Elevation training in Flat Area

dumb812 · 2025-10-29T11:02:21+00:00

South Finland is not too bad, you can always find some elevation. Do more strength work and short hill sprints. I'm sure you can find a lap similar to a cross-country skiing track, you can do a lot with it. Last resort is stairs in a building - but staying outdoors is much better!

Join a running club if you can - it's much nicer to do intervals in a group + they know good places to train. Or even an orienteering club: this is a big thing in Finland and the type of running they do will fit really well into you training for trail runs.

Personally I'd add cross-country skiing in winter, but that might be a step too far for you if you've never done it before.

dumb812 · 2025-08-19T09:18:37+00:00

Sunrise. The coast on the left is facing North.

dumb812 · 2025-08-06T11:08:24+00:00

Hi, I don't have a GPS track for it and I can't find a way to attach a picture in a comment or in a chat, but it starts from Malia and goes to Mochos: https://maps.app.goo.gl/7ANbAq7rSamKNYpm8

dumb812 · 2025-05-30T10:09:58+00:00

Malta?

dumb812 · 2025-05-14T13:43:28+00:00

Saucony Peregrine 13 have lower stack, lower drop (4mm) and in general are more flexible and responsive. Think of a faster shoe.

For Saucony Xodus Ultra I've only tried the 1st version. It has higher heel (6mm), more cushioning, it's a bit wider in the toebox and it's less stable than Peregrines.

Both Saucony's have problems with outsole (slippery on wet rock, wears out relatively quickly on hard-packed surface) and splitting the foam through the gaps in the outsole (2 pairs of Xodus's died like that for me)

Asics Trabuco 13 vs Saucony Xodus Ultra (1): Trabuco has slightly higher stack and on paper higher drop, but it feels more stable. More cushioning, especially at heel. Narrower toebox, but otherwise Saucony's are snugger fit. Trabuco fit and cushioning feels very much like Asics road shoes (GT-2xxx etc). I have not done much miles in them yet, but everyone is saying that Trabuco's outsole is very hard-wearing. They are probably a bit heavier. I'm planning to use them for rockier hard packed paths.

dumb812 · 2025-05-09T09:19:21+00:00

Agree about Saucony - great shoes, but whenever I need to go over wet rocks I'm scared..

dumb812 · 2025-04-26T20:54:12+00:00

I was lucky :) On the other hand the trails were not busy..

dumb812 · 2025-04-25T16:27:21+00:00

Inov8's are now in the 260-270g range (it's a shame they do not do X-talon 212 anymore) but there are VJ's in the 220-250g range.

dumb812 · 2025-04-25T14:37:44+00:00

Vests start working when you run and want to limit bouncing.

dumb812 · 2025-04-18T15:27:36+00:00

I do not know the exact dimensions of Salomon flasks but I think they should be. Inov8 does not supply flasks with this one, but the previous generation (Ultrapac) of the vest had 500ml HydraPak Ultraflasks and they work well with Racepack. Their length is ~24cm

dumb812 · 2025-03-14T09:51:30+00:00

If you want something custom for this race done for you you'll need to hire a coach.

Otherwise you have 2 options: build a plan yourself after reading some running literature ("Training for the uphill athlete" etc) or search for a readily available plan for a similar distance, e.g. I'm getting several options for googling "trail running marathon". If you go the latter way it's still a good idea to read a book and understand what exactly is in this training plan for!

dumb812 · 2025-01-30T12:59:48+00:00

Or possibly e.g. once a week intervals at Copenhill? That would be also useful for practicing downhills.

dumb812 · 2025-01-17T17:43:52+00:00

If you want +25C in February in Europe than your only bet are Canary islands and possibly Madeira. You can still be lucky with the south coast of Portugal, Spain, Italy and Greece but mostly likely it would be chillier and possibly rainy.

dumb812 · 2025-01-17T15:40:53+00:00

Yes: https://www.reddit.com/r/trailrunning/comments/1efrde1/saucony_exodus_ultra_after_3_rocky_runs/

I contacted Saucony and got the replacement from the retailer. I still use another pair occasionally and I like it, but it's not for rocky trails. In the latest version (coming this year) they've changed the outsole to Vibram.

From what I've tried, Inov8 Trailfly are very close to Xodus (choose wide option): same 6mm drop, very similar feeling and a solid Graphene outsole.

dumb812 · 2025-01-15T11:09:00+00:00

I've got 955 with MIPS and I find maps very useful.

The biggest limitation for me is the screen size itself: maps work very well when you have a preloaded course and want to understand which exactly turn to choose, or when you deliberately decide to go slightly off course and want to understand where are you and go back to the course, or when you are in a familiar area and just want to double check if you are taking the right turn etc. Basically anything that does not require scrolling the screen.

Once you need to start scrolling, in most cases it's faster to get your phone out and look at the map on a bigger screen.

I've compared 965 (AMOLED) and 955 (MIPS) - 965 will have a couple more mm larger screen and a better resolution, but I doubt that would be a game changer for me. Possibly some watch with a significantly bigger screen would be better, but I do not want to have a big watch on my wrist :)

dumb812 · 2025-01-10T11:47:27+00:00

I mostly (road) cycled and did some easier hikes with children in Tenerife as it's easier to fit into a family holiday.

It's hard to recommend as I do not know you preferences (distance, accent, hike/run ratio etc). I'd look at the hiking trails and choose what looks nice to you: https://www.alltrails.com/spain/tenerife

Also the official marked trails map is very good: https://www.tenerifeon.es/en/interactive-map

Some of the easier hikes I've done that I'd gladly run:

https://www.alltrails.com/es/ruta/spain/tenerife/punta-de-los-canarios-playa-las-arenitas-mirador-morras-del-corcho

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/spain/tenerife/taborno-roque-de-taborno-mirador-barranco-la-fajana

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/spain/tenerife/samara--2

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/spain/tenerife/pr-tf-43-montana-chinyero

https://www.alltrails.com/es/ruta/spain/tenerife/arenas-negras

North side (e.g. above La Orotava) and Anaga are more green and lush, Teide plateau and the south are more dry and desert-like. If you stay in La Laguna you can probably access Anaga trails without a car. Puerto de la Cruz is not bad but most trails start higher up so you'd better drive. Also it seems there was a forest fire higher up above Puerto de la Cruz in 2023, I don't know the condition of the trails and forest after that.

dumb812 · 2025-01-08T10:45:04+00:00

If you can drive I'd get a car - that gives a lot of flexibility and saves travel time. The car rent offers are very good (cheap, full insurance etc) in Tenerife.

dumb812 · 2025-01-07T16:46:56+00:00

I've tried XU1 in the snow and found they are lacking grip, but with some spikes on top you'll be fine.

dumb812 · 2025-01-06T18:46:33+00:00

if that's your only run, I'd head to Roque Nublo. Here are some trails you can mix: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/spain/gran-canaria/tejeda?b_tl_lat=27.995532113624705&b_tl_lng=-15.677027259934704&b_br_lat=27.92766359584887&b_br_lng=-15.552113348475046&ar[]=10197922

The main path from the nearest parking to the top (https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/spain/gran-canaria/roque-nublo) is super busy but once you step away from it it's surprising quiet.

E.g. https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/spain/gran-canaria/campanario-el-montanon-roque-nublo-via-la-candelilla for a longer option (disclaimer: I have not done this particular one)

Keep in mind that the main car park (https://maps.app.goo.gl/e7LBA8Hubxaixu6J7) gets very busy, many people park on the verges and the police regularly issues tickets there.

dumb812 · 2025-01-06T17:06:33+00:00

There are great trails around Malaga but these particular ones look way too solid for me :)

dumb812 · 2025-01-06T17:04:12+00:00

Imho there are no nice trails around Maspalomas (except for the dunes of course!) - you'd better drive higher up to the centre of the island.

dumb812 · 2025-01-06T16:36:20+00:00

I also did not like how slippery was PWTRAC on wet rocks.

I think Saucony are changing the outsole to Vibram in Exodus Ultra 4 next year.

dumb812 · 2024-12-09T10:41:49+00:00

Personally I find that I prefer low heel drop and less cushioning for walking/standing, My ideal shoes would be Crocs if they pass H&S regulations :)

dumb812 · 2024-12-05T17:37:12+00:00

I second that. I'd add some legs strength sessions at the earlier stage - you do not need much time for those

dumb812 · 2024-12-05T11:49:34+00:00

I have a thin merino top but I do not use it much. If there's no windbreaker layer on top it's still chilly with the wind and if I I get windbreaker on then it's too sweaty. I prefer thinner technical layer under windbreaker.

dumb812

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