LondonSkaters Speed Team - Speed Skating & Rollerblading Club in London

lemming · Joined: 05 Jan 2005 Posts: 693 Location: Reading, UK

OK - some random questions regarding marathons, skates and things..

1. For a marathon, is water plentiful enough, or is it sensible to bring my camelback?

2. If I had a pot load of cash, what would be a sensible boot to buy. I assume I could then bolt existing frames on the bottom anyway? the Vaypor looked rather nice... Obviously I'd want to get it moulded too on account of my high arches and extremely odd shaped feet.

3. For the first marathon that I'm doing, I was not intending to wear a speedsuit (on account of not being quick) and will wear some wicking material t-shirt and similar walking trousers. However, what goes UNDER a speedsuit. Should I be concerned with VPL? Surprised

Mikey-two-Names · Joined: 24 Feb 2004 Posts: 4108

1) You could take a camelbak, I used to but IMO it's overkill for a short event. I find 500ml of water is enough. Actually I'll take two bottles if I can.

2) Boots that fit and are comfortable.

3) Nothing should go under, that's well dodgy.

Xia · Joined: 06 Apr 2004 Posts: 874 Location: Geneva (Suisse)

1/ I Always carry a tiny camelpack, on some marathon water is hard to get (goodwood) / one or two small rater of bottles will also do, depending on how you feel with your cammel pack.

2/ aything that is confy... you might have a super really fast carbon boot but if you have to stop after 1/2 hour what's the point. Mike and Gavin should point yu toward the roght providers. Ray might also help from his vast amount of skates.

3/ what is vpl?

Naomi · Joined: 01 Jun 2004 Posts: 374 Location: London

are you seruios? you dont wear anything under a skinsuit? hell you guys are just going to have to look away then, because im gonna be VPL city.

Gav · Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2005 2:49 pm Subject:

Never wear nothing under a skinsuit All it takes it one tear.... Smile

I wear briefs hehehe.

If you get moulded boots, then Bont, Junkers, etc are all good. But NB to make sure whoever makes the boot does the moulding. Don't do moulds and send them off. That's the only reason I might say don't go Bont (unless they happen to be in London doing moulds at some time!).

Mikey-two-Names · Joined: 24 Feb 2004 Posts: 4108

Yup that's the danger of a crash innit? Most people don't seem to loose too much lycra, but it could be worse and embarrassing. I don't like wearing stuff under my skinsuit because that gets nasty with sweat, and chafing isn't good. VPL is much less of a reason for me.

Boot molding, yeah make sure you go to someone who knows what they are doing. Junkers and all manufacturers are the same really, you need to travel to a recommended/authorised boot molder to get a proper job done. Fit is too important not to get it right.

Fred_Paris · Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2005 11:28 pm Subject:

I'm used to wear stuff under my skinsuit... I always wear extra stuff even if it is not needed...

like that : http://perso.wanadoo.fr/altaris/Pictures1/ready%20to%20start.jpg

Rolling Eyes

Regarding the water question depending of the weather, but usually 500ml is enough, on marathon water is provide most of the time as well

lemming · Joined: 05 Jan 2005 Posts: 693 Location: Reading, UK

Natasha · Joined: 09 Jul 2004 Posts: 2973 Location: Basingstoke

I always carry water, I find dehydration is the one thing that makes me grind to a halt. Happy to carry a full litre and a half, I got through that on the streetskate last night. There was no water in Berlin until the 15km mark, that was hell. As for VPL, don't you chaps wear your lucky pants for marathons too? Laughing

LHDQ · Joined: 12 Jan 2005 Posts: 10

If you go to Lille (or any other French In-line Cup), Philippe Renard will probabily mould feet of clients who can't go to Paris...

http://renardinline.free.fr/

Natasha · Joined: 09 Jul 2004 Posts: 2973 Location: Basingstoke

Rick · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 5914

Back to the water question...On a marathon, if it is really hot you may well need fluid. If it's not you won't. You should be able to get away without a drink and then rehydrate at the end in all but the worst conditions. I did a sparsely populated marathon in 28degrees once and drank three litres during the race and was still dehydrated at the end. Normally I follow these guidelines:

Try to be well hydrated before the start but not so much that you need a pee while waiting for it to begin.

If you are on a line (good or bad) and nobody on the line in front takes a drink at a water station, then you don't either. You will lose the line and that is worse than not having a drink. If people in front go for a drink then take one if you fancy as the line is possibly going to breakup anyway. It might reform.

If they are giving out cups of water, instead of bottles, don't take any and be careful as there will be a lot of water on the ground.

Fred_Paris · Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2005 12:03 am Subject:

Once on a race I've seen cups of water... actually it was funny... as long as you have your water with you it's funny.

I think cup of water are rare, it is difficult when you are running to catch a cup, but while skating it is almost impossible.

ps : NashaP yes it's me Laughing

I was used to wear this suit on the French FNS last year and decided to continue this way, I'm going to add a red led in place of my left eye... But still have some testing to do in order to be able to see the road Shocked

peterc · Joined: 10 Mar 2004 Posts: 1284 Location: M3 somewhere

I tend to wear something, (but not much) under lycra, hell I'll risk VPL, it's either that or show just too much.

I've yet to take water on a marathon, but I havn't done any big non circuit ones.

Boots, comfort is good, otherwise you won't train in them as much, if nothing else.

Rick · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 5914

Cups of water have been handed out at Frankfurt, Cologne and a couple of others in Germany. I expect them to learn to give out bottles in the end.