Running

Your drive to enter events which are horrifically hard and long and mad, knowing that you won't be able to run it all/much is genuinely inspirational. Keep it up, and keep posting about it!

Yes! All about just entering races IMO. You'll never feel 100% ready, but with each race your confidence goes up.

Thanks, I appreciate that. Until I can get back to race weight (which is ultimately the goal of all this so I can properly run my next marathon again) I'm not really considering these proper races more just personal challenges I'm setting myself to keep me honest and provide something to train towards that I can't just phone in on the day.

Found out earlier I was the first one to sign up for Spitfire Scramble 2018. that #100 solo bib number better be mine! https://twitter.com/SpitScramble24/status/892698644868157441

@HatBeard I was toying with the idea of running (walking mostly) the RRUM mainly just ot see if I could do it, but other plans have gotten in the way. I know sections of the route, some scenic canal and river running to enjoy. Some less scenic motorway crossings!
The info said the route isn't signed but I have seen little RRUM (arrow) stickers up so there are some small signs to help navigate at least some of the course.

I pulled the trigger on Endure 24 solo entry this morning so that's my winter motivation sorted! I was thinking I might use the RRUM route as a training run when I get properly into it - at the moment I'm nursing sore nips after a 10k at lunch. Set off in balmy cloudy breezy, pissing rain started about half way through. More skin tight tops required, sorry everyone.

I don't know how you can run for more than 4 hours. I had a decent 2hrs 40 yesterday and was wiped out.

Today I learnt that I will never be a proper fell runner. I got halfway along Striding Edge, visibility diminished, had an attack of the heeby jeebies and turned back. Cue much self-loathing.

^^ good to know about the course.

Signing up was completely last minute decision as a guy from Run Dem mentioned he's doing the 100k last night.

Just stuck my name on the waiting list for Endure 24 Reading (thanks a lot!) Will be two weeks after my london to brighton but is also weekend after my birthday so could be fun way to celebrate and prepare for having a real crack at spitfire in july.
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Tbh I wouldn't underestimate that ridge. I don't know how experienced you are but I think your reaction is a natural one. Running along there in low vis wouldn't be my idea of fun.

I don't know how you can run for more than 4 hours.

As someone whose longest ever run was 4 hours I'm not best placed to comment but hopefully it's a case of slow down, walk every now and again to let muscles relax/recover a bit, eat plenty, stay hydrated, train a shit load, ignore your body telling you you're an idiot and you can go for longer!

@Arducius it's a long way off but having done the 24hr with a massive tent and camp bed this year I would say if you're not camping over on the friday go minimal. brain dump just in case I forget any of this by next year.

next years spitfire I'll have a tent as I'll likely arrive on friday but this time I will just go back to a small 2 man easy to put up and take down jobby fit for sleeping in and not much else as tearing the big 5 man one down post race was h o r r i b l e, I'll also pitch it in the quietest furthest area from the start line, then for race day I'll be setting one of these up as close to the start as I can get in the solo camping area for my personal race aid station...

https://www.blacks.co.uk/equipment/133718-eurohike-annexe-tent-green.html/546020/

inside I'll have my cooler box for food (which will also double as my seat as it was 10x easier to sit down on and still get up again than my camping chair this year), a 10l box of water to refill my bottles and a bag of spare kit and shoes to change into. I'll probably also have a camping stove to make a thermos of coffee and heat some pasta and a packet of stir in sauce to go into a couple of food thermos pre race to avoid cooking on rest stops and give me something still bordering on warm to go in the belly when the suns gone down.

somewhere I can sit to rest but also standup to get changed in with a door to keep rain and mosquitos out is basically all you actually need and while i dont regret having all the unnecessary extras this year streamlining things will help me stay more focused next time around I think.

Not experienced enough. I think I would be able to do it if I had someone with me who knew what they were doing. Then the next time I might be able to do it solo. Next summer....

Sounds like you've got a good plan! I was thinking as Endure 24 is fairly local I'd pitch a tent on the Friday, leave a load of food etc in it and set up a bed but stay at home to get a better night's rest and have a relaxed trip to the start on the Saturday. Then if I completely crash out on the course in the small hours I have a bed to crawl into for a bit of rest before heading home in the daylight.

To change the subject entirely: Anyone have any experience of the decathlon own brand running backpacks? They do one with a 2l water bladder which could be useful for longer training runs and wouldn't break the bank (unlike some others on the market).

I haven't personally, but have seen people wearing them at fell races.
I bought an Inov-8 race vest and I'm very happy with it - doesn't rub or move about without feeling restrictive. I was a bit short on time so decided to bite the bullet on something expensive rather than buying cheap and likely twice.

Sergei Bubka would approve of my 1s 5km time improvement from 2 weeks ago. Placing improved having seeded myself on row 3 at the start. Eating my bodyweight in bland pasta ahead of Saturdays long slow effort now.

On the subject of race vests - the Salomon ones are highly rated and popular. Just had a look online, they start at £100!

What was your time rhb? I want to try a flat 5km to see where I'm at, but keep putting it off knowing how awful they always feel!

^ you can get them cheaper than that. wiggle and sportsshoes regularly have them for £75-80

if you factor in the £20 worth of soft flasks you get with it, it's not that bad.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/salomon-adv-skin-5-set-1/ <- size & stock dependent.

£72 - https://www.sportsshoes.com/product/sal2369/salomon-adv-skin-5-set-running-backpack-~-ss17/

Good skills! I'm dead happy with my Inov8 one for now either way.
Just managed to bag a set of x-claw 275 for £60 delivered with a sportshoes code for 10% off and free postage.

So fingers crossed, bar getting my Walsh's resoled, that should be the last kit purchase for a long while! Race vest, full cover waterproofs and 2 pairs of shoes has definitely hit the bank account over the last few months.

What fell/trail shoes do other people go for?

How did you get free P&P?

Mate gave me a code - think they send you one every month he said.

17.28 gun (pb) 17.25 chip 17.21 strava.

Never type 1 fun though, regardless of performance!

What fell/trail shoes do other people go for?

Roclite & xtalon here

@HatBeard, @nefarious - that's what I was getting at. Decathlon stuff normally is reasonable quality in my experience. I'm not likely to use it more than once a week so as long as it can hold up through my training I should be ok. I do have a birthday coming up though...

Shit the bed - that's shifting some!!!

It's annoying, none of the performances fit inov8s fit my wide hobbit feet!

The roclites are standard fit and v.roomy, might be worth a look?