Running

Anything else I should be trying to incorporate into my joggling training? My aim for Barcelona is to get round in a semi-respectable time, nothing more.

Strength and conditioning, would be my recommendation this should help build strength and protect against injury. Nearer the time you'll want to think about fuelling etc but for now base miles + building a strong physical base will be good. Are you training on your own or with @Cycliste ?

Yeah I should be there (unless I'm on honeymoon!)

Yep, first marathon. Other than the parkruns (I've done three over the last 2 months) the last time I took part in a competitive running event was the school cross-country race. That would have been about 30 years ago. At the moment I'm trying to keep on top of aching shins and heels and a dicky knee, so I'm hoping I can stay injury-free until March.

Thanks for the advice.

Strength and conditioning, would be my recommendation this should help build strength and protect against injury. Nearer the time you'll want to think about fuelling etc but for now base miles + building a strong physical base will be good. Are you training on your own or with @Cycliste ?

Any strength and conditioning in particular? I do regular core strength work as part of my cycling training, and I've got two sets of exercises from my physio to do, concentrating on glutes and hip mobility (the latter is necessary as I have longstanding issue with bursitis in my left hip after one of my bigger MTB crashes) but I could add some other stuff if necessary.

I'm training on my own at the moment, and I suspect I will be for the foreseeable future. I did go for a run with @Cycliste in Mallorca, but she's too fast for me. She's running 60-70km a week, and seems to be happy cruising along at 4:30/km pace, which is way beyond anything I could do both in terms of distance and pace. The fact we live 500 miles apart also makes training together logistically tricky.

Yeah don't worry about running too fast during training. An occasional parkrun to gauge fitness and mix things up a bit will do. But I would also schedule one or two races as interim goals, maybe go up the distances, e.g. a 10k, then a half marathon something like 4-6 weeks out from the marathon. This'll give you some focus for your training rather than feeling like it's a long slog all the way to the big one. And you might learn things from running with a bib and other people, e.g. keeping a lid on the adrenaline and inevitable over-enthusiastic starting pace.

Besides that, I would pick a decent marathon training plan to follow. It doesn't have to be done to the letter (and the odd skipped schedule due to niggles, feeling too tired or life just getting in the way is OK) but it will give you an idea how to build up the mileage over a fixed period, and reassure you that you're doing it right. Some online plans are overly complicated with hills, interval sessions, etc. but something like Hal Higdon's plans are straightforward enough.

Finally, there's no harm in looking beyond "just get round" and having some sort of time target in mind, but focus on training at the right intensity and you might surprise yourself how much your pace improves just from a few weeks of increased training volume. A half marathon a few weeks out will give you a reasonable idea what you can aim for in the marathon, and more importantly give you an idea on a pace which won't cause you to hit the wall.

Has anyone got recommendations for winter tights?

I've got a really nice pair of Pearl Izumi Elite tights that must be nearly ten years old, and they don't make them anymore.

I have other Pearl Izumi ones (bit chafey) and some ASICS ones (same).

The Elites have an extra panel at the front for comfort.

Does anyone wear running pants with tights? I don't. Maybe that'd fix the other pairs

The Alpkit ones are good

+1 Alpkit

I wear merino boxers with them fwiw.

Runderwear and Ron hill basics, but I don't know any different, have been my winter running kit for about 2 years on my massive 5-10 km runs.

I have some inov8 tights that are new and seem good so far.

Raidlight sale at sport pursuit

https://www.sportpursuit.com/sales/raidlight-011019

Edit: include tights @doubleodavey

I've ordered some 3/4 alpkit ones, might have a go on the raid lights too, they're the same price from their shop as sportspursuit. Free shipping and free returns rather than SP where returns are a bit of a pain

The 3/4 Alpkit ones also get a thumbs up from me. Very versatile.

Decathlon (again...) are worth a look - I've a couple of pairs of tights at different weights and some boxer to go under them. All work well.

17.59 Parkrun in all the layers & slightly hungover = better than expected today.

EfM 2020 place secured!

7-9pm registration?

I'm going to see how the year goes and look to pick up a resale place Sept Oct time if I can get a good build from August onwards.

Yeah - totally missed the fact that entries went on sale yesterday and I'm not really in the habit of planning races so far in advance (this will have to change I think) but happened to see a post from Richard on fb earlier today about the 2nd wave of entries so thought I'd better go for it!

It's selling quicker than glasto now. I count myself lucky to have done the first 3, then unlucky to have 2 subsequent dns's.

Enjoy, I recommend the route @Philipflop took!

Excellent, keeping the forum representation / dot watching going!

I haven’t entered this year, wife wasn’t to keen on heading back to Milton Keynes again but will definitely be going back again in the future. Love a race that involves puzzles for early entry! Will see how it goes, maybe pick up a last minute place and go properly unsupported next year....

Let me know if you need any advice or the route gpx (although clearly rhb is the expert).

go properly unsupported

This will likely be my plan. My partner would definately not be up for supporting me (she'll have two kids to look after). Carry plenty of food and head for London or Cardiff* so pub/shop availability is high as I'm running low.

Any route advice greatfully received. I expect it involved a fair amount of roads heading into London this year? (and @rhb too)

*both places have good train services for getting home

EfM 2020 place secured!

Awesome!

I also have Deadwater in pencilled the calendar (carry your kit and food over a 6 day stage race), and hoping to fit in a Western States qualifier over the summer... Race planning is getting serious, I've bought a year planner!

I bought some new shoes. Zoom gravity.
They're definitely "future shoes"

I picked them up for £43 with delivery from lifestyle sports
https://www.lifestylesports.com/gb/mens-zoom-gravity-12204700.html?cgid=mens-performancefootwear-running&wgu=10245_186217_15748434565515_6f963d244a&wgexpiry=1582619456&source=webgains&siteid=186217

Apols for terrible link

7 9 and size 10 still available

Obvs, they made me fast as fuck.
They felt very different to my epic flyknits. They're snug as well there's not a lot of spare material. Unlike my stomach.

Scheduled for a 40 minute hilly run tomorrow, not sure I'll have the time to get to the hills though. What could I substitute for it?