GOG in the Woods - again

[grumpyoldgirl]

I absolutely wasn't lost, I just emerged onto the road somewhere further than I expected 😁 but at least it had stopped raining. Decided to forgo Parkrun yesterday so I could do a teensy bit further today. The rain was lashing down, so I drove to my favourite trail in the woods which is better underfoot and sheltered. The rain had mostly stopped by the time I had parked, but still cloudy and cool so I wore my little jacket. Long story short, I managed 6.5 k, and according to my Garmin, did my fastest ever mile somewhere in the middle. Which is surprising because the second k was really tough and I had to slow right down for it. Jacket came off, then the sun came out, and I was actually wishing for cloud again 😁 certainly wasn't going to take off another layer 😂 My only niggle is that my dodgy foot is aching, and I'm a bit worried that my trail shoes aren't helping - but they give such good grip on those wet muddy paths 🤔

[Beachcomber66 Graduate10]

You’re getting back to normal grumps!😊 I reserve my trail shoes for the roughest terrain... big ruts and rocks which mean that my feet never land at the same angle twice, so all I need is some tough neutral shoes. Otherwise I use my normal light stability running shoes on tracks and trails to counteract my pronation issues. Just saying, you

might be right about the trail shoes depending on the terrain. 👍

[UpTheStanley Graduate10 in reply to Beachcomber66]

Trails definitely better for soft mud and wet grass, especially on sloping ground ....

[Beachcomber66 Graduate10 in reply to UpTheStanley]

Thinking about it, all of my recent trail shoe use has been on hard dry really lumpy stuff (deeply rutted path in ploughed field). I got Achilles/ calf twinges when I used them on runs which combined a bit of road work and stony tracks and have reserved them for really rough ground ever since. If there is a real slipping over risk, especially with slopes /wet grass, I wouldn’t argue with you at all.

[grumpyoldgirl in reply to Beachcomber66]

Thanks for your thoughts both, I suppose the route is a mix of both, so whichever pair I wear will only be right for half the run. It's like Lewis Hamilton trying to decide when to switch to wet weather tyres - I wish!

[Beachcomber66 Graduate10 in reply to grumpyoldgirl]

😊 Dead right 🏎

[UpTheStanley Graduate10 in reply to Beachcomber66]

I’ve got built-in supports in my road shoes. When I bought my (neutral) trails I paid (quite a lot) extra for equivalent supportive insoles. When I then (stupidly) ran without said insoles, it cost me a physio appointment and 2 weeks on the IC with Achilles pains. With the insoles, they’re fine. Perhaps you might think about getting some?

[Beachcomber66 Graduate10 in reply to UpTheStanley]

Thanks UTS. I imagine you got some constructive feedback from your OH!

I did buy some insoles for my trail shoes when they started to give me problems, but I didn’t find them comfortable; maybe just got the wrong ones. That’s when someone said stick to your road shoes apart from really uneven terrain and I have played it that way ever since; so my trail shoes are not exactly overused!

[grumpyoldgirl in reply to UpTheStanley]

Worth thinking about uts. I'll wear my regular runners on my next run to compare. Where did you go for the insoles?

[Granspeed Graduate10 in reply to UpTheStanley]

Where did you get your insoles, UTS? I’m trying to find some to suit my rather narrow feet....

[UpTheStanley Graduate10 in reply to Granspeed]

At my local specialist independent running shop, Alexander Sports in Portsmouth. The ones I got are designed to be trimmed to match the insoles they’re replacing, so narrowness shouldn’t be an issue. The brand name is “Superfeet”, but I wouldn’t think about buying online - you need a fitting session as for new shoes.

[Granspeed Graduate10 in reply to UpTheStanley]

Thanks. I’ll remember the brand. Might even get to your shop - we are New Forest.

[UpTheStanley Graduate10 in reply to Granspeed]

We’ve also been impressed by Sweatshop in Southampton - bit nearer for you 😀

[Granspeed Graduate10 in reply to UpTheStanley]

And the web tells me there’s an Alexandra branch my side of Winchester too. Lock up my credit card! 🤣 Thanks for the info.

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

I suppose trail shoes are better for trails than the normal running shoes you wear for parkruns, well done on your fastest ever mile, rest from running for a few days until your aching dogy foot heals, you don't want it to ache on Saturday morning.

[grumpyoldgirl in reply to AlMorr]

Thanks Al, I'll do that.

[Hidden]

That looks gorgeous. 😍

[grumpyoldgirl in reply to Hidden]

It was in Ashridge woods clubber, it is beautiful there, and the sun came out at just the right moment

[JonathanP Graduate10]

Nothing wrong with getting lost when you're having fun ! 👍

[grumpyoldgirl in reply to JonathanP]

Getting used to it, J! I wasn't really lost this time, just took a little detour (that I wasn't aware of 😂)

[Granspeed Graduate10]

Looks lovely! And I hope your foot was just grumping & not really hurt. I’m following the trail/road/insoles bit of this with interest, as I have a very mixed route too & need some new shoes. 😊

[grumpyoldgirl in reply to Granspeed]

It's a dodgy foot anyway so it might well be just grumping (good word btw, I'm going to nick it 😊) It's much better this evening.

[Irish-John Graduate10]

A truly lovely and evocative photo.

I can hear Kate Bush singing "oh England my Lionheart" when I look at it

[grumpyoldgirl in reply to Irish-John]

Glad you like it IJ

[DebJogsOn]

Looks beautiful!

I'm not sure about trail shoes - love the grip but definitely end up with achier ankles!

[grumpyoldgirl in reply to DebJogsOn]

I think I'll be more careful about what trails I use them on. They're a godsend at my local parkrun which goes around the edges of playing fields.

[Run46 Graduate10]

Well done on your 6.5K, and a beautiful setting for it too 😊...I'm hoping I can manage that on my long run next Sunday. Hope your foot niggle eases off very soon 👍🏃‍♀️

[grumpyoldgirl in reply to Run46]

Thanks, good luck for Sunday 😊

[backintime Graduate10]

That looks lovely

Hope your foot niggles go away soon in time for your next unexpected detour 😉

[grumpyoldgirl in reply to backintime]

😁