Running

I ran in Pegasus for a year and really liked them. Changed to Asics Novablast and got quicker immediately. You might find it enough.

Ahh the new alphafly aren’t as bouncy as 1 and 2 so more similar in the feel to vaporfly.

I read an in depth thing on the differences really being how you increase pace.

Ones better for stride changers and one for cadence increases. I both can’t remember what one was what or even where I read it. So this has been entirely useless me saying.

I’ll probably use alphafly in the Ironman when it comes down to it, my feet are I think built for nike just reliable to not kill me.

Surely only an idiot would have another crack at sub3 less than a month after the last one?

Completely unrelated, has anyone done Leeds Rob Burrows Marathon before & could offer tips on accommodation options nearby or on the day parking near to the start? Any intel on the course also?

Asking for a friend, obvs.

Course is hilly.. there’s a monster, Pool Bank, right at 16miles.
It’s not a PB-chaser’s dream but the atmosphere is fantastic.

There’s a ‘Village’ hotel near to the start with lots of parking, plus lots of B&B, Guesthouses around Headingly. I can offer specific on-road parking suggestions if needed.

*all this assuming same route as last year

Maybe. I had Alphfly 1s and only really raced up to HM in them and had horrible arch blisters. Ended up ripping out the glued-in insoles and putting one in from another shoe which fixed the issue at the cost of a tight fit. Took them on a few solo big runs until the silly air things popped in one foot on a 50k and left me with hip pain for a month.
They are incredible for locking onto a given pace and just staying there.

Have moved on to Metaspeeds. No problems.

I had same thing in alpha fly v1s so just stuck to Vapor’s.

Can get both for cheap on sportpursuit at the minute

Thanks, this is the route apparently. https://www.strava.com/routes/3184913412313545820

Big climb, but some nice (my friend hopes) downhills too? Might help the legs to use different muscles.

Thanks for the accom info, my friend may drive over early doors but being close first thing makes things less stressful for sure.

In which case.. I’d suggest to your friend coming in via Meanwood road from Leeds city centre and finding some on-street parking on/around Grove Lane… short walk to Headingley and I ‘think’ these roads stay open throughout.

I’m contemplating the Leeds HM after a brutally wet and windy Boston (UK) Marathon yesterday. My second ever marathon and a big PB but my pacing and HR charts tell the story of a painful slog .. Strava says 5m elevation over 42km so definitely a fast course when you don’t have to wade through water and battle headwinds.

Well done!
There are never windless days in Boston (UK)! Having done that one- I found the monotony quite hard- bordering on soul crushing. And that’s as someone who has a deep fondness for that part of the UK.

If you buy direct from Nike they have a pretty much no quibble policy on replacing them.

I’ve popped two sets in what I consider an unreasonably short time (less than 500km) and the first pair through sports shoes was a bit of a nightmare to exchange, and the second pair I walked into my local Nike store and the cash was back in my account by the end of the day.

I’ve had another pair that got to 600+ before they popped, but I’d worn through all of the outsole by that stage so didn’t think that was too bad!

Me too, same arch blisters with AF2 as well.

I found Salomon ortholite insoles fitted best once the original had been ripped out of the AF1.

LM ballot places becoming even harder to come by: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-68918984

(I've had one ballot place from about 9 entries.)

Don’t want to run it anyway

You're a winner every year then.

it's a lot less tedious than running a marathon off the bike

Never had any interest, but snuck in and ran 25 miles of it once as my mate had a moody number. It's shit - far too packed to run properly, a route that avoids just about any part of central Ldn worth seeing and most of the crowds are bored of clapping random strangers after about 10 minutes.

I feel sorry for good runners who've put the work in and done other marathons because most people won't see them as 'proper' if they haven't done 'The' Marathon.

You're a winner every year then.

I used to win every year, by going out a few nights beforehand, and running the course each way, starting at Buck House, stopping at Blackheath for a sandwich and getting back to Birdcage Walk about sun-up. Was definitely first finisher, but never got a medal.

Any good suggestions for recycling/donating old running shoes? Time for a clear-out.

I saw a collection box in our local leisure centre. Orion harriers organised a collection of old trainers too.

I usually give any trainers with life left in them to Crisis at Christmas. Obvs, the preference is for decent regular trainers, rather than Five-Fingers or the like. The younger guys were always keen on any fashion trainers too.

How else would you warm up?

wow.

A record number of people have applied to take part in the 2025 London Marathon. Event organisers said more than 840,000 applications had been received, smashing the previous record of 578,000 set by last year's ballot.

Running a half on Sunday. Want to try and push for a PB if I feel good on the day.
Slightly torn between using the Metaspeed Sky Plus or Takumi Sen 8. My heart says use the Sen but do kinda want to complete a race the Metaspeeds as last and only time I raced in them was when I DNFd at Abingdon, so they need some good karma on them. But then they might not really make much difference on a half, besides just being a bit more comfy.