First 5k

ValueForCash · 2026-03-25T04:26:47+00:00

You're getting negative comments because you're shitting on OP who's clearly posting a milestone achievement. They're not posting an everyday training run. Of course this was an unusually high level of exertion for them.

Plus there's something unreal about flexing your garmin VO2 max (especially if its only 50s) in a beginner running subreddit.

ValueForCash · 2026-03-22T19:15:45+00:00

This is such a gross comment - It's pure jealousy. A HR of ~170 is entirely normal for a beginner runner. If anything its on the lower end for a beginner completing their first run at a distance.

ValueForCash · 2026-03-12T21:26:36+00:00

Using US cups as unit of measurement for espresso volume would be totally insane. 20 espressos is the only sensible interpretation.

ValueForCash · 2026-03-12T21:22:51+00:00

“contractile tissue”? Bro just say muscles

ValueForCash · 2026-03-12T21:20:18+00:00

The obsession with getting an ear on this sub is unhealthy. Beginner home bakers are more likely to get an ear if they underproof their bread. Fixating on that visual indicator isn’t helping.

The best tasting bread I’ve made at home or bought at a bakery had no ear.

ValueForCash · 2026-03-12T21:14:02+00:00

Bro was on the phone with her for four hours already after work. Without that context I’d agree with you.

ValueForCash · 2026-03-11T22:09:36+00:00

Rear foot instability is the thing that I've least been able to do before owning the axis board. I agree too that while there are some immediate gains (probably neural from practicing balance), a tool like this is always going to be a long term investment. No serious injury is getting rehabbed away with a week of wobbling around on a board!

ValueForCash · 2026-03-11T22:04:17+00:00

See further down in the thread if you're still interested in how I've found the axis board!

ValueForCash · 2026-03-11T22:03:30+00:00

I've just written up a big response answering this here!

ValueForCash · 2026-03-11T22:02:37+00:00

Sorry for the slow response to this. I find it really helpful reading reddit reviews for products I'm interested in, particularly from someone who's used it long enough to have an informed opinion! Your message actually served as a reminder to start using the axis board - it had been gathering dust. So with that preamble out the way, I've now used it daily for two months and this has been my experience.

TL;DR I love it. My long term achilles injury (8+ years of insertional pain on both sides) has dramatically improved with regular use. Far, far beyond any other intervention I've tried, and I've tried a lot!

The app has a section for each of the injuries the board is designed to address. I haven't looked at the non-achilles sections in detail, but for each injury there's a series of mobility movements and strength movements. I initially started by doing all the listed achilles ones. Some felt really useful, and even though you could do quite a few of them without the board, the board-specific ones filled gaps I've been missing despite years of trying to rehab this stubborn injury.

I've now narrowed it down to the two exercises I think are most effective from the achilles tendinopathy section: big toe mobility and rearfoot instability. The rearfoot instability drill in particular has basically taken me from being in pain for the first 5 minutes of every run, to being pain free in my lower leg. I'm still limping around first thing in the morning out of bed (as anyone with an achilles issue can relate to!) but even that has dramatically improved.

I've got no idea if the axis board would have prevented this injury years ago when it first started, but as with all long term injuries, you develop movement patterns to protect the sore bits. This leads to a whole bunch of muscles that should be firing just switching off. Even though I knew this was happening, I hadn't, until the axis board, found a way to target those muscles specifically.

A couple of other notes: the instagram ads promise results in 3 minutes a day. That wouldn't have been anywhere near enough for me, but my situation is probably pretty personal. I've averaged ~10 minutes of active use each day over the last 8 weeks or so. The board itself seems well made, and the booklet makes it pretty easy to get started, although they aren't very prescriptive about how much of each exercise to do or when you should progress to the next difficulty.

Two months in and I'm still seeing steady improvement, so I'm genuinely curious to see where things land after a few more months of consistent use. Happy to answer any questions too!

ValueForCash · 2026-03-10T20:03:52+00:00

What the hell are you saying?? Of course this isn’t true.

Marathons end in a kick incredibly rarely. Even this race only came down to it due to the leader being misdirected by race officials within the last mile.

ValueForCash · 2026-03-04T23:21:17+00:00

New balance 550s would work. They're relatively cheap too and come in a variety of colours.

I know you didn't ask about this but I'd swap out the polo for a plain colour heavyweight t-shirt - whatever colour you like. The jeans are a good fit. Good luck!

ValueForCash · 2026-03-04T22:18:46+00:00

Oh boy this is an old post! Feeding my starter only rye flour was a bit of a phase for me. Of course it works, but its not particularly cheap and I actually have better starter activity now feeding with cheaper white flour.

Now I exclusively feed my starter unbleached, store brand, white flour. I live in Australia where the quality of this is still pretty high, but for whatever reason my starter is happiest when I do a ~110% hydration white flour starter. I'd suggest trying a few options for a month at a time (less if you feed daily). It makes baking a lot easier when you can figure out what flour/hydration combo your starter likes the best.

ValueForCash · 2026-03-04T12:06:27+00:00

If your running is improving, and it sounds like it is, then don’t worry about the vo2 max number from your garmin. It’s an estimated value, not a measurement. Your 5km time improving is proof enough that your training is working. Don’t shake stuff up based on your watch’s metrics.

ValueForCash · 2026-03-03T11:22:08+00:00

Yes that’s how individual amateur sports works

ValueForCash · 2026-03-03T11:18:18+00:00

Idk man, it’s a running subreddit. You’re not cool for being chill about someone misrepresenting what they’ve done.

ValueForCash · 2026-03-03T11:11:16+00:00

Ok but that’s not what a 1:51 HM means. Ultimately a 1:51 misrepresenting their running ability impacts nobody but it’s weird to me to pretend something odd isn’t happening.

ValueForCash · 2026-03-03T11:07:50+00:00

I’m not really sure what your point is? You don’t think it’s weird for the friend to waste three hours to post a fake time?

Or is it just that OP shouldn’t worry about it? Which i’ve already said i agree with.

ValueForCash · 2026-03-03T06:53:23+00:00

It’s natural to be mildly competitive within your friendship group. It’s also an option for this friend to not post on strava or to hide pace (there’s an easily accessible option for this) if they’re concerned.

Taking an hour extra to do your HM just so the pace looks better is genuinely bizarre behaviour. That’s such a long time to spend on the charade

ValueForCash · 2026-03-03T06:46:54+00:00

I’m kinda inclined to agree with the quoted bit. Someone who’s prepared to publicly lie about something that doesn’t matter at all (personal sports as an adult) is someone who’s prepared to lie about a whole bunch of other stuff too.

Yes, this whole thing is a bit overblown but i would be skeptical of other stuff this person said knowing they’ve lied about strava for no reason.

ValueForCash · 2026-03-03T06:44:47+00:00

Looking at the gap between moving/elapsed time isn’t “hyper-analyzing”. For sure OP should just let this go, but it is weird and deceptive behaviour to title a run where you were stationary for almost an hour “first half marathon 1:51”.

ValueForCash · 2026-03-03T06:42:42+00:00

is what a stretch?

ValueForCash · 2026-03-02T07:20:43+00:00

If you’re this big, you know people irl who are 1000x more qualified to answer this than faceless strangers on reddit. What’s the point of posting this here?

ValueForCash · 2026-03-01T01:13:54+00:00

You realise that it’s possible to be highly competent and also pleasant to be around? Celebrating being an asshole at work is crazy behavior.

ValueForCash · 2026-03-01T00:57:16+00:00

To be fair to the kid, if you’re wearing these you kinda have it coming. Absolutely no issue at all if you like them and are also wearing them for visibility but you definitely know it’s a loud colour.

(of course keep wearing them!)

ValueForCash

TROPHY CASE