18k in the sun!

[a_in_gsr]

Personally I don't like long runs if I don't know where I'm going, so last night I made an interesting route to take myself along this morning. I'm glad I did! It included a big forest and then around a lake, before the last 3k were coming back home along the roads. But honestly what made me so happy it the weather - blue sky, and warm! Not having to take gloves or a jumper - bliss.

Also what made me so happy was that there were so many runners about! I must have seen hundreds this morning. It feels like such a community when everybody is out, I suppose. I also find on a Sunday morning everyone is doing their long run, so we're all plodding about

From 14k onwards, things became a little tricky. I did a bit of stretching, and that was okay till 16k. But the last 2km! Not painful per say, but I did have to put on some more upbeat music and count down the metres! But in all honesty, it went a lot easier (and faster!) than I had planned. I was just going along conversationally, but crazily I ran my (Strava) 10k PB! - in the 55 minutes! So unexpected, but definitely shows what lots of slower running can do!

[Tasha99 Marathon]

That’s fantastic! Did you fuel? At this distance, you should maybe have at least a handful of sweets?

[a_in_gsr Half Marathon in reply to Tasha99]

Ahh thanks!

Oh ja I did! I'm actually trying out gels for the first time! (so on race day my stomach doesn't die haha). So I took that + some chewy sweets

[AndrewJR75 Half Marathon in reply to Tasha99]

Hi Tasha99, I struggled badly on my first attempt at a12 miler yesterday (I wrote about it on the latest HM post). I was blaming the weather conditions but a day later I’m starting to wonder if it was lack of (i.e zero) fuel. I always run first thing in the a.m and drink lots before I go but nothing during and no food until after. I’m thinking maybe I’ve hit my fuel free limit! What are your recommendations? I think I’d prefer liquids (Tailwind??) to solids.

[Tasha99 Marathon in reply to AndrewJR75]

Tailwind is fab as long as you don’t mind carrying it. I like a god old gel. Sweets too. You need to preempt your need for fuel - so take it in before you need it to avoid peaks and troughs. For a half I used to take something around 5 miles and 9 miles, although I’m quite used to them now and could probably do one without but still have something signs 9-10 miles just in case. If you don’t take enough fuel, you just end up taking longer to recover anyway. In the summer I carry water with a hydration tablet in to replenish salts. Protein shakes after are great.

[AndrewJR75 Half Marathon in reply to Tasha99]

Thank you so much for the reply! And yours a_in_gsr , I’ll follow your advice and let you know how I get on 👍

[a_in_gsr Half Marathon in reply to AndrewJR75]

I'd definitely eat at least before your run. I think technically we are good running up to an hour on an empty stomach, but after that performance starts to suffer - and this can be dramatic! Also for 12 miles you should also be eating on your run.

12 miles is definitely not something I would attempt without food! I would recommend eating something proper before you go; and then for liquid-y type things try a gel.

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

Fab run and PB a_in_gsr - well done and yes, the weather can make such a hufe difference!🙂

[a_in_gsr Half Marathon in reply to Sandraj39]

Thank you! Yes it impacts me (and my motivation!) so much

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

That sounds like a fabulous run! I like to have a plan before I set out too and try to mix up my routes as much as possible - keeps it interesting and keeps me out til the end!

[a_in_gsr Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Ahh yes so much!

I've so found that, especially on my longer runs, changing it up is what keeps me going! I'm trying to have some road, some city, some trail / park in there too keep my mind fresh - I can break it up into sections that way And having a plan definitely makes me stick to it!

[misswobble Marathon]

A bit of pre-planning doesn’t come amiss. When you’re very tired you can make poor choices. A series of mountains at the end of a long run is the last thing you need 😁😤. I know this ☺️