Training runs are very important when getting ready for a race. It is important to work out the details of you race beforehand so that on race day you are not testing things like what/how you eat, hydrate and what gear will work for it. They always say "No new thing on race day." It means you should be used to your shoes, clothing, hydration gear and what is okay with your digestive system to consume on very long runs.
I took a training run today. I had it down as 23 miles this morning. I got in 24 so not a big difference. I wanted to test once more using only Vespa and Tailwind to do a long run with. I ate a good breakfast, waited then took the Vespa and started out. I had brought a Ugo Ultra bar with me and two gels. The reasoning was that the last time I was unable to go more than two hours without something to eat when I was running. I feel great with only Tailwind and the Vespa for about two hours or so and then start to feel like my blood sugar is dropping and start that "tired runner lean" where I am just feeling run down. I eat a Gu or something (even I like natural fruit rollups and swedish fish) and I feel better and have more energy. The Tailwind, I think, helps me to not be as hungry as quickly and I think it definitely adds to my performance on a long run keeping my pace more regular for a longer time before I get too hungry and feel more worn down.
The weather was great! 52 or so before I got done, I ran in a T-shirt, capris and some arm sleeves. I had a longer shirt on earlier but when it warmed up (very quickly on) I took it off and stowed it in my hydration pack. I ran all over. I had a 21 mile or so route and then I added a bit more onto it. It took me up Smith road and then the highway over to Dunn road and over to Cascades plus a bunch of stuff in town.
When you are wearing a hydration vest and everything you have to get over yourself and not care if people stare. I have long since gotten over the feelings of self-consciousness about it. I go into the stores, gas stations, restaurants and anywhere else i need to go (even have gone into the mall and Target). If people stare I just tell myself that 2 minutes later they won't care and will be on to their own problems and situations. It is a relief to realize I am unimportant because then I can get down to the business of my training.
I ran along Smith road. The only problem with some of the roads is that they don't have sidewalks so it is a constant game of "run to this side of road, run to that side of road, car coming over to the side...." which can be kind of a pain. It is better to get these roads done early in the morning so that the traffic isn't as bad but I had slept in and didn't get going until after 8am so the traffic was getting busier by then. Dunn road was the same. I ran in a field for a bit to just get off the road but the surface wasn't ideal.
I felt good. I was feeling upbeat, nothing was sore or hurting even though I had a very active week and it went great. I blasted the Blerch (have to read the Oatmeal's blog about running to get this joke) and got my 24 miles in.
Now I start a taper for my 50K in a little over two weeks. Bring on the trails!
