Review of the Fitsip

I’m not sure if it’s a new runner thing or not, but I can’t run far as fast speeds without a drink.  I burn up quickly and end up having to walk which is not ideal but I also struggle to hold something in my hands whilst racing so I don’t like to carry a bottle.  When I saw Fitsip circulating on Facebook I thought I’d give it a try as it has a flexible bottle that fits into a sleeve to go on your arm.  My friend got a discount code by entering a race in Derby so actually managed to get it a bit cheaper.

The armband is made out of really light material and is easy to adjust to fit the arm but it does feel a bit like being a robot and you may find yourself holding your arm out and making shooting noises.  My arms are quite thin so I have to make it as small as possible which means that there is a lot of excess material I’m carrying that isn’t needed. Hopefully they’ll design a smaller women’s version at some point.  It does make your arm get quite hot, I’ve thrown it off on the final sprint to the finish a few times but it’s only really an issue on very warm days.  I used it during the Pie & Peas 5 recently which was a little bit cooler and it was completely comfortable for the entire race.

The flexible bottle only holds 200ml so is not suitable as bottle replacement for long runs but is perfect for short races under 10k where water is not provided or for 10k’s on a very hot day.  It really helped me a lot during the Dunham Massey 5k, don’t think I would have got a PB without it as when I started to burn up I could take a sip rather than having to slow down or walk.  It’s only really suitable for races though, for training runs I would use a normal bottle.

It’s very easy to fill, although  you need to make sure you keep the bottle flat, and the bite valve is genius because it makes it really easy to get a mouthful of water quickly without and spilling or leakage.  You can also buy replacement bottles and bite valves without having to buy a new sleeve and the sleeve comes in six colours. 

It's a genius idea but still has some flaws to be worked out.  To find out more please visit www.fitsip.com

Image from www.fitsip.com

Running Geek

I once asked the question whether if a tree falls in the middle of the forest and no one posted it one Facebook did it really happen?  I now find I'm asking myself a similar question about running, my Garmin and Strava.  If I run 12 miles but the event is not recorded did I really run it.  Well yes, I know I did really run it but I honestly do find myself being bothered by it.  A number of times recently either my Garmin Forerunner 10 or an upload to Strava have failed me.  My data recorded for the Great Warford 10 miler, for example, just vanished into thin air.  A few other runs have only recorded the distance and route but have no information about speed or pace.  Don't even get me started on Strave segments because they really don't make sense (I want my missing trophoes Strava!!).

I know it shouldn't matter and that there are more serious things to worry about in the world but I can't help feeling annoyed and chested in some way but maybe it's indication of a much bigger issue... actually obsessing over run data.  I know my finish time for Great Warford and that should be enough really but gone are my splits per mile, the little graph where i compare speed and elevation, the breakdown of my pace distribution and the roads that i ran will not appear as a little blue line one my Strava heat map.  Like totally the worst disaster since the Titanic I know (sarcasm) but it does make you wonder  why we spend so much time on this stuff.  It's not new, I know some of the more elder members of my club have kept old style running diaries since their youth (around about the Boer War :p ) and I guess what we have now is just a more modern version of that but i'm pretty sure that they never ran in each new location that they visit to get it on their heat map. 

I'm not sure what impact that this technology reliance has but there are theories that people are ability to do mental arithmetic declined with the increase in the use of calculators.  That's not necessarily a bad thing, why have a calculator and bark yourself so to speak.  I forgot my watch for a race once.  Luckily it wasn't so bad because I could use my phone to record the run but as it was tucked away in my pocket I couldn't watch my pace and speed, and check it against my little negative split guides that I take to each race.  Instead I ran the speed that my body told me to go, forcing it to go slower than this speed at the start (We Love Manchester 10k so fat chance of going fast for the first half a mile anyways).  I still managed to do negative splits across the six miles and even though it wasn't a pb (dodgy leg cramps) the timing was actually pretty good so maybe we are losing some ability to listen to body signals.  I've stopped watching my pace so much since but I still need the little blue line that told me that I ran there and a couple of graphs to obsess over.

Random: My new favourite thing

Medical Update: Couldn't talk all day.  Is certainly an experience walking a blind dog when you can't speak.  Just need a deaf person and we'll have a full set.

Great Warford 10 Mile

After a week off from running and a great track session, was seriously ready for a race but Great Warford was a tough one.  It's not somewhere I've heard of but the race id part of my Warrington Road Runners club championship and I need a club standard in either 5 mile, 10 mile or a half so thought it was a good opportunity to get a base time to find out how much I need to improve.  There was eight club members at the race so not a bad turn out.

Great Warford 10 Mile Elevation

The race is held by Wilslow Running Club and takes place at the David Lewis Centre in Great Warford, which is between Alderley Edge and Knutsford.  After a small loop of a couple of miles you then do two laps of 4 miles.  There are a few hills, Particularly a steep one that you run up three times with the finish right after it but it's short and can be a good one to sprint up.  The downhills provide a good balance too so the course whilst undulating is not bad (I don't like flat courses cos I get bored).   The organisation was very good, collecting numbers was quick and easy (Although the numbers were chopped up, what's that about?), free parking, nice marshals and registration right near the start.    The only issue that I found with the race was the water station which seemed to be in the wrong place near the start of the large lap.  You went past the station at 2.5 and 6.5 miles but on a hot day not having water for pretty much the whole last lap was hard going. 

Jogger's Tipple

I ended up walking up the two hills on the last lap and broke my cardinal rule of never walking in the last mile but it was just too hot and I really needed a drink.  I probably could have pushed through it but it was my first 10 miler so no pb to chase and knew I wasn't going to be quick enough for the standard.  At the finish we were given a bottle of beer (Which wasn't that bad) and a flapjack.  The faster people got given bags and t-shirts too but they were from other races so wasn't really disappointed to not get them.  On the plus side, there was free photography and I actually got a decent running photo of myself for once, smiling and everything so it must have been close to the start:).

I think it is a race well done with a good route but in hot weather it was very hard going.  I think I'll skip it next year if the weather is the same. 

Running like a girl (Coz we're great)!!!!

A little box of joy arrived today (Well actually, had to pick it up from the post office).  Sparkly running skirts from the US.  I was having a bad day recently and so I started planning my outfits for the 2016 Disney weekend.  Yes, it's miles and miles and miles away but when you're stuck on the sofa shaking and can't talk there's nothing like retail therapy to cheer you up, especially if it's related to my two favourite things - running and Disney.

Whilst surfing around I came across Sparkle Athletic (Who I've mentioned in a previous blog) and decided that I had to have one of their skirts for Disney but it got me thinking, why should the sparkle be limited to one week way off in the future.  I'm a girl, I like being a girl, so why shouldn't I run like a girl?  I saw a video recently by Always, questioning what it means to do something "like a girl".  The video questions dominant stereotypes about gender differences and the impact that it can have on self confidence of young girls (FYI - As an equalist, I would just like to state that there are just as many stereotypes about what it means to be a 'boy' or a 'man' as there are for the female half of the population, I'm not a feminist).  It's a very interesting video.

I've done quite a bit of research into running skirts and dresses.  They're not really that available in the UK but seem to be getting more popular in the US.  A lot of the articles I read criticise the trend, saying it makes you 'less of a real runner', 'too girly', 'vain', all along the lines of caring too much about how you look.  I personally don't see what's wrong with it, and even bought a running dress and some skirts but have been too chicken to wear them.  Yes, you get the charity races like Race for Life, or the fancy dress type events where you can wear a tutu and fit right in but generally you're either a club runner or a fun runner, and never the two shall meet.  Not any more though, I'm a girl, and girls wear skirts. I've even bought a sparkle race skirt to match my club vest.  I'll be wearing it for Dublin and the Great North Run, along with my vest because who says I can't be a serious runner (Well a slowish serious runner) and a girl at the same time.

212

I now have entry into the English Half Marathon for life, number 212 (Chosen as it's my wedding date and cos I like symmetry), a gold number none the less.  English Half Marathon are offering a set number of gold entries into the race which gives you:

• Entry into the half marathon or 10k for life
• Your choice of bib number between 1 and 250 as long as it's not already taken
• A gold coloured medal, along with the normal medal, so two medals (need I say more)
• An invite to a launch party
• VIP treatment before and after the race

The race takes place in Warrington in September so i'll let you know how it goes.  If you want a gold number too it costs £125 but if you have already entered the 2014 they'll deduct the amount you've paid already.  Here's the link if you want more info http://www.q-buster.co.uk/index.php?rn=514&action=show_detail and for more information for the race itself go to http://www.run-ehm.com/.