So Marcus (if its the right Marcus?) for anyone dot watching the spine is in joint 10th now after overnight leader has dropped out.

Obviously deranged and a bit unhinged but still a long way to go for him.

http://live.thespinerace.com/

Marcus from this forum is doing pretty well in The spine race.

Leaders are just unbelievable in what they are doing.

Told wife about it and was told quite clearly I was not allowed to do it. I could say confidently she did not have to worry.

Did the Trigger Fell race yesterday, 24 miles 4300ft ascent from Marsden to Edale. Great route but tired today. Hoping that will kick start my year as not done enough recently.

Saw loads of Spine runners as they set off on their 268 miles of hell. Cheered me up knowing I was half way round my race and they were a LONG LONG way from getting into it.

So good luck to Marcus tomorrow (and the day after, and the day after etc) running the Spine race.

If anyone wants to dot watch him

http://live.thespinerace.com/

Assuming race number 155?

@djambo if you find yourself going too hard, have a look at MAF technique.

What is MAF?

Principle seems sound, get faster at a lower effort as opposed to getting faster at top speeds. Better long term apparently.

I haven’t stayed committed to it, but it has made me realise not all efforts need to be a hard effort to improve.

Just had a look at UK next prime minister odds. Seems Kanye has the same odds for next POTUS as Liam Fox does for PM.

The Rock and Zuckerberg have the same odds as Gove.

Not really sure what to make of the world anymore?

Local XC race (Peco race in Leeds, Roundhay Park) yesterday for me.

Tried the set off fast and try and hang on approach as it was only 4.4 miles. Ended up being start fast, die in the middle, recover a bit, die again. I hate these short runnable races and they hurt so they must be doing me some good?

This weekend I am back to more familiar terrain. Running the Trigger fell race this coming weekend. Nice 24 miles from Marsden to Edale across the tops in some nice wintry conditions.

So anyone been racing this weekend?

Got local XC race. Only 4.4 miles so nothing too much but I find these short xc ones a real mind game. Slow down your going too fast, no go faster its only short, no slow down it hurts.

19.11 5km last year at 40 years old and 13 stone.

That was a run at lunch time along canal. Never done a road race or park run but reckon I’d easily get under 19 with a flat course. Mildly interested to know what I could do with a bit of specific training, but not interested enough to do it.

Easiest thing for speed, run intervals with people faster than you and lose weight.

In the fine words of Swiss Tony. Running should be like making love to a beautiful women, it should be long, slow and muddy 8O

@djtom I enjoyed the Roc last year. Did long score and not quite as good as last year but think was 4th or 5th solo. Be doing the linear next year for a change.

I had forgotten the local night Orienteering league starts again next week. All informal but good for a quick training run and a pint afterwards to undo the good work.

joined!

As per previous thread, mainly fells and got some good long runs planned. Not quite as stupid as Marcus and his spine run though. :wink: (good luck by the way, ill be dot watching)

Not quite planned the year out as much as last year but Jan is short xc or orienteering races and long training runs. Then see what I need to do to be in good shape for spring and start having a look at a few ultras.

Def doing the Fellsman, try and get under 14 hours. A mountain marathon or two and a Bob Graham, plus maybe another round (time/wife/family permitted)

Survival of the fittest by Mike Stroud is a good book. Its not purely about ultra running but is about endurance fitness and has plenty of running relevant things.

@ml Cheers, we will see by Feb, March and see where I am, then start having a few weekends away. Wife seems okay with it, at the moment, but that could change at any time.

Spine in January. Not sure after that. Few big events recently and the body feels like it needs a bit a break from running.

@marcus you will feel like a break from running after that! 8O

Got more vague ideas than firm goals but finishing the year with some of the local Peco xc races and Auld Lang Syne Fell Race NYE.

Next year:

The Fellsman – Keeps me running over Winter
Bob Graham and/or another long round? Deciding when drunk with maps over Christmas
Saunders – depending on the above?

Will decide on the second half of the year nearer the time. I will probably be broken and injured by then.

Quite like to do the Runfurther Ultra race series and the Lakeland Classics series but thinking with a Bob Graham and the wife and kids liking my company on weekends occasionally it may be an issue with time away. I will see what happens.

Spent last year doing too many score and nav events and want to get more actual racing done.

I got one in June. Works really well. Gets a fix fast, is accurate and been flawless.

The uploading sometimes takes a while but I think that is more to do with the phone app as opposed to the watch as if I open the app it syncs straight away. If I just leave it to do its thing it takes a while, unless I am near wi fi (I have the sapphire version) when it is a lot faster.

Well seems like Andrea Leadsom sunk him in the end.

Sorry its The Sun link but they were the ones with the story. Just been talked about on newsnight

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/4831049/sir-michael-fallon-inappropriate-comments-andrea-leadsom/

Aaarrrgghh partner just bailed due to injury.

Anyone fancy a run out next weekend please let me know. Be some long days as in elite.

Wasn’t that back in early 80’s? This year is a bit of a throwback to that as Gerry Charnley planned the course and it 50th year.

Not done it for 9 years myself as its generally not my favourite but its in a great area so looking forward to it.

Had a lowe alpine one for years, it will be good for many more years to come.

Although I am tempted with one of these

Man/dad bags

Yep, also organised a free breakfast for anyone else who cycled paid by our work.

No-one new cycled in, was the same old people who cycle every day, just this time we got free pastries, fruit, fresh juice and coffee.

The BBC lot will have very much seen it from the athletes side, having generally been of that ilk. This in turns will mean they are fiercely competitive and you would have to cut off a limb to stop them competing.

You can therefore understand why the obtuse and awkward questions as they just do not ‘get it’ as the desire to compete far outweighs concern for others health and welfare.

I have to admit if it was me I would not have gone to the medical centre as I would not want to risk being quarantined so that I could compete. That probably makes me a dick but hey what can I say, I bet a fair few more don’t come forward now.

But yeh it was awkward and I also fully understand that the IAAF are following ‘guidelines’ not rule but guidelines and are on balance doing the right thing if generally they are not communicating it well. She did well under pressure and I can imagine her desire to tell them where to go was high.

Cracking loop from Kirby Malzeard – will share if anyone is interested. It’s one that my son and I use as a training ride.

Yep interested! My mother moved there last year and often stay the night Friday for earlier getaway to the dales.

Ambrosia do one

http://www.spacycles.co.uk/m2b0s150p2151/AMBROSIO-10-Speed-Shimano-spline-Campagnolo-spacing

you can get campag spaced cassettes that are compatible with shimano freewheels.

This gives you more choice in wheels but you do then need to fork out for specific cassette

I think the principle of steady miles is that it will still improve your baseline but not make your body break down so much. Have a look at MAF training. Its running specific but I imagine the principles being the same.

Theory being riding at a lower heart rate makes you more efficient and therefore faster at a lower heart rate. Kind of the opposite of intervals which make your max speed faster, this makes your cruising speed you can maintain faster….in theory.

Seems quite a few deals around on the Shwalbe ones at the moment. Not the pro ones but might be worth a punt?

Not too fussed with tubeless as wheels not suitable.

Not really thought about Vittoria, will have a look at those too.

Seems I can’t go wrong really with 4000’s or 4 seasons but good to know a few more to look at.

Whisky, perhaps a bourbon. If you want to be fancy, take a tiny measure of Angostura bitters (the soy sauce containers from supermarket sushi work) and some sugar to make Old Fashioneds

I mix it all in a water bottle beforehand and I have trademarked it as my own cocktail called an “old fashioned vagrant”

…and they’re wrong IMHO, for the reasons I state.

I ‘get’ why they refuse to do so. As republicans that stands on the idea of not recognising British rule it would be wrong in their view to do so. Not that helpful in the current circumstances but at least they are sticking to their guns views.

How will this deal work if the Stormont talks fail? My understanding is that if they fail then Northern Ireland may end up being back under direct rule from London. So then it would seem that current government would be ruling whilst being propped up by a party with no power except the ability to blackmail the goverment?

That photo of May reminded me of Blakey from On the Buses.

I am assuming a lot of this also applies to running? Or at least the general principle.

Although I suspect the disadvantage of being lighter on a bike and putting out watts is not as bad when running?

Asking as I an plateauing a bit and getting more long distance hill training in is not really an option at the moment but losing weight a bit and shorter leg stuff/gym/cycling is.

Note fell running, proper hills, long climbs, none of this small tarmac stuff. Currently hefting 80kg around with me

I can generally fit all I need in a 20l with space to spare.

That includes all the stuff you mention (apart from tarp AND tent) plus down jacket, spare trousers, waterproofs and socks, food, small first aid kit, emergency bag etc. I think the total weight last time I bothered weighing was just under 5kg. That was only a one night away whilst racing a mountain marathon but done similar two night trips with same 20l rucksack. This is when using rucksack only, running not biking. Nothing strapped to outside as I would just lose it.

I do have some lightweight stuff that compresses well, but I have also done it a few times. Every time I come back, if I have not used something I don’t take it again. Soon get to a lean pack.

Suppose it depends on if your going as light as possible or heavier and slightly more comfortable

Have you looked at the OMM rucksacks? They are not bike specific but great for running/walking and come in 20l and 25l. I have both sizes and rate them for comfort and robustness. 25l is a great compromise size and should be enough.

I find it mind-boggling that so many of the outdoor-types that I meet have no clue whatsoever.

+1 to this.

I have done a fair bit of navigation based races so pretty handy with a map and compass.

It still to this day baffles me how people are prepared to go out and about in the hills not knowing the basics of navigation.

I understand your average Joe or Jo not knowing as its pretty niche nowadays but mountain bikers and fell runners and walkers there really is no excuse. It seems that its a common thing.

my understanding is that you do peak in late twenties, early thirties but as I imagine most of the people here have never hit their peak performance or generally anywhere near then you are still able to gain improvements in your own performance into your later years.

This is especially true of more endurance sports with less explosive power.

to muddy the waters on the alt tags. If the image is decoration and does not add to the actual content then an empty alt tag is perfectly fine.

Semantic html structure, using headings correctly is a really big one for screen readers as that is how people navigate around the page. Think of it the same way you would structure a word document report with main header, section headers and sub section headers.

Don’t bother with high contrast, as said above just ensure that colour contrast meets accessibility. If someone now REALLY needs an alternative colour scheme then they are more than likely got tools for the job.

There is absolutely loads you can do. Technically any non text content needs a text alternative, so audio and video needs transcripts in an accessible format, plus possibly captions on videos.

Everything needs to be keyboard accessible, so be able to tab around the site and for it to still function. Nothing should move too fast (There is some specific timing but can’t remember as above that can cause seizures) Everything that does move should have control options e.g. carousels if auto slide needs a play/pause.

Some links

http://wave.webaim.org/
https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG20/quickref/
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/accessibility-developer-t/fpkknkljclfencbdbgkenhalefipecmb
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/wave-evaluation-tool/jbbplnpkjmmeebjpijfedlgcdilocofh
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/tota11y-plugin-from-khan/oedofneiplgibimfkccchnimiadcmhpe

I think any plans need to take in other user groups. For instance last weekend there was a fell race that was an out and back along Cut Gate. Thats 200+ across it in a day there and back. So 400 journeys on a wet Sunday in Feb.

I think it is also a well used track mainly because it is a very convenient way into the main of the peak district from the northern edge. More access to ridable trails and bridleways that lead in a similar direction would lead to less erosion and less traffic. I suspect a lot of the traffic is because it is a means to an end.

With regards to preventative measures, no to flags! Re-enforcing and raising sections with aggregate and more drainedge round the side would be good (not sure how easy).

there is also a website that does the same

https://www.bringabottle.co.uk/%5B/url%5D

Saw a few conflicting things on the internet and wasn’t really sure about going with a helmet manufacturers recommendation as that is always on the light side.

This thread may or may not be used as part of a discussion to open the house joint account funds to buy bike parts btw :)

I recently needed something for both running and biking, having previously had an OLD hope vision 2.

I went with this, well within budget

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Xeccon-Geinea-1-Revolutionary-front-light-and-helmet-mount-850-Lumen-/291943030389?hash=item43f9291e75

from Torchy to ensure decent batteries and charger and then bought a headstrap from china for 1 whole pounds.

BRIGHT! comfortable on the head as its tiny.

Some people don’t like putting the battery pack in something like a bumbag but as I generally have a bum bag for waterproofs, food etc (trail and fell mainly) and that was the situ for the hope lights then I have no problem with it.

Plus it makes a very competent bar light for the bike

Bump for evening crew

thinking of a torchy bk thr33 light for the bars and for a head torch for fell running. The separate battery pack is actually appealing for that as it can be placed in a bum bag instead of having the weight on the head.

Has anyone used that light as a head torch? Can you let me know how bulky it is (it looks small?) How does it compare size and weight wise to say a hope vision 2?