Over the last week I have been checking what equipment I will need for my Ultra-Run. Original list taken from the Peak District Ultra website. My comments highlighted.

Clothing

• Running/ Training shoes - The terrain can be extremely varied so it is essential that your training is varied and across numerous different surfaces. Ensure that your shoes are fully broken in and water repellent. ✅
  • I’m currently running in Inov8 Trailflys. These fit my wide feet brilliantly. My concern is the number of miles that I’ll put onto them before the actually event. Will I need to purchase new ones before the run?
• Running Tops - Breathable, wicking material; why not try our UltraChallenge range? ✅
  • I have plenty of these - I don’t need to by one of the UltraChallenge ones!
• Running Shorts/Leggings ✅
  • Again I have plenty of shorts. Some of definitely more comfortable than others. I prefer ones that don’t have the inner liner in them.
• Lightweight Runners Jacket (with hood)
  • I do have a Proviz waterproof jacket but I’m not sure if I need something lighter for the actual run. I have the Action jacket as I use it for cycling sometimes as well.
• Micro-fiber fleece
  • Don’t have a micro-fiber fleece for running. Need to consider if I need this.

Essential Equipment

• Blister plasters ✅
• Credit/Debit Card or Cash ✅
• Rehydration Sachets
  • I need to consider what to use for rehydration. Not something I’ve considered at the moment.
• Mobile Phone ✅
• Platypus/Camelback/Water bottles ✅
  • I recently purchased a Ultimate Direction 20ltr Backpack for running and it is so comfortable. Potentially a little big but I don’t need to worry about storing anything.
• Extra pair of socks ✅
• Mini First Aid Kit ✅
• Head Torch ✅

Non-Essential Equipment

• Lip Balm ✅
• Toilet Paper ✅
• Pain Killers & other Medications ✅
• Baby Wipes ✅
• Hand Sanitiser ✅
• Trail Running Gaiters
  • No - depends on weather I guess as to if I need these.
• Anti-Chaffing Lube
  • Vaseline at the moment. Probably need something more professional!
• Pre-Downloaded Playlist
  • Yes - but no headphones. I’ve heard good things about the Shokz Open Run 2 for safety and quality. With my birthday coming up I might consider these. Personally think I might have an audio book playing instead of music.
• GPS Watch ✅
  • I have an Garmin Epix 3.
• Power Block & Phone cable ✅
• Toothbrush & Toothpaste ✅
• Deodorant ✅
• KT/Medical Tape
  • No - why would I need this and it not be in my medical kit?

Anything else?

I would also add some running poles - which I already have - although I do need to practise with these.

Is there anything else I’m missing?

Just seen this and it’s really tickled me. I’m definitely guilty of most of these!

It’s been a busy week at home and at work this week, so the fact that I’ve managed to stay to my plan I’m classing as a real success! I’ve managed 4 runs this week - exactly what Runna recommended!

On Tuesday I did 3miles over and under. On Thursday I did a 3.25miles easy run. Yesterday I squeezed in a 2.5mile easy run.

Today I’ve just finished my hilly long run of 7.1miles. I’m currently sitting in Tim Hortons in Salford writing this while I wait for my wife to complete the Manchester Hyrox. Just reading what you have to do in a Hyrox gives me palpitations!

I used Skamper to find a suitable route near Manchester and what a beautiful route it was around Prestwich Forest Park - you would never have known you were only a few miles out of Manchester.

And to top it all off (after getting a 5k PB last week) I got a 10k PB this week! Bonus.

This evening I got myself a 1km (4:58), 1mile (8:03) and 5km (25:26) PB today on my Intervals run. Very pleased!

Previous record was from 2021!

The plan was to run the Delamere Half Marathon on Sunday. However, earlier in the week, unsurprisingly, given the snow and ice conditions, an email arrived informing us of the change:

“We have been on a site visit today and due to the ongoing snow and ice in the Delamere area the Forestry team have closed the Whitefield Car Park and the additional parking area at the Visitor Centre. The weather forecast indicates that the snow and ice will not have thawed by Sunday, so these car parking areas will not be reopened for the event.

*We have taken the decision to postpone the event. Whilst it is unfortunate and disappointing that we cannot go ahead with the race this weekend, your safety and your enjoyment must always come first.*”

Undeterred after dropping my daughter off at work on Saturday morning, I decided to go for a run anyway. While contemplating my route, I realised I had downloaded the Delamere Half Marathon route onto my watch. So, I decided to run it slowly to explore the route and forest in the snow. Note: I reversed the route because I didn’t want to run up Old Pale at the very end!

The route was generally well-maintained, with a pleasant layer of softer snow enabling you to run almost the entire distance, except for a few sections where water had frozen on the hills, necessitating cautious navigation. The majority of the route lay along the forest’s edge, with an impressive 5 miles of it being on tracks I had never encountered before. As I approached the end of my run, the more popular routes through the forest became more compacted snow, making them slightly more challenging to navigate.

Overall, I achieved my second-fastest half-marathon time (2 hours and 26 minutes), which I was delighted with, especially considering the challenging ground conditions. Despite the aching legs (and ankles - this was a first), I headed to the Farmers’ Arms, a local pub in Delamere, to treat myself to a well-deserved brunch!

I’ve chosen to use Runna to help me train for the Ultra in June. There are tons of training plans online and in books, but I wanted something that was online, so I could easily ‘*tweak*’ it based on my job and also keep track of my progress using Garmin Connect.

There are three things that drew me to Runna over other similar apps:

1. Its ability to analyse my pace and adjust the plan accordingly. It’s already increased the paces I’m expected to run during intervals and long runs twice, making sure it’s always a challenge.
2. The ease at which you can edit your plan. Work means that I can’t run consistently on the same nights each week., Using Runna I’m able to just drag and drop each weeks plan’s around to fit my routine. The app will then adjust and let me know if I’m going to be overtraining - something it did last week when I had a long run on Saturday and then moved the week afterwards long runs to the Monday.
3. It links closely with Garmin Connect. I record all my workouts and stats on my Garmin Enduro 3.

I’m currently in Week 6 of 8 of a ‘Get Fit’ plan (see image below). The longest run in this plan is just shy of 9 miles, although I’ve already run further than that multiple times. I have it set for 3 runs a week which works well with my schedule - two during the week and one of a week. On Sunday, I have the Delamere half-marathon which I will be using to see how well I can endure the longer distances.

Each week consists of an “Easy run” (no pace guidance), an intervals run with pace guidance and a long run (with pace guidance). Distances and paces are set for you based on what you enter at the start of the plan. I tend to set the Easy run for a Thursday if I’m able to run with Northwich Running Club and leave the Long Run for the weekend. Following the completion of this plan at the end of January, I’ll set the Ultra Plan up to run from January till my Race Date.

Whilst Runna does cost to use I’m the type of person that likes a nicely designed app and would rather pay than have adverts! A monthly or yearly subscription is available - although the yearly subscription is a significant saving on paying monthly as always. For anyone that wants to trial two weeks on Runna for free feel free to use this link: [web.runna.com/redeem](https://web.runna.com/redeem?code=RUNNABUJNFTJ). Full disclosure - If you sign up to a full Runna account through my link I get £10 towards the ‘Runna Store’.

My wife is currently using Coopah which she got for free by subscribing to the Women’s Running magazine. Unfortunately, that offer isn’t active anymore.

As I turn 50, I decided to do something unique to celebrate. I’m going to run 50 kilometers in one go! Now, you know me, I’ve run before. I’ve even completed three marathons (4 if you include the one I dropped out of half-way through due to an injury). After each one, I promise myself I’ll never run again. Instead, I focus on cycling until I decide to lace up my shoes again.

So, I had this idea a few weeks back that my wife and I could run an 50k Ultra marathon, but guess what? My wife had other plans! She had already booked an ultra 50k to run with her friend to celebrate her 50th birthday. Can you believe it? She didn’t even ask me first because she thought I wouldn’t want to run anything close to that distance after all the complaining I did after the last marathon. Well, guess what? That backfired on her! Now she’s doing two ultra 50ks - one with me and one with her friend later in the year.

I’ve signed up for the Peak District Challenge, which is happening over the weekend of June 28th and 29th. The 52km run is described as “a scenic & tough Northern Loop of the Peak District,” and it includes 1250m of climbing (and I’m sure there’s some descending too!).

So, that means I have just over 6 months to prepare for this run! I’m thinking this micro.blog will help me and, hopefully others, understand what it takes to complete a run of this length. I should also mention that I’m a complete beginner at anything beyond marathon distance, and even my marathon times are pretty bad - I’m not exactly built to be a runner!

Nail

How do the cats get up here?

Whoops - never celebrate until you’re sure you have done the correct number of laps! twitter.com/btsportmo…

Kids Boxing at the beach in 1933 (British Pathe)[](https://i.imgur.com/CtzIBRk.gifv)

E-biked up to a dormant volcano today with the family. I’ve never been keen on getting an evoke but it was stress (and complaint!) free from my two children on almost 5miles of uphill! Definitely consider one when I’m a little older!

Landed

The last road home.

Fun on the beach.

Experimenting with Knotwords the new game by Zach Gage.

Finding Prune+ a particularly enjoyable and relaxing game.

This photo always makes me smile.

#mbmay Day 1: Switch off and enjoy life outside.

Another sunset through the trees taken by my daughter. She’s got a real eye for photographic opportunities.

Sunset through the trees.

Another ride today - feel like I’m starting to get some fitness back - that consisted of one hill. But it was steep! Pleased that I managed to ride it all.

www.relive.cc/view/vXOd…

Yesterdays ride: www.relive.cc/view/vdOR…

Free invite to join Relive: Join me on Relive! www.relive.cc/invite

This made me giggle.