Platypus' Beginners Guide to Running

Martynt74 · 2 Sep 2022 at 15:13

Good luck.

I barely scrapped through the August virtual challenge which wasn't even that tough (hit 4900ft elevation in the month), the September challenge requires ticking off 10 local landmarks which are common on our group runs. I've spent about 30 minutes trying to plan the most direct route between them all because i only really have this weekend due to the timing of holidays in September. Clocks in around 18.5 miles as there's a few annoying outliers which add quite a bit of distance in!

VTRN September Run | 29.7 km Running Route on Strava

VTRN September Run is a 29.7 km Running Route created by Martyn Thompson on September 2, 2022. It has a total elevation gain of 795 meters. Sign up for Strava to save this route and share it with your friends.

www.strava.com

Still, it's better than my original plot of 33 miles!

Martynt74 · 5 Sep 2022 at 16:43

@Dup

So, you got a lot of training to do?

I failed again in the 50 ballot. That's 4 years in a row now. I'm starting to think it's personnal

Ian_Eb · 5 Sep 2022 at 16:49

It will happen at the most inopportune time. You will have just moved to Spain and sold off all your transport and so on, and then wham! the email will arrive.

Martynt74 · 5 Sep 2022 at 16:52

Ian_Eb said:
It will happen at the most inopportune time. You will have just moved to Spain and sold off all your transport and so on, and then wham! the email will arrive.

Haha next year was pretty much the last chance i think. Unless it co-incides with a trip home at some point in a few years. I'm not overly bothered since i have the above 100 to think about, but still annoying.

Dup · 5 Sep 2022 at 17:27

Martynt74 said:
@Dup

So, you got a lot of training to do?

I failed again in the 50 ballot. That's 4 years in a row now. I'm starting to think it's personnal

There's charity places up for grabs from the 8th, minimum £100 to raise (on top of the entry fee). That's how I got in the first time.

I'm not sure where I stand... no email, but my ballot entry is still on the ResultsBase list... Seems there's a few people waiting so I assume it's just in their email servers queue and will likely get released later.

Martynt74 · 5 Sep 2022 at 19:17

Yeah I debated that although with having the other run I’m not sure I’ll bother. I hate asking for charity donations so would ultimately just be paying £230 which feels expensive.

Looks like an 80% chance in the 100 version so a decent likelihood.

Dup · 5 Sep 2022 at 19:30

Martynt74 said:
Yeah I debated that although with having the other run I’m not sure I’ll bother. I hate asking for charity donations so would ultimately just be paying £230 which feels expensive.

Looks like an 80% chance in the 100 version so a decent likelihood.

I just paid it, I'm not a fan of begging others for charity either!

Well, emails in and so am I! Not sure how I feel

Martynt74 · 6 Sep 2022 at 08:30

Haha i guess congratulations are in order...maybe?

It's a funny year, last year loads of people i know got in yet this year a lot missing out, on the 50 that is. Crazy that demand is so high considering how many events there are these days.

Dup · 7 Sep 2022 at 13:19

Martynt74 said:
Haha i guess congratulations are in order...maybe?

It's a funny year, last year loads of people i know got in yet this year a lot missing out, on the 50 that is. Crazy that demand is so high considering how many events there are these days.

Double the entries vs capacity I think this year. It's the location and the quality of the event that is making it so popular. I was gonna do something else instead, something between 50 and 100 miles, thinking I wouldn't get a spot; so that's changed my plans a bit. I think I'll enter the Pennine Barrier 50 mile race in May though as I'll get a good benchmark as to where my training is at.

All paid up now, no backing out. I wanted to do a 100 before I'm 40 so I've got 2 years redundancy if I screw it up. Charity places go up in the morning, essentially an extra £100 if people can't be bothered to raise it externally. I think for a first ultra it probably can't be beaten but there's plenty of other stuff out there.

Martynt74 · 7 Sep 2022 at 14:04

Awesome stuff. In all the time we've talked about it, you'll have done the 50 twice and the 100 once and i've not even made it to the start! As you say, i think the sheer size of the event is what sells it compared to the others.
I'm similar to you with goals of the 100 before turning 40. Luckily i've got an extra year on you

First run today in some Vivobarefoot trainers. I've ran in Altras before which are zero drop but was weird having virtually no cushioning underfoot. I've had a pair of vivos for a while which are canvas espadrille style and so just used for walking around. I wanted some new trainers and stuck with the brand as i like that you can send them off for repairs/new soles etc.

Bought 2 pairs, the Geo Knit which seem to be their running shoe and the FG Knit which is the trail variant.

Geo Racer Knit Mens

Rebuilding your natural potential Foot shaped (not shoe shaped), to let your feet do their natural thing WIDE to allow for natural stability THIN to enable you to feel more FLEXIBLE to enable natural movement. Made using vegan and recycled materials to tread lightly on the planet. Knit upper...

www.vivobarefoot.com

Primus Trail Knit FG Mens

FEEL NATURAL IN NATURE Foot shaped (not shoe shaped), to let your feet do their natural thing WIDE to allow for natural stability THIN to enable you to feel more FLEXIBLE to enable natural movement. (Re)new and improved- remade with recycled materials that have reduced this impact this footwear...

www.vivobarefoot.com

I liked the idea of them because they're so minimal that they take up next to no weight/space in the suitcase.

Was out in the Geo Knits today and my shins took a bit of a beating after about a mile or so, guess from the different muscle use. I then took it easy for the next 2 miles with a mix of walking every half mile or so, then the pain went and i was fine the last mile. Even the very steep descent at the end where i imagine forces were higher.
Only main concern is whether the trail version will cope enough without battering my feet for longer/jagged runs. They're not exactly a cheap experiment!

Martynt74 · 7 Sep 2022 at 14:27

Also as a heads up. Mainly i guess for @hux and @Dup

A guy in a facebook group had written this book and wanted some reviews. He's listed it free for 3 days so might be worth a grab

The Ultra Marathon Bible: Your #1 Beginner’s Training Guide to Prepare, Run, and Survive Your First 50k to 100 Mile Race eBook : Nash, Samuel : Amazon.co.uk: Books

www.amazon.co.uk

hux · 7 Sep 2022 at 22:12

Good shout I'll have a nose in a minute.
Interesting choice of trainers, I know what they'll be like as I used to hit the treadmill in my vibram five fingers.
It's great feeling so planted and feeling the ground underneath, but these days I really need the cushion so my altra mont blancs get very close to the same sensation.
Oddly I've got a trail half marathon end of the month, and have already decided to use those as they're fast.

Martynt74 · 8 Sep 2022 at 13:37

Yeah, not sure i'll use them too much, my shins were sore on this mornings run too. Maybe just try and use them for short efforts, but not sure i'd want to keep them for longer runs. Especially being a heavier runner. Might try the Firm Ground trail ones on the road to see if they offer a little more cushioning.

It's a real shame the Altras never look decent enough to pair with jeans etc for a normal day out.

quickshot89 · 12 Sep 2022 at 18:53

Ran the GNR yesterday, 3rd actual time running it, 4th overall with the virtual covid year included. Aimed to get sub 2 hours, but given I was back in White Wave8, knew I would hit traffic and people just randomly stopping infront of me.

Came in at 2:04, and given I didnt do as much training as I should have, and I'm now on an insulin pump (less than a week since moving to it) I'm chuffed to bits.

hux · 12 Sep 2022 at 20:23

@Martynt74 Yeah doubt I'd wear them for anything other than running, the lugs would wear down too fast being a fast trail shoe.

Not long got back from my tempo run, really didn't feel any energy but somehow continued to go for it.
Gone from 27.30 now 24.29 with a 6k tempo trail run get in there!!!
That'll get tongues going on Strava for sure

That's with my new puma elite nitro fast-r in dayglow.
What a shoe, they're so bleeding quick!!

Dup · 12 Sep 2022 at 21:03

Martynt74 said:
Also as a heads up. Mainly i guess for @hux and @Dup

A guy in a facebook group had written this book and wanted some reviews. He's listed it free for 3 days so might be worth a grab

The Ultra Marathon Bible: Your #1 Beginner’s Training Guide to Prepare, Run, and Survive Your First 50k to 100 Mile Race eBook : Nash, Samuel : Amazon.co.uk: Books

The Ultra Marathon Bible: Your #1 Beginner’s Training Guide to Prepare, Run, and Survive Your First 50k to 100 Mile Race eBook : Nash, Samuel : Amazon.co.uk: Books

www.amazon.co.uk

Nice one for that, added to my list. Got a couple books to get going with. About time I did some reading instead of just running!

quickshot89 said:
Ran the GNR yesterday, 3rd actual time running it, 4th overall with the virtual covid year included. Aimed to get sub 2 hours, but given I was back in White Wave8, knew I would hit traffic and people just randomly stopping infront of me.

Came in at 2:04, and given I didnt do as much training as I should have, and I'm now on an insulin pump (less than a week since moving to it) I'm chuffed to bits.

Good effort. It's not an event I've ever fancied, seems more like a fun run. Maybe if I was more social I'd be into it.
My colleagues have suggested doing a tough mudder next year as a team-building exercise, naturally I'm up for that

Martynt74 · 13 Sep 2022 at 08:36

Dup said:
Nice one for that, added to my list. Got a couple books to get going with. About time I did some reading instead of just running!

Good effort. It's not an event I've ever fancied, seems more like a fun run. Maybe if I was more social I'd be into it.
My colleagues have suggested doing a tough mudder next year as a team-building exercise, naturally I'm up for that

Was it still free? If not I have a pdf I think.

My kindle is full of running books. It actually makes me look pretty damn sad!

Im over in Spain. Running has been tough combination of heat and excess booze doesn’t combine well. Yesterday I think I spent more time walking!

Dup · 13 Sep 2022 at 08:38

Martynt74 said:
Was it still free? If not I have a pdf I think.

My kindle is full of running books. It actually makes me look pretty damn sad!

Yeah I grabbed it when you posted

Not at all, knowledge is power and all that.

Ian_Eb · 13 Sep 2022 at 09:44

I also grabbed it :-)

I also have some running books in amongst all the Science Fiction & Fantasy. Probably not as many as you though ;-)

I did make it out on my bike at the weekend though!

neoboy · 16 Sep 2022 at 15:31

@Martynt74 just noticed you have a training log with some ATG/Knees over toes guy/mobility work in there, have you found it useful?

I've been trying to return to running but genuinely feeling pretty broken joints and ligaments wise so been struggling to even do two 5k runs a week for last month.