Nineteen miles in the rain. Sigh.
My running group was going to run 17 miles, and I needed to run 19, so I got to the gym early and ran two miles on the treadmill. When I do my long runs, I really try to go a minute over race pace, which means 13-13:30 minute miles. That's a lot of time on the road.
Marcia and I ran together. She wanted to run/walk 5:1. That was fine with me. So we set out, slow and steady. I wore my hydration pack, which SUCKED! The bladder holds 2 liters of sport drink, and I didn't think that would be enough, so I also filled a 20 oz water bottle and carried that in my pack.
That was necessary in warmer weather, but today I only drank 1 liter and that pack was increadibly heavy! In addition to the fluid, I had my cell phone and iPod in there. That shouldn't have added much weight, but my shoulders were so sore--I think they hurt more than my legs! After the run, I weighed the pack in the locker room and it still weighed 6 pounds. No wonder my shoulders hurt. :-(
AmyBee and Nat were in the faster group and normally they would pass us on the return trip. But because this was a new route for many of us they got lost, so their 18 miler turned into a 20! They got back about the same time as Marcia and I did and after stretching and showering we all went to a well deserved and long overdue breakfast! I think I ate as many calories at breakfast as I burned on the run. :-)
I dressed for the rain and that worked out fine. Wore a waterproof jacket and a cap to keep the water out of my face. My SmartWool socks didn't get soggy, although my shoes did. They're stuffed with newspapers and drying in the basement. At one point we stopped to use the bathroom at a bank. When I looked in the mirror I scared myself! Bangs flattened and water pouring off my flushed face--it's a good thing I don't normally see what I look like when I run.
With 8 more weeks of training to go, I need to come up with a different hydration system. I like not having to stop to refill my water, but that's the only good thing about the pack I have. Marcia observed that it wasn't made for runners and she's right. It was made for hiking. I can't even get to my gels because all the pockets are in the back. Also, there's plenty of room to carry gear in it, which I don't need.
Juls and Michelle like the hydration backpacks they have, and I'm considering purchasing the one Michelle is using, even though I don't want to spend the money. It's cheaper than paying for a massage ever time I run with my current pack, though.
Amphipod makes a waist holster that holds two 20 oz. bottles. That would work for some of my mid-length runs--say 12-16 miles. Whoever said running was an inexpensive sport wasn't training for a marathon!
10 comments:
That's a lot of weight you took for 17 (19) miles! Good job getting your run done in the rain. When I pass runners wearing camelbacks (or they pass me) in races, they're always sloshing. I don't know how they can stand the noise. I even wrap the two quarters I always carry (for payphones) in saran wrap so they don't clink.
Dori,
You could just get the Intensity and skip the waist pack. I used mine for my 16 mile run and just filled it half way. That was better than carrying the waist pack.
Maybe you already know this, but the comment above made me think of it. Eric showed me this: fill the pack however full you want it. Turn it upside down and suck the air out of it - till it's flat where the air bubble was. Turn it right side up and slip it in the pack. It eliminates the sloshing! Cool, huh?
We rocked on Saturday, Dorine! It was great running with you. And your appearance didn't scare me at all!!!
Good job!! Saturday was a rainy day here.
We were out Sunday... in mist.. and finished before the rain.
We like SmartWool, too... even in hot weather. Best wishes for fun training... some of it without rain.
Great job, Dori. What a great way to brave the wet conditions!
Dori - Good luck with your decision on the hydration front. Are you planning to use the pack during NWM or will you just use the aid stations?
Eric
I so understand the hydration pack dilemma! I go back and forth on using my hydration back pack, which it actually too big for me (not women's sized, it was a gift from my son) and my belt with the four 6 ounce bottles. I honestly am not thrilled by either, but I'd rather carry the extra weight than be thirsty. I don't know how some people run long distances with out some sort of water on them. I hope you find something that works well for you. Good luck with the final 8 weeks of training!
Ha, mirrors should NEVER be around during/after a run, especially a long one!
Good job on getting the mileage in while its so hot out.
It takes some time to get used to the extra weight. I wear a waist pack and I don't always fill it completely. I do Michelle's trick of eliminating the air bubble to lessen the slosh. The sound is alloying. I am usually okay in that aspect until my pack is nearly empty and my cell phone and other items are bouncing around. By that point, I am nearly done so I can tolerate it.
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