Running jackets (August 2009)

August 5th, 2009 by runningcoventry No comments »

It’s the start of August and i’m shopping around for a waterproof running jacket. Got caught in the rain this morning and think my old jacket has to be put out to pasture. Hoping not to be using the new jacket much over the rest of the summer though! I’m after a windproof and waterproof jacket that I can also hopefully use over the winter – with a few layers underneath.

I had a scout around the usual stores and some pointers from the running forums to get an overview of what’s currently available.

Over on the runner’s world forum there seems to be a consensus that Montane make a decent jacket or two:

Montane featherlite marathon jacket

The cheapest I could find this was at:

Rooughgear.co.uk – £32
Sportsshoes.com – £25

Montane Lite-Speed H2O Jacket

The cheapest places I found for this jacket were:

Towerridge.co.uk – £59
Outdoorkit.co.uk - £63
Achillesheel.co.uk - £70
Likeys.com – £65

I had a look around at the usual suspect manufacturers:

Adidas: Adistar Goretex Running Jacket 2009

Alexandrasports.com – £46
Achillesheel.co.uk – £60

Nike:

Nike Clima-Fit Hooded Jacket

Sweatshop.co.uk – £45
Sportsshoes.com – £45
John Lewis.com – £44

Nike Mens Gore Windstopper Jacket

Prodirectrunning.com - £100
Prodirectrunning.com – £50
Sportsshoes.com – £60
Amazon.co.uk -  £60

Brooks Nightlife Jacket

Prodirectrunning.com - £60
Alexandrasports.com – £45
Bournesports.com – £45

Ron Hill Vizion Advance Windlite Pro Running Jacket

Sportsshoes.com – £30
Alexandrasports.com – £55
Simplyrun.co.uk – £44

This is a very quick skim round of what’s available at the moment.

If you have any favourites or recommendations (or stuff not to touch with a barge pole) then add a comment below.

Oh and a new store i’d not heard of before: Likeys.com http://www.likeys.com

(Not linked with any of the above stores/brands, prices were what i found today, and comparisons were between jackets that looked the same to me!)

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Race report – Tenbury 10k August 2009

August 2nd, 2009 by runningcoventry No comments »

I drove down to the Tenbury 10k 2009 this morning. The drive took a lot longer than I thought and the planned hour of calm preparation turned into about 25 minutes. There was ample parking and you just needed to follow the signs for the swimming pool to find your way. (I managed to miss this the first time around but followed the trail of runners on my second pass). The race started off on a flat playing field and the 220ish participants flooded out through a gateway turning left on to the first hill of the day.

Not too bad as starts go and as soon as you hit the top you’re heading downhill again. There’s then a further set of inclines on the route that once you get to the top of you’re filled with a bit of relief that all the hard work’s done and it’s all downhill from there. That was a bit of a mistake and at around the half way point there is a further hill. It was a bit of a killer but once you reach the top it’s mainly downhill from there. The route takes you along a shaded path and at the end you come out just behind the start and it’s then the run-in to the finish line.

All in this was a great race. The organisation was quietly efficient and everything went smoothly from arrival to departure. The only oddity I found was the markers which were at mile intervals rather than kilometre but once you get your mind round that it’s not a problem. The marshalling and signposting was excellent and on a warm day the 4/5 waterstations along the route were most welcome. The route was very scenic with a few spectators/locals dotted around – but the finish was well supported. Nice medal, water and mars bar in the goody bag – with an invite to join in the 10 mile Fell Race in the Mortimer Forest December 2009, i’ll have to think about that one.

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Current goal – Snowdonia Marathon October 2009

July 23rd, 2009 by runningcoventry No comments »

I set myself a goal a while back – something to challenge myself with aside from the weekly training schedule. I’m aiming to do the Snowdonia Marathon in October 2009.

I read various articles and reports on this including 9 questions to discover a marathon : Snowdonia Marathon and Runner’s World Readers’ Top 50 Races 2008 and Snowdonia tied in with my timing.

Really looking forward to this one!

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Keeping up with the schedule

July 21st, 2009 by runningcoventry No comments »

I’m sticking well to my schedule so far. The general plan is to make sure i get a run out first thing in the morning and, if i can fit it in, an interval/ speed/ weights session in the evening. The week’s rounded off with a long, slow run on a Sunday – or a race depended on where i am in the schedule.

Last week started well. Monday was my day off so of course i spent that lazing in bed. Well that’s not quite how it happened, I ended up getting a little lost on a long run. The rest of the week was pretty normal – i mixed in a new morning route just to break up the routine a little bit. So last week:

Monday – 14 miles
Tuesday – 4 miles in the morning, weights session in the evening
Wednesday – 7 miles in the morning
Thursday – 7 miles in the morning
Friday – Fartleks for 4 miles in the morning, weights session in the evening

So 36 miles for the week.

Saturday and Sunday were a bit of a wash out but used them up as rest days.

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Running route – Coventry Cannon Park to town centre to Kersley and back

July 13th, 2009 by runningcoventry No comments »

Did my long run this morning – had this one planned for last week but best laid plans and all that. So this run not surprisingly start in Cannon Park car park. There are a couple of reasons for this:

  • If I run from home there is a temptation at some point to cut the run short and head home. If i’ve left the car in the car park somewhere then I have to head back there to get it so a bit of incentive
  • I use the Fitness first gym so close to refresh myself after a run

You could start most of these routes from the Memorial Park park and ride car park too.

    Back to today… I headed up to the Kenilworth Road via Cannon Hill Road. I followed the Kenilworth Road all the way to Warwick Road past the rail station and towards the town centre.

    There is a route along the Coventry ring road that you can take on foot. I believe you can walk the whole way round though parts of it do involve subways. You can avoid the subways with some careful road crossing or slight diversions.

    I followed the ring road round to the botton of the Radford Road. Run all the way up the Radford Road. The Radford Road becomes the Tamworth Road near to the Royal Court Hotel follow this along until you see  Hollyfast Lane on your left. Hollyfast Lane is a country lane – it was surprisingly quiet this morning – and the views in the sun this morning were wonderful. Still amazed at the green spaces that are around Coventry and loving exploring these on foot.

    At the end of Hollyfast Lane turn left onto Wall Hill Road. I got myself a bit lost here. I knew basically where I was but it was t-junction and my bearings had forseaken me. Walked for a bit in either direction but couldn’t convince myself one way or the other. Luckily I had my phone with me, it took about 10 seconds to get on the internet and dowload the google maps to my phone. A quick search and I was heading left!

    Take a right on to Hawkes Mill Lane and a left onto Browns Lane. At the bottom of Browns Lane go onto Birmingham Road. This is where this morning got interesting for a second time. I had to take the long route round the Pickford roundabout. I wanted to run up the A45 but couldn’t see a path going up the slip road. I’m sure there is a path further up but didn’t fancy finding out. Anyone know if there is a path? Where it starts and how to get onto it?

    So I cut through Allesley Park. Again I got a bit lost here but headed out onto Winsford Avenue that takes you onto Broad Lane. Turn right up Broad Lane and that brings you to the A45. A bit of a detour but I wasn’t in a rush to get back. So along the A45 and through the subway just after Burnsall Road. Down to Sir Henry Parkes Road and back up to Cannon Park.

    This route is mainly along footpaths and can be hilly at times. I didn’t see a single other runner but I guess we runners have to work too! Nice long run.


    View Kersley in a larger map

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    Race – Allesley Festival 5k

    July 12th, 2009 by runningcoventry No comments »

    I watched the end of the fun run before setting off for the start of this 5k. Great level of enthusiasm from the younger runners that I saw and good support along the finish line.

    So a small trek to the start line on Staircase Lane – organisers in Allesley races like their hill starts!

    The course was along footpaths once you got on to Coundon Wedge Drive. A hill takes you along Wall Hill Road and this brings you to the top of Browns Lane. Browns Lane dips down towards the final hill of the course – The Windmill Hill. Once you’ve climbed this hill it’s flat/downward run to Birmingham Road and the Finish.

    I liked this race. There were about 50 entrants and a friendly vibe throughout. Despite being a relatively small race there were plenty of friendly marshalls along the route and there was sporadic local support too. A medal and plenty of refreshments at the Finish line – what more could you ask for? My thanks to the organisers!

    Allesley festival 5k medal

    And this is the route for the Allesley festival 5k. Not too sure about the start but it’s close to there:


    View Allesley festival 5k in a larger map

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    Running clubs in Coventry (and around Coventry)

    July 11th, 2009 by runningcoventry No comments »

    If you’re looking to join a running club in Coventry then here’s a list and a map of all those that i’ve been able to find:

    Coventry Godiva Harriers

    http://www.coventry-godiva-harriers.org.uk

    Kenilworth Runners

    http://www.kenilworthrunners.co.uk

    Massey Ferguson Runners Club

    http://www.masseyrunners.co.uk

    Northbrook AC, Coventry

    http://www.northbrookac.org.uk

    Saracens Running Club, Coventry

    http://website.lineone.net/~saracensrc/index.htm

    Sphinx AC

    http://www.sphinx.org.uk


    View Running clubs in and around Coventry in a larger map

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    First blog post of July!

    July 6th, 2009 by runningcoventry No comments »

    I’ve been a bit lax with my blog posts. It’s not that I haven’t been doing anything! Last week:

    Monday – 4 miles in the morning and then a circuit session in the evening
    Tuesday – 4 miles in the morning and then an interval session in the evening
    Wednesday – 4 miles in the morning and then circuit and weight session in the evening
    Thursday – 4 miles in the morning and then a sports massage in the evening (Fire and Earth UK)
    Friday – 4 miles in the morning then a weight session in the gym
    Saturday – 4.8 km slow but steady paced run
    Sunday – no long run on Sunday i just took a rest day and took it easy in the sun.

    So keeping up with the regime and the two workouts for most of my weekdays. So still happy and getting through it all.

    Saturday i took a visit to the Coventry Runner store. Excellent service again. They’ve updated a bit since the last time I was there. There’s now video gait analysis available (for a fee which is refunded if you purchase trainers).

    Basically a video camera is pointed at your feet as you run on a treadmill. The camera records all the movement of your feet for a period of time. When it’s played back you’re able to see how much pronation (if any) there is as you move and advice is then given as to which type of trainer you should be looking at – so they fetch down a few pairs of trainers and it’s back on the treadmill for a try out of the trainers and another video session to see how those trainers affect your running.

    Very interesting to see the video of me running, particularly in slow motion, they’re able to point out how you should be running and you can see the difference that the different trainer styles make to your running.

    All in it’s a relaxed evnironment to shop in and the guy who served me (whose name I forgot to ask for) was a runner and knew all about the trainers he was selling (i’d done my research too!). They’re updating the resources on their web site soon so it may be worth checking in there in the near future – or now if you haven’t done so already.

    For those interested I pronate a bit so a structured trainer was advised – again you could see the difference on the video. Left the shop with two pairs: Nike Air Structure triax+ and Mizuno Wave Inspire

    Oh and they also have details of the local races that are coming up – Massey Runners, Coventry, Corporate 5 Challenge at Uni of Warwick Tues 18 Aug was a new one to me!

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    Running route – Coventry to Kenwilworth Castle

    June 28th, 2009 by runningcoventry No comments »

    Out nice and early this morning for my long/slow run. I ran from Coventry to Kenwilworth Castle and then back via Westwood Heath. A warm, overcast morning today.

    The route to Kenilworth Castle is mainly footpath based, there are a few hills along the route. The route I took went along: Kenilworth Road, Coventry Road , New St , High St , Castle Hill , Castle Road , Clinton Ln, Beehive Hill , Upper Spring Ln , Carckley Ln , Westwood Heath Road , Charter Avenue , and then back to the start/finish.

    Momma cow and calfIt’s a fairly easy run in to Kenilworth and a straight run along Kenilworth Road, Coventry Road , New St , High St. As you’re running along Castle Hill there’s a park on your left which i think is Abbey Fields. This looks well worth investigating on another run.

    So towards the end of Castle Hill, Kenilworth Castle suddenly appears from nowhere. Maybe the road name should have given me a clue but you’re going along taking all the surroundings in and then there’s the castle.

    There is a route around the back of the castle – a couple of miles but stuck to my plan today so i’ll plan a bigger route for another day. That and Abbey fields will add 5 miles on to this route i think.

    When you reach the castle and have finished taking in the views, it’s then time to head back. The route’s almost a figure of 8 and the route I took back was along Clinton Ln, Beehive Hill , Upper Spring Ln, Crackley Lane. Always surprised at the new things you see when running along here, different houses, farms etc… Today there was plenty of wildlife and a few cows were up early for their breakfast.

    There’s a few blind bends along the lane so do be careful of any cars that are passing by, if you hear a car just step up onto the verge if you have any worries about them not seeing you.

    Crackley Lane cuts accross part of the Coventry Way route that i’ve previously written about so you could mix these two routes up if you want to add distance or just to mix things up.

    At the end of Crackley Lane you join the Westwood Heath Road and it’s back to more urban running. Head up the hill and then you make your way up to Charter Avenue. This brings you to a long, straight, downhill road back to the end of your route and a well earned rest.

    All in this was a good route and finished off my week of training nicely.


    View Coventry to Kenilworth Castle in a larger map

    Kenilworth Castle

    Kenilworth Castle

    Abbey Fields, Kenilworth

    Abbey Fields, Kenilworth

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    TFI Friday’s efforts

    June 26th, 2009 by runningcoventry No comments »

    7 miles run this morning. Didn’t really want to get up but managed to persuade myself. It was a longer run today – don’t know why but the longer I run, at the moment, the smoother the run is. So all in another solid run.

    I don’t often think about it when tucked up and snug in bed but there are a fair few people out there at 6 in the morning just going about there business – a whole ‘nother world. 4 out of 5 people replied to “Hello”

    Headed to the gym after work. I keep mentioning squat jumps and will continue to do so until I find them a lot easier! Getting better already though so please with that. So a full circuit training session followed by a weights session.

    Slightly later run with a training partner tomorrow morning. Looking forward to it.

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