Today was my scheduled 17k run. I've been battling a cold for the last week and have missed 2 runs on my HM plan. I didn't want to get any further behind, so I ran my 10.5k run on Friday. It wasn't my most enjoyable run - it was cloudy, cool, windy, my legs were heavy, my bouncing pony tail and other bouncing girly-bits were annoying me but I got it done. I focused on planning some great meals this weekend, slept well, bought a wonderful new high-impact sports bra and decided I would attempt my 17k run today, but would set it up in run:walk intervals of 10:1 just because I haven't been feeling well lately and really wanted to be successful.
Now this is where I stopped thinking. I decided I would run from my house, down to the pathway by the creek I like to run and then back home. This would prevent me from having to run loops to make the distance and then I don't have to drive home after. I knew the first 3k heading down to the pathway would be downhill, meaning I also knew the final 3 k would be uphill, but I did it anyways.
I set out running faster than I probably should have but the sun was shining and I was feeling good and remember, I'm running downhill. I get to the pathway, see lots of other runners and dog walkers and carry on doing my 10:1 thing. It works out well, on every walk break I would drink some Tailwind and practice drinking from the soft bottles in my new Salomon vest while trying to not make it look like I'm copping a feel in my new perky sports bra and not tweaking my neck with my fused vertebrae (you can drink from the water bottle in situ, which is ideal since they can be a little awkward sliding into the pouch as they get less full and thus more floppy but for a woman, it can feel/seem a little risqué). I overdressed a bit given I wanted to wear my long compression socks so I wore my long coldgear tights and a long sleeve top. The wind is quite strong so it could be quite cool, but I wasn't cold at all. I peel my buff off by 2 1/2 k and stow it in one of the stash pockets on my vest. As the run progressed, I started to look more and more forward to my walk breaks and by 13.5k, I'm feeling woozy. I pull out my water bottle, take a big chug, tried to eat some gummies I had stowed as well but found them very awkward to eat given they were sticking to my teeth. I decide this walk break will be a little longer until I catch my breath but now the uphill is starting. The 10:1 went out the window and it was run what you can, walk what you need, drink what you must and just make it home.
I made it home, the last 2k were not pretty, and I was one salty lady from all the sweat. I may need to invest in the other soft flasks you can get with the long straw, but they are quite pricey. Come summer, I'm planning on using the bladder I bought for the vest, but will likely still need to carry the soft flasks on my longer trail runs so it may be worthwhile investing in them (although there will be less people around watching me grope myself as I take a drink from the flask 🙄)
The good news: the hydration vest is very comfy, but I need to drink from both water bottles as I go so they empty together. I had emptied my Tailwind side first and then the water side was digging into my rib cage a bit until I drank some from it. The new sports bra is amazing! Everything stayed exactly where they should and there was no bounce at all. I was so happy with it, I went back to the sports store and bought another one today after my run (it was on sale and they still had one more in my size! Yippee!) I completed the run in the prescribed time set out in my plan, even with the walk breaks!
The bad news: I remember why I don't like run:walk intervals. It is like it gives me permission to walk and I find it really easy to say forget it and walk whenever not pushing through to the 10 minute point. My motivation and drive to push through seems to go by the wayside when I use this technique.
Next week is supposed to be another 17k run. Will I run from home down to the creek? Nope, not happening! I'll drive to the creek, run some random loops and perhaps deke into the surrounding neighbourhood to make the distance. Will I run:walk again? I'm not sure yet. We'll see how the week goes, how my cold feels and hopefully I can attempt to run it continuous with only short stops to drink/take in fuel. I've also bought some Endurance tap that Decker has recommended in the past - maple syrup, sea salt, and ginger. Yum! I may just need to give it a-go next week. It isn't cheap, but will probably be easier to consume if I feel like I'm going to crash again. We'll chalk today's run up to a learning experience. It is still my furthest distance to date and given how the run felt at the end, I feel surprising good now. The legs are tired, but not really that sore. I have a Physio appointment for tomorrow because my piriformis has been bothering me, causing butt and hamstring tightness but they feel not too bad right now. We shall see what she says tomorrow and how I feel when I try to roll out of bed in the morning 😂
) but they are pricey so I only take them after 16-20 or so. Hope you keep making great progress as the weather warms up.
Tikiboos 
5K Run in the rain
Am I jealous or what!
