After some muddy runs I've retired by default khaki Lone Peak trail shoes after around 1000km. This is earlier than previous shoes of this model and was due to me losing confidence in the sole which was worn almost smooth. In the past the shoes have lasted 1400km and failed with tears to the upper. Perhaps the v6 shoes have a slightly softer rubber? Anyway, in wet, slimy conditions a heavily worn sole isn't especially safe.
62 point 1 miles
I didn't complete a 100km ultra by my 50th. 80km achieved before 53 years, still working on it...
Saturday 13 January 2024
Tuesday 5 September 2023
Trying yet again to to keep up endurance
I find it hard to commit time to long, slow runs or walks. By this I mean over 30km or 6 hours of walking. Even with a week's holiday that pattern doesn't fit in and I often only mange a few short runs. Today I was fortunate to have some annual leave to take, lovely weather and nothing else pressing to do. However I'm out of practice and didn't want to over do things. So I decided on a walk/jog to Hathersage which is 32km round trip from home.
I also took along my poles which I rarely use as I'm not well practiced and find them an overall hinderance. How would I get on with them today, how would they fit onto my Harrier pack? I found them useful on uphill sections, which I'd already decided to walk, with a bit of arm effort I felt I'd got a good ascending pace. On one or two easy level bits I was able to use them whilst jogging but anywhere else they went back on the pack. That wasn't ideal either as they fit horizontally at what turns out to be elbow height so I was aware of them if I was swinging my arms. So I had to put the tip covers on to reduced the risk of injury. Jury's out currently....
Despite the leisurely pace I tired on the return leg, dragging my feet and managing to trip over a teeny rock. Luckily I'd enough water to rinse off the various grazes. (My ribs still hurt a few days later).
Whilst on holiday I'd seen the Southern Upland Way and fancy a go at that - so I need better long distance pace. I'm not thinking of running 214 miles but due to the lack of settlements you're committed to some pretty long days.
Tuesday 18 April 2023
HRM strap battery swap
Sunday 2 April 2023
Crookstone Out Moor (Edale)
I was in Edale for a few hours so planned a 2 hour run/walk towards the east. I included Ringing Roger so the first section was a tough ascent at a brisk walk, but from there it was pretty much downhill all the way back to the village.
Some parts of the route were muddy and slippery (not helped by worn shoes) but overall a good morning's activity.
Don Valley Way
Fly tipping was common along the path |
Thursday 9 March 2023
In the snow
Sunday 12 February 2023
Sensible progress
I realised that I hadn't posted for some months. I have been running regularly, although not swimming, but at a good steady level with no injuries so, in many ways, no news is good news.
Since Christmas I've tried to do 3 runs per week. Of course this doesn't always happen, but that's not a problem. Importantly, I've introduced a weekday evening 5km road run. A loop to a local road junction is within 1% of 5km judging from repeated GPS tracks an that's good enough for me. I'm still a plodder but over some weeks there is a trend to gain pace. The route starts with a distinct ascent so it'll never be a PB route, and that section must be taken gently as part of a warm-up.
In January I've also been low on alcohol intake as dry-January was ongoing and I mostly joined-in. I'm not sure if this has helped pacing or whether it's simply the result of ongoing training.
This week I've got very close to my long term plan to run 40km weekly. Yesterday I ran nearly 25km, although some was walked and the rest was at a jog pace. Nonetheless it exceeded 20 km clearly. I'm wanting to do a long run in spring, or perhaps a few this summer, but haven't chosen a route yet. There's a loop around Castleton that looks interesting, or perhaps rather demanding, but the Liverpool-Leeds canal is also a possibility. A shorter canal might be a good practice first.