Running

Its too early to really worry, IMO.

I'm on the hunt for another (big) city marathon, very early season, not very far from UK if at all, and this time I'd be aiming for GFA times. Probably, if I can take it seriously.

Manchester is the one I am looking at for next spring. GFA there and London in 2015.

rhb: is it possible to run the xc races without being attached to a club?

First 'barefoot' run last night. The fit and feel of the Skora shoes is brilliant. I'll definitly be buying them again. Set off feeling a touch unnatural, and uncertain how much to toe strike. After 1km I found a nice stride. Probably only landing my foot slightly forward of flat. Maybe with my heel 5mm above the ball of my foot. Seemed to give enough cushioning. Did 5km pretty easily. Dont feel too bad today.

rhb: is it possible to run the xc races without being attached to a club?

It's possible, but depends upon the race. Some of the smaller ones it will be fine, but you'd need to check with the organisers.

Why not join a club though?

Started running recently having never really done any since school. Found a fairly happy rhythm after a couple of runs. My main issue right now is calves. They really ache for a day after a run, be it 2mi or 6mi. I do stretch my legs but it doesn't seem to have any effect. Is it just down to it being a part of muscle I don't use often on the bike?

Anyone Speak german?
Am I in?
I'm in right?

1. BMW BERLIN-MARATHON
   Schade!
   
   

Liebe(r) Tommy,

die Vor-Registrierungsphase ist beendet, die Lostrommel wurde eifrig gerührt und die Gewinner unter 74.707 Bewerbern gezogen. Leider wurden Sie nicht für einen Startplatz zum 41. BMW BERLIN-MARATHON 2014 ausgelost.

still not back to running yet, flu has turned into a dry chesty cough so having to wait for it to clear up before I can get back to it. so fucking annoyed.

^^lol... no idea!

google translate says no

the pre-registration phase is completed, the lottery wheel was busily stirred and drew the winner among 74 707 applicants. Unfortunately, you have not been for a starting place for the 41st BMW BERLIN MARATHON 2014 draw.

I have 'her' cough down pat at the moment too

cough

Bad luck tommy. And HB.

I've been really enjoying my running lately. you may recall I was a reluctant and ungainly runner forced into starting by starting triathons aged 35 and after many years of regular "social" smoking (I socialise a lot). This summer I was forced to up my regular plodding trots to cope with the 10k required of the olympic distance and by the time that came and went I was really starting to enjoy running 10k a couple of times a week. Switching to a forefoot strike sometime last year helped me think about my gait and posture a lot more and was a bit of a watershed moment.

Had a couple of weeks off after my oly distance tri as my achilles were quite sore. During that time I also managed to finally kick the occasional fags which has been great. Probably mostly psychosomatic but I almost immediately felt better for it and able to push quite a bit harder.

Started back on the treadmill whilst on holiday three weeks ago which turned out to be a great way to rehabilitate the niggles and was definitely gateway back onto the road. Bought a cheap pair of Nike Free Run 3.0 (which I'm finding very comfortable to run in, if lacking support) on hols for the gyms and by the end of my trip I was running 45 mins every day at a steadily increasing pace and was dropping weight too.

Got home and despite really overdoing the beers lately, have continued to run three times a week (been doing short 4-5k hilly sessions) and still seem to be heading in the right direction weight wise. Feels good man. I'll get back on the +10k stuff soon and have been contemplating the feasability of a half in the spring.

Realised recently that I've switched over from swimming>cycling>running to running>cycling>swimming. I never would have thought that would happen. Feels a bit like I'm cheating on swimming with running. Weird.

swimming sucks fact!

Can anyone explain ballots to me?

They seem to replace the systemically unfair system of first come first served with an equality unfair system of 'random' selection only with an added time of uncertainty and mathematical likely disappointed.

I blame Facebook behind the idea for events to be successful must be exclusive.
Well thats my 2014 season ruined.. time to plan for 2015

Sure Berlin is a biggie, frustrating yes, but why ruined? There are plenty of other autumn marathons out there even if they aren't Berlin.

This lists a few and I recon the Jungfrau would be a giggle. If you're hoping to use it to earn a GFA/UKA place at London then the Abingdon Marathon is supposed to have a pretty quick course.

swimming sucks fact!

no,* you* sucks fact!

:'(

rhb: is it possible to run the xc races without being attached to a club?

yes I'm pretty sure you can, they then remove non club folks from the standings when calculating the club scores.

more info here http://www.bbresults.com/# then click on the "Manchester area xc details" link on the right

First run since my trip in an ambulance last week, 400m climbed in 4k of hill reps, long run in the morning, have just joined strava and really enjoying the meters climbed challenge this week, hoping to get to 2.5k climbed this week...

Hold on. Ambulance?

^ http://www.lfgss.com/post3903424-6339.html

(hope the fact you're running means all now ok Ed)

Got my arse kicked by some bug with some pretty aggressive d&v and tried to get to boots at charing cross station to sort myself out but unfortunately collapsed before I got to the counter so the store manager called an ambulance in the absence of me being able to get much in the way of useful information across...

Oh right. Good work.
Glad to hear it wasn't anything serious.

Seem to be, it left me with very little energy for 4 days, but I seem to be back to normal now and just deciding how far to go in the morning, been playing about with Nordic walking sticks on walks for the last few days, so going to take those with me and see if I fancy using them on the classic quarter next year.

I remembered tonight why I stopped wearing a certain pair of road shoes. My heel is now rather sore.

Feeling a bit rough, sore throat and generally weak. Was planning on 13k today but not convinced. Should I head out and see how it goes, might shake it?