Running

Takumi is very flat footed IME and not like either the Vaporfly or Fuelcell. I've had both.

Gave the FC away because the sock like upper had an eyelet hole that gave me a sore foot on one side. It was actually agonising and caused me a week of injury. Gave them away to a club mate who loves them and bashed out a 3:04 marathon in them.

Vaporfly 3 has weird lacing at the first lace hole. The eyelets are really far apart so if you're narrow foot / low volume then it's hard to get a decent lockdown. Ok for short runs but blister causing above 20km has been my experience.

My current rotation is the Asics Gel Kayano 30 for long/easy runs, the Adidas PXS 2.0 for tempo and the Alphafly 3 for racing. You can race on the PXS2 if you want but they are hella heavy and after 20km you really start to feel it. Other good shoes I've found are the Asics Metaspeed Sky+ (not Edge) and the Adidas Boston 12 which is a brilliant all-rounder shoe (if the fit works for you).

For me it’s Streakfly as a daily driver and alphaflys for racing or if I’m doing a session I’m not I’m ready for!

Cheers, since the earlier post about the shortlist of two, two things have happened - 1 is that I've become unable to do the 10k I thought I was doing due to work, and 2 is that I identified the Boston 12 as a possible all-rounder to tick quite a few boxes. So pressure's off in terms of making a decision, and think will take the time to try the Bostons and possibly another option or two then likely go for them!

Is there a cheaper way to "try out" new shoes without simply shelling out the cash and then selling on the secondary market (presumably at a reasonable loss) if they don't work after a long run or two? I have historically stuck to ASICS as I know the sizing and haven't yet found a pair I don't get on with. Conversely the first pair of Saucony's felt fine in the shop but then tore my feet to shreds losing me about £100 in the process

Yeah I wondered the same thing! Plenty of nearly new supershoes on ebay, vinted etc suggest people are just going for it then taking the hit...

Good running shops will have treadmills for trying on what they think would work for you.

You just need to have the gall to not buy from them.

I don’t. But others may.

i try and find the shoe in good nick on vinted first to test and and see if i get on with them, that way, if i don’t the financial hit isn’t as bad. Takes a bit of patience but the frequency that good condition trainers are uploaded is decent.

Agreed but can you really tell fit based on 5 mins on a treadmill?

Usually pretty well.

Big fan of the Boston 12 here. Very good do it all trainer.

Planning on running a 50km at the weekend. Any tips? Route as yet undecided

Nice! Trail or road? Just treat it like a long run, bring some water/electrolyte and some nibbles.

I usually do a big loop or an out and back with a 10km loop at one end so you can just easily track how far you’ve gone and add loops as needed.

And try and do a big ‘ol turd before.

Vaguely thinking something like this.

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Nice! Also been pondering a big out and back on the Lea River. It’s a nice route - bit monotonous at times but you’ll be able to get a nice pint at the end.
It get quite busy with cyclists and walkers in sections but generally fine. Also plenty of opportunities to nope-out.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/186416239989?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=zO_ock3tQNi&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

I’m a big fan of the Boston 12’s and seems as though this pair on eBay may fit the bill size wise based on your previous post (not my listing btw)

Decent run, that. Take your card so you can get loads of food at the end, and public transport home.

Good luck!

I've very limited experience of this, but it's definitely a quick way to rule shoes out.

Excellent, thanks - heavily leaning towards those now

Thank you, much appreciated! In fact, have a watch set on those already so will see how they play out :)

16:36 Thames Path parkrun this morning, another 10 seconds off my v50 course record, and my fastest post-lockdown. Happy with that!

I'm following all the cheat shoe chat with interest. No marathon plans imminent, so really looking for something ideal for 5-10k range. Takumi Sen / Metaspeed of some sort seem worth considering. The only carbon shoes I've got are Saucony Endorphin pro, v2. Very comfy combination of cushioning and relatively light, but I'm not convinced they actually propel me along any faster. (Wore some well-used Endorphin Speed - nylon plate - this morning. Love those.)

my friend is very grateful for your advice, thanks.

Runners. I’ve started running/jogging/whatever recently and really enjoying it; but my outer left knee tightens up after about 20 minute and doesn’t so much as hurt as just feels incredibly tight and uncomfortable.
Is it just weak, unused musculature?
I stretch plenty, so not sure what it is. What are my next steps? Should I go see a gait specialist?

Get an exercise band, loop it round both feet, step sideways with one foot, bring the other one over to it, keep going. Then go the other way

IT band? Foam roll the side of your leg between knee and hip.

If I’m wrong you just did some nice foam rolling

Certainly sounds like IT band. As above, and also look up Walt Reynolds for a very effective strengthening exercise. Plus the usual generic advice to build up distance very gradually, and do your runs at an easy, conversational pace.