The Running Thread Vol 2

[Smitters]

Two positives for the day:

1) I ran. Albeit 12 mins of easy, on a treadmill, but it was definitely running.

2) I cancelled Strava Premium. Fine, I may miss some of the extras, but the non-chrono feed just does my head in. I've installed a plug-in for my laptop, but my phone is still all over the shop, so I can never see what my training buddies and mates have been up to over the weekend because Strava is telling me about some st from last week or lumping every activity from my new connection to the top.

I'm fitter and saving money. Go me.

[Halb]

I love strava, love how it connects to MFP, I've gotten one fairly well with the free version, I'm not sure the paid one offers anything that would be that beneficial to me.

[AndStilliRise]

No pace at the moment, regardless of what i do. It looks like stride length is down to 1.2m were before it was 1.5m. I need to fix this, does anyone know how i can?

[travel is dangerous]

have you tried stilts?

[Smitters]

AndStilliRise said:

No pace at the moment, regardless of what i do. It looks like stride length is down to 1.2m were before it was 1.5m. I need to fix this, does anyone know how i can?

Stride length is a byproduct. For the same cadence and a lower pace, obviously the maths says the variable is stride length. Run faster for the same cadence, and SL goes back up. Trying to increase SL for the same lower pace with result in overstriding and a slow cadence. And you'll feel like you're playing a giant hopscotch game.

Are you still with the coach you started out with mid-2017?

For what it's worth, January is a grim month. If you don't have/are not in a set plan running up to a race, e.g. London, I would set a few weeks aside to do something completely left field and a bit explosive - a rowing intervals challenge, fartlek, something silly from Sufferfest - and shake off the malaise.

[boyse7en]

A slightly faster 10k last night with running club has resulted in agonising feet. My trusty New Balance 860 (support) shoes have started rubbing the arches of both feet, and it really hurts!

Time for new shoes?

[Smitters]

Halb said:

I love strava, love how it connects to MFP, I've gotten one fairly well with the free version, I'm not sure the paid one offers anything that would be that beneficial to me.

I quite liked the extra detail, like being able to add pace and HR zones (which you're prompted to keep current) and then trying to keep your runs in the right zone. They had introduced a freshness and fatigue tool too, which was interesting and worked best with consistent data, so mine was improving every month last year, but they're fringe benefits, not core requirements for me. I think if you were predominantly a cyclist, or a triathlete it would add value too. There are other tools out there that do a lot of that stuff, it's just "all under one roof" in Strava.

To be fair, I both tweeted and messaged Strava about the cancellation, so they know why. They've closed all the feedback on their posts about chronological feed changes, so I think they're just ignoring users until we quiet down. Facebook now only loads about ten posts if you go chronological, whereas you can scroll for days on the algorithm feed. Strava took it one step further and removed the option of switching. I believe Instagram have done the same, not that I Insta wiv da kidz.

[zygalski]

boyse7en said:

A slightly faster 10k last night with running club has resulted in agonising feet. My trusty New Balance 860 (support) shoes have started rubbing the arches of both feet, and it really hurts!

Time for new shoes?

I got some 860 v7s.
Great shoe. I'm surprised they gave you a problem.

[tenohfive]

Question for the Hoka fans: I've got Challenger ATR 3's, love the fit (even if the grip isn't up to our muddy trails) but want some road shoes. Has anyone got both the ATR 3's and Clifton 4's?

I don't really like doing it, but I'm considering buying shoes online as the Clifton's are a lot cheaper than my nearest stockist and the colours are different so I can't price match.

[onedsla]

For Strava users who like stats, have a look at https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/stravist...

It's a free extension for Chrome which displays some very detailed stats. Apparently it was initially for cyclists, then updated for running metrics too.

I use it to keep a check on my cadence at my target marathon pace. The last couple of weeks I was pleased to see it at 180spm whilst running a 10km tempo in 35mins. Tonight I ran an even 34:56 and only needed 178sqm, so my stride length must have been a little longer, though it felt much easier as fitness improves. A little annoying that I don't have cadence stats from my last marathon regimen to compare with.

[egor110]

tenohfive said:

Question for the Hoka fans: I've got Challenger ATR 3's, love the fit (even if the grip isn't up to our muddy trails) but want some road shoes. Has anyone got both the ATR 3's and Clifton 4's?

I don't really like doing it, but I'm considering buying shoes online as the Clifton's are a lot cheaper than my nearest stockist and the colours are different so I can't price match.

I use clifton 2's if that's any good ?

Really comfy and i can run in them no problem without my orthotics.

[RizzoTheRat]

My first run commute in a while last night, and clearly showed that the last couple of months have involved too much cheese and not enough running!. I'm staying in town this trip rather than up on the beach the last few times I've been working here. How do people cope with running in cities? I had to hang around and wait for 6 sets of pedestrian lights in 3.5km. A few hundred meters of slightly more interesting terrain through wooded park, but pavement next to a busy road for the rest of it. I've booked an AirBnB up at the beach for next month, far nicer paths that way and when I do hit roads way less traffic.

[Smitters]

onedsla said:

For Strava users who like stats, have a look at https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/stravist...

It's a free extension for Chrome which displays some very detailed stats. Apparently it was initially for cyclists, then updated for running metrics too.

I use it to keep a check on my cadence at my target marathon pace. The last couple of weeks I was pleased to see it at 180spm whilst running a 10km tempo in 35mins. Tonight I ran an even 34:56 and only needed 178sqm, so my stride length must have been a little longer, though it felt much easier as fitness improves. A little annoying that I don't have cadence stats from my last marathon regimen to compare with.

Cracking tip that - I look forward to playing (geeking out).

[FunkyNige]

Smitters said:

I quite liked the extra detail, like being able to add pace and HR zones (which you're prompted to keep current) and then trying to keep your runs in the right zone. They had introduced a freshness and fatigue tool too, which was interesting and worked best with consistent data, so mine was improving every month last year, but they're fringe benefits, not core requirements for me. I think if you were predominantly a cyclist, or a triathlete it would add value too. There are other tools out there that do a lot of that stuff, it's just "all under one roof" in Strava.

To be fair, I both tweeted and messaged Strava about the cancellation, so they know why. They've closed all the feedback on their posts about chronological feed changes, so I think they're just ignoring users until we quiet down. Facebook now only loads about ten posts if you go chronological, whereas you can scroll for days on the algorithm feed. Strava took it one step further and removed the option of switching. I believe Instagram have done the same, not that I Insta wiv da kidz.

They seem to want Strava to become a social network instead of a tool to keep track of/ compare activities, I guess that's why they've added the 'Add post' and 'Add photo' options to your feed. I'm premium at the moment, but the only thing it gives me that Stravistix doesn't is the little bar that tells me if I'm ahead or behind my yearly target...

[tenohfive]

It's what, £4 a month at the end of the day. Worth that for live segments alone in my eyes (assuming your GPS supports them - which both my watch, and currently under-utilised bike GPS do.) It holds the basic stats I need day to day, and it's no hardship going into Garmin Connect for more detail.

I don't like the trend towards subscription models that every service seems to be adopting today, but I really do think Strava is the best at what it does. So I can suck up the cost of a sandwich each month if it keeps the platform active and moving forwards.

Incidentally, whilst I've not used it I do like the idea of the posts option - I try to do at least one 'new boundaries,' type run each year, and each has been worthy of a few more lines of text than the activity description. Something to remember some of the finer points or little things. But without boring my non-running friends to death on other social platforms. So I think it's a good idea.

[okgo]

Christ, running on a treadmill is grim. Bit like going on a turbo trainer without the fan! Dunno how people do fast pace/distance on there. Ran 5km in 23 mins without any issues or really any tax, but just got very warm. Hopefully manage to get outside and do a slightly longer one soon.

[boyse7en]

zygalski said:

boyse7en said:

A slightly faster 10k last night with running club has resulted in agonising feet. My trusty New Balance 860 (support) shoes have started rubbing the arches of both feet, and it really hurts!

Time for new shoes?

I got some 860 v7s.
Great shoe. I'm surprised they gave you a problem.

I really liked mine, and have used them for a year or so on-and-off, but they have suddenly started giving me blistering/rubbing

[boyse7en]

okgo said:

Christ, running on a treadmill is grim. Bit like going on a turbo trainer without the fan! Dunno how people do fast pace/distance on there. Ran 5km in 23 mins without any issues or really any tax, but just got very warm. Hopefully manage to get outside and do a slightly longer one soon.

Hate treadmill running. I lose the will to live after about 15 minutes

[SpydieNut]

boyse7en said:

okgo said:

Christ, running on a treadmill is grim. Bit like going on a turbo trainer without the fan! Dunno how people do fast pace/distance on there. Ran 5km in 23 mins without any issues or really any tax, but just got very warm. Hopefully manage to get outside and do a slightly longer one soon.

Hate treadmill running. I lose the will to live after about 15 minutes

while i much prefer running outdoors, i have used treadmills in the past and found them not too bad. while training for an ultra, i did 3 hrs at a time and found it OK. i varied the speed and gradient every so often, to keep it different. also it was in a large gym, so plenty happening around, incl TVs to watch. every 30 mins i'd get off for a minute - drink some water and have a bit to eat.

[anonymous-user]

Do any of you guys/girls use head-torches etc in the darker months?
I have a running ‘chest light’ which gives a pretty stable throw & I can run down trails etc using this. Being paranoid I have a head torch backup, just in case.
So tonight I did 7 miles down trails, very exhilarating. Only saw 1 other person/nutter
Made a refreshing change from pounding the streets