The Running Thread
Discussion
ewenm said:
There's perceived kudos amongst the general public to the LONDON Marathon.
My approach would (will!) be this:
I've run 3 marahtons, none of them in this country! My approach would (will!) be this:
- Check budget airline routes from nearest airport.
- Check for open marathon in any of those destination cities that I'd like to visit.
- Plan long weekend (or more) around doing that marathon.
I did Berlin which was very hot (28 degrees), but the route was fantastic. You got to see so much of Berlin that you couldn't see in a weekend by walking around. It's flatter than flat as well.
Budapest was not the best. Running along the Danube got very boring, especially as the river path is about 12ft lower than the road, so you're flanked by a high wall one side and a massive river the othter for an 8 mile stretch. Budapest was a nice city though. Quite hot also.
Lastly I did the Padova (St. Anthony) Marathon in Italy. This was a straight run through lots of small villages. Very well organised, and mentally great for me because you're always running towards your destination, not just in a big circle. The finish was amazing in the village square. It's just round the corner form Venice as well.
We now do the same with triathlons. I'm going to Zell am See for a long weekend in August!
ewenm said:
It's a long thread - the same topics are bound to come up every so often (especially around VLM ballot time).
Is it still Dave Saker coaching up at the Uni? The W was always one of his favourites when I was training with him
It's more the fact we did it yesterday, but the VLM ballot was always going to stir it up again.Is it still Dave Saker coaching up at the Uni? The W was always one of his favourites when I was training with him
Yeah Dave is still coaching up there, the W still is one of his favourites (and all of the athletes still hate it!)
no more patients in clinic for me until later this arvo so came home and going to be having lunch here.
what was in the post....another refurbished Garmin forerunner 205.
re reliability issues with them - my first brand new one lasted approx 8000 miles of running through sun shine and pouring rain, well below sub zero and in boiling heat and around 3000 miles of cycling and was hugely reliable. it was still working, but the buttons were so worn out it made using it a little tricky at times so garmin offered a refurbished one for £47 or so, that broke in a few weeks.
will see how this one does. it's currently on charge.
what was in the post....another refurbished Garmin forerunner 205.
re reliability issues with them - my first brand new one lasted approx 8000 miles of running through sun shine and pouring rain, well below sub zero and in boiling heat and around 3000 miles of cycling and was hugely reliable. it was still working, but the buttons were so worn out it made using it a little tricky at times so garmin offered a refurbished one for £47 or so, that broke in a few weeks.
will see how this one does. it's currently on charge.
For those of us with android phones I use this
http://www.sportstracklive.com/
Just the free version for me. The key thing for me is you can set the evil b
h to shout in your ear every so often regarding how badly you are "jogging". Mine is set to shout at me every 0.5miles with current speed, ave speed, current pace, ave pace, distance, time.
It works pretty well as an aid to judging your pace.
http://www.sportstracklive.com/
Just the free version for me. The key thing for me is you can set the evil b
h to shout in your ear every so often regarding how badly you are "jogging". Mine is set to shout at me every 0.5miles with current speed, ave speed, current pace, ave pace, distance, time.It works pretty well as an aid to judging your pace.
Edited by dave_s13 on Tuesday 1st May 12:43
What are peoples thought re using Gels? Which ones are recomended? What is the theory behind how they work (but of physiology anyone?)
I'm doing Leeds half in a couple of weeks and do find when I get to 9-10 miles I can start to feel my legs die a bit. This is mainly down to not enough training and carrying extra weight though
I'm 6'4" and 105kg.....no racing snake. Having kids totally fecks up your training regime as well...as per confucius
I did 10miles last night and tried to push myself at the end, found it quite difficult to be honest. I rarely pay any special attention to hydration or anything though, maybe I should be!
I'm doing Leeds half in a couple of weeks and do find when I get to 9-10 miles I can start to feel my legs die a bit. This is mainly down to not enough training and carrying extra weight though
I'm 6'4" and 105kg.....no racing snake. Having kids totally fecks up your training regime as well...as per confucius I did 10miles last night and tried to push myself at the end, found it quite difficult to be honest. I rarely pay any special attention to hydration or anything though, maybe I should be!
E38Ross said:
how on earth do you guys run with a phone?
it's probably quite bad but i never run with anything on me other than a key which is kept in the small zip pockets you get in running shorts. only run with a small drink if it's very hot out or i'm going for 14-15+ miles.
I stick it in a small very low profile "fanny pack" thingymabob.it's probably quite bad but i never run with anything on me other than a key which is kept in the small zip pockets you get in running shorts. only run with a small drink if it's very hot out or i'm going for 14-15+ miles.
dave_s13 said:
What are peoples thought re using Gels? Which ones are recomended? What is the theory behind how they work (but of physiology anyone?)
I'm doing Leeds half in a couple of weeks and do find when I get to 9-10 miles I can start to feel my legs die a bit. This is mainly down to not enough training and carrying extra weight though I'm 6'4" and 105kg.....no racing snake. Having kids totally fecks up your training regime as well...as per confucius
I did 10miles last night and tried to push myself at the end, found it quite difficult to be honest. I rarely pay any special attention to hydration or anything though, maybe I should be!
i'm usually a science in sport user through and through, but these are my favourite gels:I'm doing Leeds half in a couple of weeks and do find when I get to 9-10 miles I can start to feel my legs die a bit. This is mainly down to not enough training and carrying extra weight though
I'm 6'4" and 105kg.....no racing snake. Having kids totally fecks up your training regime as well...as per confucius I did 10miles last night and tried to push myself at the end, found it quite difficult to be honest. I rarely pay any special attention to hydration or anything though, maybe I should be!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0044VS5IU/ref=...
they are basically very simple sugars which son't require much breaking down at all....so are absorbed from the GI tract VERY quickly....so can give you an energy boost really quite quickly, within 15 mins usually, sometimes less.
my advice....don't take them when you're tired, take them before you're tired.
E38Ross said:
my advice....don't take them when you're tired, take them before you're tired.
Doing the Bramley 20 in 2009 as part of my (failed) London Marathon build-up I planned in my gel-taking at 9 and 14 miles. I'd have had no problem getting to 14 miles on pace without the gels but then might have faded on the last 5 miles and just taking one at 14 may have left me in a dip before the finish.
Experimenting with gels and energy drinks in training is important. I discovered that Lucozade while running gives me terrible stomach cramps so knew to take my own gels for London as their "energy stations" stock Lucozade.
dave_s13 said:
Thanks chaps.
I get some of the ones linked to and give it a go.
if you want me to send you a couple to try out for a few quid and postage i'd be happy to oblige....so just in case you don't like them you haven't paid >£20. offer is there for you I get some of the ones linked to and give it a go.
i don't need them at the moment really as i won't be doing anything long enough to need them in the next few months.
E38Ross said:
if you want me to send you a couple to try out for a few quid and postage i'd be happy to oblige....so just in case you don't like them you haven't paid >£20. offer is there for you
i don't need them at the moment really as i won't be doing anything long enough to need them in the next few months.
Yep that would be great, thanks.i don't need them at the moment really as i won't be doing anything long enough to need them in the next few months.
I'll PM you my address in a bit. Assume you're on paypal?
el stovey said:
I think cancer research wanted £100 entry and £2,000 sponsorship.
I don't really know what to make of it. It's great that people are raising money for charity but it seems a shame that people who really want to run a marathon can't because there's loads of fatties having a fun walk/jog around london for the day.
I've lost count of the number of people who have told me they ran the London marathon and then when I ask how they did, they come up with a time that suggests they stopped for lunch on the way. As I said they aren't any less worthy than someone who runs the whole way but it is a marathon. There's plenty of charity walks people can do if they want to raise money. It seems there's a kudos about doing a marathon even if you walk much of it.
My brother is one of these sorts. Constantly brags that he could "complete" a marathon easily by fast walking within 6 hours versus my running one in around 4 hours and 15 minutes. I challenged him recently by saying we should both enter for a charity and raise the money for a good cause to put his money where his mouth is. He immediately shyed away from it and said he could do it if he wanted to. He's DNF material if I ever did see any.I don't really know what to make of it. It's great that people are raising money for charity but it seems a shame that people who really want to run a marathon can't because there's loads of fatties having a fun walk/jog around london for the day.
I've lost count of the number of people who have told me they ran the London marathon and then when I ask how they did, they come up with a time that suggests they stopped for lunch on the way. As I said they aren't any less worthy than someone who runs the whole way but it is a marathon. There's plenty of charity walks people can do if they want to raise money. It seems there's a kudos about doing a marathon even if you walk much of it.
Regarding gels, I'm a High5 Plus user. They're laced with caffeine and for some people can pack quite a punch, especially if they're sensitive to caffeine. Me, I love a good strong espresso and they've never let me down yet. They cost about £1 each for a sachet, but can be had for much cheaper if you buy them in bulk from places like Wiggle.co.uk etc. I carry mine using a gel belt with elasticated loops to hold them in place. As others have said, it's very important to trial them properly before race day to make sure they agree with you and have no adverse side effects. Having said that, I had a spare one that I gave to a stranger I ran the Birmingham half marathon with. At mile 11, he was fading fast and started to look awful, so I gave him the gel and within 10 minutes, he'd perked up again to finish the half looking strong.
Edited by Cybertronian on Tuesday 1st May 14:24
Edited by Cybertronian on Tuesday 1st May 14:24
dave_s13 said:
E38Ross said:
if you want me to send you a couple to try out for a few quid and postage i'd be happy to oblige....so just in case you don't like them you haven't paid >£20. offer is there for you
i don't need them at the moment really as i won't be doing anything long enough to need them in the next few months.
Yep that would be great, thanks.i don't need them at the moment really as i won't be doing anything long enough to need them in the next few months.
I'll PM you my address in a bit. Assume you're on paypal?
Ross.
Cybertronian said:
............ Having said that, I had a spare one that I gave to a stranger I ran the Birmingham half marathon with. At mile 11, he was fading fast and started to look awful, so I gave him the gel and within 10 minutes, he'd perked up again to finish the half looking strong.
Nice one, good Karma points there!! I'm really inrterested to try one now as I definately tend to hit a wall at the 9-10mile mark. The last 3 miles are a long way when you are dying on your feet Ross, I will PM you later this evening. Cheers.
dave_s13 said:
Nice one, good Karma points there!! I'm really inrterested to try one now as I definately tend to hit a wall at the 9-10mile mark. The last 3 miles are a long way when you are dying on your feet
Ross, I will PM you later this evening. Cheers.
No worries. Will get them out tomorrow so you'll have them for a long weekend run Ross, I will PM you later this evening. Cheers.
They do help, but i personally don't seem to need to take anything on board until over 1/2 marathon distance so no need for them right now as my Sundays are just 10-12 miles atm as i'm getting more speed in.
Cookie118 - that session sounds tough, you're quicker than me, no way could I sub 60 400m after doing that.
E38Ross said:
my advice....don't take them when you're tired, take them before you're tired.
Great advice, it worked for me although they got very sickly after a couple. Without them I would not have got around the marathon. Having said that my legs are still killing me after Sunday, wobbly, walking downill is a challenge and sitting on/off the bog nearly requires assistance. I now know what a 90 year old feels like! Roll on the next marathon.Gassing Station | Sports | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff