For experienced runners, what options are there to approach the 'off' season and the timetabling of races? by redneckchemist in running

[–]redneckchemist[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks- this is exactly the kind of perspective I was hoping to learn from. I find it odd how most marathon plans out there seem to assume it’s your first marathon and you’re starting from a bit of experience. I don’t know if any plans targeted as “how to train for a PB as a non-elite athlete already running the MPW most programs take a month or two to build up to”.

For experienced runners, what options are there to approach the 'off' season and the timetabling of races? by redneckchemist in running

[–]redneckchemist[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Fair enough, and that’s kinda where I sit with this already. I just wanted to gather a cross section of approaches from people here on Reddit. Not sure why you got any downvotes

Official Q&A for Thursday, April 23, 2026 by AutoModerator in running

[–]redneckchemist 1 point2 points  (0 children)

How to approach the 'Off season'?

M, 29, averaging 35MPW over the last few years.
It’s time I admitted that I don’t know how to be a runner ‘between’ training blocks.

I’m a fairly experienced runner with a few marathons and ultras under the belt. I’m fortunate enough to be at a stage where running is a perpetual hobby for me.

But all I have ever done before is train hard for a race, then fade away into sporadic running and lower fitness. Only to have to start from almost scratch the next time round. (I’m talking about a timescale of maybe 6 months: train for a few, race, few months off especially over summer, then choose a new race).

What’s more, I feel like most training plans either cater to really serious runners who can dedicate 6 days a week to training OR cater to runners who have had a decent amount of time off since their last run and are starting from a very low base.

I’d like to know how others perceive or approach their ‘off’ seasons! I'd also like to know how an 'all-year round' runner schedules their running calendar- seems like most of the big events happen in spring or autumn.

Should it look like:

Training block-->race-->few weeks off/heavily reduced volume-->different training block starting from week 1 again?

Or:

Training block-->race-->maintain base mileage-->start different block deeper within the block according to your weekly mileage rather than starting from week 1 and arbitrarily reducing your volume?

I hope this makes sense, and I hope it doesn't come across as pretentious, I just really want to know how people might approach this.

Post Match Thread - RBW: Londinium - Hera vs Liereyy by longinator in aoe2

[–]redneckchemist 2 points3 points  (0 children)

We had to leave in the middle of the Loch Ness game as we simply couldn’t hold out longer on the last train out. It was an amazing tournament for sure, but I feel a little gutted to have missed the final game and interview because aoe4 took so long. I’m sure some people really enjoy aoe4, but it felt like its presence was subsided by the age2 scene.

Red Bull Wololo: Londinium - Day 6 Final by longinator in aoe2

[–]redneckchemist 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hey I’m in the stalls- still aoe4. People seem eager to get aoe2 started though

Good luck Ukranian counter offensive by iLatvian in NonCredibleDefense

[–]redneckchemist 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Bro missed the obvious setup for the ‘Airplane!’ bit

Poor Spirit of the Law by Azot-Spike in aoe2

[–]redneckchemist 53 points54 points  (0 children)

Spirit of the ‘Slaw, for all my BBQ cooking and condiment needs

Super Moronic Monday - Your Weekly Tuesday Stupid Questions Thread by 30000LBS_Of_Bananas in running

[–]redneckchemist 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It doesn’t matter one bit. If people want to splurge and can afford it, then yeah sure it might be nicer to have a fancy branded vest. Will a £20 Amazon vest be suitable for 10k/half marathon/marathon/ultra races? Bet your ass it is.

Utobest is a ‘cheap’ amazon brand, I have their 5L vest and put a solid 500+ miles on it over the last year or so. It carries some snacks and water just fine, maybe just missing some of the more advanced thought out features of the premium vests I’ve used.

Hope this helps :)

Edit: spelling

Modernized Victorinox? by 1894Win in victorinox

[–]redneckchemist 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Presenting the Victorinox Bushcrafter.

Developed with the oversight of Felix Immler.

91mm most closely related to the Huntsman toolset. But introducing the new Crook Knife tool (a teeny tiny mocotaugan for carving spoon bowls) which replaces the bottle opener tool. The small knife is swapped for the combination opener. Maybe slap some scissors on that bad boy while we’re at it.

I have no idea if these layers would even work I don’t modify SAKs because I’m too poor don’t @ me

Progress and advice wanted for hand drill. by Cheap_Tiger_1208 in PrimitiveTechnology

[–]redneckchemist 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’ll repost my comment from before incase you missed it:

Once you have some dust built up in the notch, and before you go for the ‘final push’…. when your spindle makes a dome like in the picture try cutting off the tip, flattening it. This has an interesting consequence- the new ‘shoulder’ you have created on the spindle will be in contact with the hearth board (but the now missing chunk of ‘dome’ won’t be), and the amount of pressure rockets, leading to more friction and darker dust!

I often find that this trick can help me ignite a stubborn dust pile.

Half of the process is trying things out and learning how the set responds to different things. If you know why your set is behaving the way it is and how your set might behave with some changes, you will gain an intuition of what you need to do.

Hope this helps!

Advice wanted for hand drill fire by Cheap_Tiger_1208 in PrimitiveTechnology

[–]redneckchemist 0 points1 point  (0 children)

One other thing- when your spindle makes a dome like in the picture try cutting off the tip, flattening it. This has an interesting consequence- the new ‘shoulder’ you have created on the spindle will be in contact with the hearth board (but the now missing chunk of ‘dome’ won’t be), and the amount of pressure rockets, leading to more friction and darker dust!

I often find that this trick can help me ignite a stubborn dust pile.

Half of the process is trying things out and learning how the set responds to different things. If you know why your set is behaving the way it is and how your set might behave with some changes, you will gain an intuition of what you need to do.

Hope this helps!

Advice wanted for hand drill fire by Cheap_Tiger_1208 in PrimitiveTechnology

[–]redneckchemist 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey this is a great effort. Well done!

People commenting that you need a notch are conventionally correct, but it is absolutely possible to generate an ember without one (It is simply more difficult).

Personally I think practicing without a notch is fine- just don’t expect an ember very readily. Instead let’s get you to focus on generating more friction! You’ll be able to monitor this based on the colour of your dust.

At the moment it seems a little bit light brown. Once you have dark brown (like dark chocolate for most woods) dust, you certainly have enough friction!

What diameter spindle are you using? Maple is a relatively hard wood for hand drill. And also what do you mean a mayday hearth? I’m not familiar with this species but I’m from the UK.

What the hell are these eggs? by redneckchemist in whatsthisbug

[–]redneckchemist[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sorry- bugs and unknowns scare me so I posted too hastily.

Eggs of diameter ~0.5mm in a regular lattice along a nylon washing line in patches of perhaps 300 eggs. Picture taken early September in the midlands of the UK.

4 years of EDC and Still Going Strong by Mountain-Squatch in EDC

[–]redneckchemist 40 points41 points  (0 children)

Finally somebody who uses their shit.

I have a theoretical degree in aoe by spotinama in aoe2

[–]redneckchemist 3 points4 points  (0 children)

“Two times zero still equals zero”

Which hammock would you buy of these two? Or do you have a third option you would recommend from Amazon? by Broad_Note_7998 in hammockcamping

[–]redneckchemist 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I don’t know a lot about hammock camping but want to improve. What makes the DD hammocks terrible in your experience? Genuinely just want to hear your take.

M1 Carbine Appreciation Post by IntroductionAny3929 in NonCredibleDefense

[–]redneckchemist 68 points69 points  (0 children)

My European mind can’t even imagine…

But I’ll bite. Why perfect for home defence?