SeaBee

With you there! I do pavement pounding mid-week, since it's dark when I run before work (4am). Now training for a first (and likely only!) marathon a buddy told me to force myself to do long road runs. Oh... myyyy... hat! When you somehow get to 30k's and there's still 7 to go to home, Paarl heat and that black road just stretches out before you. I very quickly started questioning my sanity. Give me elevation any day above tar.

I might actually get back on the bike this weekend after doing something interesting to my calf last weekend. Feels much better but not going to take chances running with a week to go to Tunnel run and two weeks before my first marathon. Actually seeing the bio just now for something else and will ask for a quick prod (to the calf!) to see whether it actually IS better and not just... hiding and waiting for me to go for a run! And here I am surrounded by people who want to improve their marathon times - jeez, I just want to get to the finish of one!

Next to "Post" there's a "More reply options" button. (Was about to say "box" but then realised there's not a #99 on it...) If you hit that, you get the option to browse to and upload a file which you can then insert into the reply.

I expect that is the store for NativeSport web store, then, I presume. Chatted to a Stuart when I placed my order with them - really cool guy.

Yes, they even make a story called "hatgate". How desperate can you be for a story if a non-event like that becomes newsworthy?! And that ironically after a reasonably entertaining race.

My shoe story went an interesting direction. My SpeedCross was starting to kill my Achilles, as mentioned above. Too much drop. I had the Vivo's, but first tried to remedy my actual issue on the road. So, Kinvara to the rescue (4mm drop road shoe). Love them! But more trails over the last couple of months and... Speedcrosses are now history. Toe nails and Achilles are immensely glad! Toe nails started getting issues as soon as the runs started getting longer. So, I got the Sense Pros and absolutely love them. Went in to get the Peregrines, actually, but walked out with Sense Pro's. I just preferred the flatter side to side feeling of the Pro's. The Peregrines felt much more shaped and "supportive", where the SP's felt open and flat. Loved them from the first k! Zero issues thusfar. BTW, Koei, where did you find Mantras around here? Yes, I still have the Trail Freaks, but will get into them once I have put this idiot marathon decision behind me. Don't want to run any risks at this late stage of that little fight... Whilst on this - not sure how often dee_biker frequents this thread, but know him and a couple of things on his behalf: He does not run long distances at this stage, from memory longest was a 15k. Also, I cannot recall him having gone too hectic over rocks, but where he does, he says you learn to look - obviously you do feel the sharp rocks through vivo's or vibrams (his other joy in life!) BUT - as a guy that completed Comrades a number of times and stopped running due to persistent injuries, for the first time he is now running without an injury, worry free, just go. We talked about it just the other day and the "bonus" he had was having stopped completely for a number (3 to 4) of years. When he restarted now, he started with the Vivo, so he was forced to run correctly and the correct muscles strengthened as a result. From a guy who was a severe over pronator, with special inserts in his shoes and all, he is now just running minimal shoes - without any issues, where previously he had issues even running with all the inserts, protection, stabilization and whatever else. Fast and injury free... I think he'd like a very low drop shoe for longer runs where he might need more protection. And when I was shopping around, he got the itch. But simply could not find a shoe that is in any way as comfortable as the vivo's. Last time I checked, he's stopped looking and even got the 5-fingers out for road runs!

BTW, anybody else doing the Tunnel Run? Sounds like you basically go up from the toll gates outside Paarl through farms to run the service tunnel of the Hugenot Tunnel (in Du Toitskloof). Simply could not resist! With it being 21k's and apparently 8 of those in the tunnel, I presume we're going to have some interesting elevation change.

Agree with Koei's comments. But to add some more options, if you want to go that ways: http://www.nativesport.co.za/ (vivo's, trail freak! (wait for them on special) http://www.thetrailshop.co.za/

Haha, sorry, but the fact that this is blown so out of proportion is m-se funny for me. The fact that he says something and it gets so over-analysed and reacted upon, just says how big his influence is. Media (over-)reaction is a form of flattery nowadays! Like him or not, I don't think the sport will ever see another like him. Chill boys, enjoy the race. I switch off before the interviews anyways. Leave the talking to the politicians. Oh wait, I don't listen to that either...

The answers are no and HECK NO! I'm a running noob - I only started running last winter to try and keep me fit during winter. I must confess, I enjoy it now... esp trails. Marathon is "only" (feels like time is racing towards that date...) coming on the 14th of Nov: the Winelands. I don't pick the easy ones, do I?! "Flat and fast" is hardly descriptive. Just aiming to finish, hoping to sneak in under 4:30, if that's not too ambitious for a first attempt. So I really enjoy reading all the tips and strategies here...

I remember a similar incident many a moon ago where a rabbit or something was hit in a 500cc race as well - seem to think it was Eddie Lawson or Wayne Rainey...(?)

Don't know whether it's to do with the setup of the group (or my user setup) - but I ONLY see cycling activity. One thing that the leaderboards are for cycling, but even the "recent activity" tab only shows cycling acticity and not even my runs from yesterday or Saturday. Also none for anybody else, but I know I've done those runs...

Only for Comrades runners or mere mortals (aiming to do their 1st marathon next month) too?

It's a dirty job, but somebody has to guard the braai grid. And the wandering pine cone. Vigilance at work!

Well done MrFine! That sounds like serious fun! I am gobsmacked at the Otter results though. Breaking 4 hours (just, but still!) is unreal. Could not believe that he actually made it when I saw it. Not just talking the talk...

Stoner?! Loose, wild and almost out of control?! Are we talking about the same person?

That's exactly how I feel about it. But it was one of those "must do one" things. Of course, my one buddy already said "and once you've done a marathon, you HAVE to do Oceans!" Fortunately Oceans have trail runs as well... did the half last year and... hmmmm.... while it was nice at the time, I really enjoyed some recent trail runs much more. (La Capra and the Sanlam Peace trail very easily springs to mind!) At least the Parkrun will be fun and some distraction. I do most of my mid-week runs on the r*ad anyways. But early morning, when it's dark and quiet and little cars around.

Just name a thing Brauhaus and I'm optimistic! I know this is not trail, but... I am not going to have much ito fun this weekend. I have somehow convinced myself it's a bright idea to enter for my first marathon. Entered for Winelands. Klaar, done and dusted. So this weekend I must force myself to have a 30+ session on the road. Will most likely run to the Parkrun, do it (slowwwly!) and back. Just don't know what I'm going to do with myself for the there and back sections of 16k's each. Just... straight.... road. At least I'll have good company - Me and Myself are tagging along - the three of us make a merry team!

Really enjoyed the Goat Run! (Sorry Koei...) I actually thought the route was going to go the other way around according to the elevation profile we received earlier the week and was really looking forward to coming DOWN that initial ascend. In hindsight, it was a bit snotterig, so coming down there would have made for some spills... From where I started, it was impossible to do anything but walk up there, since the entire road was clogged with people walking. But I would not have run much more than I did up there anyways. From there on, great fun! The fact that I wasn't stiff was most likely due to not pushing too hard. Yes, I still took some snappies mid"race" again. Unreal to think though that the (15k) winner came in in just over an hour! I don't do that on a flat road for 15 k's, let alone on that route. Friend of mine did the 28 and she said it felt like 128 at some stage!

That face tells you one thing - walking is meant to be done OUT-SIIIDE!

Not to worry, droenn... We're going to have fun, that's what counts! Potentially wet fun, but... fun nonetheless! What is it with the weather this year?! Doing the 15. Pretty sure the route they sent will run clockwise, which will mean some interesting climbing - and the descend at the end will be great fun! We did that by bike a while ago. We also did pretty close to what seems to be the climb in that same ride. I'll have to find a willing calve rubbing expert, because we're going UP! if it's the same climb... Lekker man, lekker! Then again, there'll be CBC's at the end - it'll make it worthwhile!

Sorry, this may be a bit boring, but... I love those shoes! Went for a Park Run on Sat (my first) and a friend suggested to use them because I am going to run harder than a normal training run. Awesomeness! Went back to walk the last bit with the rest of the family, nothing resembling pain. Yesterday I went on a run. Thought I'd take them out for a more gentle, but longer run before Goat Run. Then thought I'm going to look for the canon in the Mountain, had a fair idea of where it should be. Found it without too much hassles. Then went on and thought all is feeling well, another bit here, run there, got home and I did 25 k's - very little of them flat. Probably not the intro you should give yourself to new shoes, but all is perfect this morning. Typical, go for a 25k run to see whether you'll be able to do a 15k one!

Sense Pro's it is... Plan is to have a quick run in them tomorrow and then properly introduce them to the mountain at La Capra Goat Run next week! No, it may be early in their life, but they can't hurt me more than my current shoes, so... willing to take that slight gamble.No, the drop should not be an issue, my road shoes (Kinvara) have 4mm drop.

Those Ridgeys are awesome dogs - I love mine! She's going to get a lot of running k's this summer... And you forget just how big they are (because they're so sleek and not bulky) till you see them next to another dog.

A friend of mine has a dark red pair. Think he got that at the concept store. Dark red with black heel? See below (very niiice!) Funny thing about the Pro's - around here I only see the dark blue (and black heel) ones in shops. On Salomon site they feature a totally drool-worthy (in my taste) colour - dark (greyish) blue with green at the heel. (And then the above Red-Black.) But the blue colour is not even on the site. Ja, I was gunning for the 4mm drop (instead of 6mm on the Pro) and the more flexible shoe, since the rock plate does not run as deep. But if they don't last, then hmmmm. I have actually read of a reviewer that ran with them for almost 1500k's! I don't even get that on my road shoes... presume he's built like a mosquito and most likely runs VERY light and effective. The other point is, even if I do get them at the same price-point that the Pro's - I won't feel I justify the shoes, even though they might be better! I'll feel like I'm pitching up with a S_Works Epic at a 20k family funride.