Running

This. Vests are excellent for long (and short tbh) runs.

The osprey one is good, I've heard good things about the Salomon ones, and interestingly the Nike ones.

I have a vest with a bladder that worked well until I put the bladder somewhere out of the way and now I can't find it. The vest has a front pocket that fits a 500ml bottle of water though so it's still useful.

Has anyone got a core strength plan they have used alongside training for the marathon? Realise I should probably do something, but don't have the time/money to join a gym - any recommendations appreciated!

Do you have some dumbells at home?

I know this is pitched as a BEEFCAKE RAAAAAR! program but its actually pretty much about core strength if you're starting from scratch.

https://www.coachmag.co.uk/fitness/workouts/dumbbell-workouts

That’s the one I was thinking of getting. Thought it looked cool but yes damn expensive.

Basically need a netted piece with a peak.

I took piriteze yesterday and although it was hot I bailed on my 3 mile run. Only did a mile and felt shit all evening.

I also liked the look of that Patagonia duckbill for the run, good to note its not worth 25 quid. This heat is really fucking with the low HR easy run days, I had to walk up the hill on my standard route yesterday. Felt painfully slow.

I got a pair of fivefinger shoes (should really be called fivetoes!) recently and the left is incredibly comfortable, but the right shoe has a seam directly underneath my big toe and it was blister central last night. The blisters were long gone by the time I finished my run (26 degrees + 97% humidity doesn't help) and several more have formed over the course of the day. My left foot is slightly smaller than my right - could this be why this happened? Do I have a fat big toe?

Possibly. If it helps, an old wetsuit trick is using kinesiology tape to stop chaffing around the neck. Cutting a small piece to go under toe would work wonders. (Either on the toe each Time, or as a patch on the shoe).

Doesn't need to be th expensive stuff.

Nike training club app is brilliant for this. Some running specific strength videos and some general core stuff. All free and good variety

What HM plans do people recommend? Needs to be flexible to allow for life to get in the way at times. So far I've just looked at the generic RW's plans.
The HM I'm planning is on trails and in mid October. Currently runs are around the 3.2 - 5 miles twice a week. The last (and only) HM I did was about 2hrs 15 is so kind of aiming for that time but I was a lot fitter then...

Training your core under load is important - this can be achieved through weights and bands. Also look to train it across multiple planes of movement - twists, shoulder taps, deadbugs, bosu ball crunches, gym ball tuck crunches, hanging leg raises too.
If you dont have balls etc then benches, a towel of a wooden floor, something heavy can make do and mend.
I'd also say to not forget your back - a strong and mobile back will help keep your core strong and help keep your head up and breathing strong all the way through.

In this weather a 20min core/tanning exercise is a daily must do ;)

Hal higdon was suggested to me and worked great for HM and Mara

Well fuck-a-doodle-do!

10 x reps of the main hill/road through Greenwich Park with a 1 mile warm up and 1 mile warm down. 7 miles in total. Drank 600ml of water. Weigh 2.5kg less than when I set out and ten minutes after finishing, my HR was still over 150. Used to warm humid weather I am not!

I had in my head that Hal Higdon Poland were hard for some reason but that looks good thanks

More on the PBR from Russell Bentley here. https://youtu.be/E1iZc8rMDvA

Vaga are very well made,£25 posted in the UK.
https://www.teamvaga.com/

Interview with Ellis Bland https://youtu.be/tTCaPwyRObg

Footpaths around here have exploded with weeds etc now, one was so overgrown I couldn't even see the path haha.

Did I read something about councils / farmers etc not cutting back this year cos of covid costs and stuff?

Ultimate direction is fantastic if you’re a bit bigger. I’ve had two now and you forget you’re wearing them

All this talk of hats, whats the verdict on bucket hats for running?

Quite tempted to pick up the Ciele BKT hat made from reprive fabrics, but £50 seems a bit steep... Anyone use the £20 Hoka Adventure Bucket hat? Or possibly a Patagonia recycled polyester one, but I reckon that might be a bit hot.

First half marathon distance run as part of my London Marathon prep today - 1:45 exactly. Happy with that given that I left at 10am and it was already getting horrendously hot out there.

I used this Nike vest with 2x 250ml soft flasks and despite scoffing at the nerdiness of running vests in the past it was super practical and I was incredibly grateful to have something to drink from 10k onwards as the heat started to hit!

Hoka Adventure Bucket hat

this looks great, I just ordered one.

Nice! I went for the white, figured it might be cooler.

Yeah same, reckon it looks better too