Impressed by CompresSport

Its not often that i rave about a product, usually i will be positive and say what i think, being honest, but fair, but raving is something i stopped doing years ago......

But that changed yesterday with the arrival of a pair of CompresSport R2 Calf guards, courtesy of UK company director Tim Williams. CompresSport Calf and Quad supports are designed to compress the area around the calf, reducing the accumulation of toxins especially on long runs. this allows better movement of oxygenated blood around the body, thus bringing a better muscle recovery during exercise. The compression also reduces muscle movement during running, which makes the muscle work harder with reduced risk of injury.
However one of the better effects is that once used on a run, washed (by hand) and then put back on slightly damp, they work wonders in helping recovery, ready for the next run......

That's the technical aspects, but on a basic running level, how did they perform??? In a word - Superbly!

I had run the Frinton ½ on Sunday last week, quite hard (4 mins outside PB, in rotten weather) and so still had heavy legs yesterday when i ventured outside in the R2 guards. However within a few minutes the compression effects started to work and i could feel the heaviness in my legs lifting and feeling fresher and almost adding a bounce to my stride with each step. I found i could push harder that i usually would, with out feeling any strain, and the 12 miler went extremely well.

I have used other similar products, but these are far superior to they others in terms of comfort and quality, and will definitely be taking these on the Grand Union Canal Race in 2 weeks time. Can t wait to see what other clothing CompresSport create in the future, but if it is all as good as these then Skins and 2XU will have some serious competition, and i for one will be visiting their eStore for some more.

The guards can be bought via the following link, http://estore.compressport.uk.com/epages/288898.sf, so make your running easier and get compressed.

Til next time - Safe Running!!!

Frinton ½ Marathon

A short but to the point post today,after yesterdays Frinton ½ Marathon (incorporating a 5 & 2 Mile fun run). It's almost mid May and by now we would be expecting something warm, so when i booked up for this race i suggested to my wife and daughter that they do the 2 miler and we hit the beach afterwards for ice cream and relaxing. WRONG!!!!!

Yesterday was about 8c, strong winds from the north and intermittent showers - in short February weather. Still that didn't stop us and at 10:30 i set off with the ½ runners, followed shortly by the 5 & 2 milers. Mandy & Freya completed their 2 mile course in about 35 mins, which for a 5 year old is good going, and she runs like a natural apparently (don't know who she gets that from but its not me!!).

My race was more eventful, with a mixture of hills (all on-road) and beach wall, and very hilly (1220 ft of climbs in all), but i hit a good rhythm passing the mid point in 44 mins and feeling ok, considering that most of my recent training has been at a far slower pace. After that point we dropped onto the seawall, running past beach hut and shivering holiday makers, and then hit the hills, so my pace dropped. My initial pace had me on for a time close to my PB, but the weather, rain and hills put paid to that and i hit the finish tape, none worse for wear in 1:33. Happy with that and even happier that my girl had her first medal and both her and Mandy enjoyed the race.

Off for a hot chocolate and warm scone and relax.

Next up - Grand Union Canal Race in 3 weeks, and as per my previous report - the nerves are settling in and planning is in full swing.

One last point - we now have a regular Blog on Polaroid's web-site where we will be updating progress regularly and offering advice accordingly - http://www.polaroidsunglasses.co.uk/blog, and we have also been contacted by someone in the US who is looking to promote us over there and who had a great deal of advice to share with us on Saturday last week - so check that out too at Tycoons Venture.

And one final - Final item. I have now been called an Elite athlete (first and last time - and have been called many other things, but never elite), as a group of us have set up a Team Buff page on Facebook, to promote Buff events and create our own, stay tuned..........

Update

Time for an update and re-write of my Blog page (after cleverly deleting all the sponsors links - to be restored ASAP).

Its been a hectic few weeks, following on from the Crawley ½ Marathon on April 10th. Training has been sporadic, mainly due to a week off after the race followed by a shoulder injury that has restricted (to say the least) any serious running. That said i have a ½ marathon in Frinton on Sunday and still feel that i can push to get close to a PB (currently 1:29), despite a lack of running.

Looking forward towards the end of the month and the Grand Union Canal Race (http://www.gucr.co.uk/) and i feel that with a few more weeks incorporating long runs, but nothing fancy i will still be ready to give it 100% on the day. The race starts at 6am on Saturday 29th May, with a 19 hour cut-off at 70 miles and a 45 hour finish cut off. This week i have been getting information through from Dick Kearn (Race Director) which has started the nerves tingling, especially with statements like "The principal cause for concern is that runners may, through fatigue or dehydration, become disoriented and fall in the canal, get lost, or collapse in a remote location" Fall into the canal - didn't even think of that - UNTIL NOW!!!!!!

Anyway - Kit is slowly being compiled, with itemised drop bags for day and night running, as well as snacks etc. Alex is awaiting a last minute entry, which would be great as i need someone to nag during the run, and it would also be great to have him on the run.

Sponsors
Its been a big couple of weeks here too. Last week we received a couple of pairs of Sunglasses from Polaroid, for us to auction and put the proceeds to the Charity, and they have also started pushing our profile via their blog (http://www.polaroidsunglasses.co.uk/blog/2010/04/10-million-metres-raising-1million-for-parkinsons/) and have asked us to be guest bloggers with race info, training advice and general progress of the challenge - which we will do with great gusto.

And yet another fantastic sponsor has arrived on the scene. After a speculative e-mail in March, i received a message from Dave Suddes at Lowe Alpine, who replied with the wording "time to time some really stand out from the crowd and I have to say that this is one". and the great offer of £600 of clothing and gear from their web-site to use in our events, and would we be interested. - Silly question!!. The clothing arrived yesterday and is superb. I will pout a proper review on here once i have given it a run out (literally), but initial thoughts are very positive and i am looking forward to trying it out.

Plans are now afoot for other races to add to the 10 Million Metre challenge (check Facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/10MillionMetres), including a run in Germany in September, once we get 4 crew and 2 4x4 vehicles, which Alex is investigating, so watch this space.........

With other smaller races planned over the forthcoming months, including the London and Henley Triathlons, Caesars Camp 50 in October and have just found out today that i have a free entry into the Salomon Turbo X race in Bordon in November (mud, wet, dirty, rivers, swamps and killer hills - sounds great fun) we are pushing that total higher each month.

Finally (if you are still awake), Alex was interviewed on BBC radio Berkshire yesterday. A very good interview that will open the eyes of anyone who thinks Parkinson's Disease only affects the elderly, and shows how Alex has, and is, coping with this terrible degenerative illness and that like an Icelandic volcano, he has no intention of stopping - Check out the following link at 2 hours 10 mins and 30 sec:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p007khn4/Sarah_Walker_04_05_2010/

Til next time - Stay moving!!