After recently talking to the wonderful people at ReRun it would be poor form of us to recommend bowing down to commercialism and spending hundreds of pounds on some pieces of plastic that may or may not make you run faster.

If there are holes in their shoes and their last surviving race t-shirt has rabies then maybe they need kit, but always ask the question.

So if we’re not buying “things” what can we buy for our loved ones?

Buy a tree, not a tee

Adopting a sloth is so 2019, so why not give all your friends and family a tree for Christmas? A real life tree is cumbersome and difficult to wrap, so Trees not Tees have got your back. You don’t even need to keep it in your flat.

“Choosing to plant a tree means you give a long-lasting, memorable present and make a positive impact towards reversing climate change,” say the environment initiative.  “All the trees we plant are native broadleaf species as part of our sustainable reforestation across the UK – always planting the right tree, in the right place.”

This gift is especially great if you’re reading this on 24th December and can’t find anything good in your local petrol station.

It’s all in the mind

Think outside that box. Do you know someone who is always at the front in training, but never gets the PB they want? Could there be a stumbling block that isn’t physical? There are several books, such as Dr. Steve Peters’ ‘Chimp Paradox’ that broach the subject but the experts might be an excellent option.

It might not feel like much and be seen as a strange Christmas present, but in the years to come it could be the one they look back on as key to their running successes. Someone like Dr. Josephine Perry has a good grasp of the running mind and the challenges it might face. 

The race entry 

It may be coming harder and harder to get in those dream races, but there are plenty around they offer affordable, exciting adventures on road or trails. You could be a little selfish and pick one somewhere you want to visit too, get matching race entries or just pick one on the weekend you want the house to yourself.

Maybe don’t enter a 100 miler for them if they’ve only just run their first parkrun, but races in strange places are a gift that will get them excited and have something to look forward to until game day.

Next year might not be one for making plans in advance, but it might be just the light at the end of the COVID tunnel needed.

An adventure

For the more adventurous you don’t need to just book a race, you could plan an adventure. This has changed with COVID as well, but only that you might have to explore more of the British Isles.

Finding somewhere new to run within the UK and Ireland is easy as we have such beautiful hills all around us. Even using the extensive Youth Hostel Association across the UK means an affordable trip away somewhere beautiful is never too far away.

It could just be a bit of parkrun tourism, trying a new event somewhere.

Photo: parkrun UK

Of course though we want runners to think sustainably whether its with races and there is a world to explore at your front door with less environmental impact so don’t always think you need to jump on a plane.

Good books

There’s some good books out there but if you want to save some paper there are e-book and audio book options.

That said, there’s only one book I’m going to be recommending at this time: 1001 Running Tips: the essential runners guide by yours truly. Now this may seem like a shameless plug of my own book, but even if you only enjoy 10% of the tips in the book that’s still 100.1 tips.

Here’s a taster: Tip 799. Of all the kit to compromise on to save weight, head torches are the worst option. It’s a false economy, especially if running on trails.

You could also visit a publishers returns website, like Vertebrate’s Seconds and Sales, where books returned from shops with minor scuffs are available for great prices too.

Preloved run clothing

They were the inspiration for this article and if new kit is really needed then why not look at some preloved gear on the ReRun website. Dan Lawson and Charlotte Jalley are prolonging the life of running kit, helping it keep out of landfill, even if just for a wee while longer.

Even better are their up-cycled vests and t-shirts. The bold juxtaposition of colours stand out in any crowd and you’re doing a good thing too. Check out the website and find the perfect present today. 

The gift of knowledge 

The next step on your runner’s journey might be one of knowledge. Something like the Uni of Kent’s physiology in endurance course on line at Future Learn could be an insightful gift that helps them improve their own performance and racing.

Knowing a little bit more about your body, psychology and training could lead to much bigger, longer lasting improvements then a fancy new watch and they might even be able to help other runners down the club too.

Another great option are the Nav4 adventure courses with Joe Faulkner and Stuart Smith. If you want your loved one to be safer in the mountains then there’s no one I’d recommend more than Joe and Stu. Years of ultra running and mountain experience and a lovely chap to boot. From one to one coaching, night navigation courses and a range of events too you should check them out.

Map it out

Owen Delaney is a modern day cartographer and his work really is art. Commissions by the London based artist make a beautiful gift and can be based on a race route, a favourite map or a dream journey for the future.

Check him out on Instagram or one of the Centurion Running t-shirts being proudly worn by the 50 and 100 mile finishers. There’s even a host of prints you can order on the website if the person you want to buy a gift for has already done one of them.

Are you a fan of Fast Running? Then please support us and become a patreon. For as little as the price of a monthly magazine you can support Fast Running – and it only takes a minute. Thank you.

The post Last minute Christmas presents for the runner in your life appeared first on Fast Running.

Hopefully if you’re reading this then you’re a fan of the website. Over the last few years a lot of hard work, dedication and questionable sense of humour has gone into Fast Running from our small team’s editor Robbie Britton.

Along with Vertebrate Publishing, the coach and GB athlete has complied a 1001 tips for all kinds of runners, from 5k to ultra-marathoner and everything in between.

Today marks the first opportunity to pre-order your copy and the first 200 pre-orders get an extra tip (and signed postcard) from the author. Surely 1001 tips is enough for most people, but this extra one could come with that personal touch that brings you your next PB*

*Next PB not guaranteed.

The book is a massive collection of easily digestible tips that will help to improve your running – whether you’re a beginner or training for your first marathon. In his unique and engaging style, Britton covers a wide range of topics from training plans, nutrition and kit, to music, running with your dog, racing and fell running.

If you’re trying your first ultra or 24hr race, want to go faster at parkrun or just trying to figure out how to enjoy your training then there are sections of the book for you.

Britton said, “Writing the book the thought that kept going through my head was “good advice doesn’t have to be boring”, so hopefully there’s a good mix of laughter and sage advice in equal measure.

“Over the years, especially as a marathoner and ultra-runner, you have to go through the ups and downs of your running career and try to learn from all of it. These tips are a combination of lessons learned from the successes in my running and coaching, but also the mistakes as well.

If they can help readers avoid a couple mistakes themselves then I’ll be happy.”

You shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover, but this is a really nice cover.

Where to order?

The main publication date is 15th November (in time to be that Christmas present for your running friends and family too) and pre-orders are available directly from Vertebrate Publishing here.

If you’ve enjoyed articles on this website in the past, such as the weekly parkrun top 10, the recent “how to run with faster friends” or if ultra-marathoners are tougher than 5k runners, then this book could be for you.

If you’re not sure who Robbie is and want to figure that out before buying a book he’s written, then we have you covered too. Get to know Robbie Britton in less than 4 minutes.

Britton’s achievements include racing from 3,000 metres up to 261 kilometres in one single day, running a marathon in 2:29 and coaching multiple race-winning and record breaking athletes in the ultra-distance world.

The co-owner of Fast Running, with an MSc in Performance Coaching and already an accomplished writer, his work has also appeared in Runner’s World, Trail Running, Men’s Running and The Guardian, among others.

Watch this space for some tips articles and sharing from the book in the coming months.

Enjoy the writing of our editor Robbie Britton, then check outhis first book, 1001 Running Tips, due to be released this Autumn. 

The post 1001 Running Tips coming soon appeared first on Fast Running.

I’ve read a great many running books.

Scanning my little library, it looks like the iconic “The Complete Book of Running” by James E. Fixx was the first. That was in 1984, around about the time I began to “get serious” about my own running.

It is actually hard to define what makes a good running book when you are a runner yourself. I tend to be most satisfied by those that seem to connect the world that I live in as a runner to that other world of outstanding, even world class performances, making the superhuman appear more normal.

It helps if they are well written and add other dimensions that you hadn’t expected. Maybe because running is such a self-absorbing activity where numbers and medals tend to dictate “success”, breadth of perspective and literary quality tend to be much more rare than, say, in books written by climbers and mountaineers (the other well-stocked shelf in my library.)

Thankfully, Damian’s book is one of the rare ones.

First impressions

What becomes almost immediately apparent is that Damian is a writer who is describing his journey into becoming a world class runner, rather than a runner attempting to record his “story” in print.

Until the last 2 or 3 years, runners who devour the content of running magazines every month will have read his many articles without ever really considering where his running journey began.

Nevertheless today in the UK, Damian has become a kind of archetype for the trail running boom, with its focus on setting arcane personal goals, running further and across wilder terrain than we even considered in the 1980’s.

Unlike most of us, who just play at it by buying the gear and shuffling around on some trails or in the National Parks, Damian has applied himself in middle age to becoming the best he can be. He has made sacrifices and gambled with his career to do this.

Photo: Summit Fever Media

From humble, wandering beginnings

The book describes his accruals of expertise to help with his running form, his mental preparation and his equipment as well as his absorption of the best from several world-renowned coaches.

Early in the book he gives us an insight into the period of his life where he was an inveterate wanderer and world traveller, someone who the 2021 Damian, conscientious father and environmental activist, seems to be slightly ashamed of. The interplay of these two Damians is a fascinating undercurrent to his story.

Damian first came to my notice as a runner in 2016, when he set out on an incredibly audacious attempt to run the entire 630 mile South West Coast Path, clockwise, in less than 11 days.

GPS trackers and social media / exercise software such as Strava now allow us to dip into these types of experience vicariously from our armchair, and starting with that success five years ago, Damian has since provided pretty good value for we, his “dot watchers”.

This culminated in 2020 with his magnum opus, the beasting of Mike Hartley’s 1989 record for the North – South non-stop running of the Pennine Way. Whilst Hartley’s achievement was a typical “you had to be there” event, Damian had thousands of us following him virtually via his “dot” and multiple social media updates in real time.

Credit: Andy Jackson

Fastest Known Author at UTMB

The book of course focuses on the progression of these record attempts, or Fastest Known Times (FKT’s) on UK trails and mountain rounds. It is here where Damian’s skills as a writer are most to the fore in bringing us into his head during these long days of suffering, accompanied always by a smattering of self-deprecating gallows humour.

Damian’s other preoccupation, along with many of us flatlanders who yearn for the soaring peaks, has been with the self-styled “World Championship” of ultra trail running, the 105 mile “lap” of the Mont Blanc massif, Ultra Trail de Mont Blanc.

His successive attempts culminated in an outstanding 5th place, 2 years ago. We can feel his hunger to better himself and his calculated application of mental skills to achieving another audacious goal.

Still more to come

I would be fairly confident that Damian has far from finished with the “long form”, and I look forward to him developing further on his environmental concerns in other work, a subject which he gives lucid attention to here, but his ideas clearly need a bit of brewing time (much like his beloved tea!).

Sponsored athletes have an obligation to promote consumption and I am most interested to see how Damian balances this out in the long term. Having this book published as a carbon negative printed book is a damn fine start.

The book came to me when I was mid way through Nirmal Purjah’s account of summiting all the world’s 8000m peaks in 7 months. I had once again followed the incredible journey via social media and was very keen to read Nimsdai’s own account.

I made the mistake of deciding to read Damian’s first couple of pages while Nimsdai’s team were descending K2 in the Karakoram. “In it for the Long Run” proved to flow so well, and be that engaging, that Damian had arrived in Edale before Nimsdai got to the next peak!

Engaging, readable, funny, sometimes surprising and, yes, occasionally inspiring. Well worth a good read.

And if you do fancy ordering it, why not go straight to the publisher?

https://www.v-publishing.co.uk/books/books-new-and-coming-soon/books-new-and-coming-soon-in-it-for-the-long-run/

The post Book review: In it for the long run appeared first on Fast Running.

Did you know that 4.3 billion disposable sanitary products are used in the UK every year. The fact is there are 700,000 panty liners, 2.5million tampons and 1.4million pads flushed down the toilet every day.

Made using the finest organic cotton materials and the most advanced unique SILVADUR material, Iceni Silver are unique to the market and a game-changer in women’s sanitary sport wear.

The debut Iceni Silver collection of underwear has been designed by two friends, Vanessa Smith & Francesca Hansen, both mothers of super sporty young girls, who made it their mission to design and create the most comfortable and importantly, effective knickers available, to satisfy a clear gap in the women’s sanitary sportswear market.

Vanessa is a former England Netball international and both women found themselves all too often on the subject of how, on more than one occasion, they’d heard their daughters say that one of their friend’s wasn’t training because they were on their period and they were dreading their own.

The collection

The collection features 4 different stylish designs to fit all body types, shapes and most importantly flows from light through to heavy. Each pair of Iceni’s has been made using cutting edge SILVADUR technology which is proven to be the most successful material to absorb moisture, reduce odour and prevent stains.

Warrior Short  – designed with a thicker elastic and is slightly lower on the gusset making this extremely comfortable and easy to wear, especially when running and jumping. This design is very popular with tweens and teens.

Hipster – a super choice for an everyday knicker, and perfect to wear under low rise sports clothing such as yoga or, Pilates leggings.

Game Changer  – This is the perfect pant to wear under your sports apparel. The short design and the lycra fabric enables movement and is breathable, allowing you to be not only active but most importantly, confident whilst playing all sports

Sleep Easy – The clue is in the name. This super comfy design has the absorbent layer all the way up the back and will stop leakage. It will leave you comfortable and confident in the knowledge you will have no leaks while you sleep.

Wearing Iceni knickers is helping the drive for the self-care industry to become more sustainable. All Iceni knickers are re-suable and washable for at least 2 years.

First Period Pack

Founded by two mothers who saw the hurdles their own daughters had to overcome in their sport, the first period pack has everything a girl needs to start her period with confidence.

As well as a pair of the Iceni Hipster pants, it also comes with the Little Book of Growing Up – everything you need to know about puberty and periods in one brilliant little book, as well as soap and skincare products aimed at helping those with oily skin and acne, a common problem in puberty.

Iceni underwear will give the security and confidence to do everyday activities, whether it be sports, or all day at school. No odour, no leaks, no stress, no worries.

For more information please do check out the Iceni Silver website. This is not a paid advertisement or sponsored content, we at Fast Running feel it’s an important topic for our runners and hope to feature a product review in the future too. 

The post A new generation of period wear for sports appeared first on Fast Running.

As someone who’s been working on a long term injury, and more recently with my friend Paul Tierney on trying to improve how the bones/joints of the foot articulate so that the rest of my movement can positively benefit, it seemed a no-brainer to try out these gadgets to see if the work we was doing was changing anything.

Not only that, but a we got a free pair to test and they normally retail at £250 so it felt like a good swap for the time to test and review the products, especially if they helped me out in the meantime.

So what is it?

The Nurvv is a couple of insoles that go underneath your normal insoles, that attach to a sensor on the side of your shoe.

There’s 16 sensors in each insole and it links to an app on your phone, with certain watches and just records itself so you can upload and review your metrics afterwards.

If you’re an over-pronator, heel striker or front foot runner, the insoles will show you what they actually looks like across your run, different terrains and as you fatigue as well.

So I imagined it would be super insightful to see what it said about my feet, which Paul and I had found did very little in the way of pronation, even with my super high arch that just likes to stay where it is all the time.

“Your foot might as well be made out of concrete” was how Tierney worded it.

If you’re interested in our stylish tiles then you need to buy an old flat in Northern Italy. Also legs had been shaved for aerodynamic gains in an 1000km bike race and I don’t think it helped. Don’t judge me.

How it worked in action

The kit is all pretty self-explanatory but the instructions show you how to fit the sensor to the side of the shoe and how to secure onto thinner walled shoes too.

Syncing to your phone is also pretty easy and soon you’re ready to go. 

If, like me, you don’t actually run with your phone then you need to look into the traffic light system to tell you when they’re ready, as it’s your only guide. 

The sensors record your GPS location too so could be used instead of a watch in that regard, but it means waiting until they’re ready, which is easy to see with the phone, but not impossible without.

The Nurvv website informs us that the sensors are a lightweight 22g, which isn’t much to add onto your shoes, but it’s unclear if this is the insole unit or the unit on the side of your shoe as my set, for a UK size 9, adds up to 69g per foot.

Is the weight a big deal?



Now 60-70g isn’t a huge amount I hear you say, but if you’re in 250g training kicks then it’s nearly a 30% increase to each shoe. Mine are generally lighter shoes too so the percentage difference increases.

Personally, I’m very unlikely to add this kind of weight to each shoe when racing, which unfortunately removes one aspect of usefulness for the Nurvv for me.

Seeing how my gait changes in a race effort would be fascinating, but that kind of addition could realistically affect your performance. 

For faster training sessions, well if they slow you down a little that’s no bother really as it’s only training.

Up to you to think about the balance between the value in the metrics and the extra weight.

There is however the issue of whether a 30% increase in weight per shoe would change your gait in the first place. If this is actually more at the rear of the shoe too, where the recording units are, then could this have an impact? I don’t know.

Wearing the first time

The first time I wore the sensors I noticed one thing straight away: I was up on the balls of my feet more than normal.

Just knowing that my gait was being analysed on every step made me change something. 

Even as someone trying to be aware of this and trying to stay relaxed and normal, I couldn’t help myself.

Then there was a blister that occurred within about 30 minutes of the session on my right heel. I doubled checked afterwards for the fit and it was correct and it didn’t affect me in any other shoes, but my Adidas Adios didn’t like them. Or more specifically, my heel didn’t like them paired with the Adi.

Other than the blister though, you don’t really notice them in your shoes and changing from shoe to shoe is easy enough.

What did they tell me?

So the data and feedback from using the sensors was something I was really excited about. Having spent time trying to “re-educate” my feet a little, I wanted to see if there was some pronation going on.

Pronation was going on, more with my left than the right, which is one of the reasons I have had long term issues with my right lateral chain. Cheers Nurvv.

How about my foot strikes? Well the sole of every shoe I’ve ever owned can tell you that with it’s faded tread on the heel, but the sensors confirmed what I already knew there.

The feedback and the advice from the app was okay, if a little generic. How much do you want from an app though?

What’s good to see is that there isn’t any “X is bad and you should change it” messages in there.

With foot strike, cadence and pronation we are all a bit different and if you’re not injured and you’re running well then nothing might need changing.

After the initial excitement?

For the first few runs there was actual excitement to download the data and see what came out.

Testing different shoes, different terrain, gradient and pace all brought out similar results but was interesting none the less. 

Pretty soon the extra hassle of swapping shoes or the thought of adding time onto my intervals with the extra weight didn’t seem worth the trouble.

Maybe a one off use if I were trying to improve something, but beyond that they’re not getting much use.

So do you need a set of Nurvv sensors? Not really. A nice to have sure, but I can’t see people using these long term, as the makers seem to target. 

Could they be useful for someone working with a physiotherapist remotely? Maybe, but so could a slow motion video you take on your phone and send to them.

The conclusion?

So the big question, would I buy these for £250? No, I would not.

If you’re not changing how you run to adapt to the sensors and extra weight then maybe there is some usual data looking at how you run and how that changes over time with fatigue, but not every run and certainly not in a race.

A good physiotherapist or coach can eyeball a lot of what the gadget is telling you, plus if you use one of the apps like Hudl to take a slow motion video yourself then you can see a lot there too, for a lot less.

So thanks to Nurvv for letting us test our your product, it’s pretty neat and does it’s job pretty well, but ultimately I think a wiser investment of your money would be with a well recommended physiotherapist or knowledgable people in gait analysis like Profeet Custom or the big man Paul Tierney himself.

Robbie Britton is a coach, 2:29 marathoner and ultra runner who’s run 261km in a single day, so he does a lot of running. It makes senses to get him to review some products on some of those miles. 

The post The Nurvv run sensor review appeared first on Fast Running.

To help get you out the door in the darker months, here are some great tips from Dirty Runners Ry Webb and Laura Murphy.

Before you go anywhere make sure you have the right kit

Temperatures start to drop but can vary even within a short run.  Mornings and evenings are cooler but the days, especially if that lovely sun comes out to play, can still be warm. 

Remember it may feel cold when you’re in the toasty house or car but once you get that body temperature up 10 mins into your run you’ll feel warm.  As we always say, dress for mile two. 

Make sure you wear layers in breathable, sweat-wicking material.  If it’s particularly chilly you can wear gloves/buffs/beanie but don’t overdo it.  Autumn can also be wet however rain doesn’t have to stop play. 

Get your hands on a good wind and waterproof jacket, and we mean good – spend the money, it will be worth it!  Also think about your shoes.  With rain comes slippery ground and if you don’t want a bruised coccyx then make sure you’ve got some traction on those soles.  

Ry, suitably dressed for mile two, was alarmed to find a beam of light following him on the trail. Photo: Exposure Lights

Seeing helps

With Autumn comes more running in the dark but don’t let this put you off. Get yourself a good headtorch; an essential piece of kit we also think is worth spending the money on. 

We both wear Exposure Lights headtorches and are associated with them but that’s because we think they’re ace (and believe us, we’ve put them through a lot of testing).

Some people think a lightweight head torch is a good idea if you’re trying to run fast, but if you can’t see the floor ahead of you it doesn’t matter that your head is unburdened. Look for good lumens and good battery life, because running out of juice on a dark, muddy trail means a slow walk home.

This is the time to be an exhibitionist – YOU NEED TO BE SEEN!

Some people have drawers full of neon and high vis run wear, others just don’t (potentially linked to background in underground raves? – Ed.)

This is the time to seriously think about how visible you are when you’re running but it doesn’t mean you have to go buying new gear.

Check out what reflective strips/spots your clothing, shoes, packs etc have.  Consider getting high vis/reflective accessories, such as snap bands and vests, you can wear over your existing kit. 

We have small Velcro lights which easily attach to your kit and come pretty cheap (although we would argue your life is worth the cost hey!).  Your headtorch will also help you be seen and some even come with a red backlight which will help make you more visible.

Even snowy conditions shouldn’t stop you getting on the trails with the right kit. Photo: Dirty Runners

Get out on the trails

Whether you’re already a trail runner or want to try it out, Autumn is a great time to run trails.  Just look, listen and take a whiff.  The light and colours transforming, the trees moving in the wind, the leaves rustling under foot, the smells changing.

Stop for a minute and take it all in, though not too long or you may freeze your arse off!  

The road less travelled, into the mud and dirt, can open up a whole new adventure in your local area. Add to this the softer impact, extra work on unstable and sticky ground and some hills and it’s a really good winter addition to training. We think trails are fantastic all year round though.

Appreciate the changing light

Autumn may mean shorter days but that also means you also don’t have to get up so early to see that sunrise or be out so late to see the sunset.  If you are out in the dark check out the moon and if you’re on the trails you’ll have less light pollution so the stars should shine bright.

You got that extra hour of sleep back in October too so you should be well rested for an autumn and winter full of action. No excuses.

Being prepared for that darker evening run, with a good head torch, bright kit and maybe even a friend to meet (just the one under current guidelines) means you’re more likely to get out for that run too.

The sign of a good trail run.

Motivation

So we all struggle at times with the thought of going out for a run and will try find any excuse…the weather being too weathery, the darkness being too dark, the leg/hip/knee/little toe playing up blah blah blah. 

We can be the same especially when we’re tired or hungry.  You also all know we’ll feel better once we’re out and who doesn’t love that post run high?

Arrange to run with others…we know COVID has put a bit of a kibosh on socialising and things continue to change however if and when you can, make the most of running with others.  If you’re on your own, try out a new playlist or podcast (we recommend only using one headphone though especially if you’re running near roads etc).

If it’s cold, just think about the hot meal/drink/shower you can have when you get back, or even better, bed!

For longer term motivation, book a race, a dirty weekend away or set a challenge to train for.  Tell other people or even better, get yourself a coach to make yourself accountable.  Cooler temperatures can be perfect for trying for that PB the summer heat stole from you.

And don’t forget, moving and getting outside can help with mood and motivation in general.

Happy Autumn Running you lovely people…get out and get dirty!

Dirty Runners x

Dirty Runners is run by Ry Webb and Laura Murphy. They offer run coaching, guided runs and dirty weekends in the woods of the Surrey Hills. For more information or to get in contact, see their website here. 

The post Time to get dirty appeared first on Fast Running.

This article is a sponsored post from SOAR Running. 

In the UK if you’re a fast runner you’re likely part of the club running scene. It’s the backbone of British endurance and representing your club, sweating for your teammates, is part of being a distance athlete.

Whether it’s on the cross country or the road relays, SOAR want club runners to have the best kit for the task at hand. Which is why they’ve developed the Elite race vest club edition.

It’s one of the lightest, most comfortable and, let’s be honest, fast looking, race vests on the market and now it’s possible to get them in your club’s colours.

The humble club vest

We’ve all been there. Speaking to SOAR you know you’re talking with club runners, people who are part of our sport, and they want to build partnerships with clubs.

Gone are the days when the only option for cross country was a heavy, nipple eating, non-technical singlet. If you’re putting in the time and effort to beat your PBs and give everything for the club then you deserve the right kit to match your work ethic.

You can wear your favourite shorts, pick the best shoes, and now you can wear the racing singlet you’d likely choose in your own racing.

How it works

SOAR have developed the elite race vest with dedicated club runners and it’s made in the same advanced factory as the Tour de France “Maillot Jaune” so you know you’re in good hands.

Small runs of individual club colours means you don’t need convince the whole club to get involved, just enough athlete who want to be running in the best vest.

Then let SOAR take care of the rest. Fitting in seamlessly alongside your current club kit, the techicnal specifications for competition are covered. Your PB run will count for the club.

We are club runners

The race elite vest has already graced some fine performances for clubs such as Highgate Harriers, Tonbridge AC, Kent AC  and many more.

SOAR has proved that the concept works and club runners want to be able to perform in the best possible kit, so talk to your club mates today.

The 44g ultra lightweight vest might not knock ten minutes off your marathon best, but it could make all the difference for the club. Where one position could make or break a team charge for the medals, overtaking a rival at the finish line can be all the difference.

From first to last counter, you want to give yourselves the best opportunity to maximise on the hard work that goes on behind the scenes into every club performance.

Talk to us

SOAR are part of the UK club running scene. They want to partner with as many clubs as possible to raise the game in terms of club vests.

Let your kit match your ambition. Do your club proud.

To find out more, or to get the ball rolling, get in touch here.

The SOAR X TOUR is our way of staying true to the pursuit of summer speed. With a three-staged virtual races series, open to runners worldwide.

SOAR X TOUR sees racers test themselves over 1km, 1 mile and 5km consecutively over a 10 day period, with both stage and overall rankings and prizes up for grabs.

The post SOAR are club runners appeared first on Fast Running.

“I take what people aren’t using, for whatever reason, and make something they will use.”

It sounds so simple but how many of us have received race t-shirts that just don’t fit. We still accept them and then they live in a cupboard under the stairs.

“It all started with making some bits for friends,” said the enthusiastic home sewer. “Then I got a Trail Running Association t-shirt that was just way too big for me, it was massive.

So I made it into a really nice running skirt and just popped it on my social media. The response was really positive. All of a sudden an item of no use was one of my favourite running items.”

And this is how the high quality cottage industry was started. Helping friends and thinking outside of the box with a massive t-shirt. “It was my husband who came up with the name, Gin’s Running Stitch and it was perfect”.

Making things useful

The business started in October 2018 and has since made bundles of runners happy. This includes British international Ali Young who has two of her favourite t-shirts made into a functional running skirt.

“As many runners know, we have drawers full of running gear we never use,” said 24hr runner Young. “There are some race t-shirts we refuse to part with due to sentimental value but are not comfortable to run in so they stay in the drawer. Gin turned my Spartathlon & MDS t-shirts into wonderful skorts I love to use.”

Photo: Ali Young

Ali isn’t the only fan of Gin’s work. You can tell the pride when Gin says “about twelve months after setting up online Charlotte Jalley, of ReRun clothing, got in touch to say how much she loved the skirts and if I’d be interested in collaborating?”

“Gins running stitch gives the opportunity to prolong the life of much loved and cherished, but unworn race memorabilia by transforming it into something usable to that person,” said ReRun’s Jalley. “She’s saving it from a life in the back of the cupboard or box under the bed. So thank you Gin!”

ReRun’s main purpose is to raise awareness of simply just how much waste there is in the running industry. By partnering up with people like Gin they hope to show better options than just constantly buying new products.

If the material for your new favourite running kit is already in your house then why not use it?

“It’s not just about recycling what you have though, it’s also creating something memorable from your race t-shirts,” smiles Gin. “Many runners, especially females I find, just can’t wear the race t-shirts they’ve worked so hard for.” 

High quality matters

“I’m just trying to show people what’s possible”.

The majority of race t-shirts are uni-sex at best and we all know that just means it’s a man’s style. A decent fitting women’s race t-shirt is becoming more common, but it’s certainly not a given at the finish line.

Whereas Dan and Charlotte deal in huge volumes of unwanted t-shirts, Gin is more focused on helping individuals repurpose loved items into something actually useful.

“At first I would be really scared to cut into someone’s beloved t-shirts. I knew they’d worked so hard for them. Things like a Spartathlon t-shirt or Centurion 100 mile finishers top aren’t easy to get, and they trusted me to cut it to pieces.”

One thing that is clear from speaking to any of Gin’s customers is that this concern comes across in the form of extremely high quality work.

Ali Young concurs. “The care Gin took in transforming my MDS & Spartathlon t-shirts into skorts was second to none. As an Ultra runner herself she understands the effort gone into earning those tshirts and 100% cared about the outcome.”

Durability comes from caring abut your work

“I’m just a small cottage industry and the concern is that your work won’t hold together as well as the big professional sportswear makers, but actually the durability has been just fine.” said multiple marathon finisher Gin. “

At the Running Show one runner came up to show me a bag I’d made and told me she’d used it every day for a year. It was still in perfect condition”.

Funnily enough we assume higher quality with bigger industry but it’s the care and dedication of a single worker that can really make the difference these days. Gin’s is a real cottage industry and at every stage it sounds like the kit has to pass the quality control of the boss herself.

Not just running skirts

If the running skirts were the initial showcase piece for Gin, it’s certainly not the only product she makes. The “showstopper” title might have shifted to the Runner’s Poncho.

Made from 32 different panels you need to be a serial racer to own one of these but it certainly turns heads. Each one is handmade and takes 4-6 weeks for delivery, such is the time and effort put into making them.

Alongside there are also men’s shorts, running beanies, gaiters and a host of other useful running accessories that can turn unwanted kit into something you can’t do without.

Another recent collaboration was with Centurion Running, for whom Gin created beanies, gaiters and drop bags from unused t-shirts.

“Teaming up with Centurion was a dream come true, as they’re such a great company in the running world and when James [Elson – race director] got in touch I was really excited.”

Centurion have repeatedly been trying to reduce their own environmental impact over the years, from cup-less checkpoints to offering the option for runners to have “trees, not tees.”

Everything is personalised

So if you have those running t-shirts that aren’t being used, but you still want to remember your greatest achievements then get in touch with Gin.

“Everything I do is personalised. Even if two people sent in the same t-shirt there would be two unique skirts or hats at the end of the day,” insists Gin, who is a keen ultra-runner herself.

“No two pieces are the same. I want to create something that each person is proud to wear and take a lot of time and effort with each item.

The pride Gin takes in her work shows in the high quality end product, turning treasured, but unpractical, keep sakes into loved running kit that can be used every day.

To see the full range of what’s possible check out Gin’s Running Stitch online. There are also some products made from her own brightly coloured fabrics and beautiful mementos, like the Memory Bear, that can be made from your old tee shirts too.

The post Does your race tee-shirt have a new life ahead? appeared first on Fast Running.

A race vest is essentially a runner’s backpack with accessible pockets on the front for storing items like water, food and anything else you might need in a hurry. It’s basically a mix of backpack and fisherman’s vest. For ultra and trail running almost an essential, but overkill for parkrun.

The Ultimate Direction race vest packs were designed alongside experienced US trail runners like Anton Krupicka, Scott Jurek and Peter Bakwin and the 12-litre packs are the long distance choice for both Robbie Britton and Nats White – who give us their take on the kit.

Both ultra and trail runners they have used the packs for big adventures, such as the 338km Tor des Geants and a 580km run across the Kom-Emine trail in Bulgaria.

Robbie used the Mountain Vest and Nats the Adventure Vesta

“The Anton Krupicka Mountain Vest was just the right mix of lightweight storage on the back, with enough pockets on the front for all the things you might need close at hand,” says Britton. “It fits two water bottles alongside a whole host of sweets and has zip pockets for the valuables.

“When Nats and I ran across Bulgaria with our friend Ry we ran each day just with what we could carry on our backs. There was only the odd Bulgarian hut or road side shop. The UD vest had plenty of room and running up to 80km in a day meant a lot of food and drink.”

White used the Adventure Vesta for the Tor des Geants. It was rather a step into the unknown.

“The kit list alone filled a normal race vest so I needed something a bit more spacious but with all the usability of a normal race vest,” she says. “With a day between main life bases and a week of wearing the pack it needed to be comfortable.

“With all the issues of a 338km, 5 day mountain race thankfully the pack wasn’t one of them.”

 How do they fit?

Both these bags are adjustable and fitted Britton and White well, with hundreds of hours of use over the lifetime of the bags so far, they’ve been well and truly tested.

“There aren’t many female-specific packs out there, but UD solved that problem for me,” explains White. “Even when the pack is stuffed full there is a zip running the length of the pack.

“It allows easy access to the thing you never thought you’d need and shoved to them bottom of the bag.”

For those even more adventurously minded the AK vest actually has attachments for your ice axes. But before you start ordering a shiny new chopper you might want to build up the necessary experience first.

So if you are planning a longer day out, are a keen run commuter or have a multi day or mountain  adventure planned, the Ultimate Direction Mountain Vest and Adventure Vesta, are some of the best on the market.

The packs for the reviewers were provided by Centurion Running Store.

The post Trail kit: Ultimate Direction race vest review appeared first on Fast Running.