You are reading a single comment by @HatBeard and its replies.
Click here to read the full conversation.
London Fixed Gear and Single-Speed is a community of predominantly fixed gear and single-speed cyclists in and around London, UK.
This site is supported almost exclusively by donations. Please consider donating a small amount regularly.
@HatBeard
Went down to Hornchurch park where the spitfire scramble is taking place and started my training properly yesterday. spent 6 hours on my feet and managed 3 laps of the course covering 19 miles walking with about 30 minutes of stoppages along the way (mostly 5 minute stopgaps to re-apply sunscreen, have a quick water break and enjoy the scenery). my target is 11 laps so only just over 25% of the goal covered so far but hoping to work up to getting in 8 laps (4 a day) over two days within next 5 weeks and hoping I can grit out the final 3 on the day.
legs were definitely feeling a bit sore but for the first time since I started training for this a few weeks back I managed to avoid any hotspots or blisters thanks to the new roclites and some hapla-band tape to tape my two outside toes on each foot and then a liberal application of anti-friction powder in some injinji toe socks to feet the little piggies separated.
I also have some tincture of benzoin arriving today which should further help keep the taping in place (it's pretty interesting stuff if you've not heard of it being used for distance running, acts as an adhesive keeping tape/plasters in place, is antiseptic, toughens skin). race plan is to tape the night before so I'm ready to go on race day and have a chance to identify any poor application errors before I get started.
Still need to try and disconnect my brain from thinking of miles covered at running paces as it really kills the sense of achievement when you've covered this huge distance and spent hours on your feet only to be thinking 'well if i'd run it, it would have only taken me x no of hours'. it might be less impressive in terms of speed but if I decide to tackle some ultras next year after my marathon this is good practice for learning how to stay on my feet for an extended period of time.
next saturday am planning on getting up super early and getting 4 laps in (25 miles incl. to/from station). I could find some more enjoyable a to b routes to do but I think given the amount of time i'll be spending on this course some mental toughening will help with tackling it on race day, especially as I find running a loop feels a bit shorter the more you run it and have it memorised.