Platypus' Beginners Guide to Running

Had my run this morning, popped half a tab of modafinil for giggles and had me a whale of a time.
Ran easy as my achilles was playing up, but couple miles in it really loosened up, didn't go for it just in case, so kept around 5.30 and just took it easy.
But I've often found that you can run off since injuries, much like when you get a scab from a cut and flick it off once healed, same thing with joints and ligaments a good gentle run can sometimes sort them out.
The sg4 was amazing, I have the Clifton 8 but to me these felt stiffer yet more cushioned, and you have to love all that grip.
Got my Bideford half race pack yesterday, including a timing chip, so a proper event this time.

I reckon Takumi Sen 8 for this one, managed a good 17 miles in these before my feet said enough, and that foam gives great energy return.

Just one or two runs left, as the weather's not looking good, lucky the forecast says clear skies come Sunday.
 
Yeah, i had the Speedgoat 3's but they were a little narrow. Ended up sending that @Ian_Eb's way. Wonder if he ever used them :p

I got out for the 3 Peaks on Saturday. Weather was excellent for the most part, dry and sunny with only cold winds on the tops making some sections a struggle. I had recently bought a pair of warmer gloves and they were superb at keeping the cold at bay.

I was with 3 much faster runners and found I tired a lot towards the end. Mainly caused by pace on the flats/gradual descents where they could easily hold an 8:30/8:45 pace which is a bit fast for me. Manageable for me on a 6 mile run, but not on a 25 miler! This caused some problems later on in the run and especially on the stepped ascent to Ingleborough, although i think that would be tough at any time!

Annoyingly on the uneven rocky descent to Horton in Ribblesdale I turned my ankle. A sharp initial pain but I was fine to manage the final few miles back to the car, although it was quite muddy/uneven on that stretch for the most part so i took it very slow picking my way along rather than risking any further damage. Some swelling and it still feels a little off today, but nothing too serious.

I've found i turn my ankle so much more in these New Balance trainers than my old peregrines. Not sure if that's just due to the longer runs where tiredness kicks in, the trainers or just because i've injured it now so it's more susceptible.
I still keep looking at the Mont Blancs, or even the Olympus 4. Annoying that Runners Need have them for Women but not men! They've been rubbish at stocking for a while now. I'm also not sure if it's a good idea to try out new trainers this close to a long run as i won't really get any chance to get out onto the hills again.
A few people have suggested road shoes for the race, since it's likely to be dry and rocky rather than needing any specific trail shoes with lugs for mud. Just not sure it's worth the risk in case of a kit inspection as they mention trail specific shoes! I'm also debating my old Peregrines. I only really replaced them due to holes in the upper which let in mud, but that won't be an issue in Spain.
 
@Martynt74 I tried them for a while and couldn't quite get on with them either. Gave them to my dad though and he uses them when going on his extended walks he does as part of heart surgery recovery, so all good :-)
 
:cry: I didn't tell him quite like that!

I just said I had some that might be better in the mud than the 30+ year old ones he was using at the time :D
 
Woop, Runners Need finally have the Saucony Peregrine 12's in stock so have got them arriving tomorrow.

Might look to pick up some Altra's another time, but i think i'm confident i'll be ok during the race in these new shoes (he says singing Paulo Nutini)
 
On a whim I tried to incorporate a bit of hill work into my run today, not very fluent with it but hopefully I'll improve. I've been doing too many easy longer runs lately so time to switch it around a bit. I want to do it once per week, certainly got a bit of a sweat on from it and probably looked like a right sucker for punishment running up and down the same hill :cry:

Do you guys set up a different profile/data screen on your watch for hill reps or just use the lap button? I was just doing the latter but sometimes forgot to press it as not used to doing it.
 
Just the lap button for me to then look at when I get home mainly.

The thing I do is have a separate activity for runs where I turn off auto lap for stuff like this as otherwise it can affect lap timings if it auto laps mid effort.
 
Martynt74 said:
I saw a post about the Mount Blanc recently and agree they look great.

I’ve recently started wearing the Torin 5 road shoes and like them. I’m thinking of trying to move to more zero drop style shoes after the Spain run and eyeing up the Olympus or Mont Blanc as a trail shoe.

So it’s a trail series? Seems a big jump from 7 to 37 so good luck with that!

Speedgoats are a great option too. I had been waiting for the new 5’s as all the 4’s in a wide sold out around November but seems to be a lot of supply issues.

I’d also consider the new Peregrine 12. Seems they’re a lot more lightweight and race orientated vs the previous models.
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I didn't get on at all with the Torin 4, but really enjoyed the Escalante (a lot of fun to run in even though it was actually a bit too sloppy). Their best shoe imo is the Viho, which is their "entry level" but really worked for me.
 
My only complaint about the Torin 5's are that the tongue is a bit hard and plasticy so felt like it could dig in the ankle, but it's not too bad. Looking forward to possibly trying the Escalante some time.

Got the Peregrines, they feel instantly better than the Hierros just around the house. It's amazing how different ~50g can feel on the feet whereas in reality it's very little!
 
Just been out in my Altra mont blancs, yeah that was an interesting run.
Don't believe the whole cushioned for ultras thing, these are more like the Takumi Sen 8, light fast and incredibly grippy, but very firm underneath.
Unless you have strong ankles, or used to running flatfoot I'd look elsewhere.
Otherwise they're fantastic shoes, incredibly fast seeing as they're a pure off road shoe.
I'm lucky in that I'm used to running in five fingers, so right away knew how to run in them, do I love them perhaps we'll see, but further into the run the more I could feel the shoe moulding to my feet.

Might use them for the 12.5 mile coast run week Saturday, I reckon they'll be a weapon there.
 
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Awesome.

I got out in my Peregrines on the canal. Similar to you. They’re basically very light road shoes with a decent grippy sole.

6 miles done in them. Definitely feel more confident in them for Spain now. Will get another 10-15 miles over the weekend but they’re so light and thin I don’t think they’ll need much breaking in.
 
Sign up for an Ultra in Spain i said. The weather will be nice and dry so better than signing up for a UK one i said.....

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My life sucks!
 
Well did my Bideford half today, loved it well run event with good marshalling, steep hill climb 3k in, but didn't affect my splits too much.

Came something like 186th in over 900 plus people, apparently it attracts fast runners from all over, so good benchmark for how I'm getting on.

Managed something like 1.35.29 or there about.

Check out my activity on Strava: https://strava.app.link/nMiNQSwDbob

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Martynt74 said:
Awesome time. Looks like you smashed various PB's too :)
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Oh I'm very happy, but also showed me I have way to go.
Can't grumble, as I didn't see many vets in front of me, and I was up against proper athletic club runners.
But god those alphafly's, all you hear is flap flap flap as they run.
As for my run, yeah the whole thing damn near killed me, one lass in the pack clipped the back of my shoes and went flying, let me tell you once you're in that pack you have no choice but to keep going, that's why my start was a bit hot.

Made the right choice with the Takumi Sen 8, just meant my legs were beaten by the end.

@Ian_Eb That's a bugger, then again isn't it down to just three days isolation now?
 
I'm hoping so. I was +ve on Sat am (did the test whilst getting ready for parkrun...) felt rubbish Sun and loads better today. Hoping there will be steady improvements over the next few days.
 
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