Iain, Author at Better Sore Than Sorry

Living with Lions – Find your Motivation

Although running and cycling are my main pastimes, my favourite team sport is Rugby.

Currently down in New Zealand the British and Irish Lions are preparing for the First Test match on Saturday against the back to back World Champions.

To the uninitiated, every 4 years a squad of rugby players are selected from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales to go on a 7-8 week tour to either Australia, South Africa or New Zealand. They play a number of matches against club and regional sides and culminates in 3 Tests against the hosts. Most rugby players see being picked to be in a Lions squad and playing a test match as the pinnacle of their career. Continue reading “Living with Lions – Find your Motivation”

Heart Rate – Does it help your running?

When I’m BMFing, I turn my Garmin watch face to the heart rate screen. This is so I don’t end up looking at it and realising there is still 40 minutes left!

I’ve been hearing about heart rate zones for years. I came to discover when I wrote my post on the PB (PR) trap, that I was running in the “grey zone”. An area where always running at a higher intensity does not improve your aerobic system more. It just wears you out. Continue reading “Heart Rate – Does it help your running?”

Joining a Running Club – Should you?

I recently attended a few running club sessions over the last couple of weeks at the Wimbledon Windmilers.

If you’re contemplating joining a running club and what to move on with your running. Here are some thoughts that have been going around my head for a while now, as I’ve tried to make a decision. Continue reading “Joining a Running Club – Should you?”

London 10 Mile Race Recap 4/6/17 – The New Distance One

The price of entry to big races is getting expensive. Everyone wants great locations, closed roads, clinical organisation, loads of toilets, goody bags and big medals.

The Entry

The price to enter the London 10 mile was £44 and then they also sneaked on a £2.53 processing fee! Something that’s common and really annoying for music gigs, but nothing I’ve come across at running events. It didn’t stop me or plenty of others though. Continue reading “London 10 Mile Race Recap 4/6/17 – The New Distance One”

Foam Rolling – Can it help recovery?

Foam rolling has become more popular and it made me think if self-massage is good for you.

Would you let an inexperienced physiotherapist or masseuse loose on your body or would you seek out someone with the relevant qualifications and experience?

I’ve foam rolled on and off for a few years and tend to do it most when my legs are really sore.

What is Foam rolling?

Foam rolling is a form of self-myofascial release (SMR) using a plastic cylinder wrapped in foam.

Myo denotes muscle. Continue reading “Foam Rolling – Can it help recovery?”

Phones – Weapons of Mass Distraction

Next time you’re on a train. Look around you. Everyone’s on their phones. It’s a bit eerie!

That pocket-sized supercomputer that contains your life. 1,270 times faster than the Apollo 11 guidance computer that guided man to the moon in 1969.

I often say –

“What the hell did we do before mobile phones?”

It’s difficult to remember. You had to make arrangements to meet someone and stick to it. Actually turn up on time. You had to use a map or ask for directions. You carried a separate camera. Continue reading “Phones – Weapons of Mass Distraction”

Refocusing – Getting back on the horse

Around the blogosphere, there seems to have been a few race and marathon disappointments. I have had a few of these myself recently.

As disappointing as it is to work towards something, and not achieve your goal. It’s not good to dwell on it too long.

What is shows is that you’ve put in the hard work, just how f*ckin’ hard it is and what it takes to get those times. Continue reading “Refocusing – Getting back on the horse”

Hackney Half Race Recap 30/04/17 – The run on feel one

The build up

What’s the best prep for your race tomorrow? Staying up till 2.30am dancing the night away at your friends 40^th birthday party and getting 3 ½ hours’ sleep? Yep, that’s it. No excuses. I knew what I was doing. Just a couple of little beers and lots of water!

It was an early start on Sunday morning to get over to East London. I didn’t know where I was going, so built in a little safety. My kit was ready (number already pinned on) so jumped in the shower to wake up, got dressed, grabbed my bag and breakfast out of the fridge and was gone.

By the time I got to the Tube at Waterloo, most of the carriage was filled with runners, Continue reading “Hackney Half Race Recap 30/04/17 – The run on feel one”

Metabolism – Can you eat what you like?

I started writing at Christmas as a response to the seasonal overindulgence, but it can refer to any time of the year.

When I started this blog I mentioned that I had lost 12kg and got myself into fairly decent shape. It took a fair bit of effort, hard work and sacrifice to do this. When you drop weight or get in shape, you tell yourself that you’re going to maintain it and not let it slide.

This is very much easier said than done. Continue reading “Metabolism – Can you eat what you like?”

The PB (PR) Trap – Easy run or hard run?

Note – PB – (Personal Best) in the UK. Known as PR – (Personal Record) in the US

When you start running, every race results in a PB. A lot of the time it comes down to doing the distance for the first time. Then even some half-arsed training leads to good gains and huge chunks being slashed off your PB.

The PBs keep coming and coming and you feel great and progress is being made. Every time you step to the line, you feel you have a PB in you. Continue reading “The PB (PR) Trap – Easy run or hard run?”