Cyclists with a "Running" Problem

[Andrew Steer]

Was my second marathon.

I had the run of my life.

 

The first 9 km was extremely congested and no where to go.

When we got back onto the main Kaapsehoop road going back to Nelspruit I thought to myself that I can forget about doing a good time as I was sitting with a 6:55 min/km avg.

But as soon as the road opened up I settled down and got into my own rhythm.

 

I kept looking at my watch to see what I HR was doing as I wanted to keep it low but with that monster of a downhill I also wanted to make the most of it without braking to much.

I went through halfway at about 2:07 something.

I knew I will be fine up until 24 km, from there I was just trying to not waste time at the water points.

I'm also not a water point potato eating person due to hygiene but Saturday I had to put it aside and I can report that I am still alive after having 3 potato pieces.

At 28 km I had a gel and was digging deep 28-30km.

At 35 I caught up with a fellow club runner and handed him my last gel as I was feeling OKish.

However that last bloody 4 km was long.

 

Crossing the finish line I busted into tears of joy.

My official time 4:27:38 

I improved my previous marathon time by about 1 hour 10 minutes.

Great job Mattie!

Does that mean it's all systems go for the Big C?

[Mats]

Great job Mattie!

Does that mean it's all systems go for the Big C?

 

No!

I am still so sore today and walking like an old lady, rocking from side to side.

Maybe 2020 I will attempt the first one.

 

I need to pick between Oceans, Loskop dam or Om die dam.

Since I haven't done any of them, which one would you recommend and why? 

Edited November 5, 2018 by Carpet

[ScottCM]

No!

I am still so sore today and walking like an old lady, rocking from side to side.

Maybe 2020 I will attempt the first one.

 

I need to pick between Oceans, Loskop dam or Om die dam.

Since I haven't done any of them, which one would you recommend and why? 

 

You are rocking side to side because it was a "downhill" marathon. Guess what 2020 is a "Downhill" comrades, even worse!! do the uphill first 

[Pieter-za]

I need to pick between Oceans, Loskop dam or Om die dam.

It seems that you are in Gauteng - why choose between ODD & Loskop, just go for both.      

Personally I would rate the 2OM experience way above those two.  (But then, I did my last 2OM in 2001 and things might have changed?)  From a convenience / cost / atmosphere point of view ODD and Loskop is probably  more or less (different but) equal.   

(Also, you need to qf for 2OM)

Edited November 5, 2018 by Pieter-za

[shaper]

No!

I am still so sore today and walking like an old lady, rocking from side to side.

Maybe 2020 I will attempt the first one.

 

I need to pick between Oceans, Loskop dam or Om die dam.

Since I haven't done any of them, which one would you recommend and why? 

You not the only one rocking from side to side... normally am fine a day or 2 after .... but after this downhill one... I can still hardly bend or walk.....

[Hacc]

Kaapse Hoop hurts as much as Comrades...just saying 

 

If I had to rank the 3 ultras from best to worst:

 

1. OMTOM - most beautiful ultra I have ever ran

2. Loskop - love the support on the road, water points are great, profile not too bad.

3. Om die Dam - if you like a sufferfest then I can recommend ODD... the only reason I have done this ultra is to mentally prepare myself for Comrades. Traffic is a disaster, the route is very scary with lots of trucks and cars driving between the runners.

 

 

Price wise OMTOM is definitely most expensive, but if you book your flight tickets and accommodation early, is it a bit cheaper.

 

Loskop accommodation gets full very quickly.

 

For ODD you will have to wake up very early if you want to miss traffic. (Around 2:30 am...)

Edited November 5, 2018 by Hacc

[Andrew Steer]

Kaapse Hoop hurts as much as Comrades...just saying 

 

If I had to rank the 3 ultras from best to worst:

 

1. OMTOM - most beautiful ultra I have ever ran

2. Loskop - love the support on the road, water points are great, profile not too bad.

3. Om die Dam - if you like a sufferfest then I can recommend ODD... the only reason I have done this ultra is to mentally prepare myself for Comrades. Traffic is a disaster, the route is very scary with lots of trucks and cars driving between the runners.

I'll be doing OMTOM and Loskop next year I reckon... over ODD and their poor planning.

 

As for the bold bit, only one small difference... Comrades it hurts for 30/40km, Kaapsehoop it's just 5/8km 

[Odinson]

Question to the experienced runners. I'd like to do the 2Oceans next year, but the half isn't that challenging. Thus, the only other option is the ultra. Would you guys think that there is enough time between now and April to go from a base of a PB half of 01:48 to just completing the ultra? 

 

2nd question. How do you square your runs on a treadmill? The treadmill says one thing, the Garmin something completely different and neither feel close to the actual effort. 

[ycowley]

Haven't done Soweto but with a 6'/k ave on a 10 you should actually be aiming for <2:15.  (I see you are in Centurion, if you want we can plan to do a 'paced' 21 at a stage?)

Thanks. Ran alone mostly. Ended up in the 2 hour bus and went with them until about 11km when they left me on the hills.

 

Ran along until the 2 hour 15 min bus came along. Ran with them but lost them at a water point so finished alone in 2 hours 20 minutes.

 

The last few km is a killer, especially the 17 - 18km hill. Added to that, the wind was blowing quite strongly from the front in places and the last few km you end up among the slow 10km walkers so have to duck and dive between them as they take up the whole road.

Edited November 5, 2018 by ycowley

[Andrew Steer]

Question to the experienced runners. I'd like to do the 2Oceans next year, but the half isn't that challenging. Thus, the only other option is the ultra. Would you guys think that there is enough time between now and April to go from a base of a PB half of 01:48 to just completing the ultra? 

 

2nd question. How do you square your runs on a treadmill? The treadmill says one thing, the Garmin something completely different and neither feel close to the actual effort. 

Yes, just keep running and slowly upping the mileage. Aim for a marathon a month before just as a lot proper gauge. But certainly doable. 

 

Second question - I'd also like to know the answer... I find for long comfy runs I find the treadmill way easier and the mileage relative to the road for the time would suggest a similar thing. But when I do speed efforts the treadmill seems way out in terms of effort... but maybe that's just the nature of the type of training session. I haven't done much in the way of hills yet. 

[ScottCM]

So Andrew, how is that new treadmill treating you and the Mrs? 

 

Ready to flog it at half price ........ I think i have a buyer for 

[Paddaman]

Question to the experienced runners. I'd like to do the 2Oceans next year, but the half isn't that challenging. Thus, the only other option is the ultra. Would you guys think that there is enough time between now and April to go from a base of a PB half of 01:48 to just completing the ultra? 

 

2nd question. How do you square your runs on a treadmill? The treadmill says one thing, the Garmin something completely different and neither feel close to the actual effort. 

If a half marathon is "not challenging enough" then do the Ultra.  Somehow the body can handle the punch.  Just remember to be able to peak out at between 65-100km a week for three weeks and plan a week or two for taper to rest for the run.

 

Treadmill, what witchcraft is this?  Run in the rain, run in the mud, run in the sun, just run.  There is no bad run, only bad clothing.....

[shaper]

Question to the experienced runners. I'd like to do the 2Oceans next year, but the half isn't that challenging. Thus, the only other option is the ultra. Would you guys think that there is enough time between now and April to go from a base of a PB half of 01:48 to just completing the ultra? 

 

2nd question. How do you square your runs on a treadmill? The treadmill says one thing, the Garmin something completely different and neither feel close to the actual effort. 

 

In case you have a F5/935

Edited November 5, 2018 by shaper

[Jaws677]

No!

I am still so sore today and walking like an old lady, rocking from side to side.

Maybe 2020 I will attempt the first one.

 

I need to pick between Oceans, Loskop dam or Om die dam.

Since I haven't done any of them, which one would you recommend and why?

ODD is the worst race on the calendar. Traffic to the venue is a mess. Late starts . Big trucks and massive traffic congestion with irrate motorist abound.

 

But I'll do again next year as it's really good Comrades training

[Andrew Steer]

So Andrew, how is that new treadmill treating you and the Mrs? 

 

Ready to flog it at half price ........ I think i have a buyer for 

Nope, it will come in handy... I have no doubt of that. This isn't really treadmill weather though

And I'm not running for another 3-4 weeks still. Need to get this calf fixed once and for all.

[Frosty]

Was my second marathon.

I had the run of my life.

 

The first 9 km was extremely congested and no where to go.

When we got back onto the main Kaapsehoop road going back to Nelspruit I thought to myself that I can forget about doing a good time as I was sitting with a 6:55 min/km avg.

But as soon as the road opened up I settled down and got into my own rhythm.

 

I kept looking at my watch to see what I HR was doing as I wanted to keep it low but with that monster of a downhill I also wanted to make the most of it without braking to much.

I went through halfway at about 2:07 something.

I knew I will be fine up until 24 km, from there I was just trying to not waste time at the water points.

I'm also not a water point potato eating person due to hygiene but Saturday I had to put it aside and I can report that I am still alive after having 3 potato pieces.

At 28 km I had a gel and was digging deep 28-30km.

At 35 I caught up with a fellow club runner and handed him my last gel as I was feeling OKish.

However that last bloody 4 km was long.

 

Crossing the finish line I busted into tears of joy.

My official time 4:27:38

I improved my previous marathon time by about 1 hour 10 minutes.

Well done!