The Running Thread

[ewenm]

For those on a tighter budget, I've found the Alpkit Gamma to be a great value piece of kit (£17, 3AAAs). Ok, it's only 88 lumen but I managed to win a night 10k trail race in Grizedale Forest using it last February, including significant patches of snow and ice. The red back light is very useful for my runcommutes on cyclepaths too.

[Flibble]

Took my gamma out tonight, it's more than up to canal towpaths, which is what I was running down. Nice bit of kit for the price.

[MC Bodge]

A cheap Energizer LED headtorch is enough for most night running. I've even used one for night mountain biking around Jacob's Ladder at a push.

I have a Cree headtorch from Clas Olsen which is a bit better.

The DX Cree bike/head torch is very good, though, if a bit bulky.

[MC Bodge]

I wnet for a 13.5 km run over the hills and moors earlier. It was rocky and wet and boggy in places. My shoe treads weren't really upto the mud.

I was ok running the uphills, but once again suffered with pain in one of my thighs on a steep descent.

Annoyingly, I started feeling a cramping sensation in my left calf right at the end.

I was wearing my Vivobarefoot shoes, so I could feel every stone. Good for foot strength, but I should probably get some trail shoes with a bit more cushioning for the upcoming trail races.

[Gargamel]

Have a look at the Innov 8 range for trail running, I have had four or five pairs now, Roc Lite I think they are. Light, not stiff at all, but better protection.

Longest run for three years yesterday, a mighty 7 miler.... Still working my way back to proper distances.

Half Marathon in Feb, so plenty of time yet.

[anonymous-user]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00RZE7SUY/ref=mp_...
I find these cross country shows good for the price. Not the lightest, but after 10 seconds of mud it makes no difference anyway!

[MC Bodge]

Jimboka said:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00RZE7SUY/ref=mp_...
I find these cross country shows good for the price. Not the lightest, but after 10 seconds of mud it makes no difference anyway!

I had been thinking about these, but wanted to try some for size.

The Innov8 shoes I have tried on in the past haven't really fitted my feet.

[andy_s]

MC Bodge said:

I had been thinking about these, but wanted to try some for size.

The Innov8 shoes I have tried on in the past haven't really fitted my feet.

There are 'precision' and 'standard' feet width/toe box sizes now amongst the (ever increasingly complicated) range; if you're not size 11+ I would say try the standard fit X-Talon 212 in size up from your normal size (a quirk in their sizing). They have a 6mm drop so not too much of a shunt from your current ones; you get a fantastic feel for the ground without too much shock. They lunch quickly on tarmac, but any excuse to stay off the stuff eh?

Some of their more general ones are still good on muck/trod but a little more generous, the ultra 270s are quit good all-rounders/general.

Def try for size though - I still order two and send one back and I've had inov8s for years.

[Cybertronian]

Managed to bag a place in the Brass Monkey Half for January. Quite a real possibility the race could get cancelled at the last minute due to dodgy weather, but seeing as it's so flat, it's worth the gamble of entry.

Had to get up before 6am on a Saturday to register, with all 1750 places selling out in less than 80 minutes. Clawed back the early start this morning thanks to clocks going back

[MC Bodge]

I

andy_s said:

There are 'precision' and 'standard' feet width/toe box sizes now amongst the (ever increasingly complicated) range; if you're not size 11+ I would say try the standard fit X-Talon 212 in size up from your normal size (a quirk in their sizing). They have a 6mm drop so not too much of a shunt from your current ones; you get a fantastic feel for the ground without too much shock. They lunch quickly on tarmac, but any excuse to stay off the stuff eh?

Some of their more general ones are still good on muck/trod but a little more generous, the ultra 270s are quit good all-rounders/general.

Def try for size though - I still order two and send one back and I've had inov8s for years.

Cheers. My preferred drop for road shoes is 4mm. I have heel lifts in the Vivobarefoot as the Zero drop is too hard on my calves. 4-8mm drop will be fine.

I have a narrow mid-foot, but need a reasonably generous toe box with space for my big toe. The best fitting running shoes I have are Puma Faas 300S and my old Wave Harriers , but the Wave Harriers have a large heel drop.

I think I will need to go to a shop to try a few sizes.

[krallicious]

Just back from the Frankfurt Marathon with a new PB of 3:44:00.

I was following a pace runner for the whole race and he was a good 'ol boy. Very supportive and he was just out for a stroll rerally as he was a 2:30 runner! I felt the fact that I haven't done too many miles over the summer. My knees were starting to get very painful at around the 18k mark and I started to get twinges of cramp, if that makes sense, from about 25k onwards which thankfully came to nothing.

The organisers have changed the water stations around a bit too. After 10k they were every 2.5k which meant not having to carry liquid which was a big bonus. I had a gel every 8k but the last one left me on the verge of being sick. I have tried a few and these are the one which seem to work best for me but they are quite awful after a while.

I'm just about to go and have a long soak with a beer and then watch the rugby.

But beforehand, I want to thank everyone here for the encouragement and suggestions over the past year which has helped no end. It has been my best year of running knocking 38 minutes off my marathon PB, over 10 minutes off my half (1:44) and setting a new 10k PB of 42:27.

Next years goals are a 1:35 half, a 3:30 marathon, a 40:xx 10k and a sub 20 minute 5k.

[Cybertronian]

Top stuff! Glad you got the time you wanted and capped off a good year of progress!

Regarding the gel making you feel sick despite having tried them before - your guts will be getting next to no blood in the closing stages of a marathon so not unusual at all. In the final 3 miles of my last marathon, I couldn't stomach any more orange Lucozade and just wanted something salty for variety!

Edited by Cybertronian on Sunday 25th October 22:05

[knight]

I did the Great South Run today, it was my longest ever run by nearly three miles and I did a 1hour 37 mins. Quite happy with that as I estimated doing it in 1 hour 40

[krallicious]

knight said:

I did the Great South Run today, it was my longest ever run by nearly three miles and I did a 1hour 37 mins. Quite happy with that as I estimated doing it in 1 hour 40

Excellent work. I take it a celebratery beer was in order?

[gazza285]

MC Bodge said:

I wnet for a 13.5 km run over the hills and moors earlier. It was rocky and wet and boggy in places. My shoe treads weren't really upto the mud.

I was ok running the uphills, but once again suffered with pain in one of my thighs on a steep descent.

Annoyingly, I started feeling a cramping sensation in my left calf right at the end.

I was wearing my Vivobarefoot shoes, so I could feel every stone. Good for foot strength, but I should probably get some trail shoes with a bit more cushioning for the upcoming trail races.

I've got a pair of Salomon Fellraisers that I'm very impressed with, been up The Old Man Of Coniston in them today. I've done 125 miles in them now, with no complaints at all. 10mm drop though, so not flat enough for some, but they suit me well.

[knight]

krallicious said:

Excellent work. I take it a celebratery beer was in order?

Do you know what, I totally forgot to have one!

[MC Bodge]

MC Bodge said:

Jimboka said:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00RZE7SUY/ref=mp_...
I find these cross country shows good for the price. Not the lightest, but after 10 seconds of mud it makes no difference anyway!

I had been thinking about these, but wanted to try some for size.

The Innov8 shoes I have tried on in the past haven't really fitted my feet.

The Moremile shoes appear unavailable at low prices in size 10
. Going full price, I would be looking for something else.

I could do with a pair of "trail" shoes and a pair of mud plugging "fell" shoes.

[Smitters]

Finished the Bristol-Bath Marathon, though it's nearly finished me. Paced the first half OK, but my legs were done after 13 miles, even at bang on two hours (I did a 1.45 half six weeks ago, and a 1.55 or so in Cardiff to set effort four weeks ago). Racing driver excuses - two illnesses in a three week taper, including being ill on the day make for an unpleasant mile 14-25 slog. Moreso if it's hilly. Strava comedy here: https://www.strava.com/activities/420584682

Still - I've raised nearly £400 for charity and I just knew that those the cash would help have a far harder time than some chump running down a road with a sore knee, tired legs and a sweaty head.

I can definitely do sub four, so that's next years target, along with some health.

[Gargamel]

Smitters said:

Finished the Bristol-Bath Marathon, though it's nearly finished me. Paced the first half OK, but my legs were done after 13 miles, even at bang on two hours (I did a 1.45 half six weeks ago, and a 1.55 or so in Cardiff to set effort four weeks ago). Racing driver excuses - two illnesses in a three week taper, including being ill on the day make for an unpleasant mile 14-25 slog. Moreso if it's hilly. Strava comedy here: https://www.strava.com/activities/420584682

Still - I've raised nearly £400 for charity and I just knew that those the cash would help have a far harder time than some chump running down a road with a sore knee, tired legs and a sweaty head.

I can definitely do sub four, so that's next years target, along with some health.

Anyway, congrats on finishing, no shame in a 4:31 Marathon, just shows your are committed... enjoy the recovery beers.

[Cybertronian]

Smitters said:

Finished the Bristol-Bath Marathon, though it's nearly finished me. Paced the first half OK, but my legs were done after 13 miles, even at bang on two hours (I did a 1.45 half six weeks ago, and a 1.55 or so in Cardiff to set effort four weeks ago). Racing driver excuses - two illnesses in a three week taper, including being ill on the day make for an unpleasant mile 14-25 slog. Moreso if it's hilly. Strava comedy here: https://www.strava.com/activities/420584682

Still - I've raised nearly £400 for charity and I just knew that those the cash would help have a far harder time than some chump running down a road with a sore knee, tired legs and a sweaty head.

I can definitely do sub four, so that's next years target, along with some health.

Congrats, Smitters! Don't beat yourself up about the tough slog - an ultra runner I know found the second half difficult, too. More to come from you for sure.