Running

Amazing effort. That's a decent day out on the bike, on foot it's just mind blowing.

Which pub in Andover was tempting you? Feel I need to visit it next time I'm that way as it must be worth it.

Thanks all.

Yes, @Philipflop I was self-sufficient apart from when I popped into the house at about 82 miles for a fresh pair of socks.

@andyp - Literally anywhere serving beer would have done. It felt like a really long way from my house to Andover, which was the next big milestone on my route (actually about 18 miles) and I was pretty tired and getting demoralised thinking I wasn't going to make it to 90 ATCF so why bother etc etc. Decided to actually check how far I had come (tracker site showed distance ATCF) and realised I had two hours to cover 10k ATCF. My route was pretty efficient so I figured I could probably walk it but would try to get there in time for last orders in the village pub in Longstock. Of course the pub was closed by 2330 when I arrrived in Longstock but it worked in tricking myself into continuing!

I can't belive you popped home, I'm incredibly impressed with your willpower, I'd have taken to my bed I think.

I planned my route that way so if I was having a really bad day then I could just stop at home and get to bed at a reasonable time. As it was I was feeling ok at that point, which makes it easier to carry on. If I was in a low point then it might have been more tempting to stop.
I had 6 hours to do about 22 miles, I think, which meant both goals were still achievable. New socks and shoved in a few forkfuls of vegetable stir fry (containing actual crunchy vegetables, not often found in running foods) and I was good to go.

I only realised earlier it must have been approaching 10pm as I was getting obsessed with stopping in Andover - around the time I'd normally be going to bed. Body and brain are both sending their normal "it's time to go to bed" messages, I just didn't realise that was why!

It's quite interesting trying to figure out why you feel a certain way* - sometimes you don't realise until a bit later on that it's the "3am dip" or you just needed some proper food because it's a couple of hours past lunch time. Often just understanding why you're suddenly feeling bad can lift you out of the mental dips, which often results in feeling physically better too.

*apart from the obvious "just run a long way" reason

Often just understanding why you're suddenly feeling bad can lift you out of the mental dips, which often results in feeling physically better too.

Something that I suppose comes with experience.

I'll never take on something as insane as you but learning how to read your needs, feelings and thoughts while putting yourself under intense physical pressure is not something that comes natural to people. It requires making mistakes and learning from them.

It applies to cycling your first century, climbing your first big mountain, doing your first long swim etc etc etc

I wouldn't be surprised if it's something that cant really be masterered too...so many variables!

actual crunchy vegetables, not often found in running foods
.

I wouldn't be surprised if it's something that cant really be masterered too...so many vegetables!

ftfm (fixed that for myself)

Hill sprints really clear the throat and lungs huh.

Can anyone remember making the jump from half marathon/marathon to ultra and what changed? Did you do more long slow miles or just stay the same and trust it would all come together?

I did a lot of reading up on training for my first ultra, everything said slow down (more than you think you need to) and just focus on time on feet. It's good advice but I'd keep up the interval/hill work too to maintain the speed/strength you have.

Marathon you tend to have more of a time goal so you'd do long runs with target pace sections, or target pace workouts. Don't generally see those in ultra plans.

I don't know about mastering it but I've definitely gotten better at recognising that I'm in a low patch and figuring out what might help. Sometimes it's things you can't control like the sun rising but just knowing you'll feel better in an hour or so still helps you get through.

Amazing result again. Well done!

Ok, this is nothing compared to the mega effort above but I'm now 2 years out from a pretty major leg break that had a load of metalwork holding my femur together. I had been tempted back into running a year ago but needed to take it easy as bone density was low and actually ended up just riding a lot in summer as it's lower impact. But with work demanding too much time and shorter days I hardly have time to ride so have been rediscovering running. It's very sporadic but normally just twice a week though sometimes less.

I got back to London last week after three months away and had a great weekend with friends but burning the midnight oil and all that fun stuff. By Sunday (last) night I was pretty beat but realised I'd done no sport or anything wholesome for a good week. I got down to my mum's (Hampshire countryside) in the evening and just felt the urge for something to justify the homecoming dinner. Cue 11 dark km through the woods and hills around which did the world of good. Not really going for it too much, I can generally maintain around a 4:10/km pace or a bit less and was happy to find that a few late nights hadn't undone this.

But the big news is that my mum told me this morning that a package had arrived for me and I remembered the Atreyu 'Artists' I had ordered months ago. I obviously had to give them a spin at lunch and must say that they're like nothing I've ever worn before – my first proper race shoes. Bearing in mind I never run two days on the trot and 11k was a big one for me I tempered my expectations. But these things just want to move and I rattled off 7k with 3:55/k pace. It felt bladdy amazing and on the flat really like flying. So much fun and this might be what I need to actually stick to a routine.

Very keen to see how close to 18 minutes for a 5k I could get but I think I'll not get ahead of myself but just enjoy it. Anyway, sorry for blowing my own trumpet but more to say that first impressions are very good, if anyone was wondering. I was quite pleased to find a pair of Mavic socks that went quite well.

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Despite your modesty 3:55 is fucking quick even in running circles far less after a femur break. Amazing!

Those look incredible also been really tempted by Atreyu for base miles. Nice touch on the socks never stray too far from your roots.

I do a fair bit at slow miles, I try do 80/20 but it’s really like 65/35 so that won’t be a huge jump and it’s only 33 miles so maybe I’m just over thinking it.

Any reading suggestions are welcome.

Can anyone remember making the jump from half marathon/marathon to ultra and what changed? Did you do more long slow miles or just stay the same and trust it would all come together?

Many more slow miles, gradually extending weekly long run.

Also back to back / double day runs, more run commuting carrying stuff.

I didn't do much faster training stuff but did race 5k's in and around training and found running slow hadn't made me slower, but I possibly could have gone even faster / got injured if I'd done more speedwork - i'll never know for sure which.

3:55 is fucking quick

This. Sub 20 min 5k is not to be sniffed at. Well done!

It depends a bit on whether you're looking to just do one / finish one, or to get a time.

If you're looking to just complete, then you can probably just go and do one.

If you’re holding 4min pace for distance, at night and through the woods then I’d wager you should be able to clock a sub-18

Got a cheap apple watch on ebay, really good leaving the phone at home. Right now I'm enjoying unstructured 3 to 5km runs around Hackney Marshes, but think I might do a couple of races in the new year.

I've looked at a few training plans, strava for instance, and they're broadly endurance & easy runs with a couple of interval runs too. All seems very familiar having used TrainerRoad for the last five years.

How do people do their intervals? It seems like the apple watch should have some nifty system where it taps you on the wrist to start and stop or something. The display seems pretty small to pay attention to a 1 minute timer & pace at the same time, though I haven't actually tried it. What apps do people use, if any? Or is it just finding a known length / time bit of my regular route that I can do intervals on?

Or is it just finding a known length / time bit of my regular route that I can do intervals on?

This. Or go join a club that has a track session. Or public session on track.

I used intervaltimer.com for non running purposes was quite useful. Think they had an app too, not sure if it'd work with your watch.

Anyone wanting to try some Altras? I've got from minimal to maximal on my whole rotation apart from my mud claws. Both uk 8.5 the older Escalates are free not as bouncy as they were but still got some life left in good condition so ideal for someone just wanting to try the shape/fit and zero drop before buying some. The others are the newer Escalate racer Tokyo edition. Very low mileage. Very minimal similar feel to the Asics piranhas i gave away on here but wider and the opposite of a Vaporfly in every way £30. I'll stick them up in classifieds later just thought I'd check here first. I'll put pics up if anyone is interested.

Hahah, thanks for the encouragement. It's just the fancy new shoes, I swear!

I'd be interested to see. I guess the next thing to do is a proper 5k effort and probably aim for a 3:40 pace and see if I blow up or not. If not then I can ramp things up but I should really do some interval training. With my irregular run schedule (aka lack of commitment) I normally just do what comes to a 40-odd minute tempo run and keep it steady.

Did this switch about a year and a half ago and came in here for advice too! Just basically took things way slower, sometimes walking breaks, eating real food and carrying water topping up when needed. I was surprised how possible it was to take the fitness from marathon into running twice as far (plus). Done just by slowing the pace to a steadier jog, varying the terrain so I didn't get bored and steadily extending my weekend long runs to around 30 milers (4 to 5 hours time on feet). I'm back to marathon currently.