The Running Thread Vol 2

[Rosscow]

lufbramatt said:

Yep that's local events- I'm not a fan of the huge races. I'm in Kent. I think the coastal races which tend to be flatter fill up quickly.

I did have another look and found a potential option for a 10k in August though near Faversham.

There are quite a few, have a look at Nice Work (based in Rye):

https://www.nice-work.org.uk/calendars/sport-event...

Folkstone 10k 26th May

Rye 5 & 10 miles 19th May (just over the Kent border)

Charing 10k 14th June

Hawkhurst 5 & 10k 23rd June

Romney Marsh 10k 14th July

Loads to choose from!

[markh1973]

Rosscow said:

lufbramatt said:

Yep that's local events- I'm not a fan of the huge races. I'm in Kent. I think the coastal races which tend to be flatter fill up quickly.

I did have another look and found a potential option for a 10k in August though near Faversham.

There are quite a few, have a look at Nice Work (based in Rye):

https://www.nice-work.org.uk/calendars/sport-event...

Folkstone 10k 26th May

Rye 5 & 10 miles 19th May (just over the Kent border)

Charing 10k 14th June

Hawkhurst 5 & 10k 23rd June

Romney Marsh 10k 14th July

Loads to choose from!

The flat races are the uninteresting ones - take a look at races like the High Elms 10k, Petts Wood 10k, Lullingstone 10k. You won't be running PBs but you will feel you've had a good race. My eldest has the course record for two of them - they're at least 3 to 4 minutes off his actual PB.

[JimmyConwayNW]

Ran the Alderley edge 10k road run last weekend. Took from Sunday until Wednesday for my calve muscles to recover. I'm currently weighing in at 104kg and managed a 44:18 which was a recent PB for me. First 5k was also close to PB as managed 20.59 best ever was 20.33, need to break that 20 min barrier.

Loved having the pacer, stuck with the 42.30 pacer until km 7 and I just couldn't hack it anymore, had to back off at the 9k marker as felt I was going to puke, had a couple of coughs and kept it together and got back on it. Heat was unreal, I always find the first few runs when it goes hot hard to adjust to.

Realistically I think I can get my 5k down under 20 and maybe a sub 43min 10k to aim for before the end of the year.

Really well run event for anyone local organised by Run North West Wilmslow running shop.

[Birdster]

Completed the Hackney Half today. Good crowds and well organised. The walk from Stratford station is a bit much but used it to warm up. Fast train home and chilling in the garden with our dog. Will pop open a beer soon. Had a lucky saint non alcoholic beer at the finish and it’s quite tasty.

I stupidly lost my top on the way home from collecting it yesterday. Just thought I’d ask on here in case anyone has one in a large or xl and doesn’t want it. I’d pay something for it please. Thanks in advance.

I’m going to sign up for next year. It was busier than last year. Or felt it. I think the events are getting more popular.

[andy_s]

ben5575 said:

andy_s said:

ben5575 said:

+1

I have the mud talon speeds in wide fit and they are fantastic. Really comfortable on soft stuff although I find them (unsurprisingly) uncomfortable on hard stuff. They really inspire a lot of confidence. Do you still use their laces or have you swapped them out, if so what for?

I’ve just bought a pair of their new (non speed) trailflys for trail, drier fell running and training. I opted for the extra padding (over the speed version). Will report back once they been given to me for my birthday!

Thinking of the same, to get the standard Trailfly for those longer, ploddier days [when I'm back up there....horrible being off for 6 mths and climbing back up the metaphorical and literal hill...] - and no, haven't swapped laces!

Just a quick follow up to this. I've put around 40k on the new trailflys now including 25k on the fells. I'm struggling a bit with them if I'm honest. I bought the same size as the mud talons (11 wide), but my foot moves around far more in these. It feels like I'm running on side of the shoe rather than the insole on anything that isn't flat (which is obviously most of the time). I think it's because the toe box is so wide, it levers the shoe sideways. Something that didn't happen in the mudtalons though. Perhaps I should have sized down - something to bear in mind. A lot of this:

Cheers Ben that's good to know - as I said with the Mudtalons they seem to have a bigger/wider last in general than the old one so a wide in the wider Trailflys is like a super-wide perhaps, Bit annoying as I know what you mean about 'sloppyness' on the rough ground. Don't get me started on people changing/discontinuing kit that fits/works absolutely as you like in general :frothyrage: 'Why have you just bought 3 of the exact same light insulted smock Andrew?' 'Well....'

[smn159]

Ran Brighton Marathon recently and then Buckingham Half last weekend so thought I'd give my legs a change and do an hour or so on the bike for the first time this year.

Jesus wept, cycling is hard if you aren't used to it! No flat routes around here and legs like jelly going up a couple of 8% hills... No races on the cards for a while so going to try and mix in a bike ride or two every week... my PBs at 5 and 10k both came while I was both cycling and running so will see what happens..

[ben5575]

Did my first ever organised trail run today at Derwent Reservoir. I say trail but it consisted of running on paths and a whole 19m of elevation across 10k

So not a challenging run other than I’d never done a ‘proper’ race before, so had no idea of what I could run and as such how to pace myself. Ran way too slow for the first 8k then sped up for the last two for a 53min.

I love running but I’m new to it, so still trying to find my feet. I’m glad I did it for the experience, but running against a clock just doesn’t really excite me. Perhaps that’s just down to the dull course. Might try a half trail or short 25k ultra next.

[fiatpower]

ben5575 said:

short 25k ultra next.

So not an ultra then .

I did the Cannock chase trail half marathon yesterday. 1800ft elevation gain through some brilliant trails. Some horrible hills though. The worst was a set of 3 or 4 (I lost count) rolling hills with no respite over roughly a mile. The uphill was almost a scramble on all fours and the downhill was so steep it hammered the quads. I hadn’t really done any training over 8 miles so really struggled for the last few miles.

I generally feel ok today but the side of my
Quads, probably the top of my IT band, is seriously sore. A few foam rolling session was almost rear inducing!

[ben5575]

fiatpower said:

ben5575 said:

short 25k ultra next.

So not an ultra then .

I did the Cannock chase trail half marathon yesterday. 1800ft elevation gain through some brilliant trails. Some horrible hills though. The worst was a set of 3 or 4 (I lost count) rolling hills with no respite over roughly a mile. The uphill was almost a scramble on all fours and the downhill was so steep it hammered the quads. I hadn’t really done any training over 8 miles so really struggled for the last few miles.

I generally feel ok today but the side of my
Quads, probably the top of my IT band, is seriously sore. A few foam rolling session was almost rear inducing!

hey I’m just quoting the websites: https://www.maverick-race.com/products/the-maveric...

See now that run out seems like more ‘fun’. Sounds like you had a great time

[egor110]

ben5575 said:

fiatpower said:

ben5575 said:

short 25k ultra next.

So not an ultra then .

I did the Cannock chase trail half marathon yesterday. 1800ft elevation gain through some brilliant trails. Some horrible hills though. The worst was a set of 3 or 4 (I lost count) rolling hills with no respite over roughly a mile. The uphill was almost a scramble on all fours and the downhill was so steep it hammered the quads. I hadn’t really done any training over 8 miles so really struggled for the last few miles.

I generally feel ok today but the side of my
Quads, probably the top of my IT band, is seriously sore. A few foam rolling session was almost rear inducing!

hey I’m just quoting the websites: https://www.maverick-race.com/products/the-maveric...

See now that run out seems like more ‘fun’. Sounds like you had a great time

It doesn't say it's a short ultra on the website.

Maverick are pretty good races to do though .

I'd find a club and run with them , get talked into race then after trying a few see what floats your boat .

[fiatpower]

ben5575 said:

hey I’m just quoting the websites: https://www.maverick-race.com/products/the-maveric...

See now that run out seems like more ‘fun’. Sounds like you had a great time

Yeah it was a great race. I should really do more trail races as they’re a lot more enjoyable than road running.

[markh1973]

egor110 said:

ben5575 said:

fiatpower said:

ben5575 said:

short 25k ultra next.

So not an ultra then .

I did the Cannock chase trail half marathon yesterday. 1800ft elevation gain through some brilliant trails. Some horrible hills though. The worst was a set of 3 or 4 (I lost count) rolling hills with no respite over roughly a mile. The uphill was almost a scramble on all fours and the downhill was so steep it hammered the quads. I hadn’t really done any training over 8 miles so really struggled for the last few miles.

I generally feel ok today but the side of my
Quads, probably the top of my IT band, is seriously sore. A few foam rolling session was almost rear inducing!

hey I’m just quoting the websites: https://www.maverick-race.com/products/the-maveric...

See now that run out seems like more ‘fun’. Sounds like you had a great time

It doesn't say it's a short ultra on the website.

Maverick are pretty good races to do though .

I'd find a club and run with them , get talked into race then after trying a few see what floats your boat .

The "Long" would annoy me if I did it so close to a marathon but just falling short.

I'm running the Fox 62 (oddly named when the GPX track is a shade shy of 64km) - first time back over a HM since 2022. Very flat for a trail ultra in that part of the world which isn't my favoured terrain but we'll see what happens.

https://www.runthrough.co.uk/event/the-fox-trail-2...

[wrencho]

ran our local half marathon yesterday, first time pushing my disabled son in his buggy (a Delichon Delta) and ran 1.38....would have been a bit quicker but I got him out to walk over the line and he was pissing about waving to people. Lost about two minutes and twenty places!

[JimmyConwayNW]

andy_s said:

Cheers Ben that's good to know - as I said with the Mudtalons they seem to have a bigger/wider last in general than the old one so a wide in the wider Trailflys is like a super-wide perhaps, Bit annoying as I know what you mean about 'sloppyness' on the rough ground. Don't get me started on people changing/discontinuing kit that fits/works absolutely as you like in general :frothyrage: 'Why have you just bought 3 of the exact same light insulted smock Andrew?' 'Well....'

Saucony Endorphin pro 3 the best trainer I have ever used.
Saucony Endorphin pro 4 like some sort of leg torture device designed to provide pain for many days after running

Why did they have to change them.

[Steve vRS]

wrencho said:

ran our local half marathon yesterday, first time pushing my disabled son in his buggy (a Delichon Delta) and ran 1.38....would have been a bit quicker but I got him out to walk over the line and he was pissing about waving to people. Lost about two minutes and twenty places!

Good effort

[Sarkmeister]

Got my first "ultra" in less than 2 weeks, which is coincidentally the one linked above (Maverick Peaks Merlin Ultra 52km).

Training gone ok. Had a chest infection for a few weeks so missed a off-road marathon I was supposed to be doing in preparation, but I've still done quite a few hilly 20-30km off road runs as a practice. It'll be fairly slow (6-7hrs) but pretty sure I'll get round.

Anyone got any tips for someone running a first ultra?

Fuelling is hopefully sorted (Jelly babies and jam sandwiches )

[Smitters]

Sarkmeister said:

Got my first "ultra" in less than 2 weeks, which is coincidentally the one linked above (Maverick Peaks Merlin Ultra 52km).

Training gone ok. Had a chest infection for a few weeks so missed a off-road marathon I was supposed to be doing in preparation, but I've still done quite a few hilly 20-30km off road runs as a practice. It'll be fairly slow (6-7hrs) but pretty sure I'll get round.

Anyone got any tips for someone running a first ultra?

Fuelling is hopefully sorted (Jelly babies and jam sandwiches )

Hydrate well in the days before.

Get your kit sorted well in advance for a chilled lead-up. Be well practiced with all your kit. Know what you need accessible (food) and what can be stowed away (emergency kit).

If you can run and do something, do that. If you have to walk and do something, do that. Try not to stop every time you need to get at something. Time simply bleeds away.

Look after your feet.

Start slow. Nope, slower than that.

Don't hammer the downs and trash your quads. Make sure you can run the runnable sections late in the race.

DO NOT take Ibuprofen. Paracetamol is OK. Kidney issues abound with IB and ultra racing.

Be generous with the anti-chafe lube.

Don't forget the sunscreen.

Pack a few wet loo roll sheets in a ziplock bag for emergencies. An itchy donut is no fun as the sweat pours past.

Know your cutoff times, or write them down somewhere so you're not stressing and faffing with a phone/website etc with poor signal.

Don't take every last bit of kit. Just what you need.

Embrace the suck - there will be tough times. Expect them, accept them, and consider having a pick-me-up treat for just such an occasion. Most dips in mental fortitude can be traced to being a bit cold, hungry or dehydrated, or a combo. Effect a change.

Look around, look back, take photos and try to enjoy it.

Have post-race food available ASAP. Rehydrate. Foam roll and stretch off. It will make day one and two afterwards much easier.

Let us know how you get on.

[markh1973]

Smitters said:

Sarkmeister said:

Got my first "ultra" in less than 2 weeks, which is coincidentally the one linked above (Maverick Peaks Merlin Ultra 52km).

Training gone ok. Had a chest infection for a few weeks so missed a off-road marathon I was supposed to be doing in preparation, but I've still done quite a few hilly 20-30km off road runs as a practice. It'll be fairly slow (6-7hrs) but pretty sure I'll get round.

Anyone got any tips for someone running a first ultra?

Fuelling is hopefully sorted (Jelly babies and jam sandwiches )

Hydrate well in the days before.

Get your kit sorted well in advance for a chilled lead-up. Be well practiced with all your kit. Know what you need accessible (food) and what can be stowed away (emergency kit).

If you can run and do something, do that. If you have to walk and do something, do that. Try not to stop every time you need to get at something. Time simply bleeds away.

Look after your feet.

Start slow. Nope, slower than that.

Don't hammer the downs and trash your quads. Make sure you can run the runnable sections late in the race.

DO NOT take Ibuprofen. Paracetamol is OK. Kidney issues abound with IB and ultra racing.

Be generous with the anti-chafe lube.

Don't forget the sunscreen.

Pack a few wet loo roll sheets in a ziplock bag for emergencies. An itchy donut is no fun as the sweat pours past.

Know your cutoff times, or write them down somewhere so you're not stressing and faffing with a phone/website etc with poor signal.

Don't take every last bit of kit. Just what you need.

Embrace the suck - there will be tough times. Expect them, accept them, and consider having a pick-me-up treat for just such an occasion. Most dips in mental fortitude can be traced to being a bit cold, hungry or dehydrated, or a combo. Effect a change.

Look around, look back, take photos and try to enjoy it.

Have post-race food available ASAP. Rehydrate. Foam roll and stretch off. It will make day one and two afterwards much easier.

Let us know how you get on.

Don't put coke in one of your bottles at an aid stop and then bit down on the valve whilst running - a mouthful of carbon dioxide is not conducive to continuous movement.

[Smitters]

markh1973 said:

Don't put coke in one of your bottles at an aid stop and then bit down on the valve whilst running - a mouthful of carbon dioxide is not conducive to continuous movement.

I concur. Same with effervescent hydration tabs like SIS. Not a nice outcome!

[RabidGranny]

Ran a 5km in a PB 22.5 mins last night. came third out of the entered 8 by the company. First two were footballers so they were running 4min/km as opposed to my 4.5min/km. thought i was nailing it until i got to the line and saw the boys with beers in their hands. fkers :-)