first long run

[Sweder]

Nice one Jonners. Six miles is a fair whack (as you just found out).

Clothing is an individual issue. I know people who wear several layers on a long (+15 mile) run and never get too hot. I melt after ten minutes whatever the weather. In Almería last year I wore a windcheater and gloves; there was more moisture inside the jacket than outside!

The wall? In a nutshell your body runs out of energy provided by the food you eat and switches over to feeding on itself. During the switch over - which happens somewhere between mile 12 and 22, depending on your metabolism - you actually run on empty for a while. This hurts and makes you feel like laying down and having a kip. If you keep going, take a sports gel, take a walk break, eventually your body switches over to feeding off itself and you start to feel better.

One thing you can do to lessen the impact of the wall (or even avoid it all together) is to get in the habit of eating as you run from early on. Sweets or energy gels seem to work best. Try taking a few wine gums with you next time you're out. Start eating them from about three miles on and see if you get to six without feeling as wiped out.

As with all advice what works for one person won't be any good to another.
Trial and error dear boy, trial and error. But well done on that six miler.