Running

Last time i ran regularly was over half a year ago. I ran 8k yesterday very, very slowly and it was tough. Should I accept the London Marathon place that is going spare? Spare with a 2k fund raising commitment I should add. Basically, can I go from zero to OK in the three months available?

yes you could make it around the marathon course, but it's unlikely to be in a time that you'll boast about for all eternity, its a bit of a bucket list event rather than one to do multiple times, its not a fast course unless you are towards the front and away from the crowds, and a bit of a pain logistically - having to go out to the docklands to register...

Its also very easy to get a place through charity if you are prepared to raise the money, so there's nothing to stop you getting a place next year if you want to try and do it "properly".

2x20 @ 3:58 for me tonight, after having done 7x4 minutes at 115% of FTP on the bike this morning, I cant quite understand how I'm putting on weight at the moment....

7 miles @ 7min/mile @ 7am commute today. Point to point with big tailwind made it feel easy. Bollocks to running home into it tho. #wimp

Royal Parks Half Marathon ballot open: http://royalparkshalf.com/register-for-ballot/

It's 3 weeks after IM Wales, should have recovered enough by then to consider a half.

yes you could make it around the marathon course, but it's unlikely to be in a time that you'll boast about for all eternity, its a bit of a bucket list event rather than one to do multiple times, its not a fast course unless you are towards the front and away from the crowds, and a bit of a pain logistically - having to go out to the docklands to register...

Its also very easy to get a place through charity if you are prepared to raise the money, so there's nothing to stop you getting a place next year if you want to try and do it "properly".

Received and understood.

Tried to resurrect my commute runs after a week off- 13 miles yesterday, 1 mile today before jacking it in and jumping on the tube in Stockwell- right quad is agony. Going to switch back onto the bike for a bit with a few silly o clock morning sessions around Richmond Park.

Rearranged a delivery to coincide with work from home day and expected a big box with new trail shoes (another pair of Saucony Peregrine 5, current ones have ~600km on them already) and a race number belt (for future slvlss adventures). DPD email and text to say when my hour slot is. Works for me (today's intervals can move to Friday as my legs are fucked from 1h40 of 5-a-side last night). All good so far.

Delivery arrives, tiny parcel, no shoes. "Remaining items being dispatched separately and will arrive with you shortly." Bloody race number belt small enough to fit through the letterbox, no need for me to rearrange half my day just so someone could hand it to me. Race number belt also small enough to be slung in the shoe box (or even in one of the shoes) when they're shipped. No need for two separate parcels.

First (and possibly last) time I order from run4it (although they were cheap).

Bah.

Deliver to work is your friend

If only. Current place doesn't allow it. They refuse to accept personal parcels.

Last place allowed it, $DEITY knows how much I spent with Scan, Wiggle, etc. Seemed almost daily there'd be a cheer when the CityLink van pulled in.

1h40m of 5-a-side last night so sacked off the intervals for today as my ankles were shot. 12km run in to work tomorrow and another hour of 5-a-side after work so I should be able to do the intervals on Friday afternoon or Saturday morning, with enough of a rest before the next long run (19km) on Sunday. Will try and keep to 6:00/km pace for that rather than worrying about keeping HR down.

Anyone interested in a barely used pair of Adidas Ultra Boost? I test-ran them for exactly 12 (dry) miles before deciding they are too cushioned for me. UK size 10. Cheapest I can see online is £75, so £45 posted? (First dibs here before I get round to a Classifieds ad.)

^ @_Leon

@PhilPub ill have em. D.m and all that in a while just out on meal with colleagues

Cool! It's a shame I don't get on with them as they're dead comfy, but keeping them as house slippers seems a bit extravagant.

edit Cheers @Pifko. :)

@PhilPub no problem - want a pair of new black Adios Boost 2 UK10 instead? Was probably optimistic thinking I could use them as a marathon shoe...

That's quite tempting, although I've still got a fair bit of life in a pair of original Adios Boost, which are my favourite race shoes for 5k/10k. And I might be in line for another freebie pair of Adidas something-or-other for VMLM pacing duties. Ta, though. Have you considered the Boston Boost for the marathon, or is that still a bit minimal for you? Definitely more cushioning than the Adios, but still quite racy.

What kind of life do people get out of trainers (standard training shoes, not trail shoes, not lightweight racing trainers)?

I was quoted ~600 miles in a shop (a shop that would be more than happy to sell me some more shoes to replace them, obvs). The other extreme is that modern cushioning doesn't really help so as long as they aren't falling apart or ripping your feet to shreds them keep them going.

Is it a case of feel? (In which case I'm doomed as I can never tell the difference between new and old.) I've got two pairs each of road shoes and trail shoes mainly so I can avoid having to put wet shoes on if they haven't dried from the day before.

I'm low mileage compared to many so not buying often. My 2014 and 2015 GT 2000 trainers should last me into 2018 on rotation. I can feel when they've had it, get soreness underfoot running, my 2 x 2009 pairs (2130's) are now just scruffy daytime trainers.

Edit: forgot the point, 600 miles sounds a reasonable point but many other factors will either shorten or lengthen this.

Edit 2: checking my training log shows my GT2130's were retired after just 300 & 400 miles each. They'd have gone higher but I only ran 200 miles total 2010-2013 so they were replaced more due to age than wear.

I used to be partially persuaded by the "500 miles per pair" idea, but there probably is an element of manufacturers/shoe shops trying to get you in new shoes before you need them. (The same people telling you to take gels every 20 minutes.) These days if the shoes aren't causing me any problems and there is enough outsole I carry on. I've got over 1,500 miles out of a pair of Brooks Defyance before the sole wore through to the midsole foam, although strangely my latest pair (same shoe apart from earlier model) have got to the same state in 1,200 miles.

I think it can vary hugely according to weight, running style, etc. Someone who is prone to plantar fasciitis might want to renew their shoes before they feel the cushioning becoming less springy. Other people run racing flats for everyday training into the ground without any problems.

@philpub can't work out how to pm have sent @Pifko one with deets.#spastic

I got some insoles for my shoes and threw away the ones that came with my shoes. But now I keep getting cramp in my right foot. Surely this is the opposite of what the insoles are meant to do? I have flat but strong feet. Why do they hate me so much?

230km so far for Jan. Might hit 250 by month end.

200miles so far this year.

Good luck to everyone racing today. 15s all round.

Just picked up some NB 610v5 cheap primarily for comfort on feet at work, anyone run in them? Might hit the trails at lunchtimes, are they fit for that or best kept casual?

P.s. 40 miles for January happy if I get above 0 for every month this year, May to Aug 2015 was pretty disrupted.

dunno how many miles or ks Ive done this year so far but im on 27 races since start of september when season starts, meaning by end of season for flagchasing march will be well above previous years. #dedicated
in other totally inconsequential news have entered the Guernsey Easter runs weekend (google it) which I can assure you from doing before is a great 4 dayer which this year finishes with a ten k-
meaning Ive got an earlier distance challenge this year

Just bought some trail shoes for £8.99! Yeah for having child size feet (and the shoes were in the sale). Recommend me some trails in south London - I'm thinking of Mitcham and Wimbledon Commons. Richmond is a bit of a pain to get to. COME AT ME, MUD.