#off road running

[f-rg-tmigej]

Förmiddag och första passet avklarat 💪🏼 Kolla Idun då, så jäkla söt 😍🥹

[runtofit]

Training log

Week 2 of 10 weeks to 10k (27/04 - 3/05)

Monday 27 April I set my personal goal to move at least 6 days a week. Be it walking/cycling/ running, I want to keep active. Today I walked towards the post office with my mum and we took the sceneric route back. We were walking for about 30 minutes, but I didn’t start Strava for it.

Tuesday 28 april Tuesday is interval day. It was the first run with my new shoes. And it was a rainy one. At some point I had to stop and look for shelter because it was hailing. I actually don’t mind running in the rain, it keeps you cool. I did 10 min warm up, 2*6 min tempo + 1 min rest, 11 min cool down. This session went well.

Thursday 30 April

Easy run day, I ran inbetween 2 rain showers. Which made it an ideal temperature and environment to run in.

Friday 1 may

Went on a nice walk through our town. I like how it’s getting calmer again on the streets. Didn’t always like being out when it was sunny.

Saturday 2 may

Went cycling out of boredom, one of the better coping methods.

Saturday 3 may

Was “allowed” to finally go a bit further and run 45 min today. Was a bit afraid that I wouldn’t be able to complete it yet. So I tried to get my fueling, hydration and clothing right so I would have everything going right for me. But I was worrying for nothing. The weather was just right. Not hot, not warm, no rain... I really enjoyed it and fell in a steady pace once I was a km in. I decided to let my Fitbit show me my time instead of my pace, so I would go at a comfortable feeling pace instead. Would’ve wanted that pace to be a bit faster, but I’ll have to be patient with this proces. In the end I ran a bit further than 45 min so I would hit 7k. Really happy with the progress that I already made

[icegripper]

Kahtoola INSTAgaiter Ultra Light Gaiter

Kahtoola INSTAgaiter - the lightest, most breathable gaiter excels at high-output activities like trail running and hiking.

[icegripper]

10 great UK trail running races for summer

The number of off-road running events is on the increase. There are events that are ideal for many different types of runner, from novice through to expert and for those looking for an adventure. Here we suggest a few to try:

1) Run Balmoral

April 28

A right royal 15-mile run through the picturesque Balmoral Estate, the Queen’s Scottish home.

See Run Balmoral 

2) Highlander Mountain Marathon

April 27/28

This two-day run or hike takes participants on an adventure into remote Highlands countryside. While navigational skills are required, there are entry classes to suit most abilities and participants work in teams of two. An overnight camp also includes a communal feast and a ceilidh dance. The location remains a secret until close to the event but participants can be assured of stunning scenery and a great atmosphere.

See Highlander Mountain Marathon

3) Barrowdale Trail Run

May 19

A number of distances including 13km, 21km and 42kmthrough lovely scenery and a variation of terrain, from lakeside to hillside.

See High Terrain Events

4) Great Trail Challenge

June 9

Keswick, Lake District

The Great Trail Challenge offers a choice of an 11k or 22k run set amid fabulous countryside.  

5) West Highland Way race

June 22

This is a monster trail run but still hugely popular. Runners head 96 miles alont the famous WHW from Milngavie, north of Glasgow, to Fort William in the Highlands. The full distance is done in one race and the unbelieveable record-breaking time is 15hrs 39 mins. Less ambitious runners also take part in this friendly event so don’t be put off!

See West Highland Way Race

6) Trail Marathon Wales

June 22

This popular event has sold out but it might be one to earmark for 2014. The choice is 21k or 42k of fabulous welsh countryside running.

See Trail Marathon Wales 

7) North Devon half and full Marathon

June 30

A fabulous coastal route of 21k or 42k – and in an Area Outstanding Natural Beauty. See North Devon Marathon 

8) Kielder Marathon & 10k

October 6

It claims to be Britain’s most beautiful marathon – and why ever not?! Both routes of 42k or 10k start and finish at Leaplish Waterside Park and head through, aherm, beautiful countryside. See Kielder Marathon 

9) Wolf Run

September 7/8  Taking place near in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, the Wolf Run is a 10k off-road run with a series of obstacles (man-made and natural). The concept behind the Wolf Run was to re-create the feeling of running in natural terrain.

See Wolf Run

10) Wild Man

November 16

The course of 10km or 15km is set on an army testing ground of Ash Ranges near Aldershot. This is for athletes who like their terrain and conditions to be tough and wild!

See Human Race 

Check out the IceGripper blog to find out more about a summer of off-road running events

Walk, work, run and play on winter ice and snow with ICEGRIPPER…

We’d love to hear your 'Off Road' running stories, or see your photo’s - share them with us by posting on our Facebook, Twitter or G+ pages

[teamvitasport]

Vitasport in Norway

Tom Reynolds

Kongsberg, Norway

I have been in Norway for almost 2 and a half weeks. I have begun to settle into being a medical student in a Norwegian hospital. I have had to learn fast my Norwegian, although luckily the staff and patients are very helpful with English. It would be safe to say that my reading skills are improving a little faster than my speaking ability "jeg ikke snakker norsk" and "jeg ikke forstår" have been two helpful phrases so far.

As well as time at the hospital training and racing have been taking place in parallel. So far I have spend a weekend in Finland, racing at the Jukola relay. This is huge event, with over 1500 teams of 7 in the mens race and a similar amount of teams of 4 in the womens event. The 7 man, Jukola relay, starts at 11pm with a mass start of all first leg runners. Watching that many headlamps race into the dark Finnish forests is a sight to behold! The following runners race through the night, with the leaders finishing around 6.30am after all 7 runners have completed a course in the forest. I was running leg 6 for my Norwegian club, Kongsberg OL. I had a good race, considering my jetlag and the new Finnish terrain. We ended up in 87th place.

It was back to Norway for another week at the hospital before heading a North of Kongsberg to Beitostolen for the O-festivalen 3 day race. On the morning before the first race I headed up to the mountains with the family I am living with here. We walked a famous route over Besseggen, with some amazing views of the surrounding lakes and mountains. Most beautiful place I have ever made some Vitasport!

The weekends racing was a bit of a mixed bag. I made some errors on days 1 and 2, still finding my rhythm in the Norwegian mountain terrain. The running is a bit more challenging than back in NZ. The forest floor is covered in blueberry bushes and other low plants. These are about shin depth, and soft to run through. They are energy sapping however. The maps are also covered in marshes. Not muddy Kiwi marshes, but soggy Norwegian myr. They are very runnable, but again, require lots of strength to keep good speed. Add some rocky ground to this and you have off road running paradise. Hard work, but awesome fun!

I sorted out my navigation on the last day and performed much better. Finish just shy of the top 10 in 11th. I was stoked to have a good last run, as I am not racing again until World Champs in mid July.

And for everyone fighting a New Zealand winter, keep it up! Here in Kongsberg it hits -30 in the middle of winter and we have been struggling to break the 20's even on fine days! I will take a Kiwi summer over a Norwegian one anyday!

[xiv-psych-blog]

Another 3 [and a bit] miler.

Mostly uphill and on woodland track. Might take my camera up there for a walk tomorrow, because it's stunning. Absolutely brilliant run. Feet hurt, calves and shins hurt but so worth it. Would have done the race for life but I wasn't entered and it'll be about 26 degrees in the sun in Bute park so fuck funning in that. Think I'm going to work up to 10km. Maybe eventually a half marathon, although I'm totally not built for it. We'll see. I love running.