SportsShoes Blog

A couple of weeks ago I ran in the Shepherds Skyline race which takes in Stoodly Pike in its journey around the tracks and trails above Hebden Bridge.

I can’t say I did brilliantly (2 minutes slower than I was in 2009) but I did what I set out to do which was to run the whole course including the long drag of a climb in the middle of the race.

The race is staged by Tod Harriers and is a real favourite proved this year by attracting a record field of over 350 runners.

My clubmate and fell legend Ian Holmes won the race beating all his young pretenders to take the title once again.

This coming weekend it’s the Harriers V Cyclists race which is staged by my home club Bingley Harriers and takes a muddy and steep route around Shipley Glen and Baildon Moor. The novel thing about the race is that it pitches runners against riders over exactly the same course at the same time and the competition at the front is usually very close.

Who’ll win this year - feet or wheels? It’s often the weather that decides…..

Witham Running Club - Reviews of Sportsshoes.com running kit

Witham Running Club

Witham Running Club has about 180 members and is based at Bramston Sports Centre Witham. It was formed in 1983 to support those who wish to train, race and run for fun on and off road. Club Colours are Black and Old Gold.

We are a happy Club, which has grown its membership substantially in the past few years, with a mix of good training programmes, a great social environment, but most of all we all give respect, support, encouragement and equality to our fellow athletes regardless of how quickly or slowly they choose to run. We recognise that not everyone can attend all of our training nights, due to family, work or other commitments, but everyone is welcome!

Find out more about us here: www.withamrc.org.uk.

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See below for reviews:

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Item Tested and reviewed:

Nike Lady Element Half Zip Running Top

nike element top

Reviewed by Theresa Montgomery

Star Rating (Out of 5): 4

Best Points:

long sleeves and zip up.

Worst Points:

sleeves were too long, just because we’re large does not mean long arms and legs.

Other Comments:

n/a

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Item Tested and reviewed:

Adidas AdiZero Long Tight

adidas adizero tights

Reviewed by Dave Beckerleg

Star Rating (Out of 5): 5

Best Points:

Fits like a second skin, warm, highly reflective, perfect  for those winter training nights.

Worst Points:

None.

Other Points:

Keeps muscles warm, less chance of pulls and strains. Good for cold cross country days.

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Item Tested and reviewed:

Nike Lady Tech Capri Running Tights

nike dri-fit capri tights

Reviewed by Lynne Lewis

Star Rating (Out of 5): 3

Best Points:

. Colour of black.

. Mesh on the lower back of the leggings- good for ventilation.

. Leggings wash well.

Worst Points:

. Larger zip pocket on the back to hold a mobile phone/ipod/keys

. Leggings rolled up to behind knee as I was running- this felt uncomfortable on the back of my knees.

. Sweat dripped down my legs as I ran and collected behind the knees where the leggings had rolled up- this felt uncomfortable.

. Each leg is seperated into four quarters-Front lower quarter to be same material as either the mesh or the body of the leggings.

. Gusset to be larger.

. More reflective stripes are needed to be seen, on the front and back of the leggings.

. Upper back of leggings have a seam under the pocket- try mesh across the back body of the leggings down from that seam- ventilation for when people have mobile phones in their back pocket. Down from seam for one/2 inches only would be ideal.

Other Comments:

None

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Just got back from a spin round the Withins Fell race organised by fell race legend Dave ‘Woodentop’ Woodhead.

Before the senior race there was some fast and furious junior races which are brilliant to watch - the looks of determination during the race and the smiles and laughetr afterwards as they munch through their goody bags is just fantastic.

It’s a long time since I’ve done this race and as there are so many run over the same area I’m always a bit unsure about which route I’m taking when I set off. As I’m never going to win it’s not a problem as there’s always plenty of folk to follow.

I really wanted to do the race but having been struck down with the dreaded lurgy this week I probably shouldn’t have done. However the lure of the cadbury’s curly wurly won me over and got me to the start line.

The start is fast and furious and the majority of the first mile is flat / downhill but after that the race climbs steadily right to the top of the moor and on to the skyline. From here it’s a mud plug across bogs and heather to the Withins ruin (of Bronte - Wuthering Heights fame) before a mad dash back down to Bronte Bridge. A steep pull back up Bronte Falls sees most of the climbing complete and from here it relatively flat back to the finish.

After making reasonable ground on the true fell sections I threw away all my hard work on the 2 mile run back to the finish as my reduced capacity lungs failed to provide enough oxygenated blood to my muscles.

Anyway, enough of the excuses, I dragged my sorry soul over the line to finish in thirty odth place in just over 50 minutes.

It’s a cracking course and a brilliantly organised race and I just wished I’d felt better so I could have raced it properly.

On a higher note, the race saw me unleash my brand new walshies and I must admit to having forgotten just how good they are on a true fell course. The grip on mud is simply superb and they’re still the only shoe out there that will offer any sort of grip on wet rock. They will never win any prizes from teh fashionistas but sweep the floor when it comes to function over form. If Walsh could inject a bit of clever design in to the uppers and leave the sole unit as it is they could find themselves back on top when it comes to fell shoes in no time at all. Until they do they’ll keep losing out to Inov 8.

The FRA fell relays are hosted by a different club each year and in 2011 it was the turn of my club Bingley Harriers to stage the prestigious event.

We found out 2 years ago that we’d been selected to stage the race and since that time my clubmate Dave Weatherhead has worked tirelessly to pull together what proved to be one of the best days of fell racing the UK has ever witnessed.

He’s not revealed his secret but somehow he even managed to fix the weather and perfect blue skies and warm sunshine bathed the start and finish field from first light until darness fell.

Almost 200 teams of 6 runners from all around the British Isles competed for the coveted title of British Fell Relay Champions and after 4 legs of gruelling ups and downs Dark Peak took the men’s title and the mighty Bingley Harriers lifted the womens trophy.

I played a small part in proceedings running with Bingley’s president Martin Peace in the navigation leg for Bingley over 40s (AKA old giffers) team.

After a promising opening leg, the pair before us on the second leg had a difficult time with one of them really struggling to get to grips with the course. This effectively took all the pressure of Martin and I but we still headed out to make some amends and pick back as many places as we could. In the end we ran 23rd fastest on our leg and made up 41 places on the way which we were quite pleased with.

The story of the day was our ladies team who ran strongly over the first three legs and handed over to Mary Wilkinson our anchor leg in 3rd place. Mary was eight minutes behind as she hit the hill on a course that was only 5 miles long. Everyone (except Mary) thought the race was run and at best we might sneak 2nd, but after a simply stunning run Mary appeared in the finish field as 1st lady and brought the trophy back to Bingley!

A few too many celebratory drinks in Kettlewell afterwards led to a rather groggy feeling in my head as I awoke on Sunday morning to the sound of heavy rain on the event marquee roof. Those of us that had camped trudged back home via the little chef in Skipton with fantastic memories of a truly brilliant event.

I’ve had quite a busy time recently trying to get back to fitness after my post Bob Graham Round rest but I’ve been hampered a little by a slight foot injury that I acquired running in the Bradley Fell race back in early September.

I then ran in the Settle Loop race which is an 8 mile trail race around the hills and trails around the back of Settle and over towards Malham tarn.

Two weeks ago I ran 12 x 400 meters on the new track at University Academy Keighley which was my first ever experience of track running and I must admit to actually enjoying it. At Bingley Harriers we’ve devised a training plan that sees us hit the track once every three weeks and I’m interested to see if it delivers the benefits that everyone suggests it will.

Last weekend we made our way to a windy, rainy and cloudy Lake District to run in the Ian Hodgson Mountain relay. As Bingley set out to win the mixed team prize this year (4 ladies and 4 men in a team) I found myself relegated to the A team. The managers’ team selection paid off and Bingley won the mixed team prize by just seven seconds from Pennine in a very tightly contested race.

This weekend it was the Langdale Fell race, one of my favourite long distance events which takes in Thunacar, Bow Fell, Crinkle Crags and Pike O Blisco before returning to the Old Dungeon Gill pub where a warm pasty and a pint awaits to refresh weary bodies.

Although I didn’t feel I’d run very well and felt tired on all the climbs I still managed to finish 8th in the Over 40s category and won a tenner.

I ran in my old Inov 8 330 fell shoes which whilst being very comfortable have the old grey hard wearing sole rather than the newer black sticky sole. This made the wet lakeland rock very interesting at times so I think some of the newer sticky models are on the cards. 

Next week it’s the FRA relay in Kettlewell which Bingley are staging. I’m running leg 3, the navigation leg, so I’m hoping that my map and compass skills don’t desert me.  

Last weekend I did the Burnsall Fell Race, one of the oldest and most famous fell races in the country and one that truly deserves the title ‘classic’.

Burnsall is a very traditional race that runs straight up the fell and back down again and is all over and done with in the space of just 1.5 miles.

The record for the race is very long standing and quite honestly almost unbelieveable at just over 12 and half minutes. This year the race was won by local fell star Ted Mason in a shade over 14 minutes which in itself is a brilliant time but when you think it’s nearly two minutes off record pace it shows just how hard it will be for anyone to set a new mark.

I was somewhat slower coming home in 21st place in just over 18 minutes.

The descent from the summit flag is a real beast as it’s super steep and covered in thick heather which completely obscures rocks and your feet when they land.

Unfortunately, this year’s race was marred by a tradgedy. Mike Ogle a 62 year old blind runner died of a suspected heart attack as he neared the summit of the fell. Mike ran for Chorley harriers and was an experienced runner who used a guide to lead him round the course. I didn’t know him personally but I do know people that did and they described him to me as a truly inspirational person who never let his disability get in the way and always had a positive outlook on life facing every challenge with a smile and in good humour.

The only consolation for his family is that he died doing something he loved and surrounded by friends and a whole village of people who admired his courage, spirit and can-do attitude.

He went too early but certainly left his mark on the world while he was here - I’m sure his Chorley colleagues will give him a good send off and he’ll always be remembered.     

As you know I’m somewhat of a Kanadia fan - my new pair of 4th generation shoes are the 4th pair I’ve had.

Thankfully Adidas have not tinkered with the sole unit which saw a major overhaul when the shoes went from 2 to 3.

The outsole is superb featuring really useful lugs which provide great traction both up and down hill and also make the shoe comfortable on harder surfaces.

Looking at them you could be mistaken for thinking that the shoes would ride too high for true off road use but that’s not the case in practise. The foot feels planted to the ground and very stable despite the good levels of cushioning.

The 4th generation gets a reworking of the upper which is more cosmetic than anything else but I think works well and gives the shoe a classy and expensive look. Inside Adidas have also upgraded the inner sole which is now a little more contoured round the arch.

So, another fantastic shoe from the Kanadia stable which works superbly on almost all surfaces but once again the real treat for the buyer comes when you take them to the till. How Adidas can pack so many features into a shoe at this price when the competitor products are around 20 quid more is beyond me.

Go and try them I’m sure you won’t be dissappointed.

Just be careful with sizing - they still come up very small so you’ll probably need a full size bigger than your normal shoe.      

DAWLISH COASTERS - Reviews of Sportsshoes.com running kit

DAWLISH COASTERS

“We are very happy to welcome new or returning runners to our club nights as well as visitors from other clubs. We run from the Dawlish Leisure Centre at 6:30 pm on Tuesday and Thursday evening’s throughout the year with sessions lasting for approximately 1 hour. Our training schedule is worked out in advance with each session led by a club member. Take a look at the training schedule page on  www.dawlishcoasters.co.uk for more information.

We have a very active social side to the club and we encourage all members to participate in the various events held throughout the year. Details of these will be posted on the notice board in the Leisure Centre and will appear on the Social Events pages of the website.”

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See below for reviews:

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Item Tested and reviewed:

Ron Hill Lady Aspiration Powerlight Tights

Ronhill lady Aspiration Powerlite Tights

Reviewed by Lorna Richards

Star Rating (Out of 5): 4

Best Points:

Nice soft feel material that gave good support, very comfortable with high back and handy pocket. The UVR a good feature

Worst Points:

Bit long for summer wear – having reflective strips would be beneficial for darker, cooler running

Other Comments:

Zipped bottoms made them easier to pull on

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Item Tested and reviewed:

Nike 7 inch Tempo Running Shorts

Nike 7 inch Tempo Shorts

Reviewed by Simon Bundy

Star Rating (Out of 5): 4

Best Points:

Soft comfortable material – good fit

Worst Points:

Just a little bit too long – felt slightly restrictive

Other Points:

Really nice pair of shorts if could be just a little bit shorter

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Item Tested and reviewed:

Nike Dri-Fit Tech Running Tights

Nike Miler Running Vest

Reviewed by Les Elms

Star Rating (Out of 5): 5

Best Points:

Excellent fit, soft fabric, very comfortable for running and movement in general

Worst Points:

Couldn’t think of anything bad to say here

Other Comments:

Already one of my favourite running vests

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Poole AC - Reviews of Sportsshoes.com running kit

Poole Ac

Poole AC activities include road running, cross country, track and field leagues and organising a number of races including The Beast, Round the Lakes 10K and the Wessex 100K relay. We have a thriving Juniors section, with members involved in track & field, indoor athletics competitions and fun runs. We have achieved success at all levels, and run our own club championships.

Why not come along and join in with our activities? Everyone from 8 upwards is welcome, irrespective of ability. All that is required is enthusiasm - we’ll provide qualified coaches, encouragement and a friendly atmosphere. For more information check out our website here: www.pooleac.co.uk/

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See below for reviews:

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Item Tested and reviewed:

Saucony AMP PRO2 Compression Sock

Saucony AMP PRO2 Compression Sock

Reviewed by Jane Neal

Star Rating (Out of 5): 4

Best Points:

The socks felt very supportive and comfortable without feeling tight whilst running. Breathable even on hot days.

Worst Points:

I’m used to running in short socks so it took a while to get use to the feel and idea of wearing long socks.

Other Comments:

I tested the medium size which was a good fit although they would fit a larger size foot I’m a Ladies size 6. The socks are unisex, the details on the pack say medium is for a Mens size 6-9 and Ladies 7-10. I haven’t had them long enough to test their recovery and healing benefits however they feel very supportive on tired and sore legs.

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Item Tested and reviewed:

ASICS Level 2 Running Shorts

Asics level 2 Shorts

Reviewed by David Neal

Star Rating (Out of 5): 1

Best Points:

Useful key pocket

Worst Points:

Way too long for running (even with my long skinny legs).  Material feels slimy with an odd feel on the front of your legs when you run.  Expensive.

Other Points:

I’ll only be wearing them in the gym

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Item Tested and reviewed:

Nike Dri-Fit Tech Running Tights

Nike Lady Dri-Fit Tech Running Tights

Reviewed by Rachel Johnson

Star Rating (Out of 5): 5

Best Points:

Great material and zips at the back of the ankle are really easy to undo

Worst Points:

Couldn’t find anything!

Other Comments:

These leggings were a very good fit, they look nice and feel really comfortable to run in. Would be fantastic if they did them in other colours as well, especially funky ones! I would certainly buy more. I really loved these leggings and I’ve had some very positive comments from other runners regarding the look and design of them.

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Fife AC - Reviews of Sportsshoes.com running kit

Fife AC

Fife AC was formed in the early 70’s from the amalgamation of several clubs in North East Fife who in turn joined forces with Fife Southern Harriers to form the current Fife AC.  Geographically, it is a widespread club taking in Central and North East Fife, with training groups in Kirkcaldy, Glenrothes, Cupar, and St Andrews.  Teams regularly take part in the major Scottish events and in recent times the men’s team have performed well in the British AAA’s 12 stage road relay championships finishing twice in the top 20.  The aim of the club is to promote all aspects of athletics - track and field, road, cross country, and hill running throughout the age range to both sexes and for all standards. For more info see fifeac.co.uk/

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See below for reviews:

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Item Tested and reviewed:

Ron Hill - Aspiration Lite Zip Top

Adidas Response Tight Shorts

Reviewed by David Burgess

Star Rating (Out of 5): 5

Best Points:

They fit well, look good and give the right amount of support I need for my hamstrings. The zip pocket on the back of the shorts is quite handy for car keys.

Worst Points:

None.

Other Comments:

These are quality shorts. As good as any of the other brands on the market. I intend to buy a few extra pairs.

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Item Tested and reviewed:

Adidas Lady Running Vest

Adidas lady Vest

Reviewed by Sarah Legge

Star Rating (Out of 5): 5

Best Points:

Lovely looking top which does a good job of keeping you cool. Not too revealing unlike some of the more traditional style of vests. Well-made and good attention to detail.

Worst Points:

Nothing bad to say about this vest.

Other Points:

The usual high quality I have come to expect from the Adidas brand.

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Item Tested and reviewed:

Gore Runwear Air Zipped T-Shirt

Gore Runwear Air Zip T-Shirt

Reviewed by Brian Cruickshank

Star Rating (Out of 5): 5

Best Points:

A superb wicking top with mesh inserts and the added bonus of a zip for when the weather gets really hot. The shirt fits really well and the material feels good against the skin. The reflective trim should be useful once the darker nights draw in. The red, white and black colour scheme looks classy.

Worst Points:

No bad points to note.

Other Comments:

I am very impressed with this technical t-shirt. In fact it’s such a good looking shirt it feels a shame just to use it for training! A quality piece of clothing well worth paying a little extra for.