Ultra Runners Chatty Thread

[RelentlessForwardProgress]

If you regularly run ultra, are planning your first or are kinda secretly mulling over the idea of doing one welcome to the party.

I’m not doing London (did it once in 2018 too crowded and noisy for me) but was hoping to go up on the day. Now thinking I might not even do that. DH is meant to be doing it.

I sympathise with everyone as it seems really complicated to organise your stuff this year.

@WithCatLikeTread - apparently we’re allowed to invite one spectator. How on earth will they police that? And they’ll move any crowds on. The bit about staggered start times over 1.5 hours is also a bit odd. I’m assuming no clock at the finishing time. It just feels a bit … not worth the effort 😳

This could be because the trails have stolen my heart and I’m looking for an excuse to dump the pavements that I’ve committed too 😂

It probably is still worth doing just cos it’s tough to get a place but I can understand your feelings.

How they can police any of it really? People who live in London are entitled to go about their day as they wish, it’s not like having one spectator in a stadium, and we’re all meant to be living with no rules 🤷‍♀️

I took DD in 2019 to watch DH and the memory of the crowds at Tower Bridge makes me not want to go there at all or take her.

I was debating going up in the train and finding a quiet spot somewhere but going off that idea too.

Have got a long list of club runners doing it so may stay at home with all the devices tracking everyone instead. And the tv on to see if I can spot any of them!

I'm totally turned off of London now. Too crowded and way too much faff.

The virtual one last year worked really well. It was great seeing everyone out with their numbers on. Our club organised a route with aid stations and staggered starts so some members felt the race experience.

@Giraffeski keep us posted on it, the organisation and effort is fascinating to me

@LtGreggs...I'm really slow. I do a 10k in about an hour, a marathon I'm lucky to finish in 5, my watch is generally under 5 (I stop it if i'm not running, going to loo etc) but my chip time is over 5 as it counts these stops if that makes sense.

I can do a flat(ish) 50 in about 11hrs.15

I think one of the reasons I like ultras is as the distance increases, everyone else slows down, so I seem less slow in comparison....I just seem to have one pace and can keep it up for a long time, but I can't do speed.

I feel a bit gutted on everyone's behalf about London. I thought the point of delaying it was so that it would be more normal......I don't understand how its OK to have 60,000 people all sat next to each other in Wembly stadium just cause its flipping football, but runners can't have more than one spectator...it feels really unfair

@RelentlessForwardProgress - I’m convinced they’re trying to put people off or make it so unappealing that no one cares if they cancel it!

The instructions are all about reducing touch points yet they still insist you go to the marathon fair 🤔

And yes … festivals ok but marathon has to have a staggered start?

Socks with toes in?Anyone had an experience with them?

I generally use cheap aldi socks for short runs, and use hilly twin skins for all distance stuff.

I've often wondered about the Injinji ones, and I'm about to do an online order at sportsshoes.com and they have these which seem to be a hilly version.

I think I'm hesitating as they seem quite low on the ankle though, I can't be doing with ones that ride down at the back.

Anyone tried them?

Yes I have 2 pairs of them. I have horrible excema on my toes so I have found them really good. I don't wear them for my longer runs. Not entirely sure why not actually. Habit?

Do you have the Hilly ones or the Injinji ones @OJandacupoftea
What do you use for long runs?

I have one pair of injinji socks and I do like them but I have weird toes and find the socks hard to get on.
So stick with my boring padded ones that I think I got from a local running shop. Do need to find more as they are wearing out and I don’t remember where I got them.

Meanwhile, I didn’t run today as I’ve got really painful stabbing pain in one heel. Google suggests PF but I had that before and it felt different, maybe it’s worse this time.

I have a booking at a new local running shop for gait analysis and maybe suggestions for new shoes, am holding onto new shoes being the answer as have stuff booked and training to do. I know the advice is to rest but I just did that with the weird lump that appeared in the other foot for a while.

I'm very interested in those Hilly toe socks! I always wear the twin skins to run in, but I bought toe socks a few months ago just for everyday and I do really like them. It was prompted by reading a bit about foot strength & spreading toes - don't really know if it's made much difference but they are now my preferred everyday socks. Might be a birthday present to myself!

On another note, I've been quite pleased with my post-injury return to running this week. I'm still being quite cautious but did a fairly hilly 12k trail run yesterday and another hilly but easy pace 10k trail today (on the basis that this week's long run plan was meant to have been a half, so I split it in two and am actually not far off my original mileage plan total for the week). Felt fine during and post run - after a family walk this afternoon I can feel my calf is a bit tired, but nothing alarming. Going to keep building back this week.

Oh the Hilly toe socks aren't available in small - probably not for me then :-(

I have the injiji ones.

I have bridgedale and some CEP ones for longer trail runs.

I am minimalist/barefoot for everything except long/road runs.

So if I'm on grass or short trail then I try to wear whittun shoes. Oh and I always wear them for work and dog walks. It's not an exact science but it works for me if I'm careful.

My feet are strong, big and wide!

I've bought a pair of the Hilly and will report back.

@LtGreggs glad return to running is going well.

@WithCatLikeTread When I have had PF its always under the arch, I've never had it in the heel, it does sound different to mine too.

@OJandacupoftea is it the Whitin shoes on amazon you use to run barefoot? I've looked at them before but discounted as they seem like one of those weird makes that just clone a load of letters together to make a name like Aonijie and fake the reviews! Are they actually good. This is the problem with Amazon, there is now so much rubbish on there its hard to see what is the good stuff..

Yes that's the ones. I was sceptical but am quite a fan. There are a few you tube videos out there reviewing them too.

But I will say that my feet have spread loads and I'm really conscious of the barefoot controversy. I bought the book 'older yet faster' and didn't much like it. I am really careful now about what I put on my feet, including socks and for how long.

Oooh what is the barefoot controversy...?I wear size 9 men's my feet are so big and wide, I really, really don't need them to get any bigger. I'm at the weeping in shoe shop stage when I'm trying to buy nice going out shoes already!! Is it trainers or barefoot shoes you think have made yours spread?

Booking just opened for Endure 24 next year. I've booked for Leeds

Hi, can I join? I'm doing my first ultra, a 50k, in November. I have a half on Saturday and a marathon in October to keep the training interesting. Loving the sock chat - just ordered a pair of Bridgedale trail socks and a pair of toe socks to try.
I've done 3 marathons before, am at the stage of training where I always think I can't possibly run that far!

Hi @emummy
Where is your 50?

I love the idea of doing races for ultra long run training, I get a bit lonely on the long ones, plus my planning tends to be driving the route the night beforehand and throwing water and bags of jelly babies out of the car window into hedges ...it would be much easier if there were other people and refreshments.

Do you book an ultra and then work out the mileage chart leading up to it and then find races that fit in?

Yes that’s about it! I got a bit nervous at the thought of running marathon distance on my own, so it was great to find one that fits. The 50 is the Dava Way 50k, from Grantown on Spey to Forres up in Moray, north east Scotland.
Am quite excited about the marathon - it’s the Dramathon, goes by various whisky distilleries, I’ve always wanted to do it!

Hi, I've done an Ultra (39 miles) about 15 years ago and done 5 marathons. But I haven't run more than 5k in the last few years.
I'm just getting back into running with a club 3 times a week now.

I really fancy trying Endure 24 next year. My club usually has a team but I would love to try solo.

Doh, that should have said more than 10k, not 5!

The Dramathon looks brilliant! Before I read the FAQ's I thought they were actually drinking the whisky during the race and couldn't work out how they'd get a race permit for that