SportsShoes Blog

Well, just to prove that sportsshoes.com caters for every kind of runner we have just taken delivery of the biggest running trainer we have EVER seen.

SIZE 19 Adidas Supernova Sequence 2 Running Shoes!… yes you heard right… SIZE 19!

What a shoe… what a carbon footprint  ( yes i know technically there is no carbon footprint… but it is a play on words, sorry but getting grief from fellow colleagues )!!!

… so ladies, gentleman and fellow runners… I present Size 19…

You could pretty much fit the size 6 inside!

Compared to everyday objects!

Have we got a bag big enough?

So, don’t be shy… if we haven’t got your size then all you need to do is ask, we can do all sorts here at sportsshoes.com

Anyone reading my blog will know that this year I’ve signed up for the West Highland Way Race which is a 95 mile run between Glasgow and Fort William.

The WHW is on the 19th June so between then and now I need to get my mind into ‘going long’ mode and get some miles in.

On the 6th Feb I’m doing the Trog, a 20 mile route around the moors above Calderdale and on the 13th March it’s the Hobble a 33 mile jaunt around the moors above  Haworth. In terms of distance, both of those are just tiddly little warm up jogs although I will be going out hard in both to try and lay down descent times.

What I need before the big event in June is a long distance challenge to really test the mettle - and here it is…..

In 2007 in training for the Ultratrail Tour Du Mont Blanc I ran the 3 Peaks in the Yorkshire Dales twice back to back in 10.5 hours solo.

This time, we’re going for a triple round - yes three laps of the famous Yorkshire 3 Peaks in one go and in less than 24 hours.

To make it even more silly we’re going to attempt the stunt on the 3 Peaks Race day - 24th April. Me and my pal Steve Fry have both entered the race and the plan is to start our first lap at around 2 or 3am, do a steady jog round to finish around 9am then sign on for the race which starts at 10am. We’ll then run the race and, if we can still stay upright, have a quick swig and a bite to eat on the finish field then turn round and do it again. If we have a good third round we’ll hopefully make it back to the pub before they stop serving - now that would make a grand entrance!

The plan is to try and raise a few quid for Cancer charities as I lost a friend last year and a clubmate of Steve and mine also lost her battle with the disease in 2009.

This is the first time I’ve gone public with the plan so I guess it’s now official….

Well I can’t believe it - we’re nearly a month into the new year already. Where does time go????

So far my training has gone pretty well running most days and getting a long run in at the weekend.

I even managed to run through all the snow and ice although I can’t say it was much of a pleasure.

To be honest I think the bad weather actually increased my mileage as I had to run and bike to work a few times as I literally couldn’t get the car out.

This coming weekend it’s the Stanbury Splash fell race - a traditional New Year 7 mile shakedown around the moors above Haworth. Earlier in the same day it’s the Junior quarry run which is the first race in Bingley’s Junior Fell Championship. I hope we get a few juniors to give it a whirl as I’ve arranged the championship this year and would really like to get more kids out on the hills.

Looking a little further down the line I’m doing the Wadsworth Trog in February, Noonstones (which this year is an English Championship race) and the Haworth Hobble in March. Last year I managed 3rd in the Hobble so will be hoping to have another good run this time around.

I’ve also entered the 3 Peaks race in April but me and a friend are planning something a little bit special for that day so watch this space.

Believe it or not we are all now watching the Ben Nevis Race website to grab an entry for the race which is not until September. Entries open in the last week of January and last year all places were taken within 2 days.

The Inov-8 330s are still working well and what with all the snow we’ve had they’ve hardly been off my feet since I bought them (still think they need a dual compound sole though…)

Earlier today me and 379 other fell running loonies ran the famous Auld Lang Syne Race from Penistone Hill near Haworth.

This race has grown in popularity over the years due mainly to the tremendous enthusiasm of the organisers Dave and Eileen Woodhead (AKA the Woodentops). Dave could rightly be described as one of fell running’s more colourful characters and he and Eileen do a fantastic job of laying on superb events throughout the year and encouraging young and old to pull on their fell shoes all in the name of fun.

This year, due to the event attracting over 500 runners last year, entry was restricted to ‘just’ 400 but what a field it was. In addition to Santa, a sheep, a group of nuns and a skeleton (more about that later) the start line also contained Alistair Brownlee (world Triathlon champion), his brother Jonny (European Triathlon Champion), Ian Holmes (all round Fell Running legend), Andi Jones, Simon Bailey etc. etc. etc.

As my pal Steve Firth said in the pub afterwards, what other sport sees world champions running against folk in fancy dress - Fantastic!!

The course is a little brute - only around 4 miles in total but with snow and ice still lying thick on the tops it was a very tough race.

To sign off my fell running year, I decided not to take the event too seriosuly and dug out my skeleton suit along with my sons rather fetching skull pirate mask. This little get up went down a storm and even earned me a prize although the problem was that nobody recognised me. There were loads of folk I knew on the course both competing and spectating but instead of them seeing Andy trotting along I was just some faceless nutter in a skeleton outfit!!

To say I only had very restricted tunnel vision (the mask was made for an 8 year old) and I was rebreathing carbon dioxide with every strained breath, I think I did OK. What’s really funny when you’re in costume is watching folk react when you overtake them - it’s a funny thing but nobody likes to get beaten by somone in fancy dress and there’s a notciable acceleration or a special effort to repass you whenever you make a move (I should know I’ve never got over being passed by Captain Hook in the last couple of miles of the London Marathon - there was I in full marathon gear dying on my feet when Mr Hook came flying past with his raven curls blowing in the breeze, waving his sword around playing to crowd - Mentally scarred!!)

Anyway, that’s another year of fell running consigned to the hsitory books - my high point I think was 3rd in the Haworth Hobble and my low point dragging my sorry ass round the 22 mile Wasdale race after blowing in the first 2 miles.

I wonder what next year will bring - the West Highland Way in June is my main focus so lots of long steady miles need to be dripped into the old legs.

Right, time to get ready for a NYE party where I can quaff my Daleside Old Legover beer - curtesy of Dave Woodhead and the 2009 Auld Lang Syne race.

Happy New Year everyone  - see you next year!!

Click here to view the Inov-8 330 Mudclaw

Anyone whose read my earlier posts will know that I’m an Inov-8 convert.

I’ve been using their trail shoes for a number of years and recently tried and liked their lightest race shoe the 212 X-Talon.

As the trails have recently become a tad on the slippy side I needed to find something with a little more grip than my Adidas Kanadia trail shoes. The X-Talon’s have fantastic grip but they offer very little support so whilst they’re great for racing they’re not that good for churning out the miles in training.

I’ve never been a big fan of Inov-8’s fell shoe styling (212 excepted) but recent changes to their colourways and some subtle changes to the uppers have, in my opinion, improved the range considerably. We all know that what a fell shoe looks like shouldn’t matter a hoot but we also all know that it does and how things look can have a big effect, even if it is all in the mind.

When looking for a grippy trail shoe the 330 caught my eye and whilst I know it’s designed to be a fell racer the upper does look more like a trail shoe.

The shoes do feel slightly larger than the same sized 212 but I guess that’s to be expected as the 212 is supposed to be a tight fitting stripped down racer.

Following the obligatory walk around the house for a day, my first run in the 330s was a 90 minute trot around Baildon Moor and the first thing you notice is the massive amounts of traction that the heavily studded sole supplies. The shoes really inspire confidence in muddy conditions and certainly live up to their name.

The shoes are extremely comfy and although nice and low as a good off-road shoe should be, they offer descent cushioning from the midsole and also a noticable amount of welcome ‘bounce’ from the studs on hard surfaces.

The heel is very low, a feature of Inov-8 shoes which I still don’t fully understand, and initially I could feel a little movement when climbing steep ground. This has all but disappeared now the shoes have been wet and dried a few times and started to mould to my feet but I would prefer a higher heel to make sure the movement is not there in the first place.

The other issue is the shoe’s ability to handle wet rock - put simply, they don’t! Once you know this it is possible to use them very effectively but the first few times you try them on a wet, hard, cambered surface the results can be very un-nerving. What I know about shoe design / manufacture you could write on the back of a small stamp but I would like to have seen two lines of studs running along the length of the sole unit that were made from super soft sticky rubber.

If you have a reasonably efficient style and keep light on your feet these shoes can be used for just about anything from hard packed trails to the high fells but I think they will really come into their own on long distance fell races where comfort, support and grip are needed.

I’ve now done around 15 hours in the shoes and overall I like them very much and would gladly recommend them. If  you try before you buy to make sure you get the right size and be aware of their dislike of wet rock, you’ll not go far wrong.

Click here to view the Inov-8 330 Mudclaw

Over the next few weeks I will be sharing more information about the Lakeland 100, What it is where it is, when it is, how I plan to train for it, how the training is going, what equipment is required, and finally how I get on, but before that… A short scene from the kitchen table when I broke the news of my race entry at breakfast the following day.

“The Lakeland 100! What’s that”? Angela my wife asked,

It’s a 100-mile race in the Lake District.

“What possessed you to do that”? Vicky, my daughter chipped in.

“Dad have you gone mad”? Tom, my son volunteered.

Angela said nothing and just looked out of the window.

They don’t understand. Why would anyone want to run 100 miles in one go? Why would anyone get up at 6am day in day out to go running? Sometimes in the dark, sometimes in the rain or worse, then in the evening, come home and do the same again? Is this absolute madness?

Next Saturday is the 3 Peaks Fell Race  - for me this is one of the highlights of the fell running year.

The 3 Peaks are pretty special to me as I’ve been walking, running and biking over them since I was 8 years old.

I know my way around the course like the back of my hand and could describe every step of the way in minute detail so navigation won’t be a problem.

This year I’d really like to try and get under 3.5 hours but this is a big ask as 3.39 is the best I’ve done and I felt very strong that year. Having said that I’m running OK right now so if there’s ever a chance this could be it.

The big question is how to start - do I go off fast and hang on or go off steady and try and crank up the pace as the race goes on? My head tells me to do the latter and my heart says go for it from the gun.

I’ve not done much this week but feel very tired today. Last Sauturday I cycled 70 miles to my parents in Kirkbymoorside North Yorskhire then the family and I spent Sunday, Monday and Tuesday pounding the streets of London - as tourists not runners but it was still very tough…

Wednesday I cycled to work, Thursday I ran the dog in the morning and did a club run at night and Friday (today) I just did the dog run.

I’m now entering my recovery week leading up to the race where very little training with plenty of sleep and lots of grub is on the cards.

Recovery / tapering and pre-race eating are very hotly debated topics amongst distance runners and me along with tens of thousands of London Marathon (next Sunday) runners will be trying to get it right this week.

Personally I think there’s a lot of tripe talked about it and lots of folk seem to believe that having a perfectly planned and excecuted taper and final week’s diet will grant them a star performance.

I think you need to go into a race feeling fresh and if it’s a long one well fuelled, but a good performance will only come off the back of good hard training - not good hard resting. If it’s not in the bag now, no amount of tapering or noshing will make it happen next week….

Yesterday I ran in the Baildon Boundary Way (BBW). It was the third time I’d done this race and although the last time was in 2005 I know every step of the course as it passes within 3oo yards of my house and I train over parts of it  just about every day.

The BBW is a half marathon (13.1 miles) but it’s what’s known as a multi terrain race as only about 5% of it is on road. The rest is tracks, woods, canal towpath and a bit of open moorland. Although there are a few climbs it is generally a quick course being good underfoot all the way round.

As I said in my earlier post my aim for the day was to get under 1 hour 30 mins which I’ve never managed to do before so when the day dawned bright and sunny with light winds I knew this was my chance.

About 400 runners started the race and the mad up hill dash followed by a quick sprint down to the main road and along to the Woolpack pub at Esholt quickly strung the field out. I passed the first mile marker in 5.39 which I knew was a pace I couldn’t hold for long but as I felt good I carried on pushing hard.

After a tour of the sewage farm (nice….) and a trip through the woods we popped out onto the canal which is always a part of the race I find tough. This year me and a chap from Pudsey & Bramley paced each other well along the 3 miles to Saltaire and we managed to hold our positions (5th and 6th), which was a first for  me as the roadies usually come steaming by at this point.

After leaving the canal it’s a long but steady climb of maybe 2 miles through Shipley Glen woods and up to Harvey Smith’s gallops.

On the final part of the climb my Bingley Harriers pal Mitch came past me and he and Shane from P&B pulled out a lead of about 15 meters on me by the top of the climb.

As we started the long fast descent to the finish Shane pulled clear and I worked hard to get back on terms with Mitch. We passed the 12 mile marker and as I sneaked a look at my watch and saw 1hr 16 I knew I’d be well under my target of 1.30 - but the race wasn’t over yet.

Just half a mile before the finish there’s a short but steep climb and I really had to dig deep to stay with Mitch (what I didn’t know until later was that he was hurting just as much, if not more than me). At the top of the climb we were both caught and passed by a Sheffiled runner and the three of us started the run in to the finish.

This put me in 8th place which was a position I’d have happily settled for at the start of the race but as we charged down towards the rugby field I found an extra ounce of energy and sprinted passed them both before we hit the track that leads to the finish. From here it was just a case of gritting my teeth, keeping my elbows out and holding them off as we crossed the field to the finish funnel - a quick look back assured me they wouldn’t catch me but as I approached the finish line I couldn’t help thinking about that poor horse that collapsed and died on the run-in at the National. Thankfully I didn’t do the same but my efforts meant I had to stop and catch my breath as the other guys came in and the marshals tried to push us along the finish funnel.

I was really please with my 6th place and time of 1 hour 24 mins - Job done!!

A great race - very well organised by the guys and gals at Baildon Runners and well supported by Sportsshoes Unlimited who, along with the Saltaire Brewery, supplied the prizes and goody bags.

Went out last night for my first run and it was a bit of a shocker!

I was doing fine, at a steady pace for about 10min and then my old back pain reared its ugly head! I carried on at the same pace for a few more minutes but it just got worse and was really painfull, so its not really been the start I was hoping for!

I am going out again tonight to see how it is and see if I get the same troubles, it could be another short one tonight,  followed by a phonecall to the physio! Has anyone had any simillar problems? Any tips to help it or ideas as to why I may be getting the pain would be greatly appreciated!

Our motley crew of a 5-a-side team (Shipley Legends) have our second game this Thursday, hopefully my back won’t play up and I can help us get another win on the board, this time not by default this time!

Bingley’s A team managed 4th overall at the CW (even with me in the team).

As suspected I got a thorough kicking as I wheezed and puffed around leg 2 chasing my mate Martin who was skipping and bouncing along like bambi.

To make matters worse we got lost just 2 miles into the 8.5 mile leg losing around 2 - 3 mins as we trotted through bogs and consulted maps. We then took a bad line off Stoodley Pike which lost us another few seconds but after that we did OK until the last mile when we hit the big climb out of Todmorden and I ran up it like a Chelsea Pensioner.

All things considered we didn’t do too bad and our dodgy route choice didn’t actually affect the overall result so no real harm done.

A few beers on Sunday night allowed everything to be put right (or forgotten).

Now I’m looking forward to this coming weekend which is a fest of biking, boozing and running with an unhealthy dose of santa suits thrown in for good measure - photos to follow……