Running

Great article on Boston mara winner

Abingdon is pretty flat

Been there (last time they dropped the day after London and I'd pretty much cruised the last few km knowing that sub 3 wasn't on but assuming that I'd be GFA for the next year)
Know the feeling well.
Stopped my marathon ambitions for a while now.

Its so flat, so dull and mega windy when it wants. It was where I trained last time I did anything seriously and its a great place for running if you like treadmills.

Really don't know why they discontinued the Xtalon 190. They're my fave shoes for XC when the terrain looks too harsh for spikes. I've used the 212 as well, more bulky than the 190 but still relatively light I suppose, and probably more durable.

I just spotted these... they look very like the old 190s but with a new name and aimed at "swim-run".

https://www.inov-8.com/trail-running/shoes-by-activity/trail-running/x-talon-210-mens-womens-trail-running-shoes-orange

Cheers, yeah I've seen those. (Nice colour!) They may well be on the short list when the lugs on the 190 wear down. I wonder if they're essentially the same shoe, but with a slightly more substantial upper accounting for the extra ~20g?? Or maybe they're exactly the same and they're being more honest about the true weight. ;)

yeah they look very similar to previous iterations.

I think the weight numbers are just made up. I'm currently running in X-talon 200s but they weigh a ton... defiantly a lot more than 10g heavier than the 190s and also heavier than my old 212s.

Just arrived... #longreads

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Good luck to all for Sunday; could be brutal

Oof! I've dipped in and out of this but it's heavy going. In lieu of reading it cover to cover it also makes an excellent tofu press.

Keeping an anxious eye on the weather for Sunday, and doing my final couple of pacy sessions in the heat of the afternoon to attempt some sort of acclimatisation. I may be wearing a hat in a race for the first time since my debut marathon. (London Marathon 2007 = hot!) Also checked on supplies of P20 sun cream.

Defo one to read in small chunks... wish I liked tofu enough to make use of that tip.

Good prep stuff, don't forget to trim your toenails (v.carefully) on Thurs or Fri!

Hasn't Noakes subsequently said most of what he wrote in that book is tosh?

He certainly said the nutrition bit should be torn out.

I'm becoming an expert at running 5ks at endurance pace/hr. Telling myself that it's to allow my legs to acclimatise, not laziness

Looking at the forecast for Sunday I'm really tempted to get rid of the hair and beard. I may also be in a hat.

Don't do it, just think about the finish line photos!

It's been so long now losing the beard would probably make me look about 12 again!

Could be worth it then, sneak in with a world record Under 13 time

Hah! Now there's a thought...

A beard is good sun protection mind!

My club mate has been cultivating his beard for about 8 months, specially for the marathon. I believe he's having the same quandary.

Non-running/active recovery x-training day today: bike ride to Expo and back, 10 miles round trip.

Training beard.

what's the general thinking on time off running post marathon?

keen tog et going but aware my legs need some more recovery time, I've been riding and swimming so far, but wont have either option at the weekend.... should be enough time off right?

I'm feeling for the marathon runners this weekend, I'm no good with heat at the best of times, id be dialling back plans already personally but know some people like it hot...

I very much play it by ear with marathon recovery and re-build up. Usually a few complete days off, maybe a cycle in the week, back to a short run Thursday/Friday, max 10 miles the following Sunday. A couple of weeks to get back up to normal-ish mileage, 3-4 weeks for full intensity and a little longer to be properly race-sharp again.

I'm not a big fan of heat. I went to the top for advice, i.e. bumped into Mike Gratton (1983 London winner) at the Expo about an hour ago. "What's your advice for running in heat?" "Slow down." Fair enough Mike!

I'm normally in and out of Expo very quickly after picking up my number and some free samples of London Pride and Clif bars, but actually spent some cash today. Got my money's worth with Sweatshop and tried on shoes from Nike, Adidas and Brooks, in an attempt to find a good substitute for the Adidas Glide Boost which are now discontinued, and have NOT (contrary to Mr Sweatshop's thoughts) simply been renamed Supernova, which are now more like Ultra Boost in the sense of bouncing around with marshmallows on your feet. No, Adidas have lost me to Brooks once again, as the new Ghost 10 feel fab. I've always got on very well with the fit of Brooks, so until Adidas put their Boost back into a sensible pair of neutral shoes that are cushioned but not ultra-cushioned, I'll stick with Brooks.

As for Sunday, if my time target looks like it's going out the window, I need to rein it in and concentrate on the V45 race.

Were you able to try Brooks Hyperion?