Running

Ran a 100k ultra in a pair of Ininji socks two weeks ago. It was the first time I'd ever worn them, which was probably a stupid risk to take, but it paid off. Not a single blister or even the slightest rubbing, and I just wore the same pair start to finish (I saw some people changing, powdering or lubing up, but these worked amazingly). So dorky, but I'm a total convert now.

Nice work! Mebbe rest and take it easy for a day or two now before overdoing it and injury?

A few degrees down and some drizzle and I’m running a minute a mile faster with less effort. Temperature makes a huge difference to my running - way more than cycling

For a long time i've wanted to run Eastwards from Sidmouth beach along the coastal path. Mission accomplished. Ouch.

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Had a nice little jaunt on Friday in the Peak district. Went from the Snake Road, up over the Kinder Scout plateau (didn't actually do the summit), down into Edale, back up onto the plateau, obligitory trig point selfie on Kinder Low, down toward the Kinder Reservoir, realised I'd taken the wrong path and doubled back up the steep slope I'd been gaily trotting down, and back down to the Snake road.
Good fun, great being up early and on the top before anyone was about!

Has anyone found their daily commutes on bikes have helped them with their running?Not much mileage - about 5 miles each way 5x a week on 49x17 fixed ratio.

I’m running around 25-30mpw atm.

Yep, I do about 7 miles each way, it's good aerobic stuff and less impact on joints etc.

Sounds Ace, wrong paths almost always bring more fun.

More elevation for sure, but could have done without another climb at that point tbh. All good training!

Got me thinking about the Spine...

I did the London Surrey 100 ride on Sunday. Last time before that was four years ago. It was WAY easier this time after two years of running.

Running is much harder, on the bike you can ease off, cruise downhill for a break, etc.

I ran a three mile loop yesterday in a flat forest and then did it on a BMX. Both pretty hard going, but at least I could occasionally freewheel on the beamer

Has anyone used Maurten hydrogel sports fuel? I want to see how I get on with it but it says on instructions that you need to mix with 500ml of water which contains less than 40mg of calcium. From a brief google bottled water and filtered water both contain more than this, will that be a problem?

How are you that tolerant of this particular fuel? If they can’t compose it so it’ll mix with basic water shouldn’t they just >>>>>>>?

A mate who uses it just uses tap water and it's fine

cheers, thought as much but wanted to check beforehand

Never easier, just slower.

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Ha! I always forget that I know your brother! Congrats to both of you and I’ll text him for some mountain marathon advice... I’d like to do one too.

https://www.outsideonline.com/2400887/is-it-more-important-run-faster-or-run-longer?utm_source=pocket-newtab

This was an okay read, nothing groundbreaking at all. This made me smile:

In practice, I think the urge to crown one single variable as the most important probably isn’t very useful. It reminds of me an an example Mayo Clinic physiologist Michael Joyner sometimes cites: the final of the men’s 5,000 meters at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. The race was won by Bob Schul, who trained pretty much exclusively with twice-a-day interval workouts. The runner-up was Harald Norpoth, who relied on well over 100 miles a week of long, slow distance. Bronze went to Bill Dellinger, who later coached at the University of Oregon and did a mix of intervals and longer, slower runs. Exactly one second separated the three men. As a bonus, also in the race was Ron Clarke, who did mostly medium-paced runs that we would now call threshold training.

Has anyone ever had sciatica?

I ran 70 miles in a week, then 100 miles in a week about five weeks ago (not much fun). I had a bit of a twang in my thigh which then moved to my hamstring, but after a couple of weeks of fairly minimal running, I get a shooting sensation from my calf to my glute. Dr DoubleO has suggested sciatica. I'm 40 on Saturday so I'm due some failing limbs to go with male pattern baldness and white beard hairs

About 6 years ago I had a "sciatic nerve inflammation", cause unknown, but it was immensely painful - on the ground, screaming, levels of pain. Long story short, morphine and valium got me through the next few days and an epidural calmed it down further. By that time my left leg had wasted to the point i couldnt put weight on it and could only manage to walk about 200m with a stick. It was a fairly long road back, not helped by a bike smash a few months later that put me in critical care at UCH and removed 5 days of memory.

I still get low-levels of sciatica: pins and needles in my foot, sore buttock, stiff back, all that kind of stuff. For me, I need to keep on top of three things:

1. Flexibility - hamstrings (need to be able to touch my toes), hip flexors, calves and piriformas/ glutes, in that order of importance

2. Posture - I found alexander technique very helpful in giving a better awareness. Occasionally just lying on my back on the floor helps "straighten me out" too

3. Core - much more about activation, awareness and control than strength. So all the usual suspects, just done with very good form: clams, bridges, superman, plank, etc. On the other hand I did a load of dead lifts when I was getting strength back which seemed to get otherwise useless glutes working again

Yes, I have - still do occasionally. For me it's a sharp pain down the outside of my calf. Feels like I've pulled a muscle, although I haven't.

It goes away if I stretch my hamstrings and lower back by lying on my back with a strap or stretchy band around the ball of my foot.

I can't stand stretching my hamstrings, never have.

Thanks for the advice, I'll use my non running time to do some pre and rehab work

I hate it too, particularly as they're so tight, but it's either that or shooting pains in my leg.

Richmond Park is definitely one of my favourite places to run in London. If they could put a bridge in at the Roehampton gate junction it would be perfect.

Impressive:

https://www.fastrunning.com/events-and-races/race-reports/aly-dixon-is-world-50km-champion/26829