Progress Update Progress Update - 1st Feb 2021 Covering: 25th Jan 2021 to 1st Feb 2021 Current Long Term Goal: Run a marathon each month in 2021 Five Abbots Half Legs and energy levels were back to normal by the weekend so went out for a decent trail run around Abbots Leigh. I've started using ViewRanger
Review Altra - King MT 2 Review The Altra King MT2 Trail Running Shoe - Photo by Altra [https://www.altrarunning.eu/uk/king-mt-2.html]Since starting running I've always leaned towards the minimalist / barefoot style of running, specifically shoes that have zero drop, a wide toe box and focus on the foots natural movement
Route Recommendation Big Cheese - Friday Route Recommendation Distance: 25.8km Elevation Gain: 790m Type: Trail Route Link: Strava Link [https://www.strava.com/routes/2784393860691446928] The Big Cheese is a yearly event organised by the Cheddar Running Club [http://cheddarrunningclub.co.uk/the-big-cheese/] around Cheddar Gorge and the Mendips. The route is almost all trail, with only
Review Inov-8 Extreme Thermo Mitts - Tasty & Toasty Background This winter I've had a few pretty miserable runs exclusively due to frozen solid hands. It can be horribly uncomfortable not being able to feel your fingers, especially on a long run where you want to be taking things out of your pack & eating on the
Progress Update Chilled Cheese - Progress Update - 25th Jan 2021 Covering: 18th Jan 2021 to 25th Jan 2021 Current Long Term Goal: Run a marathon each month in 2021 Follow last weekend's first 50k run, this week has mainly been trying to maintain some mileage whilst actively recovering. I didn't want to stop completely, but at
Route Recommendation Gordano Round - Friday Route Recommendation Distance: 43.4km Elevation Gain: 932m Type: Trail Route Link: Strava Link [https://www.strava.com/routes/2784351443881408328] The Gordano Round is a walking route devised by Jim Dyer that spans from Clevedon all the way to Abbots Leigh in a figure of 8 set of trails. You can either
Progress Update First Ultra! Progress Update - 18th Jan 2021 Covering: 11th Jan 2021 to 18th Jan 2021 Current Long Term Goal: Run a 50k Ultra Marathon I need a new one! Following a few months of training I finally took the plunge and attempted a 50k run. Geared up and ready to goThe route would be a mixture of
Route Recommendation Prior's Wood, Portbury - Friday Route Recommendation Distance: 6.25km Elevation Gain: 170m Type: Trail Route Link: Strava Link [https://www.strava.com/routes/2785063461635521062] A short route good for practicing climbs just past Portbury. Start parking outside The Priory pub (a good place to visit afterwards once all this lockdown m'larky has ended) -
A Journey In Running Shoes A love letter to the (many many) shoes I've worn running. Based on the number of shoeboxes under the bed, I may have a problem... The Starting Shoes Merrell Intercept [https://www.merrell.com/UK/en_GB/intercept/16225M.html]As with most people; when I started running
Progress Update Progress Update - 11th Jan 2021 Covering: 4th Jan 2021 to 11th Jan 2021 Current Long Term Goal: Run a 50k Ultra Marathon in Q1 2021 Hit 55k last week in spite of the colder conditions, with ample opportunity to test out my new SealSkinz winter gloves. They've been a lifesaver and like chalk
Review 1,000 Miles Trail Sock Review Update 27th Jan 2021: Unfortunately I've now had to throw all 4 pairs brought in November 2020 as each one developed a hole over the big toe 😢 As the winter months crept in my usual summery Under Armour socks were starting to suffer with the cold and wet,
Route Recommendation Blaise Ultimate Green Trail - Friday Route Recommendation Distance: 9.95km Elevation Gain: 157m Type: Trail Route Link: Strava Link [https://www.strava.com/routes/2735800288926239626] A friend of mine took me for a run around Coombe Dingle up through to Blaise Castle just before the lockdown began way back in March. It was a cracking route and
Review Under Armour Convertible Run Glove 2019 Review Under Armour Convertible Run Glove [https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07QXMDVPS]Having run mostly with some cheap if cosy woolen gloves for that majority of 2020, I wanted something more substantial for those long cold winter runs. Being a big fan of Under Armour (I look like a
Progress Update Progress Update - 4th Jan 2021 Covering: 28th Dec 2020 to 4th Jan 2021 Current Long Term Goal: Run a 50k Ultra Marathon in Q1 2021 Had an absolutely cracking week over the holidays and pushed through a long standing weekly mileage barrier with a total of 76.6km run! Wednesday I did my second marathon,
Route Recommendation Leigh Woods Circular - Friday Route Recommendation Distance: 11.4km Elevation Gain: 209m Type: Trail Route Link: Strava Link [https://www.strava.com/routes/2759708620727513810] An all time favourite route that covers the whole stretch of Leigh Woods above the River Avon It starts on North Road, where you can usually find a parking spot right next
Review Salomon Adv Skin 12 First Impressions Need to know when you should start looking at getting a running pack? See here [https://leave-the-road-and.run/when-should-i-get-a-running-pack/] Having used the Adv Skin 5 [https://leave-the-road-and.run/salomon-adv-skin-5-review/] (that is, the 5 litre capacity version) for 6 months; I needed an upgrade that could hold more gear as my
Guides Staying Engaged With Running In The Winter In the warmer months; getting out there onto the trails just seems to be that much easier. It gets lighter earlier, the ground is drier, the weather brighter and you only need shorts & t-shirt to enjoy it. In the winter I like to think back and pretend every day
Review Salomon Adv Skin 5 Review For a guide on when you should look to buy a running pack, see this article. [https://leave-the-road-and.run/when-should-i-get-a-running-pack/] I brought the Salomon Adv Skin 5 [https://www.salomon.com/en-gb/shop-emea/product/adv-skin-5-set.html#color=21149] way back in January 2020 (Which, especially due to the lockdown life
Progress Update Progress Update - 28th Dec 2020 Covering: 21st Dec 2020 to 28th Dec 2020 Current Long Term Goal: Run a 50k Ultra Marathon in Q1 2021 More evenly distributed the weekly mileage this week with lots of 7-13km runs rather than one big long run on the weekend. Â On the plus side it meant running on
Guides When Should I Get A Running Pack? I have been running with a Salmon Adv Skin 5 Pack [https://www.salomon.com/en-gb/shop-emea/product/adv-skin-5-set.html#color=21149] for 6 months now and it is game changing for me, so much so I've recently upgraded to the 12 litre version for longer runs. However
Progress Update Progress Update: 21st Dec 2020 Covering: 14th Dec to 21st Dec Current Long Term Goal: Run a 50k Ultra Marathon in Q1 2021 Now entering the Christmas holidays and looking forward to two things: 1. Loosening the belt buckle a little over our time off 2. Getting out and doing some longer runs As of
Route Recommendation Chepstow to Tintern - Friday Route Recommendation Distance: 19.55km Elevation Gain: 593m Type: Trail Route Link: Strava Link [https://www.strava.com/routes/2733614445552987218] One of my all time favourite routes; one I've done multiple times with friends and enjoyed immensely each loop. Starting at Chepstow Castle, where there is a car park (paid
Route Recommendation Coaley Peak to Stroud Loop - Friday Route Recommendation Distance: 24.6km Elevation Gain: 745m Type: Trail Route Link: Strava Route [https://www.strava.com/routes/2770363251635188754] Every Friday I'll be posting a new route suggestion; showing off trail runs around Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset and South Wales. First up for this week is one of my favourite
Achievement Featured The Bristol - Stroud Loop 2020 During 2020 I started to struggle in finding new trails to do a long run over each weekend. Â This issue wasn't a lack of choice, but choice paralysis: there were just too many places I could go that I ended up struggling to pick one! To combat this;
News Welcome To Leave the Road & Run! This is a brand new blog focused on trail running in the South West of England, around the gorgeous landscapes of Bristol, the Cotswolds and South Wales. Set up by Luke Merrett [https://leave-the-road-and.run/about/] as a project to help others get into the sport, find new routes near
