Today’s run started at 12 noon so that I would get the full
impact of the heat of the day. I
had filled my hydration vest bladder with 70 oz. of water and NUUN, the
electrolyte supplement and off I went.
To be on the safe side, I packed a small cooler with more
water/NUUN and food and placed it at the trailhead as a back up. It would be needed later.
I didn’t realize how much water I would suck down. At the 13-mile mark, I ran out of
water. I couldn’t believe it. With two more miles to go, I didn’t
have enough water. I began to get
a little dehydrated as I continued, but I pushed on.
When I got back to the trailhead to begin the final 5 ½ mile
loop, I filled the bladder with my last bottle of back up water.
As I sucked down more water, my stomach got a little
queasy. I ate a Honey Zinger waffle to get something in
my stomach other than water/NUUN.
By that time, the bagel and peanut butter I had for breakfast had long
been processed and used for energy.
I thought about stopping, but I knew that soon, the energy
from the waffle and the water would soon settle my stomach and I’d be
good. I walked a lot during those
miles, but began to feel better. I
started to half run, half walk.
Soon, my stride began to lengthen and I was feeling better,
running. I pushed on through the
final few miles, but ran out water again within two miles of the finish.
I stayed with
it and didn’t quit and completed my 20 ½ mile run for the day.
I started at 12 noon and finished at 4:15 p.m. Good training for a heated race.
Luckily, I had the day off and was able to recover.
Long runs are part of the training. Today’s run was epic.
Gotta run,
Chuck
The Vagabond Runner.
