Fitness 2014

[mongers]

I lost 10 pounds.  God knows where.

Good going; do you still have all of your limbs. 

[alfred russel]

5K is a nice distance, never tried much further, I just enjoyed that and always felt if I stormed around one, without much thought, then I was in good form.

Have you considered throwing in one or two 5K into your training regime, just to mix it up and provide some 'light relief'? 

Nothing wrong with engineering the occasional running high, in the run upto the big race?

It is a good idea in theory, but the problem I'm having is staying fit to run. I've cut back to 4 days a week, which makes it hard to keep my mileage up. I really can't make one of those days a 5k--I won't run enough. I should have the cardio fitness to get the marathon time I want, it is a question of building the endurance. I really didn't think it would be this hard.

Next week I may try adding in a 5th day of running something like a 5k.

[Maladict]

Getting the old bike ready for the new season, I'm looking at serious replacement parts costs.
Might be time to get a new bike... 

+1.

Why not, I too am looking at building something new/somewhat different.

Also warn out the odd or two drive train, in all the mud and water this winter. 

I'm being offered this by someone I know, for 1500 euros. It's a couple of years old.

Stevens SLC team
- SRAM Force brakes and shifters
- SRAM Red derailleurs
- Rotor 3D crank set, 50-34 Rotor oval chainrings
- Shimano Dura Ace 12-25 cassette and chain
- Campa Eurus wheels, conti 4000s tires
- 3T Arx team stem (alu)
- 3T Ergonova team handle bar (carbon) 
- 3T team seat post (carbon)

Thoughts?

[Brazen]

Just bought these. I shall build up gradually to running in them and report back:



I went to the running club my gym runs on Sunday; first time I've been to a club in about three years. A mile warm-up, drills and 4*800m repeats. What doesn't kill me makes me stronger. But it was touch and go for a while.

I'm running Sport Relief Mile on Saturday, and I've entered my usual hilly trail 5K, then I'll think about a 10K or two.

Edit: I'm very, very fat at the moment though. I need to sort my eating (and drinking) to approach anything like my former fitness.

[mongers]

Getting the old bike ready for the new season, I'm looking at serious replacement parts costs.
Might be time to get a new bike... 

+1.

Why not, I too am looking at building something new/somewhat different.

Also warn out the odd or two drive train, in all the mud and water this winter. 

I'm being offered this by someone I know, for 1500 euros. It's a couple of years old.

Stevens SLC team
- SRAM Force brakes and shifters
- SRAM Red derailleurs
- Rotor 3D crank set, 50-34 Rotor oval chainrings
- Shimano Dura Ace 12-25 cassette and chain
- Campa Eurus wheels, conti 4000s tires
- 3T Arx team stem (alu)
- 3T Ergonova team handle bar (carbon) 
- 3T team seat post (carbon)

Thoughts?

Sorry I've no knowledge of road bikes or higher-end components. 

[Maladict]

Sorry I've no knowledge of road bikes or higher-end components. 

That's ok, neither do I really. 

[PDH]

That all sounds impressive, so I bet they are good.

[alfred russel]

Just bought these. I shall build up gradually to running in them and report back:

I'll look forward to this.

[Legbiter]

Just bought these. I shall build up gradually to running in them and report back:



I went to the running club my gym runs on Sunday; first time I've been to a club in about three years. A mile warm-up, drills and 4*800m repeats. What doesn't kill me makes me stronger. But it was touch and go for a while.

I'm running Sport Relief Mile on Saturday, and I've entered my usual hilly trail 5K, then I'll think about a 10K or two.

Edit: I'm very, very fat at the moment though. I need to sort my eating (and drinking) to approach anything like my former fitness.

I own 2 pairs of these.   People will stop and stare, small children will point and ask mommy what that stranger is wearing...

Just work up to them very, very gradually, start with a 10 minute walk while your feet adjust. It took me 3 weeks to make the transition, now I sprint in them during the summer.

[MadImmortalMan]

My cousin broke his toe wearing those in the Chicago Marathon.

[Legbiter]

My cousin broke his toe wearing those in the Chicago Marathon.

And thus kept him from running the marathon? Truly unexpected health benefits right there. 

[Brazen]

Wore my Vibrams for a 20 minute walk and a quick trot at lunchtime. Small children cried. Horse reared. Milk soured. But my feet were happy.

[mongers]

Popped out over the down to Salisbury on Sunday, a 37mile round trip, first time since the early Autumn due to the rainapocalypse here.

Same route as I took last time, though still wet in places. Different bikes, a flat bar road type hybrid vs a folding bike last year.

Time taken to get there and back, according to the computer, 2h58m3s on this big 700mm bike, last time on the 20inch folder, 2h58m3s.

Exactly the same time, to the second.   

So I guess I've broadly maintained the same level of fitness over the winter, hence the very similar times; guess it's a case of doing a consistent level of effort, knowing the routes well and having to shift a similar load (me +11-12kgs of bike) up the same hills. 

[alfred russel]

Mongers, for a 3 hour bike ride, what kind of pace do you think you would hold on a flat track?

[Eddie Teach]

What part of the bike are you measuring to get the 20 inch/700 mm numbers?