My beautiful new trail shoes are clean no more…!
This morning I headed out on a trail run with ten other runners from club. The idea was to run the 5k course for the Welly Multi-terrain races which start next weekend so that we could all become familiar with the course. I ran it twice last year so it is firmly etched in my mind…especially that big hill in the middle of the park. No forgetting that! I shall hopefully be running the 10k route next Sunday and the 15k version a fortnight after that. I’ve never raced 15k before, so that should make it an automatic PB for me if I get to the finish line.
After the 5k loop around the park, five of the runners looped off to head home and we were left with six of us wanting to top up our run to 13 miles by running out along the river and across the land back again.
Four miles later and we lost one as he limped down the road to call for a lift home after a reoccurring knee injury began to play up. Another two miles in and a second decided to loop back round to run for home. Just leaving four of us to finish the run. Another three or four miles we thought. We were very, very wrong!
18.5 miles we ended up running in total! 18.5 very wet, muddy and hilly miles. In my quick rush round before heading out that morning I hadn’t been able to locate my running bag, so had crammed my mobile and a strawberry cereal bar (as they were all that would fit) into my race belt to help get me round the half marathon distance I thought we would be running. As my watch ticked over onto the 14 mile mark and I couldn’t make out the town we were aiming for in the distance I was aware that I probably should have brought more supplies in case this happened…it seems to be a theme on our trail runs lately…getting lost!
We made it back, and as I had parked on the outskirts of the park the others dropped me off at my car before heading back towards their own within the park. I’m not sure I could have run any further. I was beginning to feel a little weak by this point and anxious to pick up some food to munch on.
I had to head into Tesco to pick up a few things for lunch anyway and, knowing that I needed to get something into me and quickly, I grabbed this carton of Coconut and Chocolate milk I spotted. I’d not seen it before, but as a massive fan of both coconut milk and chocolate milk after a run, I thought combining the two would be a great choice! (It was!)
I got a few odd looks in the supermarket for having my legs and trainers covered in mud. (I had scraped off the worst of it outside, and was sure to scrub my feet on the mat until the bottom of my shoes were clean.) It was mainly kids that stared though and I survive being judged by kids on a daily basis at school so I made it through the shop with no dignity lost!
This week was the first week of Jantastic – run by the guys at Marathon Talk and all about setting targets for your running in the build up to marathon season later in the year. My target for the first week was to head out on a total of five runs, which I managed to do. An easy run with Dan on Monday night, club run on Tuesday night, trail run Friday, parkrun on Saturday and my long run today. 100% so far!
Now to keep it up!
Do you ever get lost when heading out on a run?
If you’re taking part, how did you do on your first week of Jantastic?
Oh no the pretty shoes are no longer pretty! Such a shame, but mud is a bit of a badge of honour I think! Great job on the long run. I’m 100% for Jantastic week 1, aimed for 7 and managed 8 so all good so far!
Lauren (@poweredbypb) recently posted…Cashew Cacao Orange Energy Bites
Definitely going to refer to it as a badge of honour from now on! They show I’m series about trail at least!
Well done for your 100%. Not sure my body would cope with 8 runs a week at the moment. Great achievement and a fab way of ensuring you’re used to running on tired legs ready for any upcoming ultras.
getting lost during a run sounds positively frightening to me! I’m glad you weren’t alone.
Wendy@BlushandBarbells recently posted…Five Things About My City / Mexico City
Oh if I’d been on my own I would have made sure to know the area a lot better than I did! I would not be a fan of getting lost 10 miles into a 13 mile run!
You have definitely christened those shoes!
Coconut chocolate milk? I am going to have to go to tesco this week and stock up on this – sounds amazing.
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy recently posted…Comment on Baked Carrot Fries by Annie @ ciaochowbambina
It was lovely Dannii. Be sure to give it a try. I’ve saved the rest of my carton for this evening and I’m looking forward to having it when I get back from my run later on.
That coconut milk looks LUSH.
I love that you say “If” you finish the 15k you’ll get a PB. You will rock it! I have no doubt you’ll finish it!! Don’t be daft 😉
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It was lush!
If I get to the start line I’ll do my best to rock it! 😛 Been knackered just lately and we’re at an engagement party in the Midlands the evening before unfortunately.
Mmm that coconut milk looks good. I bought some chocolate almond milk and that has been rather tasty
We sometimes get lost on Sweatshop runs- not properly lost though, just wandering around the streets taking different routes- we all meet up at the shop in the end!
My Jantastic is going well thanks! 4/4 for week 1 so that’s good
Maria @ runningcupcake recently posted…teapigs matcha challenge week 1
Well done for 100% at Jantastic! I do ink it is a great motivator, especially if you are in a team.
I don’t know very much about Sweatshop as we don’t have any near us but am I right to think sessions aren’t led by anyone like a coach? Our club runs are all mapped out beforehand and we’re told where we’re going to go by the coach. It sounds like it’s OK in the end though and I imagine if you live close you can get by by running until you recognise a street and then heading back that way. (Many of my little runs from home end up like this!)
Yum! The chocolate coconut milk sounds very tasty. I love how Tesco has brought out their own range of dairy free milks, it looks like they have expanded their range since I last checked them out.
Jemma @ Celery and Cupcakes recently posted…{Recipe} 5 Ingredient Simple Granola
Yeah Tesco have really expanded their products over the last few months and I’m forever picking up new bits to try lately. This was a good find!