Experimental run

[ArthurJG]

So I tried a few new things today. Not exactly scientific as I was changing more than one variable at a time but ho hum. With my first HM booked for August it was reassuring to find I can already cover HM distance comfortably within the course time limit for Ayr, even though I was jeffing it and the race is still over nine months away. (I took 3h and some seconds: the limit is 3h15min). I carried a head torch in my pocket as a precaution but managed to work my way back to street lights before I would have needed it. But even without that there were still thee firsts for me today:

First experience of systematic walk-running HM distance. (1km easy + 3 min walk) x 16 makes 20k, which I made up to 21.1 with short walks before and after.

First time using Tailwind during a run. Nothing to compare it with as up till now I haven’t even needed to carry water on my runs, but I really think it helped. Took 2 or 3 k to get used to the different feel of the belt when the bottles were full but thereafter it was fine.

First time running with bone conductor headphones. I’ve run without audio ever since I finished C25k because I feel safer if I can hear my surroundings. Bone conductor phones allow that and I suspect I would have got pretty bored on a three hour activity without music.

Great run, learned a lot.

[Windoze Half Marathon]

Sounds like your going to nail it Arthur! That's some prep!keep us all posted and good luck mate! 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

A very successful experimental run on all counts! By August you'll know yourself inside out and there'll be no stopping you 😀

[Irish-John Marathon]

I love these "Real world" experiments

Thank you for the report and results

[Lavender1962 Half Marathon]

Well done! Your run sounds great on all counts. You’ll be all set for your HM.

[Whatsapp Half Marathon]

Sounds like you are going well and leaving no stone unturned in your pusuit of that first (official) HM.

My only concern when I read your post is that the run is not for another 9 months. Do you plan to keep up this amount of mileage between now and then? Do you have other events to focus on between times? Its good getting to the level, but it is going to be a long 9 months if you are looking at sustaining it between now and then.

[ArthurJG Half Marathon in reply to Whatsapp]

Yes I have a 10k in January at Buchlyvie then a more challenging 10k with hills, including one 1k long, at Edinburgh in May. My training plan for Buchlyvie starts this week so I took advantage of the wee window after my previous goal event (Kelpies Supernova 5k) to try jeffing the HM distance. I don’t plan to be jeffing it come August though.

[Dexy5 10 Miles]

Well done Arthur, I think it’s really important to try different things on training runs . When you get past 10k , nutrition and water do need to be taken into account to keep you at your best. I found a hydration vest was great in the hot summer.