If you’re a climber at heart then winter is a good time to do a bit of running. The crags are wet and the days are short and you’re getting fatter by the hour. Don’t wait for the New Year to start running, get focused now and use the dead time to build some aerobic fitness which will benefit your climbing once the spring comes around.
In my opinion the best way to get bored with running quickly is to only train on roads. So, this short post will concentrate on off road running shoes. If you can only train at night when it’s dark you can still train off road with a headtorch.
Don’t make running a bind, keep it interesting, and vary your route and distance. Don’t be over ambitious. Forget about logging miles and concentrate on running time. For example: I’m going to run 3 nights a week for 30 mins each. As you get fitter you’ll get more out of those 30 mins. Increase time and frequency as required.
When you’re feeling a bit down and can’t really be bothered to turn out in the wind and rain remember that running releases ‘feel good’ endorphins in the brain so the chances are you're going to be in a better mood when you get back from your run.
Eat food, Drink Beer
The ever popular pass-times of eating and drinking become more enjoyable when you’ve had some exercise and of course you will need to do more of both (within reason) to keep your energy levels up now that you’re a regular runner.
Which Shoes
Choose some shoes that you can use both off and on road. Such a shoe will effectively be an off road shoe with a less aggressive out-sole and some enhanced cushioning.
Inov8 have a big range of off-road and fell running shoes. Here are a couple of suitable models:
The Flyroc: Light mesh uppers, reasonable cushioning which will handle some road. The outsole has large gaps in the tread to try and reduce clogging up in muddy conditions. If you’re running route will include fields and muddy tracks this shoes would be a good choice.
The Terroc: This is a similar shoe to the Flyroc with the same midsole and last shape. The upper is more durable and the outsole has a denser tread pattern. This makes the shoes more suitable for harder surfaces such as gravel paths and rocky terrain. The Terroc is also more adaptable to a crag approach shoe having a more durable upper and sole. If you are running in a city environment with road sections to reach parks or open land with good path systems, this shoe would be a good choice.
Montrail Phoenix: Now discontinued the Phoenix was an early attempt by Montrail to get their heads around UK fell running. They made the common mistake of building the midsole too thick (and therefore unstable), for serious fell running. Inadvertently they managed to produce a very good all purpose off road shoes that will cope with most conditions. Rock + Run bought what was left of the Phoenix stock from Montrail and we are currently clearing them at £20 while stocks last.
Montrail Highlander: The new version of the Phoenix which is still a good shoe but seriously compromised on price while there are stocks of Phoenix at £20. Read a full review of the Phoenix here.
More useful running Links:
The Fell Runners Association: Why not enter a fell race? Fell races are not as intimidating as you might think. Most fell races are low key events with friendly competitors who enjoy a pint in the local pub after the race.
The British Orienteering Federation: Like fell running Orienteering is a friendly sport. The added dimension of having to read a map takes your mind off the pain of running and if you fancy not running for a bit that’s not a problem because competitors start at 2-3 min intervals on a range of courses so, there is no head to head racing. Orienteering is also a great sport for kids and families and can be adapted to suit any running ability.
Comparing routes at the finish of an orienteering event in Langdale.
Langer Orthotics: If you running regularly you are probably going to suffer from some muscle or joint problems at some point. Most running injuries are biomechanically related which means its probably got something to do with the shape of your foot or the way you walk/run. The good news is that the injury cause can often be cured by improving biomechanical function with the use of orthotics. Orthotics are custom moulded inserts that fit into your shoes. They are fairly expensive to buy initially but last many years and can save you a fortune in Physiotherapy bills
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