London Fixed-gear and Single-speed

Speaking of injuries. My left hip is pretty messed up, and I think I keep straining my hamstrings, at the join to my bum. It comes from playing tight and fast touch rugby (I'm too old for this shite etc.)

Did 3km to the gym at near walking pace, and felt a million times better. But I had to half the length of my stride because of the pain. I think my hip needs a month off everything, and my hamstrings a couple weeks. But I simply cant face that, and need to cycle to get around anyway.

Bugger.

I think that may be it. One leg/knee is now much more supported than the other. Is it worth me putting the insoles in each shoe or is that more trouble than its worth and I should just leave it in the shoe which actually needs the support?

If the support is a recent addition. Chances are you will settle into an adjusted gait, and get used to it. Its the same sort of ache, beginners get because the legs arent used to running. Except you're not a beginner, so you put more km's on the leg, that is suddenly functioning slightly different. Subtle things make a difference over distance.

I cant advise you regarding the other support. Other than you should consult an expert.

is that what you call it?

Ha!

Seriously rather than lifting her knees she kind of swung her feet round in a outward semi circle, I have seen quite a few people running like this, but this is the first time I've seen anyone running at a fairly respectable pace (about 9min miles) with a gait this bad, it's usually more the groups of ladies running along the Thames chatting and going just above walking pace.

Saw a bloke running with a similar gait on the canal path last week. He did lift his knees a little, but the feet were moving in perfect semicircles with each step. Big waste of energy, that. Also, running like a girl.

I've done a little bit of ultra as I keep getting run over and breaking wrists, so can't ride - Hereward, Gin Pit double mara, UKA 100km, a couple of London to Brightons and Enduroman 100 miler. Got PF doing the last one (which is why I didn't end up doing AA) and haven't run further than 30 miles since. Probably looking at 24 hours for the TP100.

Ultra's a headgame, and pacing is pretty key - it's just hard to keep going slow, and to get your head around the fact that you have to keep going that slow for 10, 15, 20 hours. It can be horribly depressing finishing a marathon, really hurting, and realising you have another 3 marathons to go.

You're doing great miles, but I don't think many people will be doing that many heavy weeks - particularly if your body's not used to it (this is way harder on the body than IM training).

hmmm interesting. I'll continue to monitor how I feel and I was also planning on chatting to James (TP organiser) to ask his advice too.

As it is when I set out my primary goal was injury prevention because (a) I realise the training would be tough and (b) because I realised the race would be tough. I want to do this but not at the expense of wrecking myself permanently. I'm currently feeling a little sore so the today and tomorrow will just be stretching, Thursday and Friday I'll be on a plane and hopefully I'll get some running in on Sat/Sun before hardcore conference time for the next week. You know how it is- the best laid plans and all that...

So, Saturday and Sunday... Anyone got any recommendations for trail running around Auckland? I'm staying in the city and have no transport so would have to rely on public transport.

Yippee back in stock now! From what I've read they can't really be beaten for the price. Ordered a camo one.

There are great coastal runs around Auckland, Coromandel is very beautiful and lots of uppy-downy stuff to keep you interested. No idea on public transport tho, sure you can hire a car for buttons tho, NZ's chup as chups.

Why not google one of the local tri/running clubs and ask for guidance/run partners?

Looks a touch bulky for running. The main thing is the angle adjustment of the head unit. You want to be able to have the sweet spot about 2-3 meters in front for technical offroad running.

I have one of these...


The switch at the back dims the light to save batterys, and the lamp itself can be focused. This is good for trail running, as you can run it with a relatively wide field, then focus more if you hit an icey section.

Bloody lightweight for 160 lumens too.

I paid nearly £100 when it came out. You can pick them up for around £40 - £50 now.

I'll see how I get on. £40 is still quite pricey at the moment and the alpkit one is good for hiking too.

I also have a similar headlight (gets dark up here. Have a heavy halogen one too). The lack of focus wont bother you if you're not doing anything too tricky (ice running, forest runs etc.). The few extra grams of the head unit are accounted for by the extra strap.

The important thing is that the head unit is stable. A wobbly light will piss you off quickly.

The battery units feel lighter than you'd expect, and usualy last ages.

Brilliant. I'm looking forward to using it. Getting tired of the same 1.6 mile laps where I live.

Also last night I got a new PB running 5K. Probably pathetically slow but I did it in 25.12, now my 5k on Monday was 26.47 I can't believe just pushing myself that little bit further has gains of this much.

The running bug has well and truly bitten.

5k in 25 is decent isn't it? Don't think I'd manage that... might try on saturday though, i've bought new laces and everything

I don't know. I still felt like I had more left in the tank at the end though.

anyone doing brockwell parkrun tomorrow? Assuming I'm not too hung over, I'll be there.

My left leg is, what is technically referred to as 'proper fucked'. I've been ignoring a hip injury, which seems to cause hamstring strain during touch rugby matches. Had our last of the season on Tuesday, so I went all out. Twisted my left ankle, and took a hard hit in the thigh, to cause one of those week long 'dead legs'. I then, as usual, woke up with a strained hamstring, and a sore hip.

There's some sort of hellish synegistic injury combo going on. Yet I keep thinking a long slow run will shake it off. Might actually go for one over the weekend if I can physically get going. Its 0C here and hailing. I love running in nasty weather.

Been doing it recently, but it's my turn to head to Norwich this weekend so I'll be up there. See you there next week though.

Anyone else doing the Regents Park 10k on Sunday? The run should be nice, but I'm more looking forward to the pub lunch afterwards!

48.49 miles, average 8min26sec miles totalling 6hrs48 spent running this week.

That's a total of 6590 calories burned according to my garmin.

Very close to 50 but I'm done, just eating drinking and maybe a walk left for the weekend. :D

first run since ankle bust in Oct, straight into racing xc, about 2 mins down on par, not bad. ytd mileage now 80+ considering late push for the century...

glad to hear youre back on it.
the buzz. last sunday Mendips-wednesday event -greenham common. yesterday local. today north downs at puttenham. cant beat the buzz of offroad running at speed. otherwise bike miles are just doing the daily drops

Back to running this week. Been off it for over a week, with a cold, and have been going crazy.

Went for a trail run on Sunday. Winter arrived, very abruptly, with a full on blizzard. I was somewhat under dressed, so had to keep the pace up, despite complaints from my left leg.

Great run. I find road runing to be a battle with myself, and trail running to be a battle with myself and the terrain. Winter trail runnning is a battle against yourself, the terrain, and the weather. Proper excellerating :D

Run Saturday morning after a nice lay in. Felt weird running in day light for the first time in months. Not sure whether it was the fact I was running with a killer cold or the fact I hadn't eaten breakfast but my word it was hard. From the cold (illness) it felt like my lungs were being pulled down by someone. Got home coughed my guts up and had a nice warm shower.


Cold is still present (trying to kill it with pills) but I've got another run planned tonight.

unsurprisingly sore in lower legs after Sat xc, but no reaction in ankle or toe so all good to start training again. now's the time of year that serious htfu needed to get out there when it's hailing etc, run safe & don't lean...

Much safer to be running the ice (ill stick to fields) than cycling on the roads in ice!

Went for a nice barefoot 5k along the canal and back, this PM. Took 27 minutes, which is not as fast as I'd like but I don't mind because I finally got back out running.

Just registered for this: http://toughmudder.com/

Tough Mudder is not your average lame-ass mud run or spirit-crushing 'endurance' road race. It's Ironman meets Burning Man, and it is coming to a city near you ...

Probably the toughest event on the planet

Tough Mudder events are hardcore 10-12 mile obstacle courses designed by British Special Forces to test your all around strength, stamina, mental grit, and camaraderie. With the most innovative courses, half a million inspiring participants, and more than $2 million dollars raised for the Wounded Warrior Project, Tough Mudder is the premier adventure challenge series in the world.

thse are getting more popular as the need to satisfy consumer demand for variety increases, like this too where they paint the face so the facebook picures look even cooler- http://www.allabouttriathlons.co.uk/...rutal-run.html
I reckon completing a whole winter season is gruelling enough without one novelty race every three months which costs me £ and makes the organisers fat.
have a 'good time' though Balkster

Toughguy was a good blast. The mud trench, that you had to repeatedly climb in and out of, as you zig zagged along it. Was fecking brutal. I was'nt a big fan of the electric wire either. The rest of the course involves a lot of queueing. So isnt so bad*.

http://www.toughguy.co.uk/

(*providing you dont mind nettles)

I will fuck you in a game of bike.

I'm not a fan of these novelty races. Go do some cross country or fell running!

^ This.

I will fuck you in a game of fell running

Balki if you just stop flirting and fuck us all in a twisted reverse gang bang. That'd be more of a physical challenge than an over subscribed novelty race.










....and moar fun.

I will fuck you in a game of gang-bang.

Pre-emptive^

Owww, fuckitty-fuck. Just back from a run, about 2/3 way through got the most painful cramps i've ever had. Only thing I can think of that I've done different was slightly more glucose+water when I set off, but I'm not sure if that would cause it? Litterally stoped, clutching my abdomen and almost cried out. I would imagine this is what appendicitis feels like (discalimer: I am not a doctor and have no idea what appendicitis would feel like).

Also, if you use Endomondo to track your run, don't use the low power setting, as it will crop out half your run, giving you a painful pace to go with your painful abdomen :(

It also tends to leads to runners trots....

Enjoy

I drank whay too much free lucazade sport before the reading half marathon. After 2km I nearly quit. Was'nt cramp. But it felt fecking weird.

Fair point.

carbo loading with lucozade?!?

i did the race your pace half marathon last year (great pb race, and to be honest i don't get bored of my own thoughts in less than 2 hours, so being a 'boring' course didn't matter) but on each of the 4 laps they gave out a small bottle of lucozade, i drank about half of each one and you could feel the effect at the same point in each lap.

It's the 1st anniversary of Brockwell Parkrun this Saturday. Anyone going? I'll be there, sluggishly dragging my arse around in 33 minutes or so.

how are the shins?

sitting with 4 ice packs on the go so I can recover to do another interval session tomorrow morning, really enjoying switching between fast paced and slower at every major junction on my commute and is hopefully doing my pace good.

The non fizzy sport stuff......and it was free.


I've had some nasty bonks in my time. All since becoming a dad, and having feck all prep time. Comes on pretty rapidly on the bike, and is even more sudden when running. But on the Rugby pitch its brutal.

Going snow running tommorrow. Crunchy goodness :)

I said on here that I was going to do the Parkrun the Saturday just gone, but I ended up having a really late night with work and trains and stayed in bed instead. My legs feel 95pc better now - just the faintest hint of a sting when going downstairs. So hopefully I'll be okay. Still bloody slow, but okay.

saved by the drink!