Post Run Kit Review

Having given the new kit a little bit of wellie on Wednesday night I am overall pleased with the performance.

The New Balance 710 runners held there own in most places - they tend to shake their head a bit at wet shiny cobbles, wet mossy wood and the deeper muddier puddles. Other than that they were very comfortable both on and off road and also held up to the bits of tarmac running - just how long they'd last full out on tarmac we'll have to wait and see. Despite not being waterproof any water they let in 

Dirty New Balance 710s

(and there was plenty) soon felt dispersed (either that or my feet were too wet to care). The lightweight construction is still very supportive despite feeling like you aren't wearing any shoes. I think for the coming muddier, wetter months I will upgrade to something with a bit more grip as I feel these are better suited to a summer time or drier season trail shoe.

The Zoot calf guards are by far the definite winner in the new kit stakes. From the first step to the day after my legs feel brilliant. They are totally supportive on the run and stabilise any movement preventing any mid-run niggles. After the run and into the day after my calves felt loose and strain free - I feel these were a worthy purchase.

At least my legs were clean!

Back on the horse - so to speak

Wednesday night I managed to get back into the trail running with a chance to try out the new kit mentioned in my previous post. With a little bit of woodland I have run before in my mind I wanted to turn it into and 8k run so off I set in the shiny new trainers and calf guards. being my first run in about a week I clearly had too much energy as it turns out I set off like a scalded cat which made the first 2k very difficult including the uphill woodland step challenge (best said in the voice of Keith Lemon as per a Celebrity Juice challenge!). I managed to settle into a stride and headed off down the banks of the River Lune (sung to the tune of a Madness song) as far as the pipe bridge, across  the fields and onto the cycle track and back home. A sub 50min 8k wasnt too bad for my 1st trail run/8k since return and the prospect of doing it again over the weekend should push me for a similar time.

Kit Review

Before being laid off through injury I had purchased some new trail running shoes as the road shoes just weren't hacking the mud and grass. These are still brand new in the box due to said injury so in the light of having booked 2 trail events I thought I best dust them off and head off in them.

Having read many reviews and looked at all sorts of trail shoes I decided I wanted to see how my first pair would fair so didn't want to spend a fortune - in stepped New Balance Factory Store at Shap. Despite not being my first choice they are still very comfy and supportive (and they're black and orange!!) Plenty of good grippy tread to get stuck into the mud and puddles with once I finally head out - post run review to follow.

Having been injured and still concerned about future injury not only have I looked at some massage for the old legs but have been reading about compression kit. A quick chat with the local Runners Centre and I was sold on a pair of Zoot CRX Calf Sleeves. Hopefully between massage, ice, rest and the sleeves I can keep the calf issues at bay log enough to complete the event I have entered. Again, post run review to follow.

That's Done It!!

Having seen our lass complete her 1st 10k road race coupled with being off for a while it spurred me on to set a goal - so that's what I did. Not once but twice!!

So I am now fully signed up for:

Lakeland Trails Coniston 10k - 05/10/13 http://www.lakelandtrails.org/coniston/index.php
Kendal Mountain Festival Haglofs 10k - 16/11/13 http://www.openadventure.com/kmf/

All that is left to do is shift the calf problem and get some training done!!

1st Egg Chase of the Year

Well that was better than expected! Half a game in the back row and a 95 -5 win. Calves as per usual at the moment are now very tight so a swim tomorrow and some rest me thinks!

Recover Run Episode 2

Well I'm back from a fortnight of camping in what turned out to be some reasonable weather - however 16 days on the Isle Of Man is far too long no matter how much you like bikes!!

A little light cycling and plenty of walking was about the only exercise I got in between twirling spanners and splashing fuel about but the daft lad came home in one piece and with another replica for his finishing time so well done Crofty (apart from smooching Nick Jefferies!)

Now that's all over and done with back to my running. This week I have managed to get out twice for a couple more light runs to test out how the leg is holding up - new orthotics in and off we go.....

Monday

A reasonable effort given a fortnight of Stella, Pizza, Kebab, Stella, Curry, Chinese & Stella


Wednesday

Again steady away so not to tempt fate!


Well the weekend is upon us so I was planning an 8-10k trail to get back into the offroad stuff but an offer of a run out with Kirkby 2nds has reared it's head so I may well go egg chasing instead and swim on Sun - I guess we'll wait and see........

Recovery Run - Episode 1

After a couple of weeks out I decided to try a quick run beofre heading off to the Isle Of Man for just over 2 weeks. I was feeling fit and just wanted to get back out there....
Not a bad effort after injury! A fortnight off now.....