Long Runs

Yesterday I went for a long run. Seventeen miles in fact, the furthest I have ever run.

I had planned my route (which actually said it was 15.5 miles, but adding in elevation makes it 17 miles), started off slow and steady trying to keep around 9-10 minute miles. The first 6-8 miles felt easy going, then I got in to a rhythm and seemed to speed up. My fastest mile was mile 15 across Hampton Ridge.

Nice hard pack trail.

This is the first run I have experimented with fueling myself. Before going to Scotland I had done a 14 miler almost by accident. I was feeling pretty good so just decided to keep going and see how far I could go. I was feeling tired by the end, I think this was mostly due to not taking any water. This time however I took water and dried fruit to eat on the way. I never felt tired at any point, and was still feeling fairly fresh legged by the time I got back to the car.

Coincidently I bumped in to my brother in the car park!

Depsite the forecast I managed to miss any showers on my run. I did have to take my shoes off and wade through two streams, which had turned more in to rivers with the recent downpours! Very cold!!!

One of my flooded stream crossings.

I'll go for another long run in a couple of weeks. In the back of my mind I am aiming to do the Clarendon Marathon in October, which stretches from Salisbury all the way to Winchester. If that goes well and I enjoy it, I'll look at doing my first 50k ultramarathon next year.

Looking across Latchmore Bottom from Hampton Ridge.