Site News – January 2026

A few updates: a newsletter is coming soon, FREE-FOLLOWER status is finally working again, and I’ve squashed some technical bugs.

Follower Status Fixed

After a very long time not working (sorry!), the free Follower option is back. The plugin developer still hasn’t fixed the underlying issue, but I found my own workaround.

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Following is free and reduces the ads you see — specifically, it removes ads from within the article content, keeping them only around the edges and between pages. It’s a good option if you’d like to support the site but aren’t ready to subscribe.

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Fewer ads when logged in
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Newsletter Coming Soon

I’m working on a weekly newsletter/digest. The plan:

Recap of the week’s content
Occasional AI-curated podcast episodes (they’re actually very good and fully non-hallucinogenic, though some people dislike them on principle!)
Hints about what’s coming — possible product launches and teasers (brand-permitting)

More details soon.

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Technical Fixes

I’ve been battling CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift) — that annoying thing where the screen jumps around while loading. The site was OK, but not good enough. It’s taken months to get this right because you need real-world reader data to see the impact. Hopefully sorted now.

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Last Updated on 30 January 2026 by the5krunner

My favourite kit and nutrition

Injinji – Runners protect your toes. Avoid discomfort and minor injury. Run more. Run faster. I use them.
Garmin 90-degree charging adapter — The small adapter that keeps your charging cables tidy. Essential for race day. I use one.
Garmin charging puck — the fastest and most reliable way to top up your Garmin before a session. I use one.
Ravemen FR300 — Front light that mounts directly under your Garmin or Wahoo head unit. Keeps your bars clean and your beam pointed where it matters. I use one.
Body Glide – The blue anti-chafe stick that all swimmers and many runners use. I use it.
Maurten — The race nutrition trusted by elite athletes. Gels and drink mixes engineered to be easy on the stomach. I use them.
Garmin Varia RTL515 — A radar rear light that alerts you to vehicles approaching from behind. Pairs with your Edge or Garmin watch. I use this model.
Favero Assioma Pro RS2 — The power-meter pedals most serious cyclists choose. Accurate, easy to move between bikes. I use this model.
Garmin Forerunner 970 — A serious choice for a pro-grade triathlon watch. I use this.
Polar H10 — My daily driver for accurate, waking HRV readings.
Wahoo ELEMNT Roam 3 — The bike computer that has the feature Garmin lacks: usability. I use mine on most rides.

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the5krunner

tfk is the founder and author of the5krunner, an independent endurance sports technology publication. With 20 years of hands-on testing of GPS watches and wearables, and competing in triathlons at an international age-group level, tfk provides in-depth expert analysis of fitness technology for serious athletes and endurance sport competitors. ID