This is Week 15 of my HM training plan. Next week I will be resting, stretching and possibly one short run before the event on Sunday 10th!!
I was determined to get in another long run on Monday (day off) since my last 10 mile run was a couple of weeks ago. I planned to run my usual route which includes wooded trail, pebbles and the path pictured (rubber matting over pebbles), but mostly the route was pavements and lanes (so no Squiggy 🐶)
It was a cooler day and blustery. The run was hard work at times particularly running into the wind on the exposed coast paths. I was also recovering from a cold (everyone is suffering with colds and bugs at school!) and felt tired after a busy weekend. Pace was slow but I plodded on! I stopped briefly every 5km to stretch and sip water and that helped ease the tightness I get particularly in my right leg. 15km (about 2hours which was ok considering the pebbles and wind!) - stopped to phone hubby to arrange pick up time. I then continued along a windy prom (nibbling an oat bar!) determined to do another couple of km. Not sure I liked jogging and eating (couldn’t get my breath and the bits stuck in my teeth!!). These last few km were very hard work and very slow! Got to the end of the prom turned and plodded/walked all the way back to the arranged meeting point - 18.5km, 😮💨 As always I ran on empty but I think over 10 miles I definitely need fuel of some sort. So the next day I ordered a pack of Tailwind and a small bottle designed to take a concentrated amount which is sipped along with plain water. It has arrived now so hopefully get to try some out on my next run 😊. Second run this week was after school yesterday - tired but managed 5km. However had a problem with my new shoes - taking them back tomorrow!!! Unfortunately, despite the wide fitting I can feel the sides of my feet pressing down on the edges of the shoes and my big toes are too near the end. I also find my feet get very warm. Luckily Brooks do a 90 day return. I have only used them a few times on short runs because my long runs have to include a variety of terrain so I wear my trail shoes. Hopefully a half size bigger will sort out the problem….🤔
Priority now is to rest. Been very busy at school and weekends also seem to be hectic so feeling quite tired plus been fighting a cold. Feeling excited but nervous 😬
**shoe update - swapped to size 7 (usually 6 in everyday shoes) which is actually the same as my trail shoes. Hopefully they will be fine. 2hour journey to swap shoes and bad travelling conditions too !! 🌧 🚗 🚙 🚐 🚛 😬😕
Written by
skysue16
Half Marathon
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Sorry about the shoes but good call to change them. I didn’t use any fuel for my HM which was a mistake. I’m trying out different fuels on my long runs for my next one. Tailwind on its own made me feel quite thirsty so good idea to have additional hydration👍🏻
Well done SS. That’s great prep for your HM. Almost there now! 👏👏👏 In retrospect I think I would have benefited from eating something before my recent HM race. Like you, I run on empty. I had Tailwind, but I felt done for towards the end. It’s a long way for our bodies to find fuel from nowhere!
Good luck next weekend. Can’t wait to hear how it goes.
Boo to the new shoes though. Better luck with the next pair. 🤞
Thank you cheekychipmunks 😀. Yes, annoying about the shoes - could have done with a longer lie in this morning but hubby is kindly driving. an hour to get to the running shop in Exeter! 😴
That's a good long training run! I ran on empty until a few weeks before my HM last month but after a couple of training runs of 2 hours I started to experiment and found out that I was OK to eat a small bowl of porridge at least 3 to 4 hours before the run so on race day it was a 6am breakfast. Also I carried jelly beans and ate one about every 20 minutes or so after the first hour.Seemed to work for me. I guess your Tailwind is a healthier more scientific version of jelly beans with salts added too.Sounds like you are well ready for the HM-best of luck!
Well done for persevering with the run when things got tough, you'll definitely be fine for your half once rested. And good to find out about the fuel and shoe issues now rather than on the day.
Good luck for next weekend, I'm looking forward to reading about your success and amazing experience 🍀🏅😊🥳🎊
That's good about the shoes, fingers crossed 🤞they'll now feel more comfortable. I think I go up 2 sizes in my Brooks as I think my feet swell so much when they get hot!! 😱😂
That’s interesting, I found my feet got hot too but I put that down to not have any holes in them!! my trail shoes have large holes by the big toe and also at the sides 😂
When I tried Brooks I had to go up a whole size too.
Eating while running is very hard, glad you’ve got some Tailwind, I hear good things about it, but I worry that it’s too much sugar for me so I tied SOS last week on my long run - didn’t give me an upset tummy, so 👍 - and took one of the gels my husband take on bike rides, saving it till I’d runn well over half of my run.
If I forget next week, have a marvellous run and enjoy yourself x
Valuable insights there Sue, thank you.I'm basically on a self-designed (ie - listening to my body every run instead of a "plan") 8 week "comfortable 10k to Marathon in 10 weeks" quest so need all the info I can get from "real world" experience such as yours 👍🏻
Wow, 10k to a marathon in 10 weeks - that is amazing! Although I had managed 10 miles a couple of times, before starting the HM plan, my usual distance is between 5 and 10k. As this is my first HM and I decided on a long plan (16 weeks) to give me time to build up stamina and strength. Also I knew it would be hard to stick to the plan exactly because of family, holidays, work, illness, injury etc! so a longer plan gave me flexibility. I wish you all the best.....I will have a look at your posts!
Well done skysue16, it was blowy yesterday. I hope your new shoes are better and good for the race on Sunday.
I always have overnight oats or porridge before a long run as it releases energy slowly. I also carry a homemade high energy bar and nibble at it during the end of the run (sometimes on a short walking break), and sip water. It does help to keep me going.
My OH uses tailwind instead and he doesn’t need to eat at all during the run. The choice is yours. But it’s best to try anything out before the big day.
I tried out my new shoes and Tailwind today. Only 11km but some hilly parts. Sipped at the Tailwind, no problems and quite liked the taste. I also sipped plain water. Shoes great 👍
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