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Shades Marathon Training
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Just stumbled across another possible cure for cramping https://theplantedrunner.com/fireball-anti-cramp-gels/
I use mainly sweets for my carbs, 85 pence a bag and I use less than a bag in a marathon. Salt tablets were about £5 for 100 and I only use 2 in a race, maybe 3 in a hot ultra, still have enough for about the next 6 months, can't get them anymore from that supplier or at that price. Sometimes I use dates, very good high GI, popular with ultra runners. Sometimes a little bit of flapjack, but can't eat much of it. I did put some chocolate in my drop bags at Connemara, each ultra runner can put out up to 3 drop bags, but I couldn't eat it as it was so cold it was just too hard to eat. I did put out some savoury crackers too and I ate those and they were really helpful, I do get fed up of sweet stuff.
I have made energy balls in the past and they were really good and very palatable, really easy to eat when running so hope you enjoy them. I'd like to try and find a recipe for some savoury ones, might try them for DD.
I do agree with Robert that the energy balls don't photograph well!
Big G - I watched that Barkley marathons film, really good. Such a nice guy, amazing that he was still so polite and calm even when so sleep deprived. I knew it was going to be tough to watch and I was exhausted at the end of it, too much empathy. Great film though. That race is truly awful, but each to their own, I hope it's not on your wish list
Robert - I will sign up to their emails, thanks.
Another great pacing job from you, sub 60 minutes is a significant goal for a 10km. Hope the foot is OK today too, maybe the injection will just give you that final recovery tool that you need.
Rest day for me today.
Shades, yes it's a really good documentary. It was an emotional roller coaster and at the end he just seemed to have a look in his eyes, which looked to me like he was very, very determined. Obviously his wife was a huge support as well. 60000ft of ascent for the (approx) 120-130 miles. Absolutely crazy. I was watching it with OH and tried to explain that these were incredible runners, and that although they were taking 8-13hr-ish per loop just showed how tough it was! The RD is quite a chap isn't he?
Had a good day yesterday in that there was a very minor improvement it seems, so hopefully that'll continue. I did something stupid this morning though - I was getting something down from a shelf with my left hand and the box slipped, so I instinctively went to "save" it with my right hand. Agony
Re ultra/DD food, I've tried many things over the years and like you put stuff out that I was convinced I'd have no problem eating but when it came to it I just couldn't eat. For me fruit and nut mix needs too much chewing and sandwiches are also quite dense. I see the runner at Barkley was eating burgers at the checkpoints and cereal/chocolate bars when he was running. He was also carbo loading up on gnocchi too, and lots of ketchup!
I might think about trying the gnocchi, maybe with parmesan to make it tasty, would be good for my stomach too.
Yes, RD at Barkley is definitely a character. I think one of the cruellest elements of the race is the random start time!
I think the other thing is lack of sleep. I would want to sleep, but then if you sleep for say 1hr, getting up and starting again knowing you've got 40+ miles to go must be incredibly tough.
Regarding the RD, do you remember a few years ago Rob Young was running across America but, putting it bluntly, cheated. The RD was one of the people who helped bust him - as soon as he and a few mates were out there for "eyes on the ground" Young's pace dropped dramatically. I remember seeing pics of him out on the road, waiting for Young to show up.
The RD is quoted quite a lot in this article about that. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/jun/22/robert-young-marathon-record-attempt-cheating-rumors
https://www.inov-8.com/blog/nicky-spinks-barkley-marathons/
I think the RD at Barkley knows exactly what a runner is capable of, hence his involvement with Young's attempt to run across the USA.
I had to look up Nicky Spinks, I don't follow off road runners. Seems it was tougher than she expected at Barkley but I'm sure she's right in saying that you need to go back maybe several times to have any chance of completing the event.
Keith - trashed legs and sunburn, hope you've recovered for tomorrow's 10km.
Any marathons/ultras entered to add to the list?
Foot feeling okayish this morning, bit of rolling and stretching helps ease and able to walk well. Doms from yesterday run have set it, hope that its more to do with me not running freely and tensing holding a pace.
In regards to fueling on Ultras I'm not too fussy, will eat pretty much anything on offer but by go to is cheese and pickle sandwiches, jelly sweets, cake, sausage rolls, sausages, pork pies.
At DD understand you can supply your own drinks, can you pop a sandwich bag round them as well? At any of the checkpoints do they supply any water/ drinks/ snacks?
Today's outing was Wanstead Flats parkrun. I'd wanted to do Banstead as it's a beautiful bluebell wood this time of year, but since there are all sorts of railway repairs and rail replacement bus services, I decided to do one I could get to on the tube (it was a straightforward journey, too).
Wanstead is all trail and must be muddy as hell in winter, but today it was dry and, actually very warm. Too warm for me, really, although it was nice at the start. It's mostly flat (a couple of little dips, but no hills) but the ground is lumpy bumpy and there are tree roots to watch out for. Not a PB course, but a nice course. As it was my first fast run since Vienna, I pushed a bit, but not too much. Did the first couple of miles in 8:22 and 8:20 but then felt tired so dialled it back slightly for the last mile (8:45) and came it at 26:08. I'm reasonably happy with that at this stage of my recovery - I had a very similar run at Wormwood Scrubs (another lumpy bumpy off-road course) two weeks after Chester.
I felt pretty worn out once I got home so didn't go to pilates even though I was back in time. Will take it easy for the rest of the day - no sense thrashing my immune system.
I froze most the energy balls but had a few after park run before running home, I liked them. I've decided my legs ache more after trying to race a 5k than they do after a long run.
I've ordered some reusable baby food bags for some more experiments with nutrition.
Long time ago but when I ran ultras and low key marathons I could more or less eat anything,( stopped for a Chinese takeaway once), but found it harder to get the food right if racing a marathon.
Now sat in the garden with a beer and going to take a look at the Barkley Marathon film.
Going run run a bit later this evening to try get some warm weather running in, possibly rest tomorrow and then I’ve entered a cycling event on Monday. 75 miles through the Essex countryside but we are going to cycle the 7 miles there and back and might make it up to 100miles for the day.
Cal - I wonder if Nicky Spinks will have another go at Barkley, no woman has completed the event yet.
Honk - I didn't know you could get reusable baby food bags, I'll have to have a look at them.
Iain- that sounds like a great cycling event to help with the IM training.
Shades, these are what i ordered, smallest size I could find at 100ml but there are other brands if you don't mind going bigger, Double Zipper Reusable Food Pouch - 6 Pack - 3.4 fl oz https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B014UC3FTG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_sd0UCb538MZKA
Here's where I got the idea from with a few recipes
https://www.nomeatathlete.com/homemade-running-fuel/
i did a 10 mile trail run at a relaxed pace today - legs felt fresh and I felt good. Lovely in the sun.
Big G-Hope that shoulder improves,bad news about DD,hopefully rob can make it.
Shades-Didnt realise you can send anything ahead at DD,will have a little think about what to do,only 6 weeks now.
Khani-Not sure if you've got the dates wrong but London is next weekend.
I've watched that documentary,really liked both about it,heard an interview with Laz last week and he thinks Jasmin Paris will be the best chance of a female finisher,looking at what she did in the spine race I can see why.
As for me,managed a couple of runs after work this week,hoping to 14 tomorrow which will bring up 45 miles so happy with that.
I don't think it's for me, I'm not doing any long ultras and my ultras for the rest of the year are 32.4 miles and a 50km. But I do love the idea of the Date Espresso and I might experiment with that for DD as that will give me my carbs and a coffee/caffeine boost too. I so do crave a coffee during a long race and I have a couple of times had a friend give me a rocket coffee in the latter stages of DD and it really helps.
Khanivore - you've recovered so well, don't let the training ease off too much, will make it easier for you to pick it up for your ultra training later in the year. I know it's harder for you now that you're working again, I hope you're enjoying the new job.
Ian - we will get an email with DD race info about mid May, it's very detailed. No need for you to carry a bottle at all. First drink station is at 4 miles and roughly every 3 miles thereafter, I think there's one section where it's 4 miles but that's because we're on very narrow roads. I've pinched this pic of the drink station at 20 miles from the Trotters website and you can see how many runners send out their personal drinks, also just food too, bananas and gels (which answers Robert's earlier question).
Incidentally the lady on the left is Jose Waller, multiple veteran world record holder for several distances, I went with her to Gosport when she broke the WR for the marathon at age 75+. The men have beer in the photo as there's a very nice pub across the road from this drink station.
Lovely morning here again, quite fresh but good running weather.
If it was me I would book the Premier at the racecourse, dearer I know but 24 hour Tesco across the road to get any food supplies.
Plan is to leave at 7:30 ish to drive up to Princetown.
Cal/Shades, yeah, Nicky Spinks is fantastic. I've heard/seen a few interviews with her over the last couple of years, and she's so humble about everything she's achieved. I also wonder if she'll go back.
Ian/Robert, as Shades said, the DD aid stations are very well organised and you can send stuff out on the course. People send all sorts out there - one of my mates tends to keep a few old McD's bags and puts some food in those at a few of the aid stations. I've also seen bottles of JD there too, although I'm presuming the whisky is long gone and it's an energy drink inside! I was worrying a bit about drinks etc, but I didn't take any with me. I did carry some Kendal Mint Cake with me (which I do on a marathon too), and that was it.
I still hope to see you all at the DD as I've put my name down for marshalling now. I've no idea where I'll be yet, but if I can't run it, marshalling is the next best thing. Having said that, if the race was tomorrow I wouldn't be able to marshal even (I can't drive), and I've told the Chief Marshal that it does depend on my shoulder. I hope it'll be fine for marshalling though!
You're probably all getting a bored of my injury updates, but it's marginally better again. Range of motion is a bit better generally as I'm aware I'm using the arm more - i.e., I used it to brush my teeth this morning. Whoo hoo! However, on that one exercise I mentioned the other day, the range of motion hasn't really improved at all. I'll keep up with the exercises and see how it goes over the next few days.
It's OH's parents 50th anniversary next weekend and I'm supposed to be staying with them near Kent for a few days from next Saturday. At the moment I don't know if I'll be able to make the journey, but as it's improving all the time, I'll decide nearer the weekend.
Big G - small progress is still progress.
I've also decided to go to yoga in an hour - I've been slacking off that (recovering from a marathon is a great excuse but sometimes you just have to kick yourself up the arse and get back out there).
Great news that you'll be marshalling at DD, if it's a position where you need to lift your arm to direct us make sure it's your left arm, you don't want a relapse. I always remember you sitting at marathon point doing the timing there.
I hear the route of the Two Oceans had to be altered yesterday due to possible political unrest, but still went ahead, very hilly apparently.
Cal - I frequently use dates in a marathon/ultra, very common fuel with ultra runners, never a problem for me. If they caused runners trots it would have to be someone with a very fast digestive system!
That's great news but in future, I'd recommend a toothbrush.🤣🤣🤣
I'm not familiar with the DD abreviation your all using guessing Dartmoor? Doddle? Something like that?
http://www.teignbridgetrotters.co.uk/our-races/dartmoor-discovery
It's sold out, but there is a transfer list in operation if you're interested