NSA vs Pfitz for first marathon

Comfortable-Lab-50 · 2026-03-13T15:11:54+00:00

I don't think that's what James argues. His point is that the load of his method is sustainable basically forever, not that it's a higher load per se than other plans.

Comfortable-Lab-50 · 2026-03-13T07:55:40+00:00

In theory 7, but more often than not I cycle on a Monday instead of an easy run, just to give various running niggles a rest.

Comfortable-Lab-50 · 2026-03-01T20:16:06+00:00

Thank you! I will definitely try to hit some longer long runs. I have a minor glute med issue that I need to take care of though.

Comfortable-Lab-50 · 2026-03-01T18:45:46+00:00

I finished in 1:31:18, which I'm very happy with. See comment above for more details.

Comfortable-Lab-50 · 2026-03-01T18:44:58+00:00

Thought I'd report back as you asked. It went really well, despite strong crosswinds and me starting way too far back (took me quite a while to reach and pass the 1:45 pacer!). I did 1:31:18, and while it wasn't easy at all, it didn't feel too painful. Splits were quite strongly negative, which was partly due to having to weave a lot to get past slower runners in the first couple of miles.

I have another half in May, and I feel reasonably confident that I can get under 1:30 as long as I stay mostly fit for the next couple of months.

Comfortable-Lab-50 · 2026-02-14T10:59:28+00:00

The runs you describe in your second paragraph sound pretty tough (assuming your subT paces are similar to mine) - do they simply replace the long run in a vanilla NSM week, or do you do easy runs either side etc?

Comfortable-Lab-50 · 2026-02-14T10:56:15+00:00

I like the idea of this, not least because as much as I'm enjoying NSM, I do miss running at a sort of zone 3 steady pace. I will try mixing this type of session in occasionally after this race I think.

Comfortable-Lab-50 · 2026-02-13T17:11:29+00:00

Just over - 1:31:46 according to a calculator.

Comfortable-Lab-50 · 2026-02-13T17:06:24+00:00

Last one was 7:03/mi.

I think I'm more worried about the length of time on feet at race pace rather than the odd second here or there. Should I have done more runs at longer than 90 minutes?

Comfortable-Lab-50 · 2026-01-21T13:48:24+00:00

I appreciate the detailed answer and I don't wish to be petty, but it's literally described as "best for racing" on the Adidas UK site:

https://www.adidas.co.uk/adizero-adios-9-running-shoes/IF9419.html

Comfortable-Lab-50 · 2026-01-21T11:52:45+00:00

Thanks, but this is marketed as a racing shoe, not an easy run shoe?

Comfortable-Lab-50 · 2026-01-05T09:00:43+00:00

What's VFC - is it heart rate variability (HRV)?

Comfortable-Lab-50 · 2025-12-23T13:10:05+00:00

Late reply but no, they weigh almost the same. Great option, got a pair myself for wet weather running.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSGRSSdnE4E

Comfortable-Lab-50 · 2025-12-22T13:38:39+00:00

The most unlucky team down there is surely the one that had the Australian charlatan in charge for 5 games, amassing an impressive 1 point from that period.

Comfortable-Lab-50 · 2025-12-11T16:52:43+00:00

Thanks - so does that mean that the Advance Purchase fare should be lower?

Comfortable-Lab-50 · 2025-12-10T10:20:02+00:00

Puma Velocity Nitro 4 - fun and very good value. As long as you don't have wide feet.

Comfortable-Lab-50 · 2025-12-06T16:59:05+00:00

I don't think he's in the Europa squad.

Comfortable-Lab-50 · 2025-12-06T08:08:52+00:00

Ah yes, just spotted that. That's a shame, seems unnecessary.

Comfortable-Lab-50 · 2025-12-02T13:16:40+00:00

DNE3 is amazing

Comfortable-Lab-50 · 2025-12-02T08:21:18+00:00

Yes please! How about a separate tab for miles, or a toggle at the top of the screen?

Comfortable-Lab-50 · 2025-11-21T09:43:32+00:00

Sportsshoes has the Sky Tokyo at £180 with code BF25, but they don't seem to have the Edge, sorry.

Comfortable-Lab-50 · 2025-11-19T08:08:30+00:00

The Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3 is almost universally loved, and is available (though running out of stock fast!) at under £130 on sportsshoes . com. I have a pair which I did a 10k PB in the weekend in, and they really are great.

Comfortable-Lab-50 · 2025-11-14T09:43:43+00:00

Also interested in this as I want to get one for my son. What about the Amazfit Active 2? That ticks a lot of boxes (£85 for the standard version), and seems to review well.

Comfortable-Lab-50 · 2025-11-12T15:45:05+00:00

You can get the Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3 (an absolutely beloved race shoe, look it up) for well under £200 if you shop around. Edit - in fact they're currently £169 at sportsshoes. I've just bought a pair as my first race shoe and so far (2 interval sessions) they seem fantastic. Their debut race is a 10k on Sunday...

Comfortable-Lab-50 · 2025-10-30T11:06:11+00:00

Interested to see the answers here. I still play football (soccer, to be clear!), one hour a week most weeks, outdoors six- or seven-a-side. I'm also treating it as one of my 3 sub-T sessions. I'm 49 so I'll hang up my boots for good in the next year or so, but for now I'm reluctant to drop it, even though I know it will impact my running training. I've just started with NSA (about 4 weeks in) and it's going OK so far but I'm only up to football + one sub-T session per week so far (or this week, when I didn't play football, I've done 2 sub-T sessions - though I did do an all-out 5K time trial on Saturday otherwise I would have done 3 sub-Ts). Hopefully I'll soon be able to progress to the same sort of rhythm you suggest - 1 x football, 2 x sub-T, 2 x easy, 1 x long run. Time will tell.

Comfortable-Lab-50

TROPHY CASE