The Running Thread

[Smitters]

I have a Garmin Fenix and it's sat acquisition is variable at best and no better than the FR305 it replaced. Somewhere between me putting it on a windowsill and then running straight off, to having to do some light stretching and jogging on the spot as I'm too OCD to let it connect as and when it wants. Holding the watch by the train window seems the least worst solution...

Re bike GPS vs iPhone (I know, O/T) Aldi are doing basic bike Garmins for super cheap next week I think. Like sub £100... doubt it has HR, but then neither does the iPhone.

Also, I still have lurgy. sore lungs. Time to see a doc.

[ED209]

Longest run ever again today, 19.5 miles in 2hrs 47 mins. Christ the last 2 miles were bloody hard work. I had 4 gels en route and water but I felt awful although my mile times didn't drop too much (about 8.50 miles last 2 miles)

I really don't think I'm in the frame of mind for that full marathon now, Edinburgh at the end of May. Still it gives just under 58 mins to do sub 3hrs 45 mins for the marathon which is the wife target time. I don't have a target, getting round is mine.

[MC Bodge]

Since my Fartlek run the other day, I have been experiencing intermittent sensations -not pain, more like small, sharp localised spasms/tightness - towards the lateral edge of the calf (where the muscle is almost like a 'blade' when contracted) in both legs.

I have been rolling the calves with a rolling pin and tennis ball to try to ease them.

I have had problems with my soleus muscles for the past 2+ years and had thought that I was getting over them. I have been doing soleus, gastric, core, glutes, quads, hamstrings etc. weight exercises, skipping and yoga. I've had no problems and My flexibility, balance and core stability are much improved.

I have been running quite slowly, but short Periods of Increasing the pace/accelerating(?) appears to bring this on.

Edited by MC Bodge on Tuesday 31st March 09:48

Edited by MC Bodge on Tuesday 31st March 10:10

[MC Bodge]

Since my Fartlek run the other day, I have been experiencing intermittent sensations -not pain, more like small, sharp localised spasms/tightness - towards the lateral edge of the calf (where the muscle is almost like a 'blade' when contracted) in both legs.

I have been rolling the calves with a rolling pin and tennis ball to try to ease them.

Ps. I have just discovered a similar muscle tightness when inverting the ankles. - something I avoid doing due to hyper mobile ankles and a resulting ligament reconstruction on one of them a few years ago....

Update: carefully stretching the muscles on the outside of each calf appears to have helped a lot.

A muddy off-roadrun at lunch went well.

Edited by MC Bodge on Tuesday 31st March 18:36

[KTF]

ED209 said:

Longest run ever again today, 19.5 miles in 2hrs 47 mins. Christ the last 2 miles were bloody hard work. I had 4 gels en route and water but I felt awful although my mile times didn't drop too much (about 8.50 miles last 2 miles)

I really don't think I'm in the frame of mind for that full marathon now, Edinburgh at the end of May. Still it gives just under 58 mins to do sub 3hrs 45 mins for the marathon which is the wife target time. I don't have a target, getting round is mine.

What distance have your longest runs been before the 19.5 and how often did you take the gels and water along the way?

May is still a long way off so plenty of time to forget about a 'bad' run.

[a boardman]

Just under 3 weeks to Manchester marathon.

just been told I have moderate COPD.

looks like a slow run for me.

[ED209]

KTF said:

ED209 said:

Longest run ever again today, 19.5 miles in 2hrs 47 mins. Christ the last 2 miles were bloody hard work. I had 4 gels en route and water but I felt awful although my mile times didn't drop too much (about 8.50 miles last 2 miles)

I really don't think I'm in the frame of mind for that full marathon now, Edinburgh at the end of May. Still it gives just under 58 mins to do sub 3hrs 45 mins for the marathon which is the wife target time. I don't have a target, getting round is mine.

What distance have your longest runs been before the 19.5 and how often did you take the gels and water along the way?

May is still a long way off so plenty of time to forget about a 'bad' run.

My previous long runs were 16.2 about 10 days ago and 15 a week before that. its difficult for me to do them weekly due to work.

I took a gel at 6.5, 10, 13, 16 ish miles and sipped water from a camelback throughout the run.

[SpydieNut]

Hi all

I need some help with clothing please and thought I'd try here 1st rather than start a thread for it.

I am struggling to keep warm on longer runs (say over an hour or so) when it's raining and windy. I don't mind getting wet, but live in the hills and it can get very blustery and cold. So I need to buy some more gear, as I don't have a decent waterproof / windproof shell. I accept that wearing a waterproof shell will make me sweat more, so something breathable would be better (I know there's only so much 'wicking' away of water vapour etc that it can achieve, especially with high humidity and cold temps) but so long as I can keep warm, I don't mind being wet.

So I'm looking for suggestions please about what to look for, good brands etc - for baselayers, shell jacket, gloves and hat/beanie. Budget wise - not sure. I've read good things about Gore running kit - their shells seem to be £100+. If it works well and enables me to get out in virtually all conditions, then it'll be well worth the money. They should last years, after all

Many thanks for any suggestions

[ewenm]

I find the Nike DriFit kit is my preference (if only Nike hadn't decided to drop Jo Pavey and sponsor Gatlin!). At the top end of the scale, the Ashmei kit is lovely - running's equivalent of Rapha. The Inov8 weather kit always gets great reviews too.

[ewenm]

Good track session last night in the wind, rain and hail (ouch!). The session for our marathoners was 12x1k at ~HM pace with 100m jog recovery. I did reps 1,2,3,5,6,7,8,10,11,12 in 3:15-3:20 helping out with the pacing (and acting as a windbreak!) for our 2:35 marathoner. In hindsight maybe I should have done all of them, but 10x1k is an acceptable session.

Also been planning our trip to Annecy in a couple of weeks to recce the course for the World Ultra-Trail Champs that a friend of mine is doing for TeamGB. Looks like 3 days of good trail running in the mountains (day 1 37k; day 2: 30k; day 3: 18k) - that sounds manageable to me, unlike the race itself - 85km with 5500m of climbing (and descent)!

[Roger645]

SpydieNut said:

Hi all

I need some help with clothing please and thought I'd try here 1st rather than start a thread for it.

I am struggling to keep warm on longer runs (say over an hour or so) when it's raining and windy. I don't mind getting wet, but live in the hills and it can get very blustery and cold. So I need to buy some more gear, as I don't have a decent waterproof / windproof shell. I accept that wearing a waterproof shell will make me sweat more, so something breathable would be better (I know there's only so much 'wicking' away of water vapour etc that it can achieve, especially with high humidity and cold temps) but so long as I can keep warm, I don't mind being wet.

So I'm looking for suggestions please about what to look for, good brands etc - for baselayers, shell jacket, gloves and hat/beanie. Budget wise - not sure. I've read good things about Gore running kit - their shells seem to be £100+. If it works well and enables me to get out in virtually all conditions, then it'll be well worth the money. They should last years, after all

Many thanks for any suggestions

I like kit from Montane, I have their Minimus smock for when it's wet and a featherlight smock for wind protection. Ron Hill trail kit is good and as you mentioned Gore is good. Also have a look at stuff from OMM & Inov8

[MC Bodge]

SpydieNut said:

Hi all

I need some help with clothing please and thought I'd try here 1st rather than start a thread for it.

I am struggling to keep warm on longer runs (say over an hour or so) when it's raining and windy. I don't mind getting wet, but live in the hills and it can get very blustery and cold. So I need to buy some more gear, as I don't have a decent waterproof / windproof shell. I accept that wearing a waterproof shell will make me sweat more, so something breathable would be better (I know there's only so much 'wicking' away of water vapour etc that it can achieve, especially with high humidity and cold temps) but so long as I can keep warm, I don't mind being wet.

So I'm looking for suggestions please about what to look for, good brands etc - for baselayers, shell jacket, gloves and hat/beanie. Budget wise - not sure. I've read good things about Gore running kit - their shells seem to be £100+. If it works well and enables me to get out in virtually all conditions, then it'll be well worth the money. They should last years, after all

Many thanks for any suggestions

Layer up with good quality, wicking long sleeved base layers.
The best ones I have are an old Ron Hill Coolmax one and some Altura cycling jerseys. Thin fleece tops for more insulation or wear a soft shell.

If it is very wet and cold then breathability is very much secondary (and barely functional!) to waterproofing. The base layers will keep you comfortable.

Edited by MC Bodge on Monday 6th April 23:11

[Smitters]

SpydieNut said:

Hi all

I need some help with clothing please and thought I'd try here 1st rather than start a thread for it.

I am struggling to keep warm on longer runs (say over an hour or so) when it's raining and windy. I don't mind getting wet, but live in the hills and it can get very blustery and cold. So I need to buy some more gear, as I don't have a decent waterproof / windproof shell. I accept that wearing a waterproof shell will make me sweat more, so something breathable would be better (I know there's only so much 'wicking' away of water vapour etc that it can achieve, especially with high humidity and cold temps) but so long as I can keep warm, I don't mind being wet.

So I'm looking for suggestions please about what to look for, good brands etc - for baselayers, shell jacket, gloves and hat/beanie. Budget wise - not sure. I've read good things about Gore running kit - their shells seem to be £100+. If it works well and enables me to get out in virtually all conditions, then it'll be well worth the money. They should last years, after all

Many thanks for any suggestions

Another vote for the Minimus jacket. Not too many pockets though, so have a good look.

On base layers, I like merino wool a lot. Yes, it's pricey, but it really lasts and is super comfy. Otherwise, I have always used Helly Hansen. I also have some Mountain Equipment thin gloves and a merino beanie, both of which are very light but more than enough on a cold day. Being light, they can be stowed easily if you're hot too.

[MC Bodge]

I have an Icebreaker Merino base layer (and a jumper). Whilst it is comfy, I wear the Coolmax tops in preference when I am going to get wet or sweaty

[SpydieNut]

many thanks for the suggestions guys - I'll have a look at those

[addey]

I've been a big fan of merino wool kit over the years and still have several tees and long sleeve tops. Main benefits are that it is warm (and should stay warm even when wet) and it doesn't smell at all. However it doesn't wick sweat away so well so I tend to use it for low intensity stuff and general wear when its cold. Buy good quality stuff e.g. icebreaker as cheap merino is no-way near as comfortable. However my favourite kit at the moment is arc'teryx phase base layers - warm and comfortable and ridiculously good at wicking away sweat/moisture.

I tend not to bother training when the weather is as crap as you've described so I've never bothered with a running jacket! They all tend to have a boil-in-the-bag effect as mentioned anyway. I'd look at a decent gillet with a windstopper fabric which will enable you to regulate temperature better. Some of the gore jackets are convertible with removable arms so that could be a good option.

[MC Bodge]

thelittleegg said:

Same here... I normally just take a deep breath, try to remain calm and then pop into an outlet of Sports Direct. It's a horrid place, but very, very good value.

I didn't find it to be as bad as expected, although they do sell a lot of rubbish, alongside a few decent things.

[honest_delboy]

thelittleegg said:

Same here... I normally just take a deep breath, try to remain calm and then pop into an outlet of Sports Direct. It's a horrid place, but very, very good value.

http://www.sportsdirect.com/running/running-clothi...

Last time I was in sports direct they gave me a DNA swab when I went to the till ::

Got lost round Richmond park today and ended up doing 11 instead of 7 miles, thanks to the kind runner who showed me where I'd gone wrong.

[ewenm]

Run-commute home from Keysham station last night - a nice 7 miles along the River Avon footpath.
Run-commute to the early train this morning - 4 easy miles in 30 mins at 5:30am, surprisingly warm in Bath, disappointingly cold and wet in Filton

Looking forward to a few days of running without a rucksack over the long weekend! Anyone doing any exciting running over Easter?

[SpydieNut]

ewenm said:

Looking forward to a few days of running without a rucksack over the long weekend! Anyone doing any exciting running over Easter?

i'm getting an early start tomorrow from Manchester and heading down to do the Good Friday marathon

good running and a happy Easter to all