200708 -Getting better

[El Gordo]

I slept fitfully, wanting to ensure that I got some carbs down me before the run today. And so it came to pass that at 5 a.m. I was lying there in the dark, chomping through a banana and half a Soreen malt loaf, before attempting another stretch of sleep -- not too successfully.

Up at 8, feeling unrested.

But what a perfect summer morning. The sun was was already blinding and warm as I left the house.

It was a rapid drive to Prospect Park, in keeping with my poor time management. Last night I started reading a self-help book called Get Everything Done And Still Have Time To Play. It told me that if I always have to rush to get to appointments, I need exactly the sort of insight and assistance that this very book will provide. I do always have to rush to appointments, so I guess I'm reading the right book. I'll report back on any noticeable transformation. Though perhaps I won't need to. If I start saying things like: As usual, I had to wait fifteen minutes for the other runners to turn up, you'll be able to draw your own conclusions. If I continue to say things like: It was a rapid drive to Prospect Park, you'll know that my £7.99 could have been more wisely invested in the Rhône section of the Waitrose wine department. And indeed, that more wisdom could have been purchased there.

The other three club runners evidently had more impressive time management skills than me, as they were already there. Peter, the stalwart veteran club captain, plus Liz and Maxine, neither of whom I knew before today.

Or at least I didn't think I did. But a mile or so into the run, the charming Liz asked: "Oh, are you the Andy of Running Commentary fame?" And it turns out that I've been corresponding intermittently with her husband over several years, after coming across him on the Runners World web forum. After this realisation, I had to struggle to avoid calling her Mrs Blue Knees.

But seriously, she was great company for much of the first 7 miles. Runners are just damn nice people.

The run took us down to the river near Purley, and along the Thames Path for perhaps three miles before we arrived in Reading town centre. By some sleight of foot, we somehow transferred onto the canal towpath without me realising. I started to suffer badly here. It was getting pretty hot now -- probably 75°F. (No idea what that is in fancydanspeak.)

Hydration, never a problem in my leisure time, has always troubled me on long runs. I've tried most things but nothing is quite right. I can't run with a water bottle in my hand. Apart from feeling unnatural and just plain wrong, the heat from your hand ensures that the liquid is simmering nicely by the time you need it. Lucozade Sport is bad enough even when rendered near-tasteless by a night in the fridge. Taken as a hot toddy, it's unreckonably abominable.

Worn on a belt, a water bottle doesn't get so hot, but it sort of bounces around -- it's like being tethered to some obese rodent in the throes of a violent nervous breakdown. I have quite enough trouble with heavy items in that area -- my stomach for instance -- without needing to add to it.

I've tried one of those bladder-pack jobbies worn on the back. This is the best of a bad lot, though I worry that it makes me look too much like a gear-freak. I'm a portly, middle-aged bloke with a face the colour of an over-ripe tomato. That's quite funny enough already.

So anyway, my liquid reserves today were just a 200ml pouch of orange juice, squashed into the pocket of my belt. And delicious it was too, but there wasn't enough of it. After 4 miles, it was exhausted. A mile further on, I was too.

I struggled on for a couple more miles, but with about 7.3 on my watch, I told the others to continue. Of course they protested, and insisted on sticking around, but I had to tell them it would be even kinder of them to continue, which they did, with impressive reluctance.

It gave me the chance to get my breath back. I walked for a while -- perhaps 10 minutes, then jogged on. From then it was stop-start, but I wasn't too disheartened. Despite being a hot day, and inadequately equipped liquidly speaking, I'd knocked out the first 7 miles in around 10 minute miles which is actually pretty quick for me, especially coming back from a lay-off. I was able to add another 2.5 more leisurely miles to bring it up to about 9.5 in all.

I'm happy with that.