The Running Thread Vol 2

[fiatpower]

A very wet great Birmingham run today. They have changed the course slightly from previous years with the first mile and a half being downhill which seemed to make it quite a fast run.

Surprised myself with a PB of 1:39:35 which is almost 5 minutes off my previous PB from June.

[smn159]

A major milestone for me yesterday. I suffered from ITBS which started during training for the London marathon earlier this year, which I completed after having a cortisone injection. The ITBS came back with vengeance once it had worn off and I've since had a long layoff to focus on rehab.

Anyway, I completed my local parkrun yesterday in a leisurely 26 minutes - my first pain free run in 14 weeks

[TiminYorkshire]

C0ffin D0dger said:

Went for these in the end: https://www.salomon.com/en-gb/shop-emea/product/se...

Seemed about right for the stuff I'll be doing, not too aggressive but knobbly enough to give some grip.

I've used these over the summer/early Autumn for training runs (typically the Cleveland Way along the Yorkshire coast, bits of the North York Moors too) and the Grand Tour of Skiddaw - a 44 mile ultra in the Lake District, I've had zero blisters from them. They're a good all rounder but can be a bit slippy on wet grass, especially when running across a slope and in proper gloopy conditions I'll be returning to my Mud Claws, but will definitely consider another set of these for the drier seasons and harder packed trails. Hope you enjoy them.

[Cybertronian]

fiatpower said:

A very wet great Birmingham run today. They have changed the course slightly from previous years with the first mile and a half being downhill which seemed to make it quite a fast run.

Surprised myself with a PB of 1:39:35 which is almost 5 minutes off my previous PB from June.

Well done!

I was going to spectate the race and walk to Cannon Hill Park, but it was proper hammering it down as I stepped outside so went back inside...

[askew]

Don't blame you at all. I was so sodden by the end of it that my shorts were creating suds on my thighs – obviously the washing machine isn't rinsing them completely

[SHutchinson]

Smitters said:

Oooof. First xc race in 24 years. Was eye opening just how much class a county league has. Brilliant fun, six quid on the day entry, and such a good feeling.

I took it a bit easy, but was able to go faster each lap so wasn't overtaken and had enough gas to close a 100m gap in the last 400m and put away the chap in front. Never has 132nd been taken so dominantly...

Cross country racing is great. Here in the NE it's £3 for the entire series of 7 races and you get to race against some of the finest club runners in the country.

A few of my pals paid over £40 to take part in a mud race with a medal and a t-shirt in the carrier bag at the end this weekend. The harrier league is using the same course on the 27th and it'll cost me 43p! I can do without the t-shirt.

[Smitters]

SHutchinson said:

Smitters said:

Oooof. First xc race in 24 years. Was eye opening just how much class a county league has. Brilliant fun, six quid on the day entry, and such a good feeling.

I took it a bit easy, but was able to go faster each lap so wasn't overtaken and had enough gas to close a 100m gap in the last 400m and put away the chap in front. Never has 132nd been taken so dominantly...

Cross country racing is great. Here in the NE it's £3 for the entire series of 7 races and you get to race against some of the finest club runners in the country.

A few of my pals paid over £40 to take part in a mud race with a medal and a t-shirt in the carrier bag at the end this weekend. The harrier league is using the same course on the 27th and it'll cost me 43p! I can do without the t-shirt.

Yeah - I'm being fleeced as I missed the "£12 for all the rounds" deal.

I loved how different it is to road racing. Normally you're eyeing a time, wherever you are on the course, unless you are in the top few, but here it's all placings. Though it was ten k, it's totally unrepresentative and means nothing unless next year the course and conditions are identical. I'm tempted to double up with the Gwent League, but that's got some terrifying class...

[C0ffin D0dger]

TiminYorkshire said:

C0ffin D0dger said:

Went for these in the end: https://www.salomon.com/en-gb/shop-emea/product/se...

Seemed about right for the stuff I'll be doing, not too aggressive but knobbly enough to give some grip.

I've used these over the summer/early Autumn for training runs (typically the Cleveland Way along the Yorkshire coast, bits of the North York Moors too) and the Grand Tour of Skiddaw - a 44 mile ultra in the Lake District, I've had zero blisters from them. They're a good all rounder but can be a bit slippy on wet grass, especially when running across a slope and in proper gloopy conditions I'll be returning to my Mud Claws, but will definitely consider another set of these for the drier seasons and harder packed trails. Hope you enjoy them.

Cheers, good to hear a positive review. See how they perform this weekend

[RizzoTheRat]

Cybertronian said:

fiatpower said:

A very wet great Birmingham run today. They have changed the course slightly from previous years with the first mile and a half being downhill which seemed to make it quite a fast run.

Surprised myself with a PB of 1:39:35 which is almost 5 minutes off my previous PB from June.

Well done!

I was going to spectate the race and walk to Cannon Hill Park, but it was proper hammering it down as I stepped outside so went back inside...

My brother in law did Birmingham as his first half...dressed as a giant Acorn for a local childrens hospice. Didn't look like great weather for it but I suppose at least the costume kept him warm

[fiatpower]

RizzoTheRat said:

My brother in law did Birmingham as his first half...dressed as a giant Acorn for a local childrens hospice. Didn't look like great weather for it but I suppose at least the costume kept him warm

Have to say I like running in the rain, keeps me cool. The support in the Birmingham half really was excellent considering the weather.

My next race is the Poland Springs 5 miler around central park in New York which is part of the marathon week build up apparently. Probably the closest i'll get to running the NY marathon! To say i'm excited about it is an understatement.

[feef]

Not been out since the half marathon on the 7th. Going by the recovery time on my Suunto, I was due to go out for a run on Saturday, but slipped on a step on saturday evening and twisted my foot. By Monday, I had a nice bruise and swelling although it wasn't especially painful and I could still walk and even run gently without much discomfort. However, the bruising did mean I was a tad concerned that it was more than a simple sprain and the chance of an avulsion fracture so last night I got myself to A&E for an x-ray. No fracture, so I'll just have to take it easy for the next week or so. I'm finding wearing my Feet bare-foot shoes are more comfortable than normal shoes (they usually are, but noticeably so with this injury) as they aren't placing any pressure on the injured area.

In other news, it looks like I'm about to lose my first toenail after the half-marathon. Does that make me a proper runner now?

[RizzoTheRat]

fiatpower said:

Have to say I like running in the rain, keeps me cool. The support in the Birmingham half really was excellent considering the weather.

My next race is the Poland Springs 5 miler around central park in New York which is part of the marathon week build up apparently. Probably the closest i'll get to running the NY marathon! To say i'm excited about it is an understatement.

I wear glasses, running in the rain's a right pain as I can't see where I'm going

I know someone who did that central park one the other year, it's a huge event with thousands of runners, looked like a great event from his photos.

[SpydieNut]

Anyone other PH runners doing Langdale this weekend?

I’m really looking forward to it. Just over 600 entries all in (400 1/2M and 204 full M).

Bring it on

[Smitters]

SpydieNut said:

Anyone other PH runners doing Langdale this weekend?

I’m really looking forward to it. Just over 600 entries all in (400 1/2M and 204 full M).

Bring it on

Good luck.

I shall be running the Stroud Half Marathon this weekend. And running there. And running home. This could go well, or really, really badly.

Hoping for a 1.45 or below.

[SpydieNut]

Smitters said:

Good luck.

I shall be running the Stroud Half Marathon this weekend. And running there. And running home. This could go well, or really, really badly.

Hoping for a 1.45 or below.

Cheers - and good luck to you. How far from home to your race? At least you’ll be warmed up by the time you get there and then have chance to cool down slowly afterwards

ETA - the closest of our local parkruns is 4.5 miles away and when I run it, I usually run there and back - all good training (esp running home on tired legs). But doing it to and from a 1/2M - nice!

Edited by SpydieNut on Wednesday 17th October 16:26

[tenohfive]

SpydieNut said:

Anyone other PH runners doing Langdale this weekend?

I’m really looking forward to it. Just over 600 entries all in (400 1/2M and 204 full M).

Bring it on

This is on my list to do - I went to do it a couple of years ago, even traveled up but sat it out through an injury. I think on your recommendation come to think of it. It's an underrated little gem of a place the Langdale valley and surrounds. I'll definitely get up there for the race one day.

[SpydieNut]

tenohfive said:

This is on my list to do - I went to do it a couple of years ago, even traveled up but sat it out through an injury. I think on your recommendation come to think of it. It's an underrated little gem of a place the Langdale valley and surrounds. I'll definitely get up there for the race one day.

Absolutely

A stunning race - hard, but beautiful

[Smitters]

SpydieNut said:

Smitters said:

Good luck.

I shall be running the Stroud Half Marathon this weekend. And running there. And running home. This could go well, or really, really badly.

Hoping for a 1.45 or below.

Cheers - and good luck to you. How far from home to your race? At least you’ll be warmed up by the time you get there and then have chance to cool down slowly afterwards

ETA - the closest of our local parkruns is 4.5 miles away and when I run it, I usually run there and back - all good training (esp running home on tired legs). But doing it to and from a 1/2M - nice!

Edited by SpydieNut on Wednesday 17th October 16:26

Thank you. Only about 5 miles, which will be done at recovery run effort on the way in and any way I can on the way back. Given I'm doing 46 miles in the Brecons next month, I shouldn't let 23 miles of flat phase me, but to be honest, it does a bit. I have images of overdoing the half, chasing a time and having a horrible run/walk home. There are pubs on the way, thankfully.

[SpydieNut]

Smitters said:

Thank you. Only about 5 miles, which will be done at recovery run effort on the way in and any way I can on the way back. Given I'm doing 46 miles in the Brecons next month, I shouldn't let 23 miles of flat phase me, but to be honest, it does a bit. I have images of overdoing the half, chasing a time and having a horrible run/walk home. There are pubs on the way, thankfully.

- the very worst that can happen is you have to call in at the nearest pub and order a pint while phoning a taxi

and your planned run in the Brecons sounds awesome - knocks most other runs into a cocked hat

[Smitters]

SpydieNut said:

- the very worst that can happen is you have to call in at the nearest pub and order a pint while phoning a taxi

and your planned run in the Brecons sounds awesome - knocks most other runs into a cocked hat

And a burger, and chips, and a sit by the fire...

http://www.beaconsultra.com/ I can only hope the weather is as clear as in the pics...