Running

Ditto this, I've an aging 920xt which can be picked up for very little now and just keeps trucking

Anyone got any recommendations for a hydration vest/pack for trail running?

I tend to get very hot when running so anything that indexes high on breathability would be a massive bonus…

I've got a camelbak circuit which i really rate especially in the heat with very wicking material where you need it. It sits nice and high has a bladder and front pockets for bottles and/or gels but limited storage for anything else. It is pretty minimal and lightweight my main gripe is the front zip pocket isn't big enough for my not particularly large phone so i have to put it in a zip lock bag and put it in the back. I've also got a Skins hydra vest which i so hot i can only use it in winter so don't put that on your list

For long runs I really like my camelback marathon, it’s pretty small so doesn’t add too much heat, in summer I freeze the bladder before I run and it cools me down a bit…

More recently I’ve been using a flip belt and camelbak 250ml bottle, one in hand and one in the belt, when empty they disappear in there and get forgotten until the end of the run…

I got one from decathlon - decent amount of pockets including multiple ones on the front that fit my massive phone. Mine is red so presumably makes me run faster too, like red shoes.

I freeze the bladder before I run

This had never occurred to me and it's genius.

Thanks @Retro_Bastard, @Sainsburys_Ed and @hats

Have a look around online if your looking for anything Camelbak as 20-30% discount seems to fairly standard but still a little more expensive than Decathlons prices which are generally unbeatable for their price-performance across most of their lines. Check sizing for running packs as well as it'll drive you mad if it swings about or rubs anyway. Many come in at least 2 different chest sizes.

This is a good point - it needs to fit. Part of the reason I got mine at decathlon was so I could try them on (if you do this, make sure you're wearing what you would wear for running - this applies more to people with boobs I suppose).

I had a look at the Camelbak sizing and it says one size fits most but I've got a 37" chest and have it adjusted almost to the minimum so i would say much bigger than a 40" chest could struggle definitely no bigger than a 42 but some of Decathlons new packs come in 3 sizes and the top of the line one looks packed with features and is only 40 quid so has to be worth trying on at that price. I've used a really expensive Salomon bladderless vest and whilst being extremely light and comfortable in the heat the durability of the material was terrible and even catching it on brambles and twigs ripped it to bits.

What's the current hotness for running shoes that will mainly do 5 and 10k runs on tarmac?

Possibly a weekly half marathon if I can get my distance up without knackering something.

I've been running in Adidas Solar Boost for years, but it looks like they're old-hat now.

Will you specifically do those distances? Seems a curious thing that happens quite a lot in running and I never get it. Like if cyclists only did rides that are the length of time trials

I have an omm trailfire vest, which I really rate. I couldn't find anything lighter and more breathable

I miss going for a run with illness and now fucking over my ankle haven't had a regular run in over a month. I can feel myself getting unfit

I love the Nike Vaporfly - I think they're a great all rounder. The Invincible run is what I pair these with and that would also suit your need (if comfortable).

In adidas, then something like the adizero adios pro 2/3

Hoka clifton, Saucony Endorphin are two which I see a lot of people in as a similar all rounder trainer

Yeah, I’ve just got some endorphin speeds, and they’re very impressive

Last 10k I did was a load of fluorescent Nike at the front. Vaporflys I guess? I always like UltraBoost and heard good stuff about Hoka.

I think the Vaporflys are still the fastest out there but I'm on my second pair and they still feel wierd mostly due to the bounce but they are narrow in the midfoot and the height does make them a little unstable cornering and if you pronate/suplinate the height, lack of stability and how they accelerate your roll through will exacerbate any wonk you've got going on. They are undoubtedly faster than anything else at all speeds if you have narrow highish arches and decent form which i probably a lot less people than are running in them probably doing themselves more harm than good wearing them they're everywhere now and i've even seen guys wearing them in the weights room which is just stupid. They are coming up heavily discounted in older colourways everywhere online so not even much more expensive than a decent mileage shoe. I've got endorphin speeds and on my second pair of pros and i wear them both a lot they suit more foot shapes and feel much more natural like a normal trainer but faster. My long runs are rarely much longer than 20 k now so use the speeds and use the pros for faster stuff. The pros are a little quicker than the speeds but harder on your feet. I'm used to carbon plates now but if i run in the pros even 3-4 times a week i have to roll my feet out on the hard ball as they start to ache. Based on that i think endorphin speed as an introduction to this new shoe tech and taking it from there would be a sensible approach.

This happened to me over Dec, good news is after a couple of weeks back to regular running and I'm feeling like it's all coming back. First week felt like I'd never run before and was pretty tired but the legs adapted pretty quickly.

Same i had 4 weeks off with that relentless cough that has been doing the rounds and ran just 5 miles 3 days in a row this week and my legs were trashed like I'd never run before my conditioning and top end tails off after a couple of weeks but the pace and how i felt whilst running was surprisingly OK once i got rid of the last of the snot so just have to take it easy for the rest of the month focusing on consistency then build volume during Feb then start with some intensity in March 🤞

Will you specifically do those distances? Seems a curious thing that happens quite a lot in running and I never get it.

This is me. I like plans and building up to things. I can't just "go for a run" unless I've no other option. I need to have a target distance in mind and almost always a specific route. I like the routine of it.

Part of it is wanting to compare myself to previous efforts, and having the same route removes one of the variables. Another part of it is that if I didn't have a plan of "Run 7k today" then I'd just go for a run, get to about 1km and the "fuck it valve" would blow and I'd give up and come home having only run 3km or so.

The only time I just "go for a run" is where I can't have planned things before. Usually this is when I'm away from home on holiday or for work.

One of the nicest random runs I did recently was on holiday at lake Annecy in France. We rented bikes and cycled to the Sevrier beach with wife and daughter. My daughter wanted to go for a run so she started with me but was complaining of a sore calf after 400m so we doubled back and I dropped her off. I then turned around again and ran 2.1km away, turned around and ran back to make it an exact 5k. Back into the beach area, trainers and socks off and jogged straight off the end of the jetty into the lake. Bliss.

Like if cyclists only did rides that are the length of time trials

I used to do lots of Audaxing, so I'd often do my own rides that were as close to multiples of 50 or 100km as possible.

Thanks going to give my ankle a try out this weekend in the daylight on the flat no fields no hills !

https://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/rechargeable-deep-tissue-strike-muscle-massage-gun-ps1999-with-code-delivered-at-mymemory-4067815

£20 if you fancied a generic one to test with?

Cheers, but impulsive me already has an Achedaway Pro. Delivered yesterday.

Seemed to have unanimously good reviews, is cheaper than the cheapest Theragun with similar specs, and has replaceable battery.

Also got 5% off the price because I was distracted during checkout for enough time to be emailed a discount code for my next purchase. Pretty sure they didn't intend it to be used on this one, but I was happy enough to accept.

Off the back of that Vaporfly talk; I'm doing almost entirely trail running, some asphalt between sections here and there, sure. I've been really happy with my Salomon Wildcross for the woodland and waterlogged fields at this time of year - the lugs are super grippy and stable. However, I purchased some Sense Ride 4 for dry hard pack summer trails, but I've found them a little uncomfortable around the end of my 6-10km runs. After speaking to a friend they suggested light trail shoes tend to have, thinner, less cushioned soles so can be hard on the feet as a result, and they personally don't bother with them, especially on more solid surfaces. Anyone else agree with this?

So, looking to find perhaps a more cushioned road shoe that also has a bit of tread and stability, which would handle some dry trails for summer. Anyone have any recommendations to start with? Maybe just buy a road shoe and shut up?

Back to the Vaporfly chat, from that description they sound treacherous if you were to take them on the trails?