Father Jack says, "Drink!"

Our one day of spring two weeks ago nearly floored me as it coincided with a 17-miler.  I carried my "large" runner's drinking bottle, which contains a whole 350ml, round with me.  This, I have found out the hard way, is not enough liquid for a long run in 16C temperature (although it just about keeps me going at 6C).

Obvious really.

However I was really in a bad way after 10 miles on the first day of warm weather, and seriously looking at puddles and other dubious water sources at 12 miles.  The very kind barmaid at The Cock Inn, Boughton Monchelsea took pity on me and gave me a free glass of tap water (did not have any cash on me), so I just about made it home.  I now make sure I carry enough cash for a swift pint!

I am borrowing a friend's Camelbak over the weekend to check it agrees with me and my running before I invest in one, although having just looked at the cost, I have just picked myself up off the floor.  I may have to do a Heath Robinson - how hard can it be?  ;)  *Picks up a freezer bag, some tubing and a roll of duct tape*

A Bad Case of DOMS!

A double whammy this week!  Not only was the "long" run hard going, but unusually for me I have a bad case of DOMS, so have been limping about - and going downstairs is very tricky.  Note to self: warm down properly!

Karate tomorrow will be added fun ;)

Quick Update

A summary of my runs over the last 2 months:

1) Snowy:

Most of the snowy days I have run from home, but drove over to Bedgebury Forest one day, for a wonderful run in isolation round bits of Bedgebury that I had never been before.  Two laps = about 11 miles.  Not quite as long as originally planned, but not bad in the snow!  Warm but near exhaustion when I finished.  Thankfully the wonderful cafe was open, with views over the frozen lake - and complete with completely frozen vases :)

          

2) Muddy

The highlight of this section was a new route on the North Downs, which had included a section over a ploughed field (muddy / flinty soil) where it was so claggy that the mud stuck to my shoes a good 10 cm either side of them.  Unfortunately didn't have any means to take a picture on the way round, but it cracked me up - nice to have a laugh when you're 8 miles down and 7 miles to go :)

   Nice and muddy after 15 miles

3) Long

Am now up to a long run of 17 miles - and not enjoying the long runs at all.  The first 10 miles are fine.  The next 4 are OK.  The last few are hell.

The worrying thing is I have *** 9 more miles *** to do in the marathon.  Gulp.