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b-rad

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  1. b-rad
    Any thoughts on the recent Comrades announcement?
  2. b-rad
    Quite different shoes the Diadora Gara and Magic Speed. The Diadora Gara is basically in the same category as a Nike Vaporfly or Alphalfy Next %, or Adidas Adizero Adios Pro, or Saucony Endorphin Pro, or ASICS Metaspeed. Super shoe category. Shoes not worth wearing for random runs or just casual runs to be honest. There is no point running day to day runs and especially slower runs in such a shoe. I shed a little tear seeing people jogging in a super shoe. Only reason I mentioned the Diadora is because at R2999 vs R5999 it’s quite a discount. In Euro terms it’s about €155 vs a price of €310. In Europe the Gara are about €290. So at €155 that’s not too bad a price (scary thought because actually shoes are rather epensive 😫). At €290 though the shoe is premium and the other brands are going to be a more popular choice for similar pricing. The ASICS Magic speed 3 is a good shoe for tempo runs, workouts and shorter races. I wouldn’t really use it for a very long run or even a long race myself but I know some who have. The Magic Speed 4 is more cushioned and probably more suited to a long run. the Magic Speed 3 is a great shoe (I have a pair). Very versatile and probably more useful than a carbon shoe that one only uses a couple times. It’s just not in the same category as the out and out ‘racing’ shoes mentioned above though.
  3. b-rad
    Has anyone tried the Diadora Gara carbon race shoe? New into the carbon race shoe scene but seems they nailed it. Some really solid reviews. Was in a running store recently in Italy. The owner quietly told me he thinks it’s a brilliant shoe. Better than the other carbon racers out there (and he was stocking all the big brands). Maybe some Italian bias going on there though 😅 Shoe is on a solid special on the Diadora SA site at the moment.
  4. b-rad
    As one gets closer to achieving the six majors I think the lottery weighting starts improving a little. Also I think Abbott majors website has additional lottery type entries if you were unsuccessful in the original event lottery but you’re getting close to completing the majors.
  5. b-rad
    For those who are running either Boston or London this year with a PB of 3h10 or less apply for the Puma project3. https://www.runnersworld.com/uk/news/a63394272/puma-project3-marathon-runners/
  6. b-rad
    Those hills are deceptively tough that’s for sure. And I think most who have done it can probably point to hammering the first few kilometres way too eagerly 😂
  7. b-rad
    Nothing wrong with them. Many coaches (“coaches” too) have very similar programmes a lot of the time. Choosing your goal target is important though.
  8. b-rad
    Comrades 2025 general entries open in a few minutes
  9. b-rad
    Copenhagen Half marathon 2025 entries were sold out yesterday in 2h20min. Over 40000 people joined an online virtual queue for the 30000 entries. DKK645 (€86 or R1640) per entry nogal. T-shirt is included though 😅
  10. b-rad
    Nicely done !! I have a feeling you’ll enjoy the crowds at Boston
  11. b-rad
    Unreal run by Ruth Chepngetich at Chicago yesterday. 2:09:56!! Smashed the ladies world record by 1min57. would have placed 10th overall yesterday Averaged 15:24 per 5km. First 5k was 15min 64:16 through halfway. Only 3 other ladies have run quicker in a 21k. only 4 US men have run a 42k faster than 2:09:56 this year.
  12. b-rad
    The gloves look like gloves from a hardware store
  13. b-rad
    What components/parts/more specialised unique bike bits and bobs do you find very difficult to find in SA? Either from local SA importers and suppliers or perhaps if self importing the costs are no longer appealing. Asia is one thing but what about the items you want from Europe?
  14. b-rad
    Just wait until substitutions open. Plenty entries become available. Train as though you have the entry.
  15. b-rad
    Everyone seems to have a few good goals coming up or just enjoying the running 🙂👌 Amsterdam marathon for me in a few weeks, then nothing set in plan yet. Was successful getting a Tokyo marathon spot for March so that’ll be fun. And hopefully finishing all the world majors there.
  16. b-rad
    Gerda admits she wasn’t feeling great from the beginning. What that level of feeling was only she will know. But I very much doubt she would make any excuse just for the sake of it (unlike Lyles in the 200m who was miraculously jumping around before the race then suddenly had covid after he lost 🤦‍♂️). She just had an off day. It happens. There were some other big names who had shockers (relative) too. Doing Oceans, Comrades, and Olympics within the space of 4 months is definitely not ideal. She knew this and mentioned it some time ago. I suspect very few athletes could have done this to such a high level. Sifan is next level in terms of abilities that’s for sure so we should probably exclude her from this 😁 Oceans and Comrades and marathons where there is appearance money is where the money can be made. Unfortunately there is no real financial incentive to taking part in the Olympics so I can understand Gerdas approach. For all of the athletes there is no doubt they must have found the course a challenge. And explains the relatively slower times of course. Tougher than any of the marathon majors. Almost double the elevation gains of NY and Boston. 3 big climbs, all of them much steeper and longer than those in Boston which is considered the hilliest major. One of the climbs was 600m at 10.5%. Besides the fact that the temperatures were nowhere near the much cooler temps of big marathons. Just for some perspective.
  17. b-rad
    Very decent results for the three SA ladies at the Olympic marathon yesterday! Superb Olympics for Sifan Hassan too. Finishing 1h30 behind Sifan was a runner from Bhutan. Finished 80th in 3h52 (79th place finished almost 1hr ahead in 2h55 for perspective). This runner “qualified” by way of a IOC ‘universality’ place. Quickest marathon prior to Olympics being a 3h26. Qualification standard for all the other genuine athletes was 2:26:50. I admire the perseverance to push on and finish because at the end of the day a marathon is a marathon and for anyone taking part it’s a challenge and a major achievement to finish. But let’s also be realistic here. The Olympics are the pinnacle and showcase (or should showcase) the best athletes from different countries. Qualification standards are there for a reason. But here we have someone being awarded a starting place with a time almost 1hr slower than the actual qualification standard? In fact almost too slow for a Boston marathon qualification. There are many other big events to send such runners if international scale marathons are the goal. Any of the majors or platinum level marathons would suffice surely? Leave the Olympics for the Olympians
  18. b-rad
    Anyone with some inside info on the expected date for Two Oceans 2025?
  19. b-rad
  20. b-rad
    They both ran under the 33 year old record of Frith van der Merwe in 2022 too. Irvette might be like the other great runners running in the Fordyce era.
  21. b-rad
    Breaking records. Actually smashing records without much competition says a lot about her abilities. Let’s see if there’s any real contenders who fancy their chances. Might raise the bar somewhat. There might be some big talkers like Jim Walmsley on the ladies side of things for Comrades. Although they would actually need to line up at the start line unlike Jim😂
  22. b-rad
    I disagree with you on being a bit of a big fish in a small pond. True the ladies field in Oceans and Comrades might not be attracting the ultimate highest calibre in big numbers, but I’d argue Gerda could still compete and beat most in the road ultra world, even if they did participate. Her range over the distances is very solid. 2h24 at Valencia last year with an 11th place. 7th at London Marathon. 13th, 11th, 12th places at New York marathons. These are not nothing events by any means. And some of the best take part. Of course the Kenyans and Ethiopians kind of dominate in marathons and that’s their focus, but could they actually perform in the ultra distance events? We’re yet to see it.
  23. b-rad
    A big congrats to everyone who took part🍻 whether you lined up, finished, or achieved a PB. It’s been 5 years since the last up run and certainly I think many of us were reminded it’s a tough day out. People seemed to be setting off at a wild pace to be honest. And it was a big matter of holding back, and holding back some more. Something that so many ignored completely and paid for it later on. My only real hill training I did was at Oceans as most running has been in the flats of Netherlands and other parts of Europe so the hills were something to overcome. Felt decent mostly until top of Inchanga. From there just couldn’t or didn’t want to take gel or drink mix. Started struggling somewhat and had to dig deep to maintain the pace. Didn’t quite get the main goal of bettering the 2023 time but happy to have got in under 7hrs. Back to down in 2025 we go 🙂
  24. b-rad
    I think the doping situation in Kenya, Ethiopia etc is somewhat different to other situations. The cases are often down to athletes trusting everything their coaches , combined with perhaps a lack of education, and a desperate attempt amongst hundreds of other faster more gifted athletes, to improve, and hopefully be able to earn some money to provide for family. I’m pretty sure Gerda is tested pretty often, perhaps someone with closer knowledge can confirm? She is training a lot in the alps in Europe so I’m wondering how the doping tests are conducted and who conducts them?
  25. b-rad
    Cotton T-shirt or do you mean a slightly thicker moisture wicking type shirt? Personally I’d stay away from cotton in colder weather. A sweat soaked shirt in cold winds is not ideal😅
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