Hello everyone!
Well, this will be my first proper post here, discounting my introduction the other day.
Before I forget to post it, and in lieu of the photographs I didn't take because I was too busy running, here's a quick Relive of the whole thing: relive.cc/view/2054628604
For some odd reason I felt that today's run needed to be my longest ever, and I had worked out a nice route, which turned out to be 17.5k, great for HM training, right? Not that I've committed to do a HM yet, but even if I don't, I still want to be able to run the distance. That would still count, right? Anyway, off I set. It was a tad parky outside, about 1 or 2°C, but I donned my long running pants, a tshirt, and my cycling-repurposed-as-running jacket, remember that seemingly insignificant but important detail for later, and off I trotted.
For once in my life I got the layering just right. Although it was a bit chilly for the first 0.5k, I soon warmed up, but was greatful for the hat and thin gloves I had donned as an afterthought before setting off.
The first leg was a slow climb from High Lane to near Lyme Park, one of my running haunts with which I have a love-hate relationship, and then a gentle descent into Disley. Because of the gentle upwards gradient this is great to get me warmed up, and the hill stops me going mad and trying to run a sub-5:30 first km or anything daft like that. Next there's a kind-of rollercoaster with a down, a severe up and then a severe down, leading to the Upper Peak Forest Canal. I like canals. I completed C25K running by a canal. They are flat, due to the wonderful laws of physics! So - along the canal for a few km to Marple. I struggled more than I thought I would, and at about 6km in I was considering stopping at the nearest pub, but fortunately at 9:30am there weren't any open, and we don't happen to have a Weatherspoons in the middle of nowhere!! I digress, so yes I kept going, just reducing my pace slightly, and was soon at the point where the Macclesfield Canal branches off. My toes were now feeling a bit twingy, so I made a mental note to contact the podiatrist and see if anything needed adjusting with my insoles.
Next up was a nice downhill run to the Middlewood way. I enjoy this stretch, even though it is along a road, as it's welcome recovery for tired muscles. The middlewood way is great for tricking runners into doing hills. It's a disused railway line running from Marple most of the way to Macclesfield, and it was converted into a bridleway at some point around 1985. You think it's flat, but it's actually a long, gentle but quite punishing gradient, probably climbing about 40m steadily over the length I ran today, which was probably something like 6k. There's then a short but steep climb up to the Macclesfield canal. I'll be honest, I stopped at the bottom for 30 seconds whilst I fiddled with my music and caught my breath. Also made another mental note to sort those insoles out, toes definitely hurting now.
I finished the run with a 2.5k jaunt back up the canal to home. Nice and flat, a few dogs with or without leads to contend with, but I made it back in one piece, and finished off with a 5 minute walk back home.
I should mention at this point that at about 16.5k I had worked out why my lovely new trail shoes weren't as comfortable as they usually are, particularly on the toes. I have some othotic insoles that the podiatrist sorted for me, and they were in my other pair of ons, which meant that I had just run the entire run with no insoles at all, not even the stock ones! No wonder my feet were complaining. When I finally took my shoes and socks off, I discovered I have a nasty blister on the side of each big toe, all because I was daft and somehow managed to forget to put my insoles in. Honestly. OK, now you can all laugh
The other unwelcome thing was that I seem to have developed a case of joggers nipple! If you don't want the TMI bit, skip this paragraph!! I've always just run in shorts and tshirt, or maybe my long sleeved compression top which I hate because it makes me look fat even though I'm not overweight. This time, as it was particularly chilly, as previously mentioned, I had put on my cycling jacket. I've done a few runs in this, and it works brilliantly, In this case, I think it was putting more pressure and making my tshirt rub against my nipple. Maybe I need a sports bra? I would apply a little plaster, but given that I have some hair in that area, I fear the pain of removing it would be worse!
So - there you have it. If you've read this far, well done
Happy running folks!
Neil
A riveting read, Neil! Phew. I was with you every step of the way (though kinda glad it was in spirit rather than in body – I could not imagine doing that distance!) Massive well done, fella! And regarding the schoolboy errors, you live and learn! And you lived to learn, so that's all good! Hope you get some relief for your poorly feet and nips. Ouch! I am sure the very good people of this forum (with more experience than I), will have some good tips and tricks for you – though of course the blister prob could have probably been averted if you had popped your insoles in!
You must be buzzing! I hope this gives you lots of confidence in terms of making the half marathon distance – you so can do this! Brilliantly done with tenacity and resolve, you are my hero!
Sadie-runs xxx
Awww thank you my dear VRB! I’m hurting now a bit, as I suspect I was weight bearing differently resulting in tight muscles, but I’m so happy I did it. For what it’s worth pushing past 10k has been a challenge, but do-able, and I’m convinced you have it in you too, after all, you’re a way better runner than I! Currently I’m having great fun resting