My Forum

Lightweight footwear - I wear Lunarglides to run in if that counts?  They're fairly lightweight

I won't argue that many other cultures have developed or maintained better techniques than we have in the western world - but we are not Nepalese sherpas or African runners.  They have developed that technique from birth.  I think to attempt the same approach as a developed adult in the "soft" western world is likely to cause more issues than to just accept it and use tech to improve what we have.  All in my opinion of course.

If you're talking about running in boots, you're talking about running in real boots to my mind - something like the Para 10, the Nijmegen and Baatan marches are things that should be done in "real" boots, due to a combination of safety, tradition and respect for what the events stand for.  It might be worth saying that in the Army Combat Fitness Test, you only really run a few hundred metres in every mile - the rest is "tabbing" - fast, long, paces.  The Advanced Combat Fitness Test is more of a run - but you use a technique very different to tabbing or normal running to lessen the impact on your joints; I would describe my movement as "skimming".

 I will admit there is likely to be a little bit of military eliteism there as well - in a similar way runners with good times and high personal standards may look down on "fun runners", RFL'ers and similar; the likelyhood is that someone turning up at the Para 10 with a pair of approach shoes on. rightly or wrongly, look like they're just playing at it and.. well.. it doesn't really count because they were practically wearing trainers

Also personal opinion is that Magnums aren't much cop for anything other than "Office boots" with regards to my experience and my feet - but other people swear by them so...

I fully understand that the OP is likely to rarely wear proper boots, which is why I tried to emphasise the importance of taking time to build up distance and weight slowly.  Someone might be able to comfortably run a sub-3 hour maratheon, but trying to run 2 miles in boots the first time might just cripple them!

*deep breath*

I'm not entirely sure what angle The Deep Buzzard is coming from - so I'll just ignore it.

As another Military type - I'd recommend you try Lowa and/or Altberg's - Military boots, not silly civvie walking boots!  Boots are as personal as a pair of running shoes are, and I wouldn't recommend a specific model simply because the shape of your foot may not suit them.

With regards to the Military having different opinions regarding lightweight and comfortable.  I can assure everyone that broken ankles are just as painful if you're military or civillian!  If that's what you want, then go and buy a pair of something which are nothing more than a pair of ponced up, glorified trainers.  If you're just mincing along a trail carrying 30lbs then thats fine; but don't confuse them with the support a real boot will give you when moving across rough terrain carrying over 100lbs (which I'll add you DONT run with!)

Other advice I'll give:

Get used to wearing boots WITHOUT weight; especially important if you rarely wear boots day-to-day.  Go back to walking when training, up the pace with long strides and then introduce short running sections to shake out your lower legs.  It WILL be uncomfortable to start off with, but it's very different to running in trainers.  Build up weight slowly, and adjust the amount of running you do accordingly - if you go hell for leather you will injure yourself.  Do not train thinking "well, the para's run 7 minute miles in boots - no problem" - because you will injure yourself.  I can't emphasise enough the importance of spending time building up distance and pace.

I'd rather not drown - I'm not that much of a fan of water right now, and that would hardly improve the situation.  Look, I know I'd be dead, but I don't see the point of exacerbating it when there might be something afterwards

I've actually got my funeral planned and my burial spot picked - apparently that's really morbid but I'd rather not have my parents mess it up and bury me in the wrong place!

As long as it's clean, tidy and doesn't really put anyone out then it'll do me; if thats not possible, then something spectacular and gory.  Sneak out quietly or make a big show of it....

Personally I'll run for upto an hour with nothing.  Over that I just carry good old fashioned plain water and some gels if I need them.  The only sports drink I do have is a protien shake to help recovery after my longer runs.

 You should be hydrated enough, and have adequate energy stores to not need to take anything else on (including electrolytes!) for runs less than an hour in UK temp's.