Monster 20.5 mile heat of the day run~

Today was a monster run.  Twenty miles on the trail.  Trail running is not road/street running.  As I have described before, there are hills, gulleys, roots, rocks and trees that you have to get over.  So much more of the body is used in balancing and striding.  It’s a little tougher on the body!

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.