I remember Cram/Coe/Ovette saying something along the lines of once you get above £70 odd quid you're just paying for name.

Is this still the case do people think?

maybe not £5 to manufacture but you're forgetting the research and development stages which may be quite substantial....?

glad you like the gels! i used 2 today on my rather hilly run. don't need to go out the house but will go for a quick walk as my legs need to move!

have you got a garmin watch? if you're not used to running distances like that and have a goal in mind they are bloody superb for pacing....you can even set pace alerts so it'll beep if you're going to quick or too slow.....however that's not so ideal on a hilly route. when racing i always make sure i have the "average pace" data up so i know what sort of time i'm set for as well as making sure i see the "current pace" to see if i'm slowing or going too quick as well as the "total distance" so i know how far to go! works wonders on longer races. thoroughly recommended if you haven't got one already.

i didn't plan on doing 15+ mile runs this time of the year as i wanted more speed in but i have a VERY hilly 12.6 mile relay leg in 2 weeks so need some endurance runs in the system.

Despite a hangover and dodgy tummy after a mate's wedding on Saturday I motivated myself to go for a Sunday run, almost all offroad and with a couple of mapmyrun 'categorised' climbs.

6.7 miles in a shade over 49 minutes, so not bad for me, and 3 minutes faster than when I last did that run in March, it was hard work though, especially given the ground was unexpectedly dry even after all the rain and where cows had trodden the mud and it then hardened, made it impossible to run over some sections. The one area which was still flooded by the river was lovely to run through as my feet were heating up!

Hope to try out my local Parkrun this Saturday morning as my swimming training is cancelled and have entered a local midweek 5 mile race in early June which looks to be mainly club runners, so should give me a good idea of where I am.

Nice lunchtime 7 miler today, pace and time were irrelevant as it was sunny! now ploughing through a pile of sandwiches taller than Big Ben! gnom gnom gnom!...

Great time Locke. I have been running for 18 months (42 years old) and did the first of our mid week league races last night at Stevenage in 45.05 PB. Last Monday I ran a 10k race in 48.13 so I am definitely improving! On Sunday I took part in my first triathalon.

Managed my longest ever run (again): 9.17miles with an 8.16min/mile average.
It is the first time that my knees are a bit sore but a day of rest should sort that out. I was panicing everytime I had to cross the road that if I had to stop I would never get going again, fortunately I never had to stop.

All my pb's seem to be coming down every week as well so very pleased and even managed to beat the time for my previous longest run. just have to work on the smoking now.

I was just going to ask about dealing with sore knees. Anything to suggest bar softer terrain and rest? Stretching etc? My new 'easy' pace long runs seems to be making them a little sore!

I currently run in Mizuno Wave Inspire 8's (having had 7's and 6's before that). I've only had them since Feb so mileage probably isn't half way yet. They are a support shoe, which I do need.

I'll check that out. My shins feel a little sore / tired too. I do run horribly with my foot rolling inward and I'm a little bow legged too :-/ We have a good sports physio at work so I'll get myself along should it persist.

Unfortunately it is road all of the way. The knee pain feels muscular not joint based, so I think a bit of rest and I should be okay.