Running

4:00:38 for me in Dublin. Was aiming for sub 4 for my first one and am more than pleased. Don't think I could have squeezed any more time out, left everything on the road.

Many thanks to @HatBeard for sharing so many tips, old equipment and massive encouragement. So appreciated.

Good work!

[Edit] KL too!

Well done both!

Had a big smile on my face as my partner left the door on her first spontaneous run for about 2 years. Thoughts popped into my head that we could finally go running together. 15 mins later she returned beaming. 2 miles no stopping apparently, but 24hrs later and she can barely move one of her knees. FFS, this sport is such a shit sometimes...

Took my dog out for a run yesterday, was suppose to be 1:40 at sub 143bpm (actual average 141 and never went about 150), but she was playing with other dogs we passed at about 10 miles so decided to push on for her first half marathon, which we finished in 1hr 49 mins, very proud of her, running around Dorney lake meant she had a pretty much constant supply of water, but she was still going strong and still chased the local cat out of our garden when we got home!

Looked at the last time that I'd done that many laps of Dorney that way round and it was 2011 when I ran a half marathon in what was a PB at the time of 1:46 and averaged 178bpm, interesting to see how my running has improved over the years!

My Jack Russell refuses to run further than 1 mile, and not even that if its raining #duvetdog

4hrs for a first marathon is strong!

Just missed breaking the 20min parkrun on Saturday - 20:10 ...PB though, so getting closer!
Then went out for a long slow run yesterday and ended up doing 30km in 3 hours - feeling pretty happy with myself!

Who's done Athens marathon before? Any good?

Good running and brilliant medal there @rhb
DTD is on my want to do list. But is a long way south of the Scottish border, which is the limit for races I can get away with entering before Mrs P gets grumpy.

We have snow and wet, windy horribleness forecast for this coming saturdays Glen Ogle 33 ultra. Should be a fun way to finish the ultra season 😨☺

Then the weekend after its Nairn XC which has a varied course and 100% chance of getting wet

Great pic, love it when the fast line at xc is through a little puddle!

A couple of years ago, finish is pretty epic and recovery souvlaki is good. Some of the run is a bit soulless (but then I was well out the back, my brother seemed to enjoy it more up in the 4.30 lot), but the locals really get involved and you do get to go past the burial mound at marathon.
The second half is up hill but not too bad. They arrange buses from the center of Athens out to the start, so an early start, but takes away the hassle and you get to chat to other runners.
I'd love to do it again.

haha, funnily enough Holly spends around 20 hours a day asleep, and is perfectly content with a 20 minute walk to the local park and comes and lies down next to me after about 10 fetches, but if required can go for fricking miles - only now at 4.5 beginning to find out quite how far that is, but with a marathon coming up in the spring it'll be nice to have her out for some of the runs!

What breed?

My folks' springers seem to have endless reserves. Although once they finish for the day, they are entirely pooped.

reportedly a labradoodle, although I'm not convinced!

Lab poodles and springers are all gun dog breeds so makes sense that they like running.

They have a separate category on Green Man Ultra for runners with hounds, not too many stiles/kissing gates either to negotiate.

I use the ubiquitous Strava, because it works and doesn't have annoying advertising, unlike mapmyrun.
Its good pacing against others on the same route as well as being able to graph progress. Best feature is having the pacing volume turned up so I can hear my splits.

Thanks. I downloaded MapMyRun today and used it for a km of my run home before I gave up (long story). Then I told them I didn't like it because of the infuriating adverts. Now deleted.

Now on a bus. Not the greatest start but tomorrow is another day.

We have a Spaniel Jack Russell cross - brilliant running dog. He loves going round Richmond Park (although can be a bugger to get back on the lead for road crossings if there are squirrels about).

I think Strava is the best tracking platform I've used. I seldom look at my Garmin connect as I've got it set up to sync to Strava. The strava app give plenty of info to keep track of your progress (and also your friends) whilst you can also log on to the website for a lot more stuff.

Mapmyrun, Endomondo and Sportstracker are okay but for me, long since deleted.

another strava user here, although i am trying to use it slightly less and generally tracking my running on a lighter touch basis. so easy runs and general steady runs where i know the distance i am running are not going up. I'm trying to get a bit more used to running on feel again in the build up to new year marathon training.

Congrats on the weekends racing everyone, particularly @rhb a great effort.

Strava is the best tracker I've used. Being able to see what your training partners/rivals are doing is motivational.

Strava too, only bit I really like on it is trying to flatten the pace bars.

P.s. cheers @juanito

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Ha thats OCD tastic, I'm in.
You all sorted for Meriden run?

You all sorted for Meriden run?

Have been trying not to think too much about it tbh!

The (detailed) planning starts this week.

Will use most same kit from DtD but 20l bag over 8l.

Still thinking a nap 3-6am might set me up for a better day of progress, but means carrying more kit!

How's your prep going?

At least you've just done a long one, which is more than can be said for me.

I hate night starts, but will plan to get 8 hours done before grabbing 1 1/2 hrs sleep, which hopefully should be enough. Also going to take 20l bag, rammed full of food though, the foil bivy bags work well assuming you can get out of the wind.