jogging and motivation thread

[rECKleSSfElla]

@sales69 Anta Zone 2 90 going for 325rmb on PDD if you are interested. Think that's the cheapest I have seen. This 6.18 sale looks kinda meh otherwise.....

 

[WussRedXLi]

Talking about Topo, past couple of days been getting spammed on Youtube with video recommendations of this Topo Spectre 3.



Its like every few weeks there is a new "next best thing" or "running shoe of year" contender. Last week it was Puma Deviate Nitro Pure and now there is this. Too much fake hype from some of these big time western youtubers.

When i started running it was Novablast 3. Super duper hyped. But still, it is a good shoe ba.

So nowadays i dont buy / chase shoes already. Some of my cycling pals really have n+1 bikes and chase after new bikes thinking they are faster , even HDB dwellers can dedicate a bike room. Of coz not to judge or what, if it keeps you in the hobby then by all means it isl ok coz afterall it's a healthy hobby.

But if want to maximise performance best is just to focus on training and other more substantial tweaks, like diet and nutrition, sleep and recovery, strength, plyometrics which actually matter just as much collectively, possibly in some cases more than the actual training itself.

edit - not saying shoes dont make a difference, not my intention. But for our amateur usages, once past a certain point, the law of diminishing returns is real.

 

[WussRedXLi]

Actually for bikes, there is some videos and studies/data shown that the bikes themselves might feel stiffer and more responsive and all what nots, but all these do not contribute meaningfully to faster times, at least not in our amateur usage realm

But our brain can easily detect various axis to be stiffer, which leads to a better "responsiveness", our brains are really that sensitive and perceptive. So the difference in feeling - yes. Net you meaningful improvements in time, no, not after a certain point. And that point can actually be met with pretty cheap lower range carbon fibre bikes.

Another thing i dont understand cyclists is, they pay dearly like additional close to 10k for a bike to add around 10W in aerodynamic efficiency at 40kmh. But then they mount 2 regular round water bottles and that is a minum of -8W already. (in some cases they said as much as 11 to 14 watts aero drag but that's the higher range)
And then just stuffing a water bottle down your front jersey can net you another 5-8W depending on config (same speed). A cheap up-to-the-knee aero socks with vertical trip lines can net you that kind of savings esp if legs are moderately hairy. But that is actually a no-no for some groups / settings.....and actually that is true as i usually find way more non aero socks than the aero socks.
Then another point similar to aero socks is jerseys arm sleeves with trip lines and some even have trip lines at the upper traps area - another cheap ass aero tweak and is next to nothing coz it is "always there".

 

[sales69]

Thanks, will look into that.
Yeap, already on WHITIN for about 2 years, can do Macritchie to Bukit Timah trail with a light 5kg load, no issue so far. Looking for something with a bit more protection and higher durability.

How about Altra?

<b>Altra</b> Olympus 5.0 HIKE MID GTX GoreTex Maximum Cushion Sports Hiking Outdoor Adventure Trail Running Walking <b>Shoes</b> For <b>Men</b>
https://s.lazada.sg/s.Un91F?c=s&t=p-i2kUgyv-sGrcKDo

They also have other zero drop models like Torin, Riviera, Via Olympus with good cushioning.

I tried the Riviera but had to return it as sizing is off. Cushioning is pretty nice.

Also have the Escalante Racer 2 with lots of ground feel but barely any cushion. (this shoe is like 2 years old but using over 5 years ago foam tech...)

Chinese brands now have more trail options but zero drop could be limited.

I'm running with the Qiaodan 轻鸿free on gravel. Low stack cushion, ground feel but still protective.

Barefoot feel. But it is 4-5mm drop, not zero drop.

 

[WussRedXLi]

Really modified and adaptive training......but the basics and fundamentals still there.

Im actually surprised that they train so much upperbody + with so much intent, and with so much added resistance that i dont think experienced Hyroxers or calisthenics folks would say these are easy.
Core training and legs no need to say.

 

[WussRedXLi]

 

[WussRedXLi]

Youngsters are amazing. Really regret not exposed to such things when i was young. No such thing as internet also anyway, not even during NSF days and even if got access and have altavista, no such content then.


My kid jumped from like just 4-5 australian pull ups and now 15...started just 3 weeks ago (sch holiday started)
15kg bulgarian split squats for 12 reps, initially could barely do 8 unweighted.
15 push ups now. Just a handful initially.
Of course, these are newbie gains (mostly neurological), i also experienced this, but at a much slower rate.


Young teenagers adapt and improve remarkably fast with strength training due to a powerful combination of rapid neurological adaptations, an optimal hormonal environment, and high cellular recovery rates. [1, 2, 3]
During this unique developmental window, their bodies are highly receptive to physical stress, allowing them to see rapid gains in both functional strength and coordination. [1, 2]

---

1. Rapid Neurological Adaptations ("Newbie Gains") [1, 2, 3]
The primary driver behind why young teens get strong so quickly is not actually sudden muscle growth, but changes in their nervous system. [1]

• Motor Unit Recruitment: Training teaches the brain to recruit and fire a higher number of motor neurons simultaneously. [1]
• Intermuscular Coordination: The brain quickly learns how to make different muscle groups work together harmoniously. [1, 2]
• Increased Efficiency: Because their nervous systems are highly plastic, teens master complex movement patterns (like squatting or pressing) much faster than adults. [1, 2, 3, 4]
• Rapid Baseline Adaptation: Studies noted by institutions like the National Strength & Conditioning Association show that adolescents can improve strength by 30% to 50% in just 8 to 12 weeks through these neural leaps. [1, 2]

2. The Hormonal Surge of Puberty [1]
As teenagers transition through puberty, their endocrine systems undergo a massive transformation that naturally primes the body for athletic progression.

• Surging Testosterone: In adolescent boys, testosterone levels skyrocket, directly triggering muscle hypertrophy (growth) and rapid strength scaling. [1, 2]
• Growth Hormone (GH): Both teenage boys and girls experience massive spikes in GH and Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1), which accelerate tissue repair and bone remodeling. [1, 2, 3]
• Protein Synthesis: High baseline hormone levels allow the body to utilize dietary protein far more efficiently for repairing and building muscle tissue.

3. Elite Recovery Capacity
Young teenagers possess a biological advantage when it comes to bouncing back from strenuous physical exertion. [1]

• Higher Metabolic Rate: A naturally elevated metabolism rapidly clears metabolic waste products from the muscles post-workout. [1, 2]
• Deep Sleep Quality: Teenagers typically spend more time in deep, slow-wave sleep, which is the exact window when the body releases the peak amount of growth hormone for recovery. [1]
• Tissue Elasticity: Younger tendons, ligaments, and joints have excellent blood flow and cellular turnover, meaning they experience less lingering soreness compared to older adults. [1, 2, 3]

 

[WussRedXLi]

Does Strength Training make you a faster cyclist

The gains are real and good. But the caveat i guess is that for the time crunched, you are probably best served by just doing it at home or your estate's fitness corner which then you can do when you are passing by, and not specifically going to the gym.
Even if for the amateurs like us are not time crunched, the best bang for your buck is still best done at home, 2-3X a week.

Another topic being touched on - climbers seem to be fitter than training on the flats, for the reason that practically, more work per unit time can be done.
But i think if you select you venue/route carefully, all these differences between flat, climbing and indoor trainer can be minimized.

 

[WussRedXLi]

Overcooked the pacing this time round.

 

[WussRedXLi]

 

[WussRedXLi]

800m again

 

[WussRedXLi]

No joke

Actually you ask me to even cycle (slowly in zone 0 and 1) for over 10 hours i think you can just shoot me with a gun first. The overall fatigue is crazy.

It's also quite rolling, with a total elevation gain of 1800m.

 

[WussRedXLi]

 

[GlassDoor]

When i started running it was Novablast 3. Super duper hyped. But still, it is a good shoe ba.

So nowadays i dont buy / chase shoes already. Some of my cycling pals really have n+1 bikes and chase after new bikes thinking they are faster , even HDB dwellers can dedicate a bike room. Of coz not to judge or what, if it keeps you in the hobby then by all means it isl ok coz afterall it's a healthy hobby.

But if want to maximise performance best is just to focus on training and other more substantial tweaks, like diet and nutrition, sleep and recovery, strength, plyometrics which actually matter just as much collectively, possibly in some cases more than the actual training itself.

edit - not saying shoes dont make a difference, not my intention. But for our amateur usages, once past a certain point, the law of diminishing returns is real.

on the contrary.. i feel shoes are a key part of the puzzle to make running a fun life long hobby. of course like any hobby it can become obsessive. some chase performance... most chase the fun factor... and for those with monthly volume of more than 300k it becomes a necessity. So do whatever that floats your boat

 

[Kitaro9202]

Just receive my anta pg7 ultra
Quite comfy but is abit heavily compare to 361 flame mix 4
Does anyone have try running and swim on the same day?

 

[WussRedXLi]

Not a bad woman runner.

 

[WussRedXLi]

on the contrary.. i feel shoes are a key part of the puzzle to make running a fun life long hobby. of course like any hobby it can become obsessive. some chase performance... most chase the fun factor... and for those with monthly volume of more than 300k it becomes a necessity. So do whatever that floats your boat

Yea shoes can indeed be a point of interest as i mentioned. Anyway if one needs some motivation and fun goals in this aspect , can also be obssessed with the times / training methods used or even start training with the running groups (social aspect). These are far more sustained than buying, coz when the space hits the physical storage limit, then one would be out of luck liao.


it becomes an issue if the rate of purchase is > than the usage rate, and also exacerbated if weekly mileage is not high. I still have over 12 pairs of shoes in the cupboard despite stopped buying for like 3 years alr and even add a new 6 single rack tall shoe rack.......some pairs even chucked into the water/electrical riser due to shoe rack constraints. Coz my wife also has a few pairs.

I am sure I am on the lower end of the spectrum and some have well over 50 pairs of shoes.

 

[sph777]

Just receive my anta pg7 ultra
Quite comfy but is abit heavily compare to 361 flame mix 4
Does anyone have try running and swim on the same day?

@GlassDoor does run and swim. I do sometimes too, but usually swims are recovery

 

[sph777]

@Skyrillex Long time no see. Any updates on if you have reached your sub 3?

 

[GlassDoor]

Just receive my anta pg7 ultra
Quite comfy but is abit heavily compare to 361 flame mix 4
Does anyone have try running and swim on the same day?

recently added run-swim into my workouts inspired by T100. but my swim is **** slow... almost 40mins