Sub 1:30 Half Marathon 2021 Edition (Read 448 times)

Steve - honestly you are going to love them.  I've taken to running some of my tougher workouts in an older pair and even then they make a huge difference.  I think they will be a real game changer for you.

Flavio - I'm super impressed you're attempting a HM TT.  I don't think I could actually do that.  JMac and Steve will be the best sources of advice.  But I agree with the suggestion of setting up a drink bottle you can pick up somewhere and I think having someone to cheer would be a great help.

Overall I'd have to say those points that work in your favour are really big ones.  The mileage is a big plus, as well as the tougher and longer workouts and extra elevation.  The overall volume and amount of quality you've done over the last few months has been as good a training block as I can recall seeing from you since we've been around these forums.  The weight will help too.

The only big one that works against you is the TT factor.  Water replenishment is solvable and with temps around 10C at start is not really a major anyway.  Even if those temps are a bit warmer than you've trained in they're still very optimal for racing.

All the best!!!

Mark - how many km do you get out of them i.e. can you detail racing and training seperately? Do you have a pair that is exclusively for racing and you never ever take it to the track before or do you do some breaking into?

I had bought a pair of the first 4% on sale for like $125 when no one knew that they would sell out and the store was thinking how to best get rid of it. But the outersole was so thin. I have 50km on them and had to put shoe goh to save it. What a joke. Hope the newer fancier models are better. And I get blisters on the forefoot something that I never get from "normal" shoes.

I wonder if people should start to add the shoe model to their PRs. I read somewhere that the 2019 or 2020 32 of 36 podium spots where conquered by runners in the 4% next shoe.

Does anyone run in any of the other carbon plate trainers? I am thinking of getting myself one for my "longer" runs, when they go on sale.

Steve: kayano LOL that is the most robust and heavy shoe on the planet. You will feel like running on clouds. Speaking of which: good luck with the Azure exams.

Flavio: I am surprise you could have lost weight. In Italy. In Bologna. Crazy, don't tell anyone. You are supposed to grow a belly, you are in culinary heaven.

RP & Darkwave: what was that about every race answers another question? Do you mean that you learn something about yourself in every race? I would encourage everyone to include this in the race reports!

1) I think that if you are racing in the Kayanos, then any other shoe is a supershoe by comparison.

2) Mick - as for the "question" thing....any time you are running a race all out, there will come a moment of truth/gut check point - normally about 2/3rds to 3/4ths in.  That's when you are asked "the question."  And then you answer it and finish the race.  Make sense?

3) I know people who train in Vaporflies/Endorphins/etc.  I personally don't like training in them because a) I find they are an injury risk for me, due to high stack height/stiffness/instability and b) it seems that most people who like to train in them do so because they want to run everything (easy runs and workouts) a bit faster and think the shoes will help with that.  Which plays into the idea that faster is better for easy runs and workouts, when in fact that is not at all the case.

Additionally, people talk about how training in them is easier on their legs, due to the cushioning.  Which sounds nice, except the pounding of running is part of what gets your legs strong and ready to handle the marathon.

Its got to a point that they are significantly faster and alot of my competitors are wearing them. I mean we are talking @3 secs per km.

I told you this 2 years ago!  

I agree with darkwave regarding what’s the point in training in super shoes?...faster training runs to post on social media?  I’ve always liked that race day magic shoe that you aren’t familiar with in training.

MJ - I have around 160km on a pair of the original VF's that have been a training-only shoe.  There is some exposed foam on the outside of the heel now but I reckon I will get at least another 50-100km out of them.

The Next %'s are far more durable.  I have probably 140-150km's on a pair of them, pretty much all race mileage, and while there is some wear obvious on the sole, it's far less significant than the original VF's at the same point.  I'd expect to get at least that much mileage again (possibly more) using them as a training shoe for the next little while.

 

3) I know people who train in Vaporflies/Endorphins/etc.  I personally don't like training in them because a) I find they are an injury risk for me, due to high stack height/stiffness/instability and b) it seems that most people who like to train in them do so because they want to run everything (easy runs and workouts) a bit faster and think the shoes will help with that.  Which plays into the idea that faster is better for easy runs and workouts, when in fact that is not at all the case.

 

Additionally, people talk about how training in them is easier on their legs, due to the cushioning.  Which sounds nice, except the pounding of running is part of what gets your legs strong and ready to handle the marathon.

I do wear the VF's for workouts, at most once a fortnight - typically for long tempo workouts.  I find it helps me hit the sort of rhythm I'd be wanting to hit in a race and it definitely mentally gets me in the space to hit a really hard workout.  Plus otherwise my old VF's will just never get used since I've got a newer pair of Next%'s for racing anyways.  But that's part of the beauty of the shoe as well - it gives you a boost on race day.  If you wear them too often you lose that mental boost you get from lacing them up.

Totally agree with all the points you raise - I just can't see them being suited to most runners as a regular training shoe (aside from the fact they're pretty expensive!).

Interesting shoe chat. How much am I risking injury by doing one workout then a half then a full in them? What are the chances they’re not right? They do feel amazingly light. 

I did another long hill run today which felt pretty good with some solid climbs. Overall 800 metres of climbing (using Garmin not Strava) and without low cloud the views were amazing and a great distraction any time it got tough. I’m okay not heading up there for a few weeks though

Interesting shoe chat. How much am I risking injury by doing one workout then a half then a full in them? What are the chances they’re not right? They do feel amazingly light. 

That's what I've always done.  First a short easy run just to make sure they're not REALLY awful.  Then a workout on the roads.  Then a race.

I think that at the end of a half-marathon raced in a pair of shoes, you should have a pretty good idea of whether they would hold up for a full.  Another good test is to swap into a pair for the last 5-10 miles of a 20 miler that progresses down to marathon pace - to see how they feel when you are running marathon pace on tired legs.

Mikkey - even with the high price, I thought buying a pair way back at the beginning (when they were so hard to get) was very low risk.  Basically, you could buy them, and if you didn't think they were worth the price, you could resell your slightly used pair on eBay for more than you paid for them....

1. James - I also have the Reebok Symmetros, not that I have ran much this year, they do seem a well cushioned easy day shoe.