Running

I didn't enjoy the changes to the Hackney Half route this year. The new bits seem to add more short, narrow streets with more twists and turns. Apparently they've upped the number of participants to 25,000 and it really felt like it at times.

Has anyone used both Strava and Runkeeper training plans? I'm using Runkeeper but want to try something else. Any other recommendations?

https://training4endurance.co.uk/running/

I've used the 10k advanced one before, and knocked a couple of minutes off my 10k time, 36.26 from 38.30 or so. Pretty heavy going, but there are less strenuous examples there

I'm very happy. Did my first ever 10k today in about 45 mins in preparation for the triathlon. I have all the individual components coming down nicely, I expect the trick will be putting them all together on the day 😃

Thanks! Some good posts on there. I'm actually looking for a new app to use for training plans. I failed to mention that in my post.

I've used Runkeeper to generate half marathon training plans and then my runs (it's good for all that data), but the plan is totally inflexible once you start it and I find them a bit light-weight and simple.

I stuck the key sessions on Garmin connect, then got my watch to beep at me if I was slacking / going too hard. That was a bit labour intensive, but they are still on Garmin connect in case I ever decide to get more serious about running again.

Good luck with your search

I've done a Saunders and 3 LAMMs. I've seen a couple of blog posts about kit that I thought were good, no doubt from fast runners (definitely the second one) but nonetheless I think you can be inspired by these blogs and set yourself a target of getting close. It helps so much over a long day on rough ground, not just the weight but the volume of the pack swinging about too. I go for under 5kg without water in a 20l rucksack. Then collect everything you want, weigh it, and begin thinking creatively about how to cut it down to reach that target!

https://theomm.com/how-to-do-a-mountain-marathon-with-a-14litre-pack/

https://jonathanalbon.com/2018/10/30/the-omm/

that's great information, thanks.

What tent and stove did you use? I think they're going to be the major outlay.

I've never seen this site before. It looks serious. cheers.

We have an old Coleman Rigel X2, which is cheapo tent that weighs under 1kg, basically a single-skin hooped bivi for 2, plenty of condensation and not exactly much space, but survivable for a night. I don't think they make them any more unfortunately, they were quite unbeatable for a cheap AND light tent. The Laser Competition 2 is very popular, over half the tents at midcamp? These do seem to get sold off on deals every now and then, I got a factory seconds one for cycle touring after a tipoff in the lightweight tent thread, which could be a good source of more advice. I just had a quick look for any deals and found a Laser Competition 1 for £180 but no 2s.

(Talking of tents, you might have worked this out already, but a good tip worth mentioning is to take any old bigger tent for Friday night. You can leave this up while you race, then you don't need to pack up on Saturday morning and your race tent stays dry if it was a rainy night.)

The lightest stove option is the solid fuel option, I think. I've not tried those, they seem like they might not boil water reliably, does anyone know any better? I do like drinking a few rounds of soup and noodles in the camp on Sat afternoon, so have stuck with a gas stove and refined it down to -

• 100g gas cylinder, has enough gas for 1 night and enough left over to pass the kit check afterwards if that happens
  
• A micro burner, eg Alpkit Kraku claims to be 45g but we got something off ebay that's very similar
  
• A titanium pan, but leave the lid and take a piece of foil instead
  
• 1 spork and share it
  
• And eat out of the pan, or directly out of those foil bags of dehydrated food
  

Did a very basic strength and conditioning session last night, legs are in tatters today! Clearly a lot more needed than I realised.

Now I've got one, I'm a convert to Jetboil Zip. No faff & super quick water boiling more than offsets the weight & size difference.

If only there was a way of condensing these into something easier to carry and read on the move...

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Quality smash round Helvellyn and the Dodds today in some lovely inclement weather. Missed a CP on the return leg (ran past it and missed the marshal hiding behind the cairn), which added about a km of uphill. Frustrating as I was following a few confident looking runners, but also looking at my compass thinking our bearing was wrong because we hadn’t hit the CO yet, lol. Felt good to have the beans to just smash it back up the hill without much trouble. Feels like I’m getting some form back!

Cut out and laminate the relevant bits? Or OS used to offer print on demand of any selected area (if you're crossing lots of edges).

Something like a mobile phone?

Anyone doing the London 10000 tomorrow? I got a free entry and I'm off at 10, which I think is probably the big boy wave. I ran 43 something for 10k at Hackney last weekend, but my preparation has been atrocious as per usual. Cans of Stella and a pizza.

There's always the next race to concentrate on

^ & ^^ tongue in cheek above. I'm plotting on OS App & website then using the GPX in viewranger as a breadcrumb trail.

These (well the middle 5, ditching 2 saves 300g) are Plan B for if the tech breaks, although the general bearing i'm headed on is pretty much much 180° so that'll be Plan C...

Also breaking in some trailtalon 290. I've sized up .5 and they're very roomy as a result, but very comfy (no heel slip) & feel good on different surfaces.

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Yes. See you there. I'm in the blue wave.

I'm hoping that the residual marathon fitness somehow translates into speed...

lovely day for it!

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would shout and wave again / 10

Well that wasn't quite a disaster. Went out way too hard. 17 minutes through 5k. 35.16 through 10. Roll on the next one.

^ flying! Nice one.

Cheers. I've got another one in about four weeks. It will be interesting to see if some decent training makes a difference.

Ah, give it your best shot!