The Running Thread Vol 2

[madbadger]

Thanks for the write up. Great stuff.

[tenohfive]

Sounds like an absolute epic. Well done.

And I chuckled at the stiles comment. They're a peculiarly British ultra-running torment. The big question now, 2 days later is - what's next? I'm sure the idea of shorter runs has worn off by now...

[Smitters]

Cheers chaps - it was an interesting day out. I still need to sit mysef down and think it through properly, but it's alarming how hazy some of it is.

tenohfive said:

Sounds like an absolute epic. Well done.

And I chuckled at the stiles comment. They're a peculiarly British ultra-running torment. The big question now, 2 days later is - what's next? I'm sure the idea of shorter runs has worn off by now...

Cheers. Still very pleased. No post event blues yet. Threshold, the event organiser, numbered every stile and gate, counting up to 162. It was annoying. But, to be fair, there were not very many stiles. I did the Longmynd Hike in 2012 and there were at least 30 proper fence-height stiles in that. After 40 miles I was really losing the will to live on them.

As for next, it's fairly quiet. Not. With a mate, I'm doing as many overnight repeats of Pen-Y-Fan as we can in 12 hours in ten days, got the Velothon Wales in July (not sat on a bike since March), Smitters Jnr MkII arriving September, a half in October I want to PB at, the Beacons Ultra in November and then an epic choco-turkey binge planned for all of December.

August though. Hmmm.

But seriously, once I've recovered, I'm into speed mode for a couple of months, and just plan on ticking the endurance over with the stuff above. There are some niggles to let relax away and some pre-hab work to do, plyometric and single leg strength work that's sorely lacking, plus the core, as always. I reckon I'm in about 22 minute 5k shape so I'll whittle that away over the summer before descending into the sleep deprivation training that is a tiny baby.

[Mothersruin]

Anyone done the Man v Horse event in Wales?

I caught some program where some ex-international sportsmen did it and three of them said it was the hardest thing they've ever done, with the Candian guy not even bothering, so I called them a bunch of pansies as it looked like an interesting trail run and while it's as tough as you want to make it, it didn't look anything crazy.

Anyway, I thought that if i can say that they're pansies, then I should do it.

[The jiffle king]

Mothersruin said:

Anyone done the Man v Horse event in Wales?

I caught some program where some ex-international sportsmen did it and three of them said it was the hardest thing they've ever done, with the Candian guy not even bothering, so I called them a bunch of pansies as it looked like an interesting trail run and while it's as tough as you want to make it, it didn't look anything crazy.

Anyway, I thought that if i can say that they're pansies, then I should do it.

I'm planning to do it next year vs SWMBO's horse. I know that horse won for about 25 years and then Hugh Lobb was the first person to manage it. They are very careful with horse welfare and it's going to be a very tough run. I think it's won in about 2 hours

[Cybertronian]

Mothersruin said:

Anyone done the Man v Horse event in Wales?

I caught some program where some ex-international sportsmen did it and three of them said it was the hardest thing they've ever done, with the Candian guy not even bothering, so I called them a bunch of pansies as it looked like an interesting trail run and while it's as tough as you want to make it, it didn't look anything crazy.

Anyway, I thought that if i can say that they're pansies, then I should do it.

The jiffle king said:

I'm planning to do it next year vs SWMBO's horse. I know that horse won for about 25 years and then Hugh Lobb was the first person to manage it. They are very careful with horse welfare and it's going to be a very tough run. I think it's won in about 2 hours

A couple of guys from the running club local to me did the race just gone. The horse only won by some 35 seconds this time for the closest fought match in a long, long time (performance didn't belong to the local running club guys!)

Registration opens 5th of Jan I think for next year's race.

[Mothersruin]

Cool - I think I'll go for it - It'll be a couple of days after my 50th - so I could do that then have a decent blow out afterwards.

[onedsla]

The jiffle king said:

I know that horse won for about 25 years and then Hugh Lobb was the first person to manage it.

I used to run regularly with Huw before he left for Canada. He is / was an awesome XC runner, plus had great marathon endurance at the time (the previous year he was Britain's fastest male marathoner at London, but only 2nd overall once Ms P Radcliffe is added). Main factor in his win was the hot / warm weather on the day, which apparently affects horses more than humans - hence the close race this year..

I've been having some post marathon 'fun' with 'Babyjogger parkrun'. Local course has a good surface, but is a 3 lapper, so both laps 2 and 3 are quite congested. The 10m climb on each lap isn't ideal, but I tend to get stuck on this narrower section anyway, so it ends up like a bit of an interval session. Anyhow, ran 17.56 last week with my 7 year old (who ran 27mins by herself the previous week) guest-starring in the pram. With a better start (from the front of the field) and fast first half (accepting that second half would be slower with the traffic) I may be able to break 17, especially with the lighter 2 year old in the hot seat. I figure it's 90s to 2mins slower than going without, but that's very course dependent.

[tenohfive]

Handy to know there are a couple of dad's on here that run. Anyone got a recommendation for brands that do decent running pushchairs suitable for the very small ones in the family?

[T6 vanman]

Anyone doing Man Vs Coast,

If so what 'equipment' should I be looking to carry,
Not had a mail from the event team yet

Genuinely I'd consider just a few gel pack's and a pair of glovesbut am concerned I'd get refused at registration for not having some 'essential' kit???

Thoughts from those more experienced (eta 3:50 M runner)

[GTO-3R]

tenohfive said:

Handy to know there are a couple of dad's on here that run. Anyone got a recommendation for brands that do decent running pushchairs suitable for the very small ones in the family?

Few people at my local Parkrun use this one

https://www.thule.com/en-gb/gb/strollers/strollers...

[Smitters]

tenohfive said:

Handy to know there are a couple of dad's on here that run. Anyone got a recommendation for brands that do decent running pushchairs suitable for the very small ones in the family?

I use a Bob Ironman. Very robust bit of kit. I must admit though that over rough ground the wee lad's head did bobble about a bit when he was little so I stuck with smooth stuff until he was bigger.

[egor110]

T6 vanman said:

Anyone doing Man Vs Coast,

If so what 'equipment' should I be looking to carry,
Not had a mail from the event team yet

Genuinely I'd consider just a few gel pack's and a pair of glovesbut am concerned I'd get refused at registration for not having some 'essential' kit???

Thoughts from those more experienced (eta 3:50 M runner)

Your marathon time is going to have very little bearing on this race as your going up the north coast of cornwall.

The distance might not look far but you'll be constantly dropping down onto beaches then climbing back out the otherside .

You'll need a waterproof coat with taped seams , a hat , l/s top , they'll probably want you to carry a litre of water , whistle and a mobiles always useful .

Get a race vest and you'll fit all that in there no probs but bear in mind at some points your going to be in the sea underwater so mobile/watch need to be waterproof.

[onedsla]

tenohfive said:

Handy to know there are a couple of dad's on here that run. Anyone got a recommendation for brands that do decent running pushchairs suitable for the very small ones in the family?

I picked mine up in the US about 6 years ago after winning a sizable voucher for a local sports shop that I'd most likely never visit again. It's a 'Babyjogger', but don't think they make this model anymore - shame as it's much better than anything else I see out and about. Can take kids 40kg plus. Over winter it even handled 70kg me during a flooded section of a countryside walk when I'd forgotten my welly boots.

|https://thumbsnap.com/21zfJdGA[/url]

Things to look out for are big wheels and fixed front wheel. Works well both on and off road - even managed 16.3somthing / 1st place around Wimbledon Common parkrun.

|https://thumbsnap.com/qsR6kWUP[/url]

The Thule one posted above is on the right track.

Downside is that it's a big beast. Even folded up and wheels off, it's a tight squeeze in the back of a C-class estate.

[andy_s]

Shurley you'd manage to get the bin lid into a 30lt OMM pack tenohfive...?

[VEA]

egor110 said:

T6 vanman said:

Anyone doing Man Vs Coast,

If so what 'equipment' should I be looking to carry,
Not had a mail from the event team yet

Genuinely I'd consider just a few gel pack's and a pair of glovesbut am concerned I'd get refused at registration for not having some 'essential' kit???

Thoughts from those more experienced (eta 3:50 M runner)

Your marathon time is going to have very little bearing on this race as your going up the north coast of cornwall.

The distance might not look far but you'll be constantly dropping down onto beaches then climbing back out the otherside .

You'll need a waterproof coat with taped seams , a hat , l/s top , they'll probably want you to carry a litre of water , whistle and a mobiles always useful .

Get a race vest and you'll fit all that in there no probs but bear in mind at some points your going to be in the sea underwater so mobile/watch need to be waterproof.

There's a what kit do I need FAQ on their website http://ratrace.com/manvscoast/faqs/

Seems like they'll release the mandatory kit required nearer the time. Good luck. Looks fun.

[T6 vanman]

VEA said:

egor110 said:

T6 vanman said:

Anyone doing Man Vs Coast,

If so what 'equipment' should I be looking to carry,
Not had a mail from the event team yet

Genuinely I'd consider just a few gel pack's and a pair of glovesbut am concerned I'd get refused at registration for not having some 'essential' kit???

Thoughts from those more experienced (eta 3:50 M runner)

Your marathon time is going to have very little bearing on this race as your going up the north coast of cornwall.

The distance might not look far but you'll be constantly dropping down onto beaches then climbing back out the otherside .

You'll need a waterproof coat with taped seams , a hat , l/s top , they'll probably want you to carry a litre of water , whistle and a mobiles always useful .

Get a race vest and you'll fit all that in there no probs but bear in mind at some points your going to be in the sea underwater so mobile/watch need to be waterproof.

There's a what kit do I need FAQ on their website http://ratrace.com/manvscoast/faqs/

Seems like they'll release the mandatory kit required nearer the time. Good luck. Looks fun.

All,

Got the next instalment e-mail today with the mandatory kit list
I've a camalbak type vest rucksack but it doesn't clip at the front only over the shoulders, I'll run parkrun on Saturday to test otherwise I'll in-vest (see what I did there) in this

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/8L-Professional-Running...

My marathon time was a demonstration of my fitness level (or not) but I'm under no illusion this will be completely different, should be good fun … and I get another event technical t-shirt all for only £300 all in (camping etc)

[egor110]

Decathlon do a pretty decent race vest https://www.decathlon.co.uk/bag-trail-running-10l-...


If the weather's good it's going to be hard not to take loads of photos on that bit of coast .

[tenohfive]

andy_s said:

Shurley you'd manage to get the bin lid into a 30lt OMM pack tenohfive...?

Now that you mention it, the kangaroo pocket on my Salomon vest is pretty stretchy...

[T6 vanman]

T6 vanman said:

All,

Got the next instalment e-mail today with the mandatory kit list
I've a camalbak type vest rucksack but it doesn't clip at the front only over the shoulders, I'll run parkrun on Saturday to test otherwise I'll in-vest (see what I did there) in this

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/8L-Professional-Running...

My marathon time was a demonstration of my fitness level (or not) but I'm under no illusion this will be completely different, should be good fun … and I get another event technical t-shirt all for only £300 all in (camping etc)

Stand out line from the event e-mail

One last bit to mention, as a Man vs event, Man vs Coast will feature the infamous Vertical KM. Expect a thigh burning, lung busting and heart popping effort for 1km of gruelling uphill climbing! This section is a race within a race and, at two-thirds of the way through the event (16Km in) , it won't be easy! Trust us when we say the view at the top is worth running for!

Greaaat ..!