Running

I have multiple pairs (of the same make/model) on the go at the same time. Generally one relatively new, one middle aged and one quite old.

I wear them on rotation (to give them a chance to dry out - from both rain/mud and sweat) and so I get a good feel for how much cushioning is left in the oldest ones. When I start to notice that the older ones feeling really dead with much less cushioning/bounce then I order a new pair and retire the oldest.

From the Strava logs it seems to be some time after 600km for my Saucony Jazz (the proper running ones, not the retro fashion ones), and my oldest Saucony Peregrine trail shoes are still going at 800km and don't hugely different to the ones that only have 50km on them.

Let's see what Strava says:-

Saucony Peregrine 4 Oct14 Green 800.7 km
Saucony Peregrine 5 Jan16 Blue 667.3 km
Saucony Peregrine 10 Dec20 Blue Steel 54.9 km

Saucony Jazz 17 Nov15 Red 655.7 km
Saucony Jazz 18 Sep16 Yellow 512.9 km
Saucony Jazz 21 Jun20 Blue 100.4 km

The retired ones are:-

Saucony Jazz 17 Oct14 Silver 639.4km
Saucony Triumph Sep13 Gold 620.1km

(Obviously different brands/models will perform differently. Plus I'm a lumbering 95kg smashing the shoes to pieces rather than the daintily striding svelte 75kg I should be.)

Anyone run any of Offa's Dyke path? I'd like to do a few days of running with a bivvy in late April/early May, and this seems like a lovely and straightforward route (nav wise). I'll be based in Bristol, so was thinking of maybe doing some of the southern sections in the Wye, but any suggestions welcomed..

Thanks very much @Retro_bastard, @Chalfie, @doubleodavey, @hats & @Greenbank :)

My favourite trainers are Brooks Green Silence, Discontinued about 10 yrs ago.
I think they were one of the first "eco" shoes and extremely light.
I think at the time they were available they were considered to be "racing flats" or some other similar term.
I still manage to buy unused pairs when they come up on ebay.

Anyone have any suggestions for a current trainer which could be a replacement for these?

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Oh, I once ran a HM pb in a pair of Green Silence! I'm trying to remember what they felt like; I think the closest I've come since then might be Hoka Rincon, which might be a tad firmer but a good combination of light weight and cushioning, and a nice smooth ride.

On shoe-talk, has anyone tried Saucony Ride 13? I'm mainly asking because they're currently £77.50 at Up and Running, which seems like a veritable bargain in this day and age.

I've had my current running shoes for a few years now, Brooks something or others - the sole looks as good as new and the cushioning still feels fine. Can they really be dead?

I keep em for a couple of years.

Yes! I ran the Mercian Challenge last year (2019) which is the first 100 miles from Chepstow to Montgomery.

The path is very well way marked with the little acorn signs. There is a fair bit of elevation but nothing too daunting - the highest point and largest climb is crossing the black mountains before you descend into Hay on Wye, but even that climb didn't seem that long.

It's very scenic, passes through small villages and towns often though so plenty of scope for food and drink before a bivvi a few miles up the path.

Haven't heard of the Mercian Challenge, but it sounds great! How long did it take you – assuming it was in one push? I did a Race to the Stones (100k) in 2019 and as enjoyable as the challenge was, I've come to learn that I love shorter distances.

Was thinking of maybe doing 2-3 days of running, so 100 miles could actually work quite nicely and may even be enjoyable.

2 months in to my recent get back to some kind of fitness and my 5k time has dropped by 2 minutes (at the same relatively gentle HR), cadence is picking up from 160bpm to 164bpm (not trying to force it higher but it naturally rises as I get quicker), weight is down by 2kg or so, Resting HR down from 57bpm at the start of the year to 47bpm now (although that's probably more to do with being off the booze for the last 3 weeks). All things headed in the right direction.

I'll take a look at some Hoka Rincon 👍

Amazing what daft fartlek can do for a shite day

Yeah it was a good race. Checkpoints every 20 miles so quite long distances between but well stocked. It's run at the same time as a longer race that covers the whole length of the Offa's Dyke path.

Took me 30.5 hours, which I was relatively happy with. The final section was half really nice and half steep hill after steep hill so by the final few miles I was done, suffering from sleep deprivation and hallucinating, desperate to go to bed. My own fault really, hadn't eaten anything since the final checkpoint and took my mind off the race management as I was thinking I was close to the end. Got lost a few times during the second night which didn't help morale. Pretty sure I wouldn't have made those errors with a fresh head. At some points the map just didn't make sense but looking at it after I couldn't see why I was confused. Should have just stopped for a few mins and run through the basics. Came 5th after starting dead last (staggered start to avoid some pinch points in the first mile or so) and passing a lot of people in the second half.

That sounds brutal but amazing, did you enjoy it? full on type 2 fun.

Buying high end trainers and swapping after 3-500 miles makes them more expensive per mile than the car.
So , after several pinged calf I’m actually starting to enjoy a run ,I definitely agree with the thought that you need to get fit to run rather than running to get fit .
But what’s happened to our cycling habits ?
The Roads around here are quite hostile in the peri lockdown , running seems to have less chance of receiving abuse atm

Buying high end trainers and swapping after 3-500 miles makes them more expensive per mile than the car.

I buy mine in sales for half price, so ~£60, so if I get 600km from them I'm getting 10p/km out of them. That's cheaper that my bus or train commute (remember those?) and way less than a car (which is >20p/km even with my ancient cheap shitcan once you factor in a fair share of VED, MOT, Parking permit, insurance, fuel).

Thought it was worth raising the subject of running at night and what men can do to be more considerate runners. Been discussing this with friends today as I had never really thought about it but a tweet from Caitlin Moran yesterday caused me to think more deeply about it.

Yeah actually most of it was very enjoyable. We had two clear nights but not too cold and a nice sunny day that wasn't too hot. I ate and drank well and spent the first 80 miles with a mate who 1) is more experienced than me so we walked a lot to conserve energy and keep a decent average pace - as opposed to running too much early on and crashing into the wall relatively early in the race, and 2) can talk and spin a tale so we just chatted pretty much the whole way which really helps pass the miles and take your mind off the little aches and pains that can otherwise become big (in your head) things.

It was probably only the final 10 miles where the wheels fell off that I would say was type 2 fun, the rest was actually fun at the time too!

I find running up behind people you can't do the right thing. I make people jump all the time by accident when I feel like I have been quite loud as I approach and often cough or clear my throat as the initial noise to make someone notice me. Then it's a cheery hello or excuse me in a raised voice. Then I often stop running and repeat louder, sometimes several times before anyone notices you're there. If people are chatting and they are facing away from you it can be really hard to hear what's coming from behind.

I really pissed off a chap once who admitted he was deaf in one ear but also said I had snuck up on him when I'd made an attempt to make myself known several times already, getting louder as I approached. When he finally looked around I was closer than he was expecting which gave him a shock. I wasn't right on his shoulder or anything and felt like I'd acted reasonably but he was really angry even after I apologized for making him jump and explained that I had called out several times. It bothered me that I'd caused him distress and I thought about it a lot but not really sure what else I could do apart from hang right back and shout really loud but that feels pretty rude too.

Sorry, not a direct answer to your question but relevant I think... I always smile and wave at runners and cyclists I see when out running, hopefully it comes across as friendly and not creepy.

Great question. I don't have an answer but I am a keen-o for saying hi and sometimes wonder if I should just leave it and leave people to their space to be undisturbed

I think the crossing the road one or making a lot of space is the best. Did it on tonight’s run and it was so easy.

I’ve messaged a few people at Strava today to encourage them to make the beacon feature free for all users rather than only a paid feature.

I think if we all just think about our privilege as men and actively try to be considerate then that’s a great step.

I don't run at night and tend to run in places that are generally nice and wide. If I'm out walking at night I'll cross the road or move into the road if someone is coming the other way.

I'm also not afraid to stop and be patient (especially on one route that has a short thin alleyway). 30 seconds waiting isn't going to ruin my run.

Even the thinnest part of one of my normal runs (https://goo.gl/maps/X5oegWqTeShTKB8F6) has been widened by people trampling wider due to social distancing.

final hard marathon training session done (unless it gets delayed) which was 20k at marathon pace plus warm up and cool down.

went a bit too hard as the expected headwind for the first half was a tailwind, and then worked hard to keep ahead of pace for the second half, carried on to round it up to half marathon, ended up with a 1:27 half marathon which given i'm 2.5 weeks into the biggest run block I've ever done so quite pleasing.

used 1 normal and one caffeine maureten gels, they went down well, a slightly gippy tummy at the end, but made the 5k back home just fine, not sure whether it was the caffeine, the gel or the fact my eating today has been completely random.

20k at marathon pace

Good session on a windy day!

In anticipation of a house move and having more space to have stuff we've just ordered a Concept2 rowing machine. Very exciting! #vaguelyrunningrelated

Wish I’d bought a concept2 or a skierg at the start of lockdown. My old boss is ranked top 5 for both in the 2000m which kinda put me off 😂