Happily Ever After
Life in The Rural Retreat with a beautiful wife, three cats, garden wildlife, a camera, a computer – and increasing amounts about running
Earlier posts can be found on Adventures of a Lone Bass Player, where this blog began life. Recent entries can be found here.
Beating The Heat
by Russell Turner - 16:47 on 17 June 2023
The temperature is down a little today, so it’s a shame that my final long run was yesterday. The plan called for 55k but I’d have been happy with anything over marathon distance.
Keen to miss as much heat as possible, I made the unprecedented decision to make a very early start. I’d hoped for between 4.30 and 5am but eventually got away after 5.30, having breakfasted on an energy bar. The temperature was 10ºC with no wind. Just right.
My cunning plan was to run four sets of 14k with three pit stops. However, the going through Millbuie Forest was smooth, despite the initial big climb, so I kept going to Mount Eagle, looped round on to the Killen road then back into the woods and back the way I came, reaching home after 24k. Rather than checking pace or doing a run/walk I kept my heart under 130bpm, which worked well.
By now the sun was a lot higher and the temperature had risen. My nipples were well protected by big plasters but sweat, chest strap and the hydration pack combined to create a couple of new sore spots which I covered with new plasters. I can leave the HR strap behind for race day but the pack still needs adjusting – whether it’s too tight or too loose I can’t decide. Probably too tight. I’ll experiment on forthcoming short runs.
I got back out after topping up the Tailwind and having some water and a few bites of energy bar. They taste fine, although my appetite for them while running diminishes the further I go, which is a worry.
My second loop plan involved Udale Farm and Poyntzfield, linked by the gate where I fell over earlier in the year, but after climbing the hill and passing the farm I discovered that the track was now covered by three-foot-high foliage. Not wanting to risk a second fall I descended back to the main road, climbed another hill to Poyntzfield, continued along the farm track and back on to the main road then home – around 13k, leaving just a 5k to hit marathon distance.
The temperature, I later discovered, was now around 22º, the sun high, and the pack an increasing nuisance. I abandoned the 55k target, substituting the 45k I was meant to have done last week, and made a final 8k loop with only mild ascent, returning home after a total of seven hours and one minute, including pit stops when I paused the Garmin. Although I could have gone out again I didn’t feel it would achieve anything – even the thought of setting a new distance record by passing 50k didn’t tempt me. After all, I’ll do that anyway in three weeks’ time (all being well).
Now it’s a gradual descent to the big day: a 15k next weekend and a clutch of 5ks as I taper down and try to find the ideal fastening for my pack. I’ve also still to do a night run, as I expect to finish the ultra at midnight, more or less. Probably more. Which means trying out a head torch. More expense.
Do I feel ready for 100k? Not really, but with three easy weeks ahead, and fingers crossed that the heatwave will be over by then, I definitely feel that I’m in with a chance.
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