wannabe ultra runner?

jeremy, i too had a spell after january where id got bored of the same routes on my own after training over winter for Gloucester. i dont mind running alone too for headspace and peace but ive found for the long trail runs i really like meeting the others and having a nice day out for it. so yes just treat the Toad as a day out training ,thats what TT will be for me really, seeing a new route and new and familiar faces

cracg....guess what !! on my last 2 runs around home ive found my self LONGING for hills!! im  100% converted to trail!! my shins hate tarmac i  think:/

My knees hate tarmac for sure - clearly getting old!! I do like a bit of road occasionally to remind myself I can run fast-ish!!

I do most of my running alone, not by choice, just can't get to club sessions and no-one else wants to come on my adventures.  I had a great running buddy when I lived down South who was always happy to be off with headtorch, in the snow and ice and especially off-road. Hey ho! But agree it definitely gets a bit boring.  I rarely run with music etc but I do find myself needing it on those long runs sometimes.

X-thread posting ... soreness on outside of knee often associated with tight ITB so more about stretching I'd think that taping?

AWWWWWWWW...cragc, i would love to be on your adventures with you!!..any time you are this way let me know!!

yes, its ITB, so you are right, just stretching ..and  a sign of age..

Rocker - Good point. That is obviously my view on training not telling anyone what to do or that they are doing it wrong!

CC - I train alone except track sessions. I would love someone to join me on long runs but trying to sell 3 hours of running first thing sat morning to most of my mates doesn't work!

Lou - Welcome to the trail side its true... the grass really is greener!

WiB - i'd love to join you for 3 hours of running on a Saturday morning! Just a couple of problems....

1. In your three hours you'd cover at least 20 miles... i'd cover 15

2. You're about 3 or 4 hours away from me!

Other than that...brilliant!!

Actually, going back to my other point - it's one of the things I love about ultras - there is no exact science, no fixed method after years of research - it's still trial and error, peoples preferences etc... You know if you're going to run a marathon there's hundreds of schedules, for every possible pace, that are all very similar, and as long as you follow it to the letter then you should get the result at the end...

In ultras you can find a schedule, and instantly find one completely different... Everyone has a different opinion, I think because when you start hitting 50 miles and above every single person reacts in a different way, and you have to train to suit that reaction... The science fascinates me - but at the end of the day, I just like to run, without really thinking about it.... which probably explains why I'm really rather slow

Yup, that's pretty much what I love about it too. I do like a schedule of sorts, to keep me focussed, and LOVE putting them together, only to completely overwrite them in practice when real life has to be factored in. Like tmrw when I was hoping to head to hills for my 15 but sadly far too complicated a day so it'll have to be more local this time.  I do my long runs in the week usually if I'm not working so that's why I am often a lonely soul and it IS good discipline for those times on races when you are ambling along on your own for hours and hours and hours!

If I end up down South for an extended stay (usually in holidays) then I'll defo give you a shout LLB - my family are in Surrey and Dorset but that's not too far from Oxfordshire and there are plenty of places to meet in the middle I reckon!

If you come down the A1 say hi as you go past - i'm only half an hour away from Peterborough LOL!!!

cracg, thatd be great, Surrey isnt that far from me though so thats always doable too.

Wib, ive given up too trying to drag people out at 6am/7am for runs..it just gets wearing trying to gee them up so i go alone. my friend used to do up to 7 miles , but wouldnt be ready before 8am..so i used to get up , go do 5-7 first , THEN time it so i passed her house around 8am so she could join me for the next few-talk about make it easy for people...but STILL wasnt ready so i gave up.....perhaps people see us as a funny breed.

by'eck: I worked up to 27/12 before my first 50K (London Ultra). I basically followed a combination of two schedules: "Run to the Toad" and the Ultraladies' 50K schedule - then changed things to fit in with the rest of my life. I think it's useful to look at some schedules to get an idea about what you need to do, but don't get too hung up on following them exactly. Of course, I was building up from HM (I didn't run my first maathon until after my first 50K), so you're in a better starting position.

Change of subject - toenail advice please!

Whilst running UTPD I stubbed my little toe so badly I thought I'd detached the nail there and then, it was that painful! However, I hadn't and it was just going black (like a few of its neighbours).

However, I happened to check it today after my shower and realised that the whole toenail has lifted off the toe - the only thing that appears to be holding it is the cuticle!!

So - now what do I do?? I've never lost a toenail before - black ones I can deal with, no problem, they just grow out, but I really don't know what to do - whether I'll do damage pulling it off, whether I should tape it down?

So - help please!!!

I would be tempted to let it come off by itself if you can protect it. I am no expert though!

It'll come off itself. I just lost the nails from both my little toes, by the time they come off there's usually something already growing underneath. I doubt you'd do much damage if you hastened the process yourself. If it's catching on stuff and annoying you, I'd pull it off.

Cheers Tiago

You ok?

I'm getting there, buddy, I think. Thanks for your support, I genuinely appreciate it.

What's the problem Tiago?

Life crap, WiB, nothing interesting or running related.

Ah ok... I hope everything picks up soon dude!

Cheers, fella.

WiB, good luck today!  I'll be looking out for you.