I wasn't particularly keen on such an early start on the ultra for that one anyway 🙂
Bit later in the year, but there's a 50km at the Yorkshire Trod in October?
https://duenorthevents.com/races/yorkshire-trod/
Is anyone actually out running in this? Mad dogs come to mind. Roll on September.
Club run last night. Just 2 of us in my group. Numbers were low overall though.
It was Barnsley Boundary relay race on Saturday and it was terribly hot for running. Unfortunately I was on leg 9 which starts around 2:30pm so peak heat and the route itself is a rollercoaster with some steep ups and downs and little shade to shelter under. It wasn't pleaseant and even though I'm not in top nick at the moment was 7 minutes slower than a couple of years ago. The conditions blunted the times somewhat.
Is anyone actually out running in this? Mad dogs come to mind. Roll on September.
I too was out with the club last night, 5 in my pace group, did a fairly easy 8 miles. It actually wasn't too bad as the sun had gone my the time we got out and we just got soaked in warm rain.
I'm meant to be doing 10k with some efforts tonight and am not looking forward to that.
Event wise, it's 10k season for me, along with the usual parkruns. Managed a 17:33 parkrun last weekend which I was very pleased with, and bodes well for some more serious 10k's that I have in the next month or 2.
Is anyone actually out running in this? Mad dogs come to mind. Roll on September.
I did 23km on Saturday - up Glen Tromie and back. Bit of a breeze on the way up made it bearable enough.
Out for a club run last night, mid- thunderstorms. The humidity was worse than the heat. And the midge were out.
I'm off to do 12km above marsden tonight ahead of watching the star wheelers womens hillclimb
Not looking forward to the heat but it should be breezy on the tops.
I did a 21 min parkrun on Sat morning before it got too hot, and that was plenty hard enough 🙂
(Three times up a mahoosive hill and I finished 2nd overall, so not quite as pedestrian as it sounds, but who am I kidding, it was still terribly slow.)
Anyone have any top tips for nipple chafe? Got home from a steady trail 10k (quite a long distance for me) and my white vest looked like I'd been shot. No wonder I was getting some funny looks. I had put some vaseline on, but I guess it all just sweated off.
Had a Google and there are about a million suggestions. I figure a top with a soft liner is probably a good idea?
Surely plasters are the solution? Applied beforehand.
Anyone have any top tips for nipple chafe?
I’ve found plasters fall off, so not that.
Ron Hill make a product called Nip Guard which works really well indeed.
I friend who runs ultras swears by clear nail varnish on his nips. He’s adamant it’s the only solution that lasts.
KT tape.
I have been using it for a year on my nips for all runs and have had no issues.
Top tip, remove the tape when you are still sweaty after the run 😝😝
I use 3M transpore tape, it rips easily into little squares and also comes off fine (when you want it to). Just a dot on each nip, it works a treat.
Track session last night with the club. We were running 400m reps with 2.5min recoveries. Hit 70s a lap for 6 consecutive reps before the legs mired in treacle on rep 7 when someone upped the pace and I followed. Haven't experienced that before; such total shut down. Fun evening.
Had a look on a pace chart. 70s/400m is equivalent to a 2.03 marathon. The mind boggles!