Trail-spiration

[roseabi]

Oh my, this looks beautiful!

youtu.be/79lv-Oqa3q4(Not working as expected?)

It's the Whiskey Hill Redwood Run in California:

ultrasignup.com/register.as...

[roseabi Ultramarathon]

Nice tag

[Tomas Marathon]

Wow, that looks gorgeous!

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to Tomas]

If ever I happen to be in California in late October I am there!

[Tomas Marathon in reply to roseabi]

Yup!

I've been sorta-kinda thinking about starting to train for a trail ultra after April next year. This video definitely made that urge stronger

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to Tomas]

Ooh, nice! Do you have a particular one in mind?

[Tomas Marathon in reply to roseabi]

I actually have two in mind...

Thames Path Challenge. I like it because it's flat (and I have zero experience with hills). But next year it's being held on my one year wedding anniversary, so I'm not sure her Ladyship would be impressed.

Hadrian's Wall from Carlisle to Newcastle. This would be awesome, but I think also quite challenging for me.

So all in all, I probably ought to get a bit of trail and hill running in, and then eventually sign up to a "short ultra" (if that makes sense) just to sample the water before biting off bigger bites than I can chew.

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to Tomas]

I like the sound of both of those very much - the Hadrian's Wall one would be really special.

I'd venture to suggest the Beachy Head Marathon as a "short ultra", suspect you may have figured that out for yourself though

[Tomas Marathon in reply to roseabi]

Yes, I have also been thinking about Beachy Head. That might be good as a starter of the trail adventure.

And yes, Hardian's wall would be awesome. But there's no way I can be ready in time for it. So that would become a 2019 target, which would maybe not be so bad. Hmmm. That would mean Beachy Head in autumn 2018 would fit nicely. Food for thoughts!

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to Tomas]

I'm thinking about doing the Grand Tour of Skiddaw for my 50th birthday, but was worried that it was a bit of an antisocial idea. However my husband says he's fine with it, although he's a bit worried about travelling up to the Lake District with his bad back...

[Tomas Marathon in reply to roseabi]

Oh yes, I can see why that would be a great run. Looks gorgeous on the pictures! And a fitting way to celebrate the birthday! (it's my 50th next year as well!)

Maybe your husband can be convinced if you ply him with hot water bottles and cold drinks on the journey?

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to Tomas]

2019 for me. I don't know if the race will even be run (no sign of it for 2018 at the moment), but it'll give Julian a bit more time to get fit

[benwill Marathon in reply to roseabi]

Beachy Head noooo...... dont do it!

[ju-ju- Marathon in reply to Tomas]

What about the one I di, they do an ultra too.

endurancelife.com/exmoor

[Tomas Marathon in reply to ju-ju-]

You're a hardcore trail runner Ju Ju. I'm a flat footed plodder. Reading the review of Exmoor, my Achilles' tendons are already crying, and I'm still in bed. I think for me to attempt that one, I would need years of training, and I'm in awe that you got through it.

[the_tea_fairy Half Marathon in reply to Tomas]

My dodgy Achilles got much better when I took it off the tarmac. Just saying. 😉

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to the_tea_fairy]

But going up steepnesses can be murder on the backs of the legs

[Tomas Marathon in reply to the_tea_fairy]

Sounds great! As painful as the Achilles can be, that sounds like a big relief.

[the_tea_fairy Half Marathon in reply to Tomas]

Heel drops, as well, if you're not doing them already.

[Tomas Marathon in reply to the_tea_fairy]

I have been doing tons of heel drops. I don't like them. They seem to make the pain worse, and after I've stopped doing them my Achilles have been hurting less. I know this goes against the normal advice, but I believe that for me the best strengtening of my running muscles is achieved by running.

[misswobble Marathon]

Looks like my kinda terrain 🏃‍♀️

I put a An ultra Vesta vest on my birthday list. If I get one I have to keep training for such an event My husband would force me out at the point of a gun if he shelled out for one 😎

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to misswobble]

Awesome. Imagine an ultramarathon where wives were chased by their gun-toting husbands

[Tomas Marathon in reply to roseabi]

I can just hear a trumpeteer claim "the umpteenth amendment to our great constitution guarantees us the right to use guns to encourage the wifey. Maga! Drain the trails! Maga!"

[Tomas Marathon in reply to misswobble]

I hope he gets you one. I find that a vest is great also for "regular" training runs once I get beyond 15 miles. Easier to carry water and a few bits and pieces.

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to Tomas]

I wore my vest during triathlon training and now for runs >10k. Very handy for carrying bike repair stuff, food, water, and I guess the extra weight adds a little something to fitness

[misswobble Marathon]

I know. I was mithered to death on Monday with pockets stuffed with food

My tights looked like potato sacks. Not a good look 😊

[Tomas Marathon in reply to misswobble]

And of course, with winter soon arriving, it will be nice to have somewhere to stash the rain jacket once you're warm, and somewhere to carry the head torch in case you're still out when it gets dark... can't you sell the idea to him as a safety precaution? "you don't want me to get lost in the darkness, because then you'd have to cook your own food, so a vest will make it far more likely that I'll survive and come home to you again"

[misswobble Marathon]

He doesn’t worry about me at all. I could have been locked in that park til doomsday 😁

[Maddee_6333 Half Marathon]

I wonder how I could justify the air fare??? 😈

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to Maddee_6333]

Might start saving...

[benwill Marathon]

Looks great to me, how about i be your support crew (you can pay) and i just support you by drinking the whiskey.

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to benwill]

Ha ha, that sounds like a dream job to me

[ju-ju- Marathon]

Wow looks amazing!!!

[the_tea_fairy Half Marathon]

This is making me hungry to be up and running again (and, for the record, running a long way in the beautiful Lakes sounds like an ideal birthday present to yourself to me).

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to the_tea_fairy]

You are so right!