wannabe ultra runner?

Have you started your 2013 plans?

I enjoy planning out my races... although I normally get a bit carried away!

Well, now I know what the Mableside to Coniston stretch is like in the dark... Wonder if I can speed up enough to do it in daylight! (I wish) Only went wrong once, and managed to sort it out fairly quickly, but it knocked my confidence in following the directions for a while. Navigation training yesterday was useful; thinking about getting to one of their full weekend courses - if I can work out when to fit it in!

Borrowed a pair of Trailroc 235s from Lakes Runner for the recce and they were great - just a bit more underfoot protection than the VB Neo trail, and very good at sticking to the rocks. I was very good and washed them under the outside tap at the guest house by headtorch light before returning them the next day. They're going to have to get a pair in to sell to me (the problem of having small feet), so I've not got my own pair yet. Really glad I had the chance to "compare and contrast" between the Neo trail, Trailroc 235 and 245, so I know I want the 235.

I'm doing my third marathon in December - I'm a back of the field 5hr plodder. I'd like to do an ultra in, or before, my 5oth birthday in a couple of years time. Any recommendations? And any comments on what marathon time I need to be running at in order to actually contemplate an ultra? thanks in advance!

Hi Richard.Do you prefer road or trail; flat, undulating or hilly? How long an ultra do you want to do (e.g. 30 mile, 50K, 35 mile, 50 mile)? And where are you based? A runner in my club of a similar speed to you has decided to do the London Ultra 50K in February, because it hasn't got a time cut-off,so it doesn't matter if it takes you 6-7 hours or even longer. I'm sure some of the other people on here will be able to recommend other events.  

ive had a pretty good 2012 regards running/ultra !! (ducks at risk of having something lobbed at me)...

LB: me too! (quack).

everyone keeping mileage up now the dark nights have hit?

Comes to something when I'm using marathons as a training run, though to the rest of the world its an excuse to do some Xmas shopping in Portsmouth

Richard, you're welcome. Let me know if you want a couple of tips on the bits where the route marking could be better (it's mostly very good but there are a couple of places e.g. round Wimbledon Park which could be better).

Nice 12-miler yesterday. Aiming for a decent back-to-back this weekend.

Thanks Debra, I will. 18 miles on Sunday, and a 3 mile recovery / tempo run last night, everything seems to be working ok so moving on to 20+ miles for the next three long runs before tapering ... we'll see...when I did the Pompey marathon last year the markers were slightly out so I did an extra few hundred yards anyway - does that make me an ultra runner already?

Afraid not RW, theres always going to be a little discrepancy when running distances especially if you're not following the true racing line. A 1% difference is 461yds

I have a shoe question... I fancy trying the NB MT10 or MT00. Anyone know somewhere that does these in 2E or 4E width. Looked online and can only find US sites!

Sorry WiB, the only place I see these are on ebay when they sneak those sizes in for Asics. The only other suggestion is asking at Sweatshop - my local one in Clapham are pretty friendly, always willing to help and you get 10%off if you have a Parkrun barcode

Cheers Slaneuk. I have been looking on ebay too... no luck yet Will happily try MT00 MT10 or MT110 if I can find some in a wider fit

WiB, that's why I never got to try those - too narrow.