skybluecam
Well-Known Member
I wouldn't get evo sls if you're planning on running on gravel a lot, very little tread on them and I've found them slippery off road. Great on road shoe though, the foam is amazing.
Running (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter Macca
- Start date
Ccfcisparks
Well-Known Member
Think I may get them for a tempo shoe I use purely on road.
My longer easy runs are the ones i mainly do on gravel
skybluecam
Well-Known Member
Should be good for the tempo stuff, they feel pretty light and bouncy, durable too. I have over 300mi on my paair and hope to get at least double that on them
Ccfcisparks
Well-Known Member
Good amount. Im up to about 500 with my Hoka Cliftons now but theyre on their way out.
Ccfcisparks
Well-Known Member
On fully rested legs at lunch decided to try and push my mile time with an all out mile sprint
Clocked in at 5:54
Clocked in at 5:54
While most people's attention was focused on the Leicester match, i was where the real action was...... Sutton Park, for the Midlands 6-Stage Road Relay Champs.
I ran 5th leg for a strong looking Masters team, who felt we might be in contention for a medal........ i set off in 4th place, about 40 seconds behind 3rd placed Shrewsbury AC....... ran 20:10 for 5.5km on a really hilly course for a road race...... lost a bit of time on 3rd, so we were really out of the medal hunt....... our final leg guy is deep in the throes of marathon training, and was unable to really put his foot down, and we dropped to 5th.
In the main men's race, we were leading for the first couple of legs, but didn't have the strength to hold it, and drifted back to finish 11th..... still our best finish since before covid, and qualifying for the National Champs in a fortnight at the same venue, with ease.
The Midlands Champs has improved in depth since before covid, when we could turn up with a decent but not full-strength team, and finish in the top 6. That said, i expect we'll be inside the top 10 Midlands teams at the National in a fortnight.
Unfortunately we didn't field a ladies team today.
Senior Men
1st Western Tempo
2nd Bristol & West
3rd BRAT (Birmingham Rowheath)
11th Cov Godiva
25th Nuneaton Harriers
36th Leamington
43rd Cov Sphinx
51st Kenilworth
77th Massey Ferguson
88th Northbrook
Masters Men
1st BRAT
2nd Stroud & District
3rd Shrewsbury AC
5th Cov Godiva
Unfortunately no other local clubs put a Masters team out.
I ran 5th leg for a strong looking Masters team, who felt we might be in contention for a medal........ i set off in 4th place, about 40 seconds behind 3rd placed Shrewsbury AC....... ran 20:10 for 5.5km on a really hilly course for a road race...... lost a bit of time on 3rd, so we were really out of the medal hunt....... our final leg guy is deep in the throes of marathon training, and was unable to really put his foot down, and we dropped to 5th.
In the main men's race, we were leading for the first couple of legs, but didn't have the strength to hold it, and drifted back to finish 11th..... still our best finish since before covid, and qualifying for the National Champs in a fortnight at the same venue, with ease.
The Midlands Champs has improved in depth since before covid, when we could turn up with a decent but not full-strength team, and finish in the top 6. That said, i expect we'll be inside the top 10 Midlands teams at the National in a fortnight.
Unfortunately we didn't field a ladies team today.
Senior Men
1st Western Tempo
2nd Bristol & West
3rd BRAT (Birmingham Rowheath)
11th Cov Godiva
25th Nuneaton Harriers
36th Leamington
43rd Cov Sphinx
51st Kenilworth
77th Massey Ferguson
88th Northbrook
Masters Men
1st BRAT
2nd Stroud & District
3rd Shrewsbury AC
5th Cov Godiva
Unfortunately no other local clubs put a Masters team out.
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Solid session last night in the Warwick Uni Campus, to kick off our winter training programme (which basically means we're done with the shorter grass sessions, and will be doing longer stuff on the roads and the track)
A 500 metre loop round a small lake...... 16 continuous laps, alternating "fast" and "recovery".
I was placed in the quicker of the two groups, and our target was 3:40/km for the fast laps....... not a massively difficult pace (in fact i hit most of them nearer to 3:30/km)
The issue for me was the recovery laps weren't exactly slow either....... i averaged not much over 3:50/km for the entire run, so our recoveries can't have been much slower than 4min/km
Ran the 5 miles in somewhere around 31mins, which is not a million miles away from my 5 mile pb..... but a difficult way to do it with the changing pace.
A 500 metre loop round a small lake...... 16 continuous laps, alternating "fast" and "recovery".
I was placed in the quicker of the two groups, and our target was 3:40/km for the fast laps....... not a massively difficult pace (in fact i hit most of them nearer to 3:30/km)
The issue for me was the recovery laps weren't exactly slow either....... i averaged not much over 3:50/km for the entire run, so our recoveries can't have been much slower than 4min/km
Ran the 5 miles in somewhere around 31mins, which is not a million miles away from my 5 mile pb..... but a difficult way to do it with the changing pace.
Farmer Jim
Well-Known Member
National Road Relays yesterday at Sutton Park.
6 x legs of around 5.5km, hilly and very windy
Mens
1st: Cambridge & Coleridge, 1hr 36
2nd: Tonbridge Harriers, 1hr 37
3td: Highgate Harriers, 1hr 37
39th Cov Godiva, 1hr45
50th Nuneaton Harriers, 1hr52
Womens (same course, 4 legs)
1st: Vale Royal, 1hr14
2nd: Bristol & West, 1hr15
3rd: Aldershot Farnham & DIstrict, 1hr 15
Nuneaton Harriers were technically 53rd, but with an incomplete team, running 1hr14 for 3 legs.
We were 7th Midlands team, despite only being 11th Midlands team in the regional champs a fortnight ago.... as expected.... a number of Midlands teams either don't do so well, or don't even put a team in, when coming up against national level competition.
It is a shame we didn't get our strongest 4 women together (due to various injury and logistical reasons) as they would be medal contenders at National level.
6 x legs of around 5.5km, hilly and very windy
Mens
1st: Cambridge & Coleridge, 1hr 36
2nd: Tonbridge Harriers, 1hr 37
3td: Highgate Harriers, 1hr 37
39th Cov Godiva, 1hr45
50th Nuneaton Harriers, 1hr52
Womens (same course, 4 legs)
1st: Vale Royal, 1hr14
2nd: Bristol & West, 1hr15
3rd: Aldershot Farnham & DIstrict, 1hr 15
Nuneaton Harriers were technically 53rd, but with an incomplete team, running 1hr14 for 3 legs.
We were 7th Midlands team, despite only being 11th Midlands team in the regional champs a fortnight ago.... as expected.... a number of Midlands teams either don't do so well, or don't even put a team in, when coming up against national level competition.
It is a shame we didn't get our strongest 4 women together (due to various injury and logistical reasons) as they would be medal contenders at National level.
CrawleySkyBlue
Well-Known Member
Did you run?
I have an old work friend who runs for Highgate Harriers. He’s very good - clocked over 5,000km year to date, with some filthy PBs that us mere mortals could only dream of.
Makes you think just how good the elites actually are.
I did not..... i ran for the Masters (over 35) team in the regional champs a fortnight ago..... but i'm well down the pecking order for our top 6.
......which is a relief...... this time last year due to various injuries and missing runners, i found myself in the 1st team for the National...... 75 teams, 6 runners = 450 runners........ i think i was in the slowest 10 overall.
I do hope to at least be in the conversation for a place in our 12-man team for the Midlands/National 12-Stage Relays in the Spring though.
Highgate are one of the top teams currently..... always thereabouts on the road and cross-country relays and champs.
Don't wanna say because it would be easy to look my name up
So let's just say it was somewhere between 45 and 46 mins and a PB!
CrawleySkyBlue
Well-Known Member
Training continues to go well. Posted a nice 36:40 10km last week.
Nice.
We've got club session tonight on the roads round the outside of the Memorial Park.
Cross-country season is upon us...... saturday is the Midlands Relays next door to the Wolves academy, 4 legs of 6km.
Then the following weekend is the National Masters (over 35) Relay at Long Eaton, where we may have an outside chance of a medal..... 5 legs of 3km.
We've got club session tonight on the roads round the outside of the Memorial Park.
Cross-country season is upon us...... saturday is the Midlands Relays next door to the Wolves academy, 4 legs of 6km.
Then the following weekend is the National Masters (over 35) Relay at Long Eaton, where we may have an outside chance of a medal..... 5 legs of 3km.
larry_david
Well-Known Member
Yorkshire marathon today.
Last year ran it in storm Ashley. This year its just going to rain. 4th marathon in a year, not signing up again for a while!
Last year ran it in storm Ashley. This year its just going to rain. 4th marathon in a year, not signing up again for a while!
Farmer Jim
Well-Known Member
Good luck mate, a beautiful part of the UK to to do a road marathon.
Yesterday while everyone was focused on the Blackburn game, we were in action in Wolverhampton for the Midlands Cross-Country Relays.
4 legs of 6km, typical cross country..... some rough ground, steep banks up and down.... but was a reasonably flat course for cross-country, and very hard underfoot compared to the mudbaths later in the season.
I was on Leg 2 and set off in 17th place.... thankfully i had a Nuneaton Harrier just in front and i was only marginally quicker than him..... which really kept me pushing, it took me the first lap to latch onto him, and then most of the final lap to put a gap between us.
Crossed the line in 21:51 and we were in 14th place.
1min45secs quicker than last year, which is huge, but much of that will be due to the underfoot conditions..... that said, i felt strong.
Most of our "big guns" are saving themselves for the Masters Relay next weekend and/or the National Relay the weekend after, so our team was not particularly competitive today, and we finished 17th...... compared to 9th last year....... last year i was the slowest in the team, but this year was 2nd quickest.
1st Worcester
2nd Wolverhampton & Bilston (on home turf)
3rd Bristol & West
14th Nuneaton Harriers B Team!
15th Nuneaton Harriers
17th Cov Godiva
29th Cov Sphinx
4 legs of 6km, typical cross country..... some rough ground, steep banks up and down.... but was a reasonably flat course for cross-country, and very hard underfoot compared to the mudbaths later in the season.
I was on Leg 2 and set off in 17th place.... thankfully i had a Nuneaton Harrier just in front and i was only marginally quicker than him..... which really kept me pushing, it took me the first lap to latch onto him, and then most of the final lap to put a gap between us.
Crossed the line in 21:51 and we were in 14th place.
1min45secs quicker than last year, which is huge, but much of that will be due to the underfoot conditions..... that said, i felt strong.
Most of our "big guns" are saving themselves for the Masters Relay next weekend and/or the National Relay the weekend after, so our team was not particularly competitive today, and we finished 17th...... compared to 9th last year....... last year i was the slowest in the team, but this year was 2nd quickest.
1st Worcester
2nd Wolverhampton & Bilston (on home turf)
3rd Bristol & West
14th Nuneaton Harriers B Team!
15th Nuneaton Harriers
17th Cov Godiva
29th Cov Sphinx
Cheers! Very happy with it
Fair play to those that do this on the regular, my legs are absolutely done in right now
While everyone was focused on bashing Watford, we were heading up the M1 to Long Eaton, for the National Cross Country Masters (over 35s) Relays...... also held in conjunction with the Midlands Champs.
5 legs of 3km each.
We've had a solid bunch of masters athletes for a couple of years, but this is probably the first race we've gone out with a team nearing full strength..... i thought we might have a chance of a medal, but was also slightly nervous as i'm the slowest on the team and didn't want to let the side down.
I set off on Leg4, in 2nd place, with about 25 seconds lead over 3rd..... went out really hard, as i didn't want to give 3rd any inkling they might be able to catch me..... this threatened to backfire when i looked at my watch and i'd only been going 4 minutes, and my legs were started to feel the strain.
Crossed the line in 10:45...... 7 seconds quicker than last year, although the course was slightly more difficult on one of the trail sections, probably worth about another 10 seconds or so.
I'd extended the gap and our final guy had around 40 seconds start....... it was not over though, as he was being chased down by a guy who was going sub 10-minute pace. With 400mtrs to go the gap was down to about 7 seconds and i thought we were going to be overhauled, but held on desperately for 2nd place by a mere two seconds.
National
1st Salford Harriers
2nd Cov Godiva
3rd Long Eaton (home club)
Midlands
1st Cov Godiva
2nd Long Eaton
3rd Nuneaton Harriers
There were other age category races up to over 65s, and women's races, but due to the fairly short nature and our medal aspirations, i'm afraid i was totally focused on our own team.
Next weekend back up to Mansfield for the Senior National Relays, where i'll be in our B team.
5 legs of 3km each.
We've had a solid bunch of masters athletes for a couple of years, but this is probably the first race we've gone out with a team nearing full strength..... i thought we might have a chance of a medal, but was also slightly nervous as i'm the slowest on the team and didn't want to let the side down.
I set off on Leg4, in 2nd place, with about 25 seconds lead over 3rd..... went out really hard, as i didn't want to give 3rd any inkling they might be able to catch me..... this threatened to backfire when i looked at my watch and i'd only been going 4 minutes, and my legs were started to feel the strain.
Crossed the line in 10:45...... 7 seconds quicker than last year, although the course was slightly more difficult on one of the trail sections, probably worth about another 10 seconds or so.
I'd extended the gap and our final guy had around 40 seconds start....... it was not over though, as he was being chased down by a guy who was going sub 10-minute pace. With 400mtrs to go the gap was down to about 7 seconds and i thought we were going to be overhauled, but held on desperately for 2nd place by a mere two seconds.
National
1st Salford Harriers
2nd Cov Godiva
3rd Long Eaton (home club)
Midlands
1st Cov Godiva
2nd Long Eaton
3rd Nuneaton Harriers
There were other age category races up to over 65s, and women's races, but due to the fairly short nature and our medal aspirations, i'm afraid i was totally focused on our own team.
Next weekend back up to Mansfield for the Senior National Relays, where i'll be in our B team.
CrawleySkyBlue
Well-Known Member
A nice interval session today - 6x 1km with 90s rests (ave 3:24 reps), followed by a 4km tempo at 3:47 ave. 19km run in total. Starting to see the benefits in these sessions now, which I am gradually making harder.
A good way to start the week.
A good way to start the week.
I'm not sure where you are with pb's etc, i know you were running mid-17s if not lower for 5km..... must be close to 17mins flat off a session like that.
CrawleySkyBlue
Well-Known Member
Unofficial 5km pb of bang on 17:00 back in 2021. Quickest of late is 17:47 at the end of May (which wasn't an all out effort). I've done a lot of running since then, but not been out for a flat out 5km. I reckon around the 17:00 mark would be a sensible bet though 
Busy few weeks.
A couple of weekends ago we were in Mansfield for the National Cross Country Relays.
4 x 5km legs.
I ran 3rd leg for the B Team, running 19:08 on a tough course. Our 1st team came 24th which was highest finish at this event for about 15 years.
Then the following day did a training session with England Masters Athletics, including some classroom based stuff with some top coaches who have been around the Team GB setup, and some practical stuff in the gym and on the track. A really informative day.
Last weekend i went over to Warwick Racecourse to do a Parkrun/Session...... ran the Parkrun in 18:22 (which was not an all-out effort, but was certainly more than a "tempo run")...... then straight into 8 x 125mtr intervals.
This weekend got a 10 mile road race in Cumbria where i'm hoping to bring my pb down, and get as close as possible to 60mins flat..... although i suspect my finishing time will be in the 61's if i run to current form.
A couple of weekends ago we were in Mansfield for the National Cross Country Relays.
4 x 5km legs.
I ran 3rd leg for the B Team, running 19:08 on a tough course. Our 1st team came 24th which was highest finish at this event for about 15 years.
Then the following day did a training session with England Masters Athletics, including some classroom based stuff with some top coaches who have been around the Team GB setup, and some practical stuff in the gym and on the track. A really informative day.
Last weekend i went over to Warwick Racecourse to do a Parkrun/Session...... ran the Parkrun in 18:22 (which was not an all-out effort, but was certainly more than a "tempo run")...... then straight into 8 x 125mtr intervals.
This weekend got a 10 mile road race in Cumbria where i'm hoping to bring my pb down, and get as close as possible to 60mins flat..... although i suspect my finishing time will be in the 61's if i run to current form.
A busy weekend.....
Yesterday, Leamington was the venue for the first fixture in the Birmingham League Cross Country season..... in fact yesterday was the celebration of the centenary of the league, and i understand it'll be featured on Midlands News tomorrow evening.... arguably one of the strongest leagues in the country, and covering a geographical area from Gloucester in the south, to Stoke in the north, from Telford in the west to Northampton in the east.
All three divisions lined up, meaning well over 800 runners on the start line.
In Div1, i'm expecting a relegation dogfight for us, after a "great escape" last year that would make City blush...... but we started well and lie 7th (16 in the division, 3 to go down).
Leamington currently in one of the relegation spots, which is rather bleak reading considering it was their home fixture. Warwick Uni in 5th place.
In Division 2, Kenilworth in 6th, with Northbrook in a relegation spot.
Div3 results aren't out...... Sphinx and Nuneaton should both be strong enough to battle for promotion if they get decent teams out..... Masseys in there as well.
However i was only spectating yesterday, as straight from Leamington i headed up to Carlisle, as this morning i raced the Brampton-Carlisle 10 Mile Road Race.....
One of the quickest 10 Miles in the country, but due to location its really focused around the big northern and Scottish clubs.
Unfortunately been ill all week and until saturday morning i didn't think i'd be well enough to race..... but gave it a go and ran 62:44..... a single second shy of my pb of 62:43......... breathing suffered from 6 miles to the end, as couldn't really clear my nose or chest..... but given the circumstances was reasonably happy.
A decent standard at that race..... i effectively ran at 19:15 parkrun pace, but for 16km, and only just scraped into the top 200.
Yesterday, Leamington was the venue for the first fixture in the Birmingham League Cross Country season..... in fact yesterday was the celebration of the centenary of the league, and i understand it'll be featured on Midlands News tomorrow evening.... arguably one of the strongest leagues in the country, and covering a geographical area from Gloucester in the south, to Stoke in the north, from Telford in the west to Northampton in the east.
All three divisions lined up, meaning well over 800 runners on the start line.
In Div1, i'm expecting a relegation dogfight for us, after a "great escape" last year that would make City blush...... but we started well and lie 7th (16 in the division, 3 to go down).
Leamington currently in one of the relegation spots, which is rather bleak reading considering it was their home fixture. Warwick Uni in 5th place.
In Division 2, Kenilworth in 6th, with Northbrook in a relegation spot.
Div3 results aren't out...... Sphinx and Nuneaton should both be strong enough to battle for promotion if they get decent teams out..... Masseys in there as well.
However i was only spectating yesterday, as straight from Leamington i headed up to Carlisle, as this morning i raced the Brampton-Carlisle 10 Mile Road Race.....
One of the quickest 10 Miles in the country, but due to location its really focused around the big northern and Scottish clubs.
Unfortunately been ill all week and until saturday morning i didn't think i'd be well enough to race..... but gave it a go and ran 62:44..... a single second shy of my pb of 62:43......... breathing suffered from 6 miles to the end, as couldn't really clear my nose or chest..... but given the circumstances was reasonably happy.
A decent standard at that race..... i effectively ran at 19:15 parkrun pace, but for 16km, and only just scraped into the top 200.