What are the UK’s best 100 mile races?
PLUS!
- How to choose a trail shoe?
- Best sunglasses for off-road runners?
- How to make a running t-shirt bean bag!
Find out in my Q&A series, answering all your trail and ultra running questions. (Scroll down for links to all the books/gear I mention)
Wild Ginger Running is a YouTube channel dedicated to bringing you the best advice and gear reviews for trail and ultra running, created by me, Claire Maxted, co-founder and former editor of Trail Running magazine UK. Ask me all your running questions!
This month’s exclusive Patreon-only competition is £500 worth of running kit & race entries! Find out how to be in with a chance to win here! www.patreon.com/WildGingerRunning
All the dead useful things I referenced in this video:
A review of highly cushioned shoes vs knees:
iancorless.org/tag/are-hoka-one-one-any-good/
The Amazon links below are affiliates that give me a tiny percentage of the sale at no cost to you, so please click on these first before you buy anything on Amazon (it works even if you’re not buying running gear! Cool isn’t it!) Thank you, Claire
Shoes featured:
Hoka Torrent – I do wear a pair of these, but the toe box is a little narrow for me, so they aren’t my shoe of choice, but the grip is great for trails if you have slimmer feet and want more cushioning. They have a 5mm drop. Can only find this in the UK on Amazon sorry!
UK amzn.to/2NzhdPr
USA amzn.to/2EvLSKc
Canada amzn.to/2EwDuu8
Saucony Xodus – I’ve worn a pair of these before but the grips were quite close together and mud used to just cling to them and stay in there! They are very cushioned with a 4mm drop.
UK amzn.to/2T36UJ9
USA amzn.to/2NwcHRG
Canada amzn.to/2Ew4sSA
Inov8 Trail Talon 290 – I wore these for all my Cape Wrath Ultra training and then my feet swelled so much I couldn’t fit them in them beyond day 4 of this 8-day race! Really like this shoe, but would prefer thicker laces as these skinny ones are harder to use with gloves on and can cheese-wire your feet if too tight.
UK amzn.to/2E8UDsu
USA amzn.to/2BVC62t
Canada amzn.to/2Exn4BT
Salomon Speedcross 4 – I wear these all the time for random jobs about the house and working on photoshoots as these ones are Gore-Tex (waterproof). I wouldn’t generally run in a waterproof shoe but I was sent these to test. The 10mm drop suits my plantar fasciitis problems atm, but the Quicklace system doesn’t fit snug around my feet so they move in the shoe, without double layer socks from 1000 Mile Socks I can’t wear them beyond 6 miles without getting an arch blister. The socks double the distance comfortably.
UK amzn.to/2E8VNnQ
USA amzn.to/2Ev8db0
Canada amzn.to/2Ewai6u
Inov8 Mudclaw G 260 graphene – can’t wait to talk about this on Wednesday’s live broadcast! (8:30pm Wed 27 Feb)
UK amzn.to/2EwZRQk
USA amzn.to/2U5Sq7L
Canada amzn.to/2EwhqzR
Altra Superior 4.0 – I really enjoyed wearing the 3.5’s so I’ll be talking about these on a Wednesday night live very soon! (probably Wed 13 March, always at 8:30pm)
UK amzn.to/2E9GhYR
USA amzn.to/2tAXxRI
Canada amzn.to/2Ew4z0s (still 3.5)
Oriocx Malmo – a new brand for me, so excited to test out these gripsters in a future live broadcast (I’m live every Wed 8:30pm)
www.fenlandrunner.com/store/p209/ORIOCX_MALMO.html
Sunglasses featured:
Oakley Radar Lock Paths – my fave sunnies of all time even though they make me look like a giant bug. Wrap around, stays on nose with grips there and rubber on arms too. Lovely tint that makes the view seem even better plus rosie-coloured sunsets.
UK amzn.to/2GIxPDJ
USA amzn.to/2Xm9Jnb
Canada amzn.to/2TguvW6
Bloc Riser XR1 – nice looking, great tint and large lens almost wraps around, but no rubber at nose so can slip when sweaty.
UK amzn.to/2Xi05SF
Not overseas sorry
Goodr Sunbathing with Wizards – look fun and funky, but polarised so cannot see any phone or GPS watch screens! Very annoying! Plus they definitely slip off the nose when sweaty and hot. Don’t really wear these at all which is a shame because they look DOPE.
UK amzn.to/2SWudV4
USA amzn.to/2Xm9Pv3
Canada amzn.to/2EuTLzQ
Sunwise Twisters or similar – not worn a pair yet but keen to as they are all especially for sportswear, with rubber grip at the nose and wrap around fit.
UK amzn.to/2NslUdN
USA amzn.to/2EufI23
Canada amzn.to/2Evr4Tp
Backpacks featured:
Camelbak Octane 9 – worn this one a lot as is quite large good for my camera kit, but I like a pocket at the side rather than adjustment – good to adjust fit for larger runners though!
UK amzn.to/2U5DPJG
USA amzn.to/2H1Zq24
Canada amzn.to/2NrXwZI
Orange Mud Endurance 2L – not worn much as heavier than most other packs, but very robust will last forever, and adjust at side great to fit larger runners.
UK not on Amazon in UK
USA amzn.to/2ExeS4r
Canada amzn.to/2NrAD8E
Insect repellents recommended:
Off! (deet)
UK amzn.to/2Ew522I
USA amzn.to/2XmRONi
Canada amzn.to/2NsOtYr
Cutter (no deet)
UK amzn.to/2NtlMdI
USA amzn.to/2H1ZVJu
Incognito (no deet)
UK amzn.to/2XnFbS3
USA amzn.to/2Tfw46I
Canada amzn.to/2EuUb9o
What I’m testing at the moment:
Lumefit LED light vest – I’m wearing this for running at night, our running club doesn’t allow anyone without lumo on! It’s fantastic, and I think it’s good value at £14 as you get flashing or not-flashing settings for white front and red back lights, and 2 soft, velcro reflective armbands.
UK amzn.to/2EcLDSZ
Active Root electrolyte and energy drink powders – used in hot hot hot Israel and great taste especially the Peppermint one, mmmm. Really like using ginger in drink form, great for the stomach and aids digestion.
UK amzn.to/2SYUcLy
USA amzn.to/2BPjPnu (closest I can find!)
Veloforte Zenzero Lemon, Ginger and Pistachio energy bar (delicious!) Use my code WILDGINGER20 to get 20% off at the online checkout here veloforte.cc/collections/our-products
I seem to have a ginger theme going this fortnight…!
How to make a running t-shirt bean bag from your old race freebies!
Here are the step by step instructions from my amazing mum.
Races:
Here’s my first ultra, the Tour de Helvellyn, mentioned in this film here, plus a 9 other great trail races for this year. youtu.be/GFqwtsmM_yE
Got a niggle like my Plantar Fasciitis? I recommend Running Free of Injuries by Paul Hobrough
UK amzn.to/2Awl9ek
USA amzn.to/2CUN899
Canada amzn.to/2Cg8s7F
My favourite GPS watch is the Garmin Forerunner 235
UK amzn.to/2I64C6V
USA amzn.to/2E4qwUg
Canada amzn.to/2RUPitF
My fave running pack is the Raidlight Responsiv 10L
UK amzn.to/2ABkok7
USA amzn.to/2RFekRC
Canada amzn.to/2Fe7Li1
If you’re on a budget though, look at the Aonijie 5L running pack which is more like £35-£45
UK amzn.to/2ABkok7
USA amzn.to/2C4MZhJ
Canada amzn.to/2LSLAPX
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Music: Animal by Max Surla/Media Right Productions
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