Still creeping my long runs up, and today I tried out my new Aonijie hydration vest and bladder. I’m happy I had a convo on here about it last night, otherwise it would have definitely been tossed in the river! I was able to have a play with the bite valve and only realised 20 cross minutes later that I had to twist the sucker first. I almost lost the will to live! It wouldn’t have ended well if I’d have discovered that on my run this morning! 😅
So I filled the bladder about 1/2 way, popped a few JB’s in one of the many pockets, phone in another, keys in another - and headed off listening to a jolly playlist. 🏃♀️🎶🏃♀️
Of course I wanted to stop within 0.5k, but told myself to take it slow and I’d run 12k or so, then call it quits. My pace was consistent and 10k came and went. The JB’s began to get eaten one by one (no slimy slugs this time thanks to the vest!), and I perfected sipping my water. Ooo I love my vest! ❤️ Thank you anonymous lady on the Park and Ride back from Race for Life who recommended it! 😀 No chafing and I hardly knew I was wearing it. 👍
12k came up, and I thought I may as well do a bit more. My legs decided they’d had enough around 13.5k though, but by now I was feeling tenacious. I was going to do 17k and make it my longest run to date. Nooooo, said my legs! Yessss said I, and I dragged them to my goal. 💪 🎉
My heart rate was mainly in Zone 2 today! It’s a shame my legs flag, but they are taking longer to do that nowadays. Used to be 7k, today was 13k. I’ll do a HM yet! 👊
Happy running everyone. If you’re umm’ing and ahh’ing about a hydration vest - get one! They’re ace. 👏👏👏
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cheekychipmunks
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Cheeky, you little beauty! 👏👏👏🎉🎆🎇 I think it will be a little while before I need a vest (nothing to do with the way I laughed at Mr grumpy wearing one on our hike the other day 😳) but good to know in case I ever reach those dizzy distances 😃
Thanks so much Jell. If I was a good person and did my strength exercises I’m sure my legs would find it easier, but I really am bad at finding time to do them! 🙄🙄🙄
Hahaha, well I really did drag them BBR. I even let out a loud “you’ve got to be kidding” when I looked down at my Garmin during the last km and saw I still had 75m to go when I thought it was only 50m. Every metre counts at the end of a long run! 😅😅
Amazing Cheeky! Well done! 17k !!!!! That's fantastic. I'm going to take a look at your vest , well not yours ! 😄 I think it sounds like a great bit of kit. You will definitely do a HM . 👍🏃♀️💪
hi Cheeky. was looking out for your post. 17K wooohoooo. well done
great post too. we are both at about the same distance at the mo.
pleased u like your new vest and worked out how to use it! I was the same with mine when 'thought' it wasn't working. why don't the instructions say what you need to do?! I was googling it and everything! hahaa
Hahaha yes Deals, I was doing lots of googling too - no mention of twisting! Also the writing on the valve is so tiny it’s very hard to see even though I now know it’s there! Daft! 🙄😅
Well at least we know now! And can advise others ! I actually have an old one I bought years ago for a big walk that never happened! And a few year ago I got it out (more of rucksack than a vest... So I wouldn't run in it as would still bounce about) anyways I never managed to get it to work and thought was faulty!! 😂😂
Oh, btw, I also googled how to stop the sloshing, and basically you just turn the bladder upside down so the valve is clear of the water, and suck the air out. Works a treat - slosh free running! 👍
Well done cheeky! 👏 Great run report! It’s amazing what we can do when we set our minds to something. The vest sounds ideal. I just bought a hydration belt so it will be a bit of a wait for a vest.
You’ve inspired me just in time for my 17k run at the end of the week! 😊
Yay Lavender, can’t wait to read your run report! I hope it’s a bit cooler for you. I set off running around 7am and it was 🥵🥵 even though the sun wasn’t always shining. Really humid too - the vest came in very handy! 😀👍
Yes I’m pretty amazed too OL! “Only” just over 4k to go until HM distance, but today would have been a real struggle if I’d carried on. My legs would have fallen off I think! 😅😅
Whoohoo Cheeky! Way to go! Despite having my Salomon hydration vest since January, I've only been using the soft flasks in it. Last week I used the bladder and really liked it. I'm lucky, mine is just a bite valve, no twist involved 😆.
Thanks Sask! ❤️ I knew zero about hydration bladders until yesterday evening. I assumed all worked the same way. Well now I know they don’t! Lucky you having a non-twister! 😅😅
But 8k is awesome too BIT! You’ll have done brilliantly (I’ll go and find your post in a moment - I’ve been subjected to shopping with my daughters this afternoon! 😩😩😩)
Fantastic Cheeky! You are literally racing ahead of me as I poddle along in your wake 🤣 Better start booking those HMs. Soon 10 miles will seem like a stroll in the park 🎉👏🏻🎉👏🏻🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️
Wow Cheeky, just wow!! That's the equivalent of you running a third of the way to my house - at the rate you're progressing I shall expect a visit from you in the not too distant future!!
Thanks CheekyChipmunks, I’ve been thinking of getting a hydration vest now I’m training for a half marathon in October. 🙂🏃♂️This one sounds just the thing! 😊
I’ll second that Deals. Much as my flip belt is good, it was a faff fumbling around for the little slit to find my jelly babies last time, plus the little flip belt bottle I bought was tiny - and again a faff to take out and put back. 🙄
Hahaha, you should have heard me last night Flick, I was threatening it and swearing at it! Poor vest, it had done nothing wrong, it was me who was the numpty. Anyway, it served me well today! 😀👍
Wowsers! Well done on your longest run to date! You certainly are tenacious, Cheeky. 😁💪👍 I have that vest too and love it. So nice to be able to head out with all the water you need and have your hands free. 👍 x
Thanks Sadie, yes you’re right, having your hands free is such a bonus, and it’s surprisingly comfy to wear, even with the bladder fairly full. I forgot I had it on after a while! 😀😀
Aww thanks over61. I’m just stubborn! I think subconsciously I knew I was going to run my longest yesterday, and once that thought entered my head, that’s it! 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️
I wonder what percentage of runners on here say that 10k will be their maximum distance, then go on to run HM or M? Never say never Dexy5 , you’re an amazing runner! 👍🏃♀️👍🏃♀️👍
Yes, hydration vests are the bees knees, I love mine! Lots of little pockets to pop things in too.
Amazing run cheeky, and your heart rate is just incredible, mine is always in zone 4-5 by the end of a long run. You’ll be at half marathon length before you know it! 👏👏👏👏👏👏
Thanks TC, I think I’m going to agree with you. I can’t believe how unobtrusive it was, I was expecting it to be heavy and hot on my back, but it was neither. And dry JB’s - what a bonus! 👍
I personally find it hard to get my heart rate up - even doing JogRunSprint it doesn’t go much over Zone 3, so I think it’s just me. ❤️
Fantastic run Cheeky. Wish I was anywhere near that distance and I have a HM in October!! Still struggling after 10K! Just wondering how you chose which of the packs to go for. There seem to be a number of variations with the same name! Would like to order something as hate carrying a bottle but just wish you could try them out🤔🤔
Thanks CC, I’m in the opposite situation to you, in that I’m not far off HM distance in training, but I don’t have a race entered. I was thinking of Bristol or Cardiff, but they’re close to when our daughter is due to have her first baby! 😀
I fully recommend the Aonijie vests. Inexpensive, great reviews and comfy. And I bought a 1.5L bladder. I figured that was plenty big enough, but you can go bigger. Have fun training. You’ll get there, don’t worry! 😀😀👊
You are AMAZING!! 🌟🏃♀️👏 So inspiring to read about your progress towards a HM - you will be there in no time at all. You are right about 'never say never' and we'd all do well to bear that in mind on dark days. I've got a squishy silicone water pouch for my running belt & before first use had the same snarling, swearing & gnashing of teeth before my husband came home and within seconds sussed out what to do! 😂
Aww thanks SM. I’ve said it before, but my running style suits endurance way better than speed, so I just truck along and really enjoy it. My legs just have to strengthen a bit, but I’m hoping running itself is helping with that. 🤞
I wonder why bottle/bladder instructions don’t make it clear that there’s a knack to drinking from them? I’m glad I’m not the only one who had trouble! 😅😅
You really are 🐱🚀 super woman! Fantastic post as always, i too feel inspired to check out the running vest, less so to take on that distance right now but you have stirred my interest 😄
Seriously do, Alison. I hadn’t really thought much about them until the lady proudly showed me hers, and now I know it’s going to be a no brained. So comfy to wear and it holds lots. 😀
Thank you CH, it does feel surreal that I’m within reach of HM distance, although 4 extra kilometres would have been mighty hard going yesterday. I’ll just keep creeping up gradually. 😀
Oh my god!!!!! Look at you go !!!!! That’s incredible Cheeky. You are like a little Duracell bunny that just keeps on going and going. Just fantastic. My god I am so jealous. X
Thanks Wimborne, although my batteries were losing charge towards the end! It didn’t stop me running though - I’d never have forgiven myself! Hope you’re still making baby steps back to running? ❤️
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Such a frustrating run, Legs made of concrete!☹️☹️
Disappointing run but I still ran!!
Cliff top run in sunshine!
Testing a running vest...🏃♀️
