I
wonder if i can pick your brains about one more thing - flights.Im still trying to sort mine out and South
African airlines looks like the winner in terms of price and times.
Anyone
else using them - or has anyone flown with them in the past? Not used them
myself, so wondered what the service is like.
I've
flown with South African once and wasn't impressed. The inflight
entertainment system wasn't working. They reset it. It still didn't
work. I pressed the button to call the attendant but nobody came for the
rest of the flight. I complained but it took two months to even get an
apology. I don't like flying into OR Tambo airport either. However
if the prices and times are to suit then go for it and make sure you take a
good book.
Hi
Paul, can't speak for South African Airlines as I've not used them that I
recall (I'm pretty sure my flights years ago will have been with BA). But
Emirates flights are good if those will work at all for you. And it's rather
fun being part of the gradual drawing together of runners in Dubai airport.
Flew with Saa in 2012 and again this year (2017) No issues for me and I
preferred the shorter flights overall to Emirates, which I did in 2011. Horses
for courses. Out on the weds from Heathrow. ????
Dannirr - Excellent work at Miami – you’re in
fantastic shape! Your plan to back up MDS and Comrades sounds quite the
adventure! 71 miles in the week is god going? How did you feel this week?
Debra – what ultra did you decide to do in the end?
Sounds like you made the right decision to cut your run short – how is the foot
feeling now?
Becca7 – great work at Funchal – extra praise for
the bling! Well done!
Mac3 – I found the webinar excellent as well! I
found the advice to take it a bit easy in Jan / Feb so that you can be fresh
for the big miles in March and April. I am enjoying my running at the moment
and logging big miles but very aware that in the past I have fatigued mentally
in marathon build ups and towards the end can resent running. It’s one of the
reasons I took up long distance tri so that I could mix the training up between
swimming, running and cycling to keep it mentally refreshing
Seren - how are your legs post C2C?
smr5 – Welcome! You’ll find good advice here, I am
on the Emerites bunch too via Dubai. When I was looking that was much cheaper
than SAA. Where are you looking to get the Qualifying time done?
Good
luck at Gloucester this weekend Odeon
With
all these flight details being posted we will need Lowrez to update his list
Cut
back week last week for me with just 35 miles logged seemed to do the trick –
running reasonably well at the moment, big weekend planned with 13m on Sat and
20m on Sunday. Looking forward to the start of the 6 nations as well.
I
have made a copy of everyone’s posts from this week so that if they’re lost
when RW does it migration to the new website the posts can be saved.
Mac
3 - I tried to find the webinar you talked about but couldn't Obviously
being a bit stupid. Managed to book myself up for the next one but no mention
of the one thats just been
smr5
- welcome. I'm a Surrey runner too. I have used SAA in the past and it was
fine. The reason why I have used BA or Virgin recently is just in case of
delays and cancellations. Although the EU compensation regulation for delays
and cancellations apply to all airlines flying out of the EU, for the return I
understand that it only applies if it is operated by an EU airline. So when
things go pear-shaped I value the certainty of knowing what I'm entitled
to...
I'm on the British Airways / Comair combination via Jo'burg this year.
I
think its still old as I wouldnt think that when they set up the new one they
will remember to give me some extra access
My
legs are ok after C2c but glad it was a cutback week this week so nice low
mileage....got a lot of uni work on and other things so feeling mentally tired
Just
listened to the webinar. Very good but he kept going on about how important
March and April are. I'm away at the beginning of March and no matter what I think,
I'm realistically not going to get much running in. Sure I'll be fine though
Not much running going on here. Still struggling with my hips so probably 5km
total in January. Lots of strength training though. 4 months is a long time
though so I still have a chance to make it.
A
good weekend. Lots of volunteers at my parkrun, so I was able to run that
yesterday, and this morning was or club run from Merstham back to Croydon via
the NDW, Warlingham school, Route 21 and the Vanguard Way. I ran from home to
East Croydon station and finished with a bit of running in South Norwood
Country Park, and totalled something over 26 miles (lost a bit on my watch, so
not sure exactly). Three weeks to go to Heartbreaker Marathon. Next Saturday is
the last of the Lague cross-country matches, thankfully only 6km (I trashed all
the muscles round my hips doing back-to-back 5 and 6.7 mile XC middle of
January).
Achilles'
area pain is definitely skin sensitivity/invisible blister- I had a nice thick
'donut' taped over it on my runs from Wednesday onwards, including today,
and no pain.Irritating to have to wear the pad for the next several weeks until
it settles, but so gllad that's all I need to do.
Still
not decided what I'm doing in March, Mr Zuvai. The loca-lish 30-mile LDWA
challenge is cheap and not too far away and a nice distance. The Red Rose Ultra
.. it's tempting to go up to Manchester as my sister and two of my nieces will
be there for the weekend, but 40 miles with significant ascent and
descent may be more than is sensible.
Bike-It,
hope those hips settle. I really ought to start some strength training
properly.
Odeon
- reading your post above regarding flying out on the wed with SAA, i think
today we have a brief chat whilst running the gloucester marathon. If it was
you, you had a 2012 yellow comrades race shirt on. I was running in orange with
a backpack. Had a chat with two others as well - its so much fun running
marathons when you can spread the good word of Comrades.
And
listened to the webinar as well, very informative and liked the bit about not
worrying too much about the long miles at the moment, just get the consistency.
Cut
back week for me coming up looking
forward to it.
Thinking
about tactics for marathon in a couple of weeks I know I need to learn to
walk (quickly) whilst running and it's difficult to do that when you don't feel
the need to but I know I will need to on the day
Seren
- see you at Manchester. I'm just spectating but
husband is running
S.Snail
- I simply power walk all the up bits at Comrades - not sure that is as grand
as a "strategy" but it works - I'm wondering if you can adopt it on
your marathon? I would not be able to apply a strict regime of run10 walk 2 or
whatever on the day, there are so many hills you would end up running up a lot
of the steepest if you approached it on a time basis. Another safe-ish approach
is to latch on to a bus and do what they do - in the later half of my first up
run I was on a 12 hour bus and they guided me home - if there are pacers
on your marathon they could well be adopting a run walk strategy at the slower
end of the field?
Bike
- got everything crossed for you - you can definitely power up and get the
necessary miles in for a finish - you still have time
I
did a stupid thing this last weekend and ran 19 miles when I really only meant
to do 15 only had half a litre of water with me too and no food - I was also
blown out of the water (for non-running reasons) the weekend before and
did not get a long weekend run in at all - can you count that as a cut back
week? 19 was on Saturday - I simply misjudged the distance and was a long way
from home before I realized - couldn't walk back as time was not on my side
- still sore now so won't be running today again - off for a lunch
time walk to ease the pain out.
Where
is this new forum site? Well late if you go by the notice posted? I have not
been posting much as they say everything since 30th Jan will be lost?
Lowrez
- The marathon next weekend is a 3.25ish mile loop on a flat tow path, so a bit
of groundhog day but no hills to power up. Just think I need to learn to do some
walking too. Well done on the 19 even if it wasn't intended. 4 miles is a long
way to walk home, so I don't blame you.
Agree
about the website. What on earth are they doing?
Think
Mr Zuvai has saved some of whats gone on to re post when they finally get round
to doing whatever it is
Debra
- no idea what they're doing, just that it says from Mon 31st Jan nothing
posted will move over to the new website which is why Mr Zuvai has saved and
will repost but don't know what they're doing or how long. Maybe they don't
either
Becca
- That sounds right. At Walton leisure Centre. Am doing Jaw Dropper on the
Saturday
Becca - Their website's a bit uninformative or I just can't find
anything on it. Do you know what they're doing at the aid stations and if they
send out numbers
Aid station has masses of sweets (if you are veggie or vegan
take your own). I think numbers are to be collected. There might be more info
in the Phoenix Running Facebook group. My first time doing one of their events.
aye, I've been keeping a
copy of everything post 31st in case it is all lost!
happy with progress at
the moment, 51 miles last week including back to back runs over the weekend
totalling 30 miles. Will get a run in the peak district this weekend coming
which will be lovely!
Hope everyone with
injuries and niggles are on the mend!
Loving the slightly
lighter evenings and the snowdrops and daffs appearing! Spring is slowing
making it's way!
My first time too. I
might have gone bonkers by the end of the day doing all those loops. Not on
Facebook so will look at website sometime. At least I know there's plenty of
parking and it's easy to get too.
Last update to our list
was 8th Jan - blimey a whole month ago - so I have saved that too - I work
in IT - something feels amiss with this upgrade so best we have copies of
everything we hold dear!
I know JAR still hadn't
got a result three weeks ago - fingers crossed they come through for him.
Feel like I am in danger
of missing the cut at Wrexham, got two halves in on weekends a month back then
missed a week and now I am over trained and waiting to simmer down until I can
run again, I've got 3 weekends left to level out and then taper; I suppose I
could go; 15, 17, 19, 8, 26, that and a few mid weekers will have to do - I
still have a discounted entry for Manchester because of the mismeasurement but I
need to play that trump card before the end of Feb; no luxury of seeing
how Wrexham goes first. I suppose OMTOM is a qualifier too, but its longer
with more to go wrong. Still haven't reached that point where I feel I
can simply switch the engines on and cruise out a result.
I set off for that
15(19) miler at 6:30am on Saturday, dawn chorus was in full swing but no real
light. I suppose that sent me into uncharted territory where there were still
street lights on. I hit the lightless countryside as dawn really broke. It was
so still and clear, my breath pushing out like a steam train stack. The dawn
was an orange blanket through thin cloud that reminded me so much of the last
Comrades down run with the black silhouettes of trees stark against
the brightening sky. It was good to be alive and alone on the road
again...
Comments
smr5
Yesterday at 16:20
Great, thanks guys - that is really good to know!
I wonder if i can pick your brains about one more thing - flights.Im still trying to sort mine out and South African airlines looks like the winner in terms of price and times.
Anyone else using them - or has anyone flown with them in the past? Not used them myself, so wondered what the service is like.
Cheers, Paul.
Becca7
Yesterday at 16:26
I've flown with South African once and wasn't impressed. The inflight entertainment system wasn't working. They reset it. It still didn't work. I pressed the button to call the attendant but nobody came for the rest of the flight. I complained but it took two months to even get an apology. I don't like flying into OR Tambo airport either. However if the prices and times are to suit then go for it and make sure you take a good book.
Debra Bourne
Yesterday at 17:56
Hi Paul, can't speak for South African Airlines as I've not used them that I recall (I'm pretty sure my flights years ago will have been with BA). But Emirates flights are good if those will work at all for you. And it's rather fun being part of the gradual drawing together of runners in Dubai airport.
Becca7
Yesterday at 18:10
Yes, Emirates is my preference for the same reasons as Debra. Plus good inflight entertainment and you can fly straight into Durban from Dubai.
Odeon1085
Yesterday at 19:51
Hi Paul,
Flew with Saa in 2012 and again this year (2017) No issues for me and I preferred the shorter flights overall to Emirates, which I did in 2011. Horses for courses. Out on the weds from Heathrow. ????
Mr Zuvai pirate
03/02/2017 at 11:30
Dannirr - Excellent work at Miami – you’re in fantastic shape! Your plan to back up MDS and Comrades sounds quite the adventure! 71 miles in the week is god going? How did you feel this week?
Debra – what ultra did you decide to do in the end? Sounds like you made the right decision to cut your run short – how is the foot feeling now?
Becca7 – great work at Funchal – extra praise for the bling! Well done!
Mac3 – I found the webinar excellent as well! I found the advice to take it a bit easy in Jan / Feb so that you can be fresh for the big miles in March and April. I am enjoying my running at the moment and logging big miles but very aware that in the past I have fatigued mentally in marathon build ups and towards the end can resent running. It’s one of the reasons I took up long distance tri so that I could mix the training up between swimming, running and cycling to keep it mentally refreshing
Seren - how are your legs post C2C?
smr5 – Welcome! You’ll find good advice here, I am on the Emerites bunch too via Dubai. When I was looking that was much cheaper than SAA. Where are you looking to get the Qualifying time done?
Good luck at Gloucester this weekend Odeon
With all these flight details being posted we will need Lowrez to update his list
Cut back week last week for me with just 35 miles logged seemed to do the trick – running reasonably well at the moment, big weekend planned with 13m on Sat and 20m on Sunday. Looking forward to the start of the 6 nations as well.
I have made a copy of everyone’s posts from this week so that if they’re lost when RW does it migration to the new website the posts can be saved.
Hope everyone is fighting fit and well!
Southern Snail
03/02/2017 at 11:41
Mac 3 - I tried to find the webinar you talked about but couldn't Obviously being a bit stupid. Managed to book myself up for the next one but no mention of the one thats just been
Mr Zuvai pirate
03/02/2017 at 11:45
SS - here is it: Webinar
Southern Snail
03/02/2017 at 11:50
Mr Z - Thanks. That page didn't come up
Will look forward to listening later
lowrez
03/02/2017 at 15:13
Give this link a go
PS is this the new Runner's World forum or the old one? It looks "old" to me? But then again I don't know what "new" should look like either - ha ha!
Slow Duck
03/02/2017 at 16:36
smr5 - welcome. I'm a Surrey runner too. I have used SAA in the past and it was fine. The reason why I have used BA or Virgin recently is just in case of delays and cancellations. Although the EU compensation regulation for delays and cancellations apply to all airlines flying out of the EU, for the return I understand that it only applies if it is operated by an EU airline. So when things go pear-shaped I value the certainty of knowing what I'm entitled to...
I'm on the British Airways / Comair combination via Jo'burg this year.
seren nos pirate
03/02/2017 at 18:07
I think its still old as I wouldnt think that when they set up the new one they will remember to give me some extra access
My legs are ok after C2c but glad it was a cutback week this week so nice low mileage....got a lot of uni work on and other things so feeling mentally tired
Southern Snail
03/02/2017 at 18:17
Just listened to the webinar. Very good but he kept going on about how important March and April are. I'm away at the beginning of March and no matter what I think, I'm realistically not going to get much running in. Sure I'll be fine though
Bike It
03/02/2017 at 20:18
Evening all.
Not much running going on here. Still struggling with my hips so probably 5km total in January. Lots of strength training though. 4 months is a long time though so I still have a chance to make it.
Debra Bourne
05/02/2017 at 16:47
A good weekend. Lots of volunteers at my parkrun, so I was able to run that yesterday, and this morning was or club run from Merstham back to Croydon via the NDW, Warlingham school, Route 21 and the Vanguard Way. I ran from home to East Croydon station and finished with a bit of running in South Norwood Country Park, and totalled something over 26 miles (lost a bit on my watch, so not sure exactly). Three weeks to go to Heartbreaker Marathon. Next Saturday is the last of the Lague cross-country matches, thankfully only 6km (I trashed all the muscles round my hips doing back-to-back 5 and 6.7 mile XC middle of January).
Achilles' area pain is definitely skin sensitivity/invisible blister- I had a nice thick 'donut' taped over it on my runs from Wednesday onwards, including today, and no pain.Irritating to have to wear the pad for the next several weeks until it settles, but so gllad that's all I need to do.
Still not decided what I'm doing in March, Mr Zuvai. The loca-lish 30-mile LDWA challenge is cheap and not too far away and a nice distance. The Red Rose Ultra .. it's tempting to go up to Manchester as my sister and two of my nieces will be there for the weekend, but 40 miles with significant ascent and descent may be more than is sensible.
Bike-It, hope those hips settle. I really ought to start some strength training properly.
marty74
05/02/2017 at 20:20
Odeon - reading your post above regarding flying out on the wed with SAA, i think today we have a brief chat whilst running the gloucester marathon. If it was you, you had a 2012 yellow comrades race shirt on. I was running in orange with a backpack. Had a chat with two others as well - its so much fun running marathons when you can spread the good word of Comrades.
And listened to the webinar as well, very informative and liked the bit about not worrying too much about the long miles at the moment, just get the consistency.
seren nos pirate
05/02/2017 at 20:35
park run yesterday but was icy so dint quite get a new course PB down there whilst visiting.
today had cross country......a proper course with hills and loads of mud.....had a cracking run for me to end my cutback week.......
back on it tomorrow
Southern Snail
05/02/2017 at 21:25
Cut back week for me coming up looking forward to it.
Thinking about tactics for marathon in a couple of weeks I know I need to learn to walk (quickly) whilst running and it's difficult to do that when you don't feel the need to but I know I will need to on the day
Seren - see you at Manchester. I'm just spectating but husband is running
lowrez
Today at 12:30
S.Snail - I simply power walk all the up bits at Comrades - not sure that is as grand as a "strategy" but it works - I'm wondering if you can adopt it on your marathon? I would not be able to apply a strict regime of run10 walk 2 or whatever on the day, there are so many hills you would end up running up a lot of the steepest if you approached it on a time basis. Another safe-ish approach is to latch on to a bus and do what they do - in the later half of my first up run I was on a 12 hour bus and they guided me home - if there are pacers on your marathon they could well be adopting a run walk strategy at the slower end of the field?
Bike - got everything crossed for you - you can definitely power up and get the necessary miles in for a finish - you still have time
I did a stupid thing this last weekend and ran 19 miles when I really only meant to do 15 only had half a litre of water with me too and no food - I was also blown out of the water (for non-running reasons) the weekend before and did not get a long weekend run in at all - can you count that as a cut back week? 19 was on Saturday - I simply misjudged the distance and was a long way from home before I realized - couldn't walk back as time was not on my side - still sore now so won't be running today again - off for a lunch time walk to ease the pain out.
Where is this new forum site? Well late if you go by the notice posted? I have not been posting much as they say everything since 30th Jan will be lost?
Southern Snail
Today at 16:27
Lowrez - The marathon next weekend is a 3.25ish mile loop on a flat tow path, so a bit of groundhog day but no hills to power up. Just think I need to learn to do some walking too. Well done on the 19 even if it wasn't intended. 4 miles is a long way to walk home, so I don't blame you.
Agree about the website. What on earth are they doing?
Think Mr Zuvai has saved some of whats gone on to re post when they finally get round to doing whatever it is
Becca7
Today at 16:34
Sounds like the one I'm doing, Snail. 6 hours up and down the towpath. Jaws or Dirty Dancing?
We've not had the race list for a while - I hope that that is saved somewhere?
Debra Bourne
Today at 16:40
I've missed this whole thing about the website changing - more info???
Southern Snail
Today at 17:09
Debra - no idea what they're doing, just that it says from Mon 31st Jan nothing posted will move over to the new website which is why Mr Zuvai has saved and will repost but don't know what they're doing or how long. Maybe they don't either
Becca - That sounds right. At Walton leisure Centre. Am doing Jaw Dropper on the Saturday
Southern Snail
Today at 17:12
Becca - Their website's a bit uninformative or I just can't find anything on it. Do you know what they're doing at the aid stations and if they send out numbers
Becca7
Today at 17:14
Mine is the next day. Cool medals for both.
Becca7
07/02/2017 at 17:17
Aid station has masses of sweets (if you are veggie or vegan take your own). I think numbers are to be collected. There might be more info in the Phoenix Running Facebook group. My first time doing one of their events.
Mr Zuvai pirate
07/02/2017 at 17:25
aye, I've been keeping a copy of everything post 31st in case it is all lost!
happy with progress at the moment, 51 miles last week including back to back runs over the weekend totalling 30 miles. Will get a run in the peak district this weekend coming which will be lovely!
Hope everyone with injuries and niggles are on the mend!
Loving the slightly lighter evenings and the snowdrops and daffs appearing! Spring is slowing making it's way!
Mr Zuvai pirate
07/02/2017 at 17:41
random question, but does anyone know how JAR got on with his appeals regarding the 2016 event?
Southern Snail
07/02/2017 at 17:42
My first time too. I might have gone bonkers by the end of the day doing all those loops. Not on Facebook so will look at website sometime. At least I know there's plenty of parking and it's easy to get too.
definitely noticinag the lighter evenings
lowrez
07/02/2017 at 19:18
Last update to our list was 8th Jan - blimey a whole month ago - so I have saved that too - I work in IT - something feels amiss with this upgrade so best we have copies of everything we hold dear!
I know JAR still hadn't got a result three weeks ago - fingers crossed they come through for him.
Feel like I am in danger of missing the cut at Wrexham, got two halves in on weekends a month back then missed a week and now I am over trained and waiting to simmer down until I can run again, I've got 3 weekends left to level out and then taper; I suppose I could go; 15, 17, 19, 8, 26, that and a few mid weekers will have to do - I still have a discounted entry for Manchester because of the mismeasurement but I need to play that trump card before the end of Feb; no luxury of seeing how Wrexham goes first. I suppose OMTOM is a qualifier too, but its longer with more to go wrong. Still haven't reached that point where I feel I can simply switch the engines on and cruise out a result.
I set off for that 15(19) miler at 6:30am on Saturday, dawn chorus was in full swing but no real light. I suppose that sent me into uncharted territory where there were still street lights on. I hit the lightless countryside as dawn really broke. It was so still and clear, my breath pushing out like a steam train stack. The dawn was an orange blanket through thin cloud that reminded me so much of the last Comrades down run with the black silhouettes of trees stark against the brightening sky. It was good to be alive and alone on the road again...