★ Just so you know, if any of your challenge runs are a little more or less than your stated distance, let me know and I will include that in the calculations to give you an accurate result. Your data will be presented as the increase (or decrease - it happens!) each week in pace as seconds/km.
★ In running news, here's an article about the latest research into the causes of your old friend the CRAMP! Particularly interesting are the theories about the mechanisms of pickle juice magic
The American ultra running group I am in on FB bang on about this all the time and they have flavoured drinks and god knows what else embelished with it... I love a nice gherkin but I cant say I have ever drank its juice.
My wife and children laugh at me for my fondness of things pickled. Especially picked onions which are really hard to come by here. But even I draw the line at drinking the juice. Cant see that going well on a hot marathon day 🤢😊
My family may disown me if I did that. 😳But after all this pickle talk, Maybe we should try some baby dill pickles on our next long run? If we can take cheese then why not pickles? There’s no bad time for a pickle after all. Not the juice tho, I can’t endorse that message...
You could be right ... I lived for 2 years in the USA and the only two foodstuffs that I craved were Branston pickle and steak pie. I never did find a pie but was ecstatic to track down the Branston - even at 4x the UK price
Looks like I can get it on Amazon. And they have my Marks and Sparks pickled onions too! Going to place an order once I get enough stuff to qualify for the free shipping
I used to get debilitating calf cramps on obstacle races. Then I discovered pickle juice and it worked a dream. I did a 32 mile obstacle race and had a small bottle of it in my water belt. I ended up administering it to (and curing) so many other runners , including a whole team of Italians, that I got the nickname Dr Pickle (which sounds better in a flamboyant Italian accent)
Well home pickles are better as less artificial additives etc obvs but supermarket at a push. I would go for a proper kosher brand rather than a supermarket own brand. But yes, it is the pickling liquor that is the magic.
And when the mother has too many offspring you can either cut them up and put them in smoothies or dry them to a semi jelly/jerky consistency and have them as running snacks
We digressed into fermentation as Abi mentioned kombucha. Pickling and fermenting are different yes, although some pickles are fermented so they are not mutually exclusive.
To make your own kefit, all you need is some kefir grain as a starter (you can get them on Ebay) and some milk and a clean non metallic vessel. You can also make water kefir.
Man I love drinking the juice from cornichons and such, when I was little I used to steal vinegar from the cupboard and drink that too. At last! I have a good reason for doing it!
Cider vinegar is reputed to have all sorts of health benefits - would this prevent cramps too? I give it to my pet hens in their drinking water every day, and once used it to treat an acute snotty nose/cold in one of my cats - amazingly effective!
The ACV with the “mother” in it from the pet shop is fine for us to drink. Not sure it helps with cramp 🤷♀️ It’s said to lower cholesterol 😁. Good for hard skin on the feet too 😁
Yup, as it’s in additive for poultry water. Keeps them laying yer see, and in all-round tip top health It has to have the “mother” in it which gets killed off in the pasteurised supermarket version, eg wine vinegars
You can buy it for humans, unpasteurised but safe for human consumption from Aspalls and the like, but it’s dearer than from t’pet shop. You can see it online for more info
I am a bit done in this week. My calf is complaining bitterly. I blame the cross trainer 😁. The PT fella got me going on it, doing fast 400 km intervals
It’s new to me so a bit brutal I thought 😃. Great fun though. Who knew 😁
I wore my new Nike’s last night and they were fine. Bit hot though with my new free Karrimor socks ( 2 pairs)👍. No, I,didn’t wear two pairs 😁😁😁🙄
Wow! Not surprised you're done in! 400 km intervals??? You could paddle in the sea if you live near enough ... very good for sore calves / feet. They do it for racehorses too
Nikes seem well made compared to the Saucony. The last pair of Saucony I bought, and sent back, were like a composite felt rather than a woven mesh. Hmmm. Paper shoes! I am still trying to find the elusive Kinvara 5 though. Sigh
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Well, next week is a new week! 
