Rob's Running Blog

Evening long run – 8.3 miles in 1hr 24 minutes

After yesterday’s aborted run I wanted to redeem myself a little, and also wanted to experiment with running a bit later, so rather than run first thing today, I got a lot of stuff out of the way and mowed the lawn as a warm up, after tidying my office as well and pulling weeds up. It was a hot day, but getting cooler in the evening, so decided to christen one of my proper sleeveless Nike running tops, which I don’t recall ever wearing…

I set off and the top felt really cool, allowing the air to waft over my skin. I felt great and was going at sub 60 minute 10k pace for a while. I’d prepared a bottle of water but managed to forget it, but had fortunately brought money, which was a good job, as I started to plan a long run in my head and knew I would need to take on liquid. I passed a shop and stopped the Garmin dead on 4k. Got a bottle of fruity flavoured drink and set off again.

Started to tire around 9k, but was still a long way from home. Decided to try to run all the way back, but was slowing. Legs were complaining a bit. Couldn’t quite work out in my head if 8 miles (the target I decided to go for) was 13.1k or 13.5k, so decided to aim for 13.5. Struggled on the Windmill Lane hills, and really started to hurt, whatever the distance it was my longest run in over a year, by a few kms. I could see a shop in the distance and it was like an oasis, so I decided I would stop there whatever the distance and get a drink, I was really suffering, and the thought of some bourbon biscuits when I got home seemed like heaven itself.

I crawled to a pained stop and got a bottle of Lucozade. I was still a ten minute walk from home, and it was surprisingly cold. My legs felt a little numb, as did my abdomen, but I had covered 13.4km, which as I worked out when I got home, is 8.3 miles, so I had done my first 8 miler in a very long time. It was relatively slow, but it seems the 10 day break I had is now paying off, after a couple of comeback runs where I’ve felt a little rusty to say the least. All bodes well for the city of Manchester 10k next month, and it looks like evening running may suit me – won’t have much time this week but will hope to squeeze a run in and there’s always the weekend!