Running

My run today was up to the start of the Test Way (5 miles or so) and then along the full length of it (45 miles or so). Taken all day and I missed the train I was hoping to get so walked the last mile or so to Eling Tide Mill, the official start/end of the Way. Ran out of water which I knew would happen, topped up at a pub where the lady on the door was very helpful (and very patient when explaining the one way system to the people in front of me who were amazed they couldn't go back and would have to go through the system to get to their table. It's pretty fucking straightforward, just do it you mugs!). Lady filled my soft flask and brought a glass of coke to the door so I didn't have to enter. Good service!

Made a mistake of following a diversion and ended up at a petrol station on the A303 near Andover with no clue where I should go. Should have just followed the route I'd planned but found a path back in the and and didn't have to play frogger over 4 lanes. That probably cost me enough time to make me miss the train.

Most of the route is nice, though less riverside than I'd thought there would be. One section was rubbish though - you join a NCR along a disused railway. Flat, featureless, hard packed gravel for what felt like 10 miles but was probably less. Not what I needed as I was starting to tire. Reminded me of the second half of the Brecon to Cardiff ultra I did back in Feb (remember when we had events and races?)

Doing it this direction meant I had all the climbing earlier on, which I thought would be good for the legs as I wouldn't have to climb when tired but I think the variation might have helped break it up more when I was more tired. I find running on the flat hard on tired legs and just end up walking when I should just carry on running. Then it's a mental game to convince myself I'll run from the next fence post etc.

Think I probably did a bit over 50 miles all told. Watch cut out near the end so I missed a bit of recording. Anyone know a good service to stitch two gpx files together? I could probably do it myself, it's just XML right?

Wow. Huge run!

https://gotoes.org/strava/

I've used this for cycling, it'll spit out gpx and tcx I think.

I could probably do it myself, it's just XML right?

Yep, it's obvious enough how when you look at the closing tags toward the end

Oh, so you’re D D. I haven’t a fucking clue on Strava sometimes (which may have influenced my decision to switch to unfiltered username recently - not that I know/can remember people’s real names on here).

George Foster?

Aye, top lad. And an absolute monster on the trails.

OMM Kamleika. Ticks all the boxes for me. Worn it on many long wet days out running in the hills.

Heart rates.
How do I calculate zones when I've got a lower heart rate because genetics.

I tend to do % of heart rate reserve [HRR]

https://runandbeyond.com/karvonen-heart-rate/

My resting is around 40, max is around 175.
So reserve is max - resting

Zone 1 could be up to resting + 60% of hrr, I.e. 0-121 (40+135*0.6)
Then 60-70% for zone 2, so 122-135
Etc

There are a handful of ways to pick zones, but I've found that seems to make sense for me when you have slightly lower or higher rates than normal

Thanks!

If you want something pretty reliable I think the OMM stuff is a good bet. I had an Inov8 rain jacket that wasn't particularly good.

Just back from four days around Snowdon. We used Blaenau Ffestiniog as our base to get out and about. First day we did Carnedd Dafydd, Carnedd Llewelyn and Yr Elen via a scramble up Crib Lem. The scramble was in the mist and wet and my head nearly went at the start, fortunately we had an experienced climber in our group to nurse us up. The scree run off Yr Elen was quality though.

Second day we did some official trail running at the Coed Y Brenin MTB centre, I'd recommend it if you want some very safe fun, with well marked trails.

Saturday morning we did the Blaenau horseshoe guided by the local fell champion, Russell Bentley. This route has been used for the British fell running championships and it had a good mix of runnable grass, scrambly downs and persistent uphills.

Final day was the highlight: Snowdon via Crib Goch. My experience on Thursday made me doubt if it was for me but the others persuaded met. A 4.30 alarm meant we were on on the mountain by 6.30. It was absolutely spectacular and a great way to end the holiday.

My first real experience of the Snowdonia park - it felt a lot more rugged, jagged and steep than the Lake District. It's definitely one to be shown around by people who know the area first.

Sounds amazing! I walked Crib Goch on a stag do with 90% of us being climbers, I really felt for the few less experienced who had a bit of a mare on it. Exposure is a hell of a drug!

I hope you weren't all hungover.

I did Crib Goch at school while training for Ten Tors. I'm not normally good with exposure, to say the least, but I didn't find it too bad. One person on the team completely lost it though, and did most of the ridge in tears, visibly shaking.

I hasten to add that we definitely weren't running it though! Plodding would be a more accurate description.

I hope you weren't all hungover.

Oh, massively hungover. And then the next day on an even bigger hangover I ran up the tourist path to the top of Snowdon. This turned out to be an awful idea, as two heavy nights on the booze (which I'm not used to) and a hard hill session gave me a cold - a week before the race I'd been training for all season, lol. I've since discovered what tapering is (not that I've ever actually done any tapering though).

Sounds awesome; still gutted I didn't get over there a few weekends back. Can see Snowdonia from where I'm staying this week but it's a family holiday and I've not run once yet.

Finlay Wild has been at it again.

https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2020/08/finlay_wild_sets_new_ramsay_round_record-72465

Sunday long runs getting steadily longer. Have 50 miles as a goal. Feeling about comfortable at 30 for now. Have been getting big craving for lime/lemon/anything acidic. Either pregnant or lacking something. Might spice up the water with something in future.

Might spice up the water with something in future.

GHB would probably take the edge off

After a google of that I may pass.

It's been a crazy year for long distance records. Paddy Buckley fell at the weekend too.

Wonder how the PBR runners would get around the queues if they hit Snowdon in peak daytime?*

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/walkers-snowdon-summit-stand-row-18859771

'* most schedules aim to avoid peak daytime Snowdon from what I've been reading.

PBR just have to touch the summit and probably can run away from any complaining walkers?

Hope that'd be the case!

Anybody run in Goodr sunglasses? Any good?

Stop at a pub for a lime and soda