The Running Thread Vol 2

[Smitters]

I will no doubt come across as a bit of an Icebreaker fanboi, but I have one of their reversible merino beanies and it's a must have item on a cold running day. It's small enough to tuck into my waistband if I get hot too.

As an aside, I did another, slightly more organised run commute today, but was much slower, because I spent the second half of the run picking up Stella cans that had been dumped in the hedge. I reckon I got about 50 all in, before I ran out of space in my foraged bags and hands. WTF is wrong with people. I reckon there are at least as many again still out there, so this was a big gang of people, walking from A-B, chugging lager and bunging every single can into the hedges, fields or road.

[Cybertronian]

Smitters said:

As an aside, I did another, slightly more organised run commute today, but was much slower, because I spent the second half of the run picking up Stella cans that had been dumped in the hedge. I reckon I got about 50 all in, before I ran out of space in my foraged bags and hands. WTF is wrong with people. I reckon there are at least as many again still out there, so this was a big gang of people, walking from A-B, chugging lager and bunging every single can into the hedges, fields or road.

It's worse when it's blatantly runners/cyclists that leave litter. I spend most of my time training on the nearby canal towpaths and during the summer, it was a mess with discarded gel sachets from an influx of people training for the then upcoming local marathon.

Boils my piss during races as well when runners hurl bottles and gel sachets into hard to reach hedges, under parked cars etc. Most local residents already dislike the inconvenience of a race passing their front door, yet so many of us stick a big red bullseye on our own backs. I tend to hang on to a bottle/gel sachet until I'm near a marshal, making it easier for them to clear their patch up afterwards.

[feef]

Cybertronian said:

Smitters said:

As an aside, I did another, slightly more organised run commute today, but was much slower, because I spent the second half of the run picking up Stella cans that had been dumped in the hedge. I reckon I got about 50 all in, before I ran out of space in my foraged bags and hands. WTF is wrong with people. I reckon there are at least as many again still out there, so this was a big gang of people, walking from A-B, chugging lager and bunging every single can into the hedges, fields or road.

It's worse when it's blatantly runners/cyclists that leave litter. I spend most of my time training on the nearby canal towpaths and during the summer, it was a mess with discarded gel sachets from an influx of people training for the then upcoming local marathon.

Boils my piss during races as well when runners hurl bottles and gel sachets into hard to reach hedges, under parked cars etc. Most local residents already dislike the inconvenience of a race passing their front door, yet so many of us stick a big red bullseye on our own backs. I tend to hang on to a bottle/gel sachet until I'm near a marshal, making it easier for them to clear their patch up afterwards.

I saw this doing the half marathon. What I was a little surprised at, due to the number of discarded tubes on the route, was that folk felt it necessary to use gels on a half marathon or is that just me? It just doesn't seem far enough to need that sort of calorific injection

[RizzoTheRat]

I've seen people taking gels on 10k races. I'm always surprised how many people carry water for a 5k too.

[Smitters]

feef said:

Cybertronian said:

Smitters said:

As an aside, I did another, slightly more organised run commute today, but was much slower, because I spent the second half of the run picking up Stella cans that had been dumped in the hedge. I reckon I got about 50 all in, before I ran out of space in my foraged bags and hands. WTF is wrong with people. I reckon there are at least as many again still out there, so this was a big gang of people, walking from A-B, chugging lager and bunging every single can into the hedges, fields or road.

It's worse when it's blatantly runners/cyclists that leave litter. I spend most of my time training on the nearby canal towpaths and during the summer, it was a mess with discarded gel sachets from an influx of people training for the then upcoming local marathon.

Boils my piss during races as well when runners hurl bottles and gel sachets into hard to reach hedges, under parked cars etc. Most local residents already dislike the inconvenience of a race passing their front door, yet so many of us stick a big red bullseye on our own backs. I tend to hang on to a bottle/gel sachet until I'm near a marshal, making it easier for them to clear their patch up afterwards.

I saw this doing the half marathon. What I was a little surprised at, due to the number of discarded tubes on the route, was that folk felt it necessary to use gels on a half marathon or is that just me? It just doesn't seem far enough to need that sort of calorific injection

Agree - I saw a couple of gel packs today too - these are from people who actively seek the fresh air. I can accept that a gel will fall out of a pocket now and then, but on my regular running route which is a converted railway line cycle path, there are too many for that to be the only reason. It's unforgivable in a race. You're happy to carry a full one - why not carry the wrapper, or better yet, take it with water like you're supposed to at an aid station and use their bin.

"I don't want a sticky pocket..." - "fk off then - the rest of your clothes are minging with sweat - what's a little sugar anyway?"

For what it's worth, although I now have little cola shots to nibble on every couple of miles, in the past, I would take a gel at the start and one at halfway in a half marathon. It might be psychosomatic, and it depends heavily on the success of my prep on the previous day, but I can and have bonked over 13 miles. I also find it helps recovery as I'm not completely depleted. I'm not fast, so the extra weight isn't going to affect my finish time! My general rule is no water and food under ten miles. After that, I try and take something, even if it's only an emergency gel. But hey - everyone's different.

[Cybertronian]

feef said:

I saw this doing the half marathon. What I was a little surprised at, due to the number of discarded tubes on the route, was that folk felt it necessary to use gels on a half marathon or is that just me? It just doesn't seem far enough to need that sort of calorific injection

RizzoTheRat said:

I've seen people taking gels on 10k races. I'm always surprised how many people carry water for a 5k too.

Smitters said:

For what it's worth, although I now have little cola shots to nibble on every couple of miles, in the past, I would take a gel at the start and one at halfway in a half marathon. It might be psychosomatic, and it depends heavily on the success of my prep on the previous day, but I can and have bonked over 13 miles. I also find it helps recovery as I'm not completely depleted. I'm not fast, so the extra weight isn't going to affect my finish time! My general rule is no water and food under ten miles. After that, I try and take something, even if it's only an emergency gel. But hey - everyone's different.

I've taken a gel in fast PB attempt 10ks (rare now) and up to 3 in fast PB attempt half marathons. When you're going eyeballs out, I want to be burning the most efficient fuel source available to me. When it's getting tough, a quick taste of something sugary and caffeinated can coax just a little more from my mind and body. At worst, it's a placebo but certainly won't hurt my performance unless I overdose.

As Smitters said above, it's insurance for whatever eventuality may come. I've crashed and burned at 10/11 miles in training by simply not eating enough in the hours beforehand, so will not risk the same in a race I've worked hard for and travelled a distance to.

[RizzoTheRat]

Cybertronian said:

I've taken a gel in fast PB attempt 10ks

I never see those people, they've usually gone home by the time I finish

[RB Will]

I don't take anything unless I'm doing over 10 miles or really hot. The one and only time I have contemplated pulling out of a race was a hot hilly half marathon and I just didn't take on enough early on. Was feeling great until about 8 miles in when I just flopped, I dragged my backside to the next drink stop at about 9 miles and stopped for a few mins, drank a couple bottles of water and then took 2 more with me, one to drink and one to pour over my head. I just managed to make it to the finish before my legs went super cramp.
Did the same race this year but took on water and jellybabies at every drink station and smashed it even though it was hot again I was 20-25 mins faster!

I too thought it was funny when I did a 10k last year and a guy near me on the start line went through a couple of energy gels and was offering them to others too.

[mon the fish]

On the subject of carrying fluids - I always do a bit of surname stalking after races to see whether I'm the fastest xxxx (sad I know). Last time I did this, someone with the same surname as me finished a 10k in 1:30, and was carrying her own bottle. There was at least one water stop on the route, maybe two.

I'm the same as most above, 10 miles is the rough mark where I take a bit of something - but then she was running for a longer stretch of time than I would be doing 10 miles...

[Smitters]

mon the fish said:

On the subject of carrying fluids - I always do a bit of surname stalking after races to see whether I'm the fastest xxxx (sad I know). Last time I did this, someone with the same surname as me finished a 10k in 1:30, and was carrying her own bottle. There was at least one water stop on the route, maybe two.

I'm the same as most above, 10 miles is the rough mark where I take a bit of something - but then she was running for a longer stretch of time than I would be doing 10 miles...

In her defence, it's not unheard of for races to run out of water, ironically making life hard for those who are already having a tough time by being out for longer that the front runners. If I'd been burnt by someone's lack of organisation, I'd be carrying a water bottle too.

I always wonder about those carrying water on a parkrun, but again, this could be because they don't want to leave kit lying around but want a drink at the end. Anyway, I'd rather see someone parkrunning with a full on Camelbak set-up and a little buffet service of snack items than for them to be at home. With that in mind, as I ran past a house this morning I could see the TV through the window. Bearing in mind this was about 7.30 am, I was shocked to see an x-box symbol come up - presumably a child getting in a bit of gaming before school. As a parent, my first thought was WTF? Maybe I'm old, or out of touch, or maybe it's because of the era my parents were brought up in and how that has affected my own parenting, but that isn't a healthy way to start the day.

[feef]

Smitters said:

With that in mind, as I ran past a house this morning I could see the TV through the window. Bearing in mind this was about 7.30 am, I was shocked to see an x-box symbol come up - presumably a child getting in a bit of gaming before school. As a parent, my first thought was WTF? Maybe I'm old, or out of touch, or maybe it's because of the era my parents were brought up in and how that has affected my own parenting, but that isn't a healthy way to start the day.

or someone unwinding after getting home from a nightshift

[johnwilliams77]

RizzoTheRat said:

I've seen people taking gels on 10k races. I'm always surprised how many people carry water for a 5k too.

When I started to run I was much heavier and burned through more calories and all in all it took a lot more energy/effort. I wouldn't go 30mins without water. Now - I won't take water unless I am going beyond 10 miles (unless its a track session)

[Smitters]

feef said:

or someone unwinding after getting home from a nightshift

Yep. Fair one.

Quit ruining my grump.

[tenohfive]

I just don't bother with anything during training. My training includes long low intensity runs so my body is used to using fat as a primary fuel source, and I've probably built up decent muscle glycogen stores - but my long runs are no longer or more frequent than many runners; I'm not doing anything special. In fact my weekly mileage is lower than many on here.

I do think there's a big mental element in play.
I don't see any significant harm in it, but I do wonder how many people are burning through gels etc (which aren't cheap) when their training needs won't exceed their muscle glycogen stores, much less whatever pre-run meal they had additionally.

[tenohfive]

Strava question:

When you set a new 'best estimated xxxx' as part of a longer run is there a way to see a bit more detail on that chunk of the run? According to Strava I set a best estimated marathon during an ultra recently. I'm curious to see how much ascent there was during that portion of the run.

Not overly bothered if not, I just like geeking out on data post-race for entertainments sake.

[Smitters]

tenohfive said:

Strava question:

When you set a new 'best estimated xxxx' as part of a longer run is there a way to see a bit more detail on that chunk of the run? According to Strava I set a best estimated marathon during an ultra recently. I'm curious to see how much ascent there was during that portion of the run.

Not overly bothered if not, I just like geeking out on data post-race for entertainments sake.

No as far as I'm aware. It's quite annoying really.

Not as annoying as the sinsplints I've got as an early Christmas present. I took two weeks off in November and tried to get it all back in three weeks. Classic too much, too soon. Now have an intimate knowledge of an icepack. Bah. Not decided yet, but my goal for the spring marathon will likely have to shift as a result. Nuts.

[AbzST64]

tenohfive said:

Strava question:

When you set a new 'best estimated xxxx' as part of a longer run is there a way to see a bit more detail on that chunk of the run? According to Strava I set a best estimated marathon during an ultra recently. I'm curious to see how much ascent there was during that portion of the run.

Not overly bothered if not, I just like geeking out on data post-race for entertainments sake.

Don't think so...you may be able to export the GPX then take it into something else and edit out the rest of the run and you'll get it that way possibly?
Also i think if your a premium member on strava you can edit your run but you may not be able to get the original back after it's edited!

Happened to me also, went through marathon at 3.20 during an ultra and just had to figure it out myself! haha!

[Willy Nilly]

8th in the Knacker Cracker today. Personal best time on the course too I think. Knackers are very crackered now.

[Challo]

First day back and work and starting to plan out the training races in prep for my first marathon in May. Not looking forward to races where I need to run home afterwards to get the extra miles in.

[egor110]

I lost the plot totally in dec barely did any running.

So i've entered the classic quarter in june 44 miles and the atlantic challenge in oct 3 days 3 marathons.

Dragged my ass onto the quantock hills and did 10 miles sun/mon club run tonight so that's 6ish then i'll do about 10 thursday .

Proper ultra training begins start of feb .