I have been holding out for these to drop and glad I did! I have been around Swindon Outlet park tried Nike, Under Armour and North Face but have no clue what planet the designers are on? No one seems to have decent pockets and the inside liner resembles swimming shorts?? Ben Parkes is a runner who designs kit for running! First off the price is extremely competitive! There is reflective material on the front and rear for safety, there are two pockets. One for gels to sit and a more secure one for personal valuables. Big enough for a phone if you wanted but more likely used for a car key. Handy lightweight unintrusive clip and zip! The liner is a proper liner, small and discreet to protect one’s dignity! The waist is elasticated with a draw string if required. I am 5’11” with a 10.5 stone skinny runner physique! I chose Medium which fit really well. Next time I may choose Large but I am very happy with medium. I have struggled with the 2 piece shorts making me cramp up when worn (Could obviously be physiological) so thank you Ben for this split retro if you like option!!!
I started this plan with the hope of breaking sub-20 for a 5km after 10 weeks of training. I picked this plan up as I'd been watching Ben's YouTube channel for a while and found it really motivating. So, I thought I'd support his channel by making a purchase.
This program is well laid out, and the training days are flexible as long as you space out the quality sessions.
So far, I've completed 3 weeks of this plan. On week 4, I managed to catch a cold, so I decided to drop some workouts that week and wouldn't run until I felt completely recovered. I dropped the quality work that week as I thought it would prolong the recovery, as my body didn't need any more stress.
On the second rest day, I bounced back completely and felt great; my legs felt rested. This week was looking like a taper because of the extra rest, so I decided to check in and see where I was at. I turned up Saturday morning to do the local park run. I've attached a screenshot. This plan has increased my park run time by +90 seconds.
Other (Garmin estimated) performance metrics changed as well. My VO2 max increased from 49 to 52, and my LTHR improved by 15 seconds.
I would absolutely recommend this plan. Thank you Ben!
I'm only a week in currently on my half marathon plan, but I'm really happy with it. I love that straight-up it tells you that it's basically an unachievable goal to stick to the plan to the letter. Which is great expectations-wise, as I'm already having to shuffle things around a little. It's got a great mix of runs, with paces to hit, and obviously it cranks up through the block. It's the first time I've done something structured like this, and I'm really liking the process so far - it's keeping me accountable. The proof will be in the pudding at Oxford Half in October, but I'm feeling plucky that this will set me up for success!
Purchased another item recently from Ben and his team. As always - great communication, quick service and a quality product. Thanks.
These Elite vests are the best racing vests I've come across. We use soar as our club vest supplier, so I knew I was getting the best of the best. They are ultra light, almost feel like running topless. In warm weather they wick the sweat away and even when they get wet (rain etc.), they don't get heavy.
This specific Ben Parkes vest is "electric" and definitely works! First outing with it was converted into a first parkrun finisher, so grab one now!
I'm only on week 3 of the Half Marathon Plan Intermediate. Well structured and easy to follow. The variety keeps things interesting and I already feel stronger and more consistent with my running. The guidance has been super helpful. Looking forward to seeing how I progress over the next few weeks!
P.s I’ve also been taking the dog on some easy runs
Thanks, Ben
Super breathable. So light you hardly know you are wearing it
This "Rest Day" Sweater is a truly lovely and super soft sweatshirt. Like many others, I'm genuinely impressed with its quality and comfort – it's the kind of piece you'll want to wear constantly. Absolutely love it!
I loved the color and design of this men's "Getting It Done" tee so much, I bought it even though I'm a woman! ! The fit wasn't right for me, so I had it altered, which was definitely worth it.
After about few runs and washes, the tee has held its color perfectly and feels great. The material is light, though a bit thicker than my usual running tops. Despite that, I really enjoy running in it. It's a stylish, functional and comfortable addition to my gear and I highly recommend it!
I absolutely love this hat! It's definitely one of my favorites—super lightweight and the color is fantastic. Overall, it's an excellent running hat. I can't get enough of it! I'm already planning to order another one and can’t wait to take it on my next run. Thank you, Ben, for your great products and videos!
