Trail runners and hikers unite!

[applespearsbears]

A thread for everyone who loves to walk, jog or run trails, whether 1 mile or 100 miles, to talk all things trail related.

As a starter for 10...I've always enjoyed being outdoors but it's got less and less so this year I decided to do some long distance walking and because of time that turned not jogging as much as I could. I signed up for a local 21 mile all / run event which meant training from January and I got the trail bug!

I'm doing a 100K event (mainly walking!) at the end of June and then I want to spend some time learning new mountain related skills so I can spend even longer ourdoors. I dream of going to the Breacon Beacons or The Lakes.

And I love talking about kit and watching trail films on YouTube

I live near some moors and the Penine Way crosses nearby. I'd like to explore them a bit.

I live hiking.

I have a dream of doing the PCT. actually got a permit for this year but then got a new job. Not sure if I’ll ever do it as the thought of walking away from my life for six plus months is scary. As is the thought of the actual hike.

Off to the Lakes in a couple of weeks for a weeks walking and Keswick mountain festival.

Love hiking not live.

Just getting started have you got any walks planned?

NotaRegularPenguin what is the PCT? Is it a national trail? Have you looked at the Long Distance Walking Association ? They do all sorts of long day walks and supported challenges. A local group might cover it. I've found them to be a friendly group.

I'm very envious of your trip, are you planning on doing any of the activities?

Pct is the Pacific crest trail. From Mexico to Canada. 2660 miles.

I'm doing the honister via ferrata while I'm in the Lakes which I'm a bit nervous of. Am thinking of signing up for the 10k fell race as well but have my dog with me so need to work out what to do with her. Certainly not paying £30 for an organised walk up Catbells! So mainly will just bumble round the festival village and eat food I think.

apples No, I don't have anything planned. I'm sort of tied up with my current running program. But I can walk straight out of the house and up onto the moors. I think I may do a few Sunday walks with my son. At some point I would like to try running a bit up there.

I too have always loved being outdoors.
I was super lucky with Scouts here in my county. We had an amazing yearly 2 day orienteering/camping event which both my OH and I are still involved.
I've mountain bikes and hiked all over the UK and in the alps.
I've been trail running for a few years now, I've got a trail marathon in North Wales in June and a 50 mile Ultra in the same area later in the year. In between I'm doing a trail half and a 50k.
OH does shorter trail events 5-15k typically.
We've also done some other pretty cool stuff kayaked/camped in Sweden for a week.
My eldest did orienteering when he was younger, our eldest DS who is 3 can't wait to grow up big so he can run in the mountains.

I've recently started trail running, having been running regularly for the last 3 years.

I find there is nothing like a long trail run to relax and clear the mind and challenge the body. I have a Snowdonia half coming up in July and a few events before then to help train for the hills in particular. Very nervous about it!

Generally only done half distances, but maybe next year will attempt a full trail marathon. I do lots of shorter runs on the road during the week to keep active as well.

Does anyone run with other people / groups? I actually prefer my own company but this weekend I have a friend joining me - bit nervous about having to talk!

Interested in hearing any runs or races people have coming up too.

Hi. I live in HK and have been trail running for about 5 years ( I also did the marathon de sables in 2005 for a bet but thats another story).

However, last September I had a bunion correction so I haven't done much recently and not really sure to what extent I'll get back to it as my toes are pretty arthritic.

My longest race In HK was 70k with 3600m vertical. Almost died. My enduring memory is of sweltering heat and just thinking "shall I sit under a tree until it gets dark and finish off then?" Also done a few 50ks/marathons. All HK races are insanely hilly so there's generally not that much running involved. That's why the top HK runners do so well on the Alpine races.

My secret weapons are Hoka's, SIS gels and pickle juice.

Wow @Johnnycomelately1 your 70k sounds amazing and incredibly tough! Is there a link to the race if it's a regular one? What is it like living in HK? Used to live in Singapore but never got to HK. Sure it is similar in terms of humidity and heat though. I can't imagine getting used to running in those conditions.

A fast run in temperatures over 25C about finishes me off! Pickle juice sounds interesting, what is it in it that helps? Hope you are able to get more or less fully recovered soon, being stalled must be very frustrating.

JustGettingStarted having the moors on your doorstep must be wonderful, so much to explore.

NotaRegularPenguin I've watched a few YouTube videos of people doing the appalachian trail it is a big undertaking. I'd love to hear what you think about the KMF and doing a fell race.

Alex3101 Wow! that's going to keep you busy I'd love to hear about how all your races go. I think I'd enjoy long distances but the time cut off's put me off. I find events geared for walkers who allows runners are kinder in terms of timings.
How did you build up to a 50K? And do you run all of it?

Ridiculouslyso wave I've just found a local-ish This Mum trail runs group but haven't been out with them. Sometime I just fancy some company but I also like to go at what ever pace I feel like which wouldn't work in a group.

Johnnycomelately1 Just wow! I've watched a few films on the HK races they look sooo tough. Which HOka's would you recommend and why?

I'd love to hear about all your races everyone - how would you feel about coming back to the thread and giving an update. It will also help pick out races for everyone else to consider for next year.

I'm doing the Cotswold Way Challenge at the end of June 100k over 2 days, then I'd like to find a 50k but I walk a lot and I'm happy with that so I want an event that gives that flexibility. Any suggestions?

I'd also like to give a fixed trail time trial a go but can't find one - where they set a time and you just have that long to go as far as you can. If anyone knows of any in the South / West / Wales / Cotswold area /Hampshire area please let me know

Hi @applespearsbears! I’m doing the same challenge too 6.5 weeks to go ...

The training is starting to get me down now. Never ran trails before and goodness does it take forever! I’ve started to look fondly on the relative brevity of road marathon training!

I started off road running, but now I love a good footpath. I have the local explorer map next to me right now! I love that it's slower paced, you can look around, nice scenery and there's usually a handy bush for a quick wee...

@praisedbebitch eek! 6.5 weeks are you sure I keep thinking it's 8 weeks... my training is poor but I'm planning on walking a lot and jogging some. Are you running it? Which distance are you doing?

@SocksRock yup you have to love a wild wee...

Will report back on the KMF, should be a good atmosphere in town that weekend for sure.

I went to HK about 22 yrs ago with someone whose family lived local. We spent the whole time climbing mountains (ok, maybe just big hills) & taking boats out to tiny islands & seeing countryside places. It was amazing. Barely saw any of the city. So privileged.

@applespearsbears so the only event I've entered with cut offs this year so far is the 50 mile Ultra. It climbs Cadair Idris in Snowdonia pretty much from the start.
Training is quite a lot of really low intensity stuff, HR zone 2 where poss. It just means you never really go to deep so you can build up to higher mileage. It's been tough this year with the new arrival in January.
In most of the bigger distances you walk some bits (unless you are at the front, which I'm not) the 50k is also self navigation so you get to stop every now and then.
I tend to run Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday and Sunday. An hour strength training on Friday and if I can fit it in one or two 2k swims.

@applespearsbears I’m doing 100km on the Saturday. Originally signed up to do it across 2 days but scared of waking up too stiff to run the second day!

Are you camping the night in between?

I’m in the ‘jogging’ group and sure I will be walking a lot of it (ALL the hills!) but have been following the running training plan trying to get as fit as possible.

I know I’ll enjoy the day itself but looking forward to it being over now and I can just enjoy running/hiking again without the pressure

@praisedbebitch I'm signed up to walk 100k over 2 days - not camping have booked B and B. Wish I'd signed up to jog now but I didn't know what I could do before signing up as I've never done anything like this before.

How's the training been? How do you build up to 100k in 24 hours !

Anyone got any runs planned this weekend?

Beautiful Somerset run on Thursday

Hi All- just catching up on the thread.

HK courses are tough, but we train on that all the time so get really good at stepped climbs etc. Conversely I probably would really struggle with a long, entirely runnable course as I'm used to a run/walk strategy.

Ridiculouslyso It's called the Lantau 70 and involves running the whole of the Lantau trail in one go. It's very hilly, but the other issue is that it's very technical in places, and is also in October so can still be very hot- when I did it it was "feels like" 32 degrees. I just got dehydrated and then struggled to come back from that.

Which Hoka's would you recommend and why?

I personally like Challengers as they're a bit wider than the average Hoka, but critically they are "all terrain" and HK races are almost never purely "trail" but incorporate a fair bit of traffic free tarmac like catch waters or reservoir access roads, and even bits of actual road. Very few trail shoes are really designed for HK (some people just wear road shoes and glue those Vibram soles on the bottom) but these do the job really well

Those pictures are beautiful @applespearsbears

Last weekend ended up quite warm and muggy which was a challenge and it looks like this weekend will be wet on top of that. Obviously the weather could be much hotter at the very end of June so we need to be prepared.

The training’s really gotten hard these last few weeks, I had a bad week and it threw me off so trying desperately to get back on my game. The training plan I’m following only has you doing 50k in one go so the full 100k is sure to be a new beast to tackle!

I’m just trying to concentrate on doing the best I can and knowing that on the day, adrenaline kicks in to give you a boost