So..... running

[lostkat]

Originally Posted by petemc

Nip guards.

As for shoes, Asics or Mizuno. Goto a dedicated running shop and talk to them.

Haha, apparently so for blokes. Sports bra for ladies prevents that

I wouldn't limit myself to those 2 brands of trainers. I've had Nike, New Balance, Adidas, Asics & Mizuno trainers, all of which have been great. Saucony are also a very good brand. Just go into a running store and see what they give you to try on.

I note that you're doing a cross country though, so this makes things a little different. Are you going to be doing any training on the road? The reason I ask is that trail shoes are very different to road shoes and they're not really interchangable. So, if you're thinking of taking to the streets for your training then you'll need 2 pairs of trainers... sorry!!

You will pay much more for road shoes than trail shoes. For example, I paid £80 for my road shoes and £30 for my trail shoes. This is because when you run offroad on an uneven surface, all that fancy support shizzle built into the road shoes is useless and can even be restrictive to your running. Road shoes are also like normal trainers underneath - wide flat grips so they have lots of surface area in contact with the road. Trail shoes on the other hand tend to have very little support (what's the point? you'll be all over the bloody place scrambling through mud) and huge whopping great grips to cling to the mud and stop you falling over. Basically, there's less techy crap on XC shoes, so I just go out and buy a pair that feel comfy. I am currently sporting 2 yr old Adidas Kanadias, which were £30 from chavs direct

Whatever you do, DO NOT run a cross country race in road shoes. I cannot stress this enough. You'll have no grip whatsoever and it'll be a nightmare. Trail shoes are also brilliant in snow....

Apart from shoes, don't wear cotton clothing (incl socks). Buy yourself some running leggings and a techy top (Chavs Direct do a good, cheap, Karrimoor range), some thin gloves, a hat, running socks and you're away

Good luck!

Oh, and take it SLOWLY to start off with. Run at a pace that feels uncomfortably slow. Pretty much all new runners go far too quick, burn out in minutes and get all frustrated because they can't even manage half a mile. If you slow it down, you'll go further

Here endeth your lecture.... for now

Still not running. Had to cancel another race this weekend. 10K. Bastard cough

[divine]

http://www.brutalrun.co.uk/

Just because i'm a bit mental, that's what i've put myself in for.

I won't be doing much on road training, I live right next to Southampton Sports Centre which is full of the sort of inclines etc. that I will be expecting to find in that event and I can stick to the grass/dirt areas easily enough.

Very helpful post that, thanks, I'll take that onboard.

[Jonny69]

That looks like a mini Grim. You're going to love that

I disagree with Kate about the shoes though. I ran the Grim in my road shoes and had no problems. The only times I thought a trail shoe would be more suitable were when I was running down a very steep muddy slope and when I went up to my knees in the mud. Essentially, you can run down a steep muddy slope in road shoes, but you can't stop; if you have slower people in front, you won't be able to slow down and you risk a crash Then, in deep muddy clay my shoe came off when it went up to my knees and I think a trail shoe is better designed to stay on. Otherwise, they were fine on all the other terrain and through the river, so I'm not going to be investing in trail shoes. Unless you're running in truly terrible conditions all the time I don't think you need them.

Definitely don't wear cotton. It holds too much water and you'll get cold. Run the Brutal in tights and a technical top.

Kate, your cough sounds ->

[BBx]

Entered!

http://www.ashby20.co.uk/competition...mpetitionID/6/

I'm number 299!

BB x

[BBx]

Originally Posted by lostkat

Which is partly why I told her to get herself up to 13m before xmas.

DONE!

Well I did 12.5m then went round the block once more when I got back - just in case wasn't long enough (had worked it out as a 12m before I left) so all in all I did about a half today which is ****ing crazy ****.

Start: 10.40
Finish: 12.48

2hrs and 8 mins for 12.5m with mother****er hills x2

Extra round block: 12.50 - 12.56 approx 0.7m = 6mins

Total = 13m in 2hrs 14mins - not far off my official half time of 2h17min BUT, baring in mind I had two GINORMOUS hills to contend with which slowed me down and ate away my soul... I am quite happy with

I ran from my house to Bexleyheath which is where my uncle lives... in hindsight I should have used my bladder.... freezing cold, rain/sleet for about ten minutes and stupid me...of course I choose the most direct route which involved SHOOTERS HILL which of course is a bloody hill!!

Daft bint! That was MEGA hard work!! Was considering a different route back but would have got lost.

Pooped!

BB x

[jmc41]

Congrats BBx My run yesterday included a significant amount of rain but managed just under 8.4 miles without major problems for the first time since the Cov half Oct 2nd.

Bit quick at 1:12, I had issues slowing down early on, fastest long run since August but pretty much the same speed as my HM PB from June (albeit 5 miles shorter).

[BBx]

Wow thats good!

Well done you too!

BB x

[BBx]

7.5m from rents to Portslade few gradients.

went ok

Start: 11.05
Finish: 12.16

BB x

[jmc41]

10.01mi (12:47-14:15)
Determined to do 10 before Xmas so went for it, knee just about survived. No more mileage increases for me for a while!

[Jonny69]

Pressure was on yesterday. Family meal looming and I was expected to perform in the eating department, so as not to let the side down

Thought I'd better go for a quick trot to ensure a large appetite, so I went out for a swift 5k through the local lanes, fields, woods and (curiously for a small village) airfield. It was actually quite a good route with some tough ups and downs, a river to run in if I wanted and plenty of mud