Running

Before I post in the classifieds, is anyone interested in some Nike running long sleeve tops in size xl. Also got a brooks long sleeve running top in xl.

I may return to Beachy this year, I took last year off having done the previous five or six. Very love/hate relationship with that, but I have unfinished business there.

Has anyone used the Inov8 All Terrain Pro Vest? I need a larger solution than just a bumbag for the Lake District next week.

where are you based @juanito i have a spare salomon vest you can borrow if you can get to morden (or clerkenwell mon-weds)

edit: this one http://www.salomon.com/uk/product/s-lab-adv-skin-5set.html

After abandoning my running plans for this year I've pretty much lost all motivation to run. I'm slowly getting back into it. Loss of fitness is a big de-motivating factor I think but having no goal to work towards isn't helping.

So any suggestions for a half marathon-ish distance (don't really want to take on a full marathon again just yet, name in ballot for London) preferably off road, November sort of time? I'm based in Berks but could probably sell a weekend away with the gf, but not too far.

My gf just entered Conwy half. I think it's in November and sounds lovely, especially for a weekend away.

there's a handful down the bottom of the page here: http://www.maverick-race.com/races

you may see me at the surrey one, not entered yet but seriously contemplating.

edit: the 'dark' races all seem to be 15km (but hilly as fook I bet) for the long runs

took a punt on a pair of under armour trail shoes

http://www.underarmour.co.uk/en-gb/mens-ua-fat-tire-ascent-mid-running-shoes/1289139.html?dwvar_1289139_color=296

looked weird but like the idea of the sock/gaiter style upper for keeping shit out of the shoes and the sole is meant to be quite nicely cushioned for running and seems to have an interesting grip pattern (found I was picking up endless small stones in the tread of my inov-8 roclite 280s)

arrived today and they are easily the most difficult shoe to get my feet into i've ever put on. it's like pushing your foot through a livestrong bracelet and getting the heel in was a major hassle, but once they are on they have a snug but comfortable feel to them, they would definitely not be useful if i was planning shoe changes such as on spitfire 24hr or from a drop bag in a point to point as i think deep into a race you'd be too fucked to wrestle with them. you definitely need to put them on and leave them on.

will try them out on a mixed terrain run later if amazon ever deliver the parcel i'm waiting in for

Ooh, thanks for the offer. I'm in west London so maybe not the most convenient.

I think that might be a bit small for what I want, it's the pack on the inov8 vest I like the look of.

@HatBeard, @ewanmac - thanks for the suggestions. The Conwy half looks to be all on roads but well located for some exploration of the North end of the Snowdonia national park if we went up for a (long) weekend. HB's Maverick series looks like it could be fun, 16k through the New Forest in the dark tickles my fancy... @Pifko?

Also found the Goathland full mara/half/10k, which looks like it could be stunning scenery but probably too far. 12 hours on public transport!

I'm up for that!

will try them out on a mixed terrain run later

So I stepped out the door to spitting rain, jogged to the end of the road and down towards the local park. I hadn't got further than about 400yds before the heavens had fully opened and I was already soaked through completely.

I continued to the park and proceeded to have some of the most fun I've had running zooming straight through the 4 inch deep puddles that covered the full width of the gravel/dirt path, occasionally wandering off onto the grass/mud as the mood took me.

I could feel the shoes filling up with water and thought well fuck these dont drain very well and put up with the slosh slosh as I ran. Except as soon as I got away from the giant puddles and back onto tarmac the sloshing was gone and while I knew my socks were wet I couldn't feel any water in the shoe at all so in fact they drain amazingly well.

grip held up on pavement, grass, mud, dirt, wet wooden decking (although i was surrounded by marsh on either side so I wasnt going to push my luck there).

I am actually pretty bloody impressed. only issue is my calfs were still a bit sore from tuesdays run so I only did just shy of 3 miles so need to test having them on my feet for a bit longer.

Anyone got advice for a time-constrained 7 week half plan to get me back in a competitive state for Copenhagen in September?

Training goals have pretty much gone out the window looking after my pregnant partner recently but I don't want to waste the opportunity to get a decent time down as have already booked flights + hotel etc.

Can pretty comfortably go under 1:30 untrained at the minute, but haven't ran in a few weeks and need to get semi serious now as I would like to get as close to to 1:15 as possible.

^ I'm running copenhagen too! i'll probably be about an hour slower than you though given my current fitness.

I'm doing something similar for the GNR.

Plan is to do 2/3 weeks of 'steady' running, getting up to 55/60 miles at sub 7 average pace. Then 3 weeks with 2/3 sessions of faster running, i.e. 24 minute tempo, 5 x threshold miles, 3x 2 miles, hill sessions. Then a 4 day taper. job done.

I've just looked at the route again in more detail. Zoikes

hadn't got further than about 400yds before the heavens had fully opened and I was already soaked through completely.

I continued to the park and proceeded to have some of the most fun I've had running zooming straight through the 4 inch deep puddles

I'm usually not a fan of a mid run/ride soaking. However going out when it's belting down and being transported back to age 4 is just brilliant ☺

Its probably not very good for the washing machine, but needs must when your mojo escapes

I've just looked at the route again in more detail. Zoikes

haha don't say that, it'll be fine! * puts fingers in ears * lalalala

the route actually finishes a stones throw from there. plan to recce the first 20km in next week or two then go back to cover the final 40km a couple of weeks before the race (the only points where there's train stations near the start and finish).

Why not just do the whole thing yourself one weekend? £95 is ridiculous for a run that anyone (with a marathon under their belt) could do with minimal prep.

[Edit] I'll come & run it with you, if you want to run it for free.

this is step one on my marathon prep as I am nowhere close to marathon ready & still 2 stone over my previous marathon weight and haven't ran regularly in 2 years so I will be doing a shit-ton of walking with some running downhill thrown in to spur me under the 12hr cutoff which means a lot of time on my feet which means self-sufficiency is not as easy if you're not going past a ton of shops. to walk it outright would probably take about 14 hours given the elevation and terrain i'm sure the shops in that region aren't even open for 14 hours a day. that's fine if you split the course in training but in order to have a crack at the full length requires some support.

the money goes on the increased insurance risks with an ultra length race, aid stations and marshalls (and most importantly medals obvs). given the size of the field for ultras and the size of the course they need to handle i'm ok with the increased entry cost.

i refused to sign up for hackney half this year over the £55 cost, am happy to pay the money for this.

When you see someone with a camera, pretend you're having fun.

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Nice clag. Lakes?

the money goes on the increased insurance risks with an ultra length race, aid stations and marshalls (and most importantly medals obvs). given the size of the field for ultras and the size of the course they need to handle i'm ok with the increased entry cost.

I'd guess there's a chunk of profit to add to all that? By comparison Beyond Marathon events are not for profit so their prices better reflect actual costs behind organising ultra events. There's variation of course, and my comment on profit is not a criticism - race organisation is some folks livelihood.

Horizontal hail to boot! Rydal Round fell race at Ambleside Sports. Was quite the hoot.
Put my jacket on about 100m later.

Rydal Round! Looks like you're loving it. :) That's been my only fell race to date, slightly better weather this time three years ago:

@juanito gave me a lesson in running downhill that day. I'm still crap at it though.