Running

What's the deal with barefoot style running making my calves feel like they're on fire? Presumably it goes after a while as using different muscles? Taking it super slow and mixing running and walking, but even so...

Yes. You may be overstriding too.

i remember doing a technique session with the greenwich tritons and a GB athletics coach to improve our running form and run properly on the forefoot, cycle our legs fully etc. at the time I could run 10+ miles and be fine after. in the session we barely covered 4 miles as we were mostly doing short drills but I couldnt walk for 2 days after as it was activating muscles i don't think i even knew I had.

Your using your calves as brake dampers, instead of the heal foam of your shoes. Its the bit that worries me as a 50/50 cyclist/runner. My calves eally arent that conditioned.

I guess you'll get stronger.

Is coastal running with norddic walking sticks for nancies?

I want to try it, think I'm just going to go for it.

Is this for the Jurassic Trail? You definitely won't be the first person to use them, but personally I've never felt the need or desire to use poles, although my pack does have loops to stow them. Just go with whatever makes you feel most comfortable, the nice thing about ultra running is that no one is going to call you a nancy whatever you're doing. That is unless KL sees you running in anything more than a vest...

Nordic sticks are unsurprisingly popular up here. Gives a work out more similar to the xc skiing most folk spend winter doing.

TBH they piss me off. Trying to pass someone waving fiberglass poles around while they listen to their Iphone. Is trecherous.

Training for a half mara at the moment - Any recommendations on things to eat? (I normally get hungry after an hour)

I confess to have grabbed a few strawberry chewits on my last training run and needless to say they weren't very fulfilling...

I seem to remember Ed mentioning Nakd bars. I love them, but they're quite expensive. Maybe I'll just go for the box of 18.

Cashew nuts do the job for me

Haribo, jelly beans, anything sugary.

Raisins works well for me

Jam sandwiches are another option or for a real calorie dump there's always peanut butter and jam sandwiches.

Although - taking on board food for a half? I often don't even bother with fluids for that*.

• Which may not be super sensible.
  

People eat sandwiches while running? Seriously? How??? I'm so impressed.

I normally don't eat anything for anything less than 3 hours. I bring something when it comes to marathon distance. Mainly because it's only a race distance that I never hit during training and therefore it means it's time to get those extra calories/carbs in.

i took cliff blocks and then swapped to sis gels that don't need water. took them with 5k to go in the half marathon

What's the deal with barefoot style running making my calves feel like they're on fire? Presumably it goes after a while as using different muscles? Taking it super slow and mixing running and walking, but even so...

Are you trying too hard to keep your heels off the ground? It is important for your front foot to land first, but the rest of the foot follows directly after.

I've got an appointment with the GP at work tomorrow to get a signed letter for the Paris marathon. Does anyone know which template to use? Do I get it done in English or French?

le google

www.parismarathon.com/marathon/2012/docs/CertificatM_US.pdf

And how much is your GP going to charge for that? £100 - £150?

Fake it. Absolutely fuck all wrong with doing that.

A gp would charge for that?!
What's a doctors stamp and how would one fake that - cut out potato?

A laser cut potato would do the trick

i thought getting a gp to sign something was usually about £35

when is the race? do you have time to qualify as a doctor and certify yourself perhaps?

you'd save £35

When I raced Paris, one of the girls in our group had a GP for a mum... she turned up with a stack of signed medical forms so we could fill the rest in ourselves :-)

And yes, normally the GP would charge.

I'm going to get him to sign it if he doesn't charge. Otherwise I will acquire one by other means.