Running

[COYBL25]

If your knees are shot the shoes alone won't help (although replacing old shoes can help in a sense.) Do get checked out if you think you have an injury, and work on building muscle around the knees. IMO a lot of knee injuries can be prevented or at least reduced by keeping the muscle around it in good shape.

That said, the shoe advice above is solid. I also encourage people to get at least 2x pairs of shoes (different brand/style) and rotate them instead of running in 1 pair repeatedly.

Spot on with the shoe rotation, as in the Winter one pair will always be wet.

If you`re running off road, I`d say 4/5 pairs, especially in the Winte, due to the mud and water.

I`m currently rotating 2 x pairs of fell shoes, due to the amount of mud.

 

[Dddddd]

Don`t go anywhere near Sports Direct, it`s not the place for proper running gear.

Most of their gear is fashion gear, with a bit of proper running gear and sales assistants, who couldn`t run for the bus.

Head to - Runners Need, in Church Street ( by Primark ).

Nearly all the staff are runners and they do a proper shoe fitting service.

I`ve been running for decades mate and I`ve never bought a single pair of running shoes from Sports Direct.

I want a pair of low or zero drop shoes ideally - move the stress away from the knee

 

[COYBL25]

I want a pair of low or zero drop shoes ideally - move the stress away from the knee

100% you will not get them from Sports Direct, the staff won’t even know what they are.

If they’re road shoes your after, you may struggle to find zero drop, as maxi cushioned are currently in vogue - Inov8 do some minimal cushioned road shoes, as do Salomon.

If you want trail shoes, Inov8 are the king of zero drop.

Always go at least half a size up no matter what brand, as your feet swell when you run

 

[toffee82]

For a good deal it's worth looking on Vinted. Especially if you know what styles you are after.

Use the filters to get your size and you can search by condition. Worth double checking all the photos for the tread etc.

I've found Asics to be the best value and easiest to find (too many fashion trainers if you search Nike or Adidas) and have currently got three pairs on rotation. All were in very good condition and paid about £10 a pair.

I hesitated on a virtually brand new pair of trail runners and missed out. I only usually run down Crosby beach but thinking trail runners for winter.

 

[COYBL25]

For a good deal it's worth looking on Vinted. Especially if you know what styles you are after.

Use the filters to get your size and you can search by condition. Worth double checking all the photos for the tread etc.

I've found Asics to be the best value and easiest to find (too many fashion trainers if you search Nike or Adidas) and have currently got three pairs on rotation. All were in very good condition and paid about £10 a pair.

I hesitated on a virtually brand new pair of trail runners and missed out. I only usually run down Crosby beach but thinking trail runners for winter.

Hoka Challenger are a good trial / road hybrid mate - got two pairs and use them on “ light “ trails and the road running to the trails.

 

[Simo]

Spot on with the shoe rotation, as in the Winter one pair will always be wet.

If you`re running off road, I`d say 4/5 pairs, especially in the Winte, due to the mud and water.

I`m currently rotating 2 x pairs of fell shoes, due to the amount of mud.

Jeez..4/5 pairs! I'll have to speak with the bank manager!
Just bought a pair of scarpa spin planet, with a view to get into trail running. Calendar is now full of events, just waiting for Lakeland trails to open their events in the lakes.

 

[COYBL25]

Jeez..4/5 pairs! I'll have to speak with the bank manager!
Just bought a pair of scarpa spin planet, with a view to get into trail running. Calendar is now full of events, just waiting for Lakeland trails to open their events in the lakes

I‘m currently running on :

5 x pair of Hoka.
2 x Inov8
1 x New Balance

and I’ve retired a few pairs this year too lol

I‘m doing the Lakeland Trails Helvelyn 15k a week on Saturday, I’m hoping the weather is filthy

 

[Simo]

I‘m currently running on :

5 x pair of Hoka.
2 x Inov8
1 x New Balance

and I’ve retired a few pairs this year too lol

I‘m doing the Lakeland Trails Helvelyn 15k a week on Saturday, I’m hoping the weather is filthy

Good luck with that, would love to do that one.

Southerner here, not so easy. But planning to do staveley, Ambleside and Keswick next year. Ambleside clashes with Snowdonia Adidas Terrex

 

[COYBL25]

Good luck with that, would love to do that one.

Southerner here, not so easy. But planning to do staveley, Ambleside and Keswick next year. Ambleside clashes with Snowdonia Adidas Terrex

I‘ve done Stavely ( almost a lowland fell race ) and Ambleside ( I think it’s got the most ascent of any of their races )

Unless you’ve done hill running before or plan on doing some serious training, I’d give the Terrex race a miss mate.

I did a 15 miler on Snowdon (4200 ft of ascent ) a few years ago early September.

It was brutal, not just the gradient, but the weather - t shirt at the bottom, full winter weather, inc snow at the top.

I‘ve looked at the Snowdon Terrex in the past and I’m pretty sure it’s on the Sky Running circuit, which means it’s mega high !

You‘ll need to carry everything- head torch, full waterproofs, compass, emergency blanket etc.

 

[Simo]

I‘ve done Stavely ( almost a lowland fell race ) and Ambleside ( I think it’s got the most ascent of any of their races )

Unless you’ve done hill running before or plan on doing some serious training, I’d give the Terrex race a miss mate.

I did a 15 miler on Snowdon (4200 ft of ascent ) a few years ago early September.

It was brutal, not just the gradient, but the weather - t shirt at the bottom, full winter weather, inc snow at the top.

I‘ve looked at the Snowdon Terrex in the past and I’m pretty sure it’s on the Sky Running circuit, which means it’s mega high !

You‘ll need to carry everything- head torch, full waterproofs, compass, emergency blanket etc.

Some good pointers there, appreciate that.

Probably didn't realise it was as brutal as that... just got some inspiration after watching the UTMB in mont blanc.
I've bought the vest, whistle, got the foil blanket, head torch.. just need some fell runs under the belt to know if it's my thing or not.

After 3+ decades of road running, I need something exciting

 

[COYBL25]

Some good pointers there, appreciate that.

Probably didn't realise it was as brutal as that... just got some inspiration after watching the UTMB in mont blanc.
I've bought the vest, whistle, got the foil blanket, head torch.. just need some fell runs under the belt to know if it's my thing or not.

After 3+ decades of road running, I need something exciting

It’s proper endurance mate, there was bits where everyone was on there hands and knees, it was that steep.

If you’ve booked onto the Ambleside 23k with Lakeland Trails, that’ll be a good guide for you, as it’s a mix between proper hill running / fell running and some trail running - from memory it’s got 2600ft of gradient, so it’s quite a tough one.

If you can handle that and enjoy it, look for fell stuff.

Another thing to consider with fell races, is that they’re usually packed full of club runners, who are competing against each other and aren’t the friendliest of races as a result.

 

[COYBL25]

Some good pointers there, appreciate that.

Probably didn't realise it was as brutal as that... just got some inspiration after watching the UTMB in mont blanc.
I've bought the vest, whistle, got the foil blanket, head torch.. just need some fell runs under the belt to know if it's my thing or not.

After 3+ decades of road running, I need something exciting

Ps if you need places to stay, I know loads of places, ranging from little country pubs, to 4 star hotels.

Depends if you want peace and quiet in the middle of nowhere or somewhere that’s got a bit more going on.

 

[SerenityNigh]

Jeez..4/5 pairs! I'll have to speak with the bank manager!
Just bought a pair of scarpa spin planet, with a view to get into trail running. Calendar is now full of events, just waiting for Lakeland trails to open their events in the lakes.

IMO the best method is to start with 2 pair and then causally add some when you see a pair on sale that you like. It's important not to simply by 4 pair of the same shoe, although some do this, but instead by different brand or style of shoe. Rotating helps with a lot of issues, but the primary benefit is you change the stress pattern on your foot every time you change shoes, which means you aren't only reinforcing a specific stress pattern which might be contributing to injury. Also, rotating 4-5 pair of shoes should make the shoes last at least 4-5x longer, more or less, so you're only spending more in the short term.

 

[Simo]

Ps if you need places to stay, I know loads of places, ranging from little country pubs, to 4 star hotels.

Depends if you want peace and quiet in the middle of nowhere or somewhere that’s got a bit more going on.

With the missus in tow, and likely doing a shorter distance, it'll likely be a country Inn or camp site. I've seen a couple of sites nr staveley or train in from Windermere.
Once entries open, I'll probably be in touch, thanks for that.

Once Everton get into Europe, we can discuss overseas challenges

 

[COYBL25]

IMO the best method is to start with 2 pair and then causally add some when you see a pair on sale that you like. It's important not to simply by 4 pair of the same shoe, although some do this, but instead by different brand or style of shoe. Rotating helps with a lot of issues, but the primary benefit is you change the stress pattern on your foot every time you change shoes, which means you aren't only reinforcing a specific stress pattern which might be contributing to injury. Also, rotating 4-5 pair of shoes should make the shoes last at least 4-5x longer, more or less, so you're only spending more in the short term.

Also having the ability to dry your shoes out properly with rotation, massively increases their life span, as constantly running in wet shoes eventually kills them.