6:15am I got up and started getting ready. Friday I had mapped out my run and was planning to run to the Strawberry Farm to meet Kaylie and pick strawberries! I was very familiar with the first 4.5 miles of the route but after that I was running blind.
I pulled out my Nathan hydration pack which Brian gave me for Christmas but I had yet to use. Well 6 months after Christmas I finally got around to it. And this really is a common practice for me. I love new things...and I love to keep them brand new and not use them. I seriously will buy things (or receive things), keep them in my closet with the tags on and not use them just because I don't want to ruin them. Weird, I know.
I filled the little hydration pack with 30 fl ounces of water (although it can hold like 70 but that would have been a lot of weight to carry) along with my phone, camera, a new raspberry hammer gel to try, a damp wash cloth, money, and ID. I weighed myself with the pack and without. The pack weighed about 4.6 pounds which wasn't bad.
After a quick breakfast of raisin toast and peanut butter, I headed out. The weather was actually perfect - cloudy and a cool 62F although very humid and I was dripping in sweat by mile 3. But I just kept running along enjoying the time outside and the route. I had left the house at around 7am so the traffic was ultra light plus I was on all back roads so I was pretty much alone the whole time. I was planning on meeting Kaylie at 8:30am and had left plenty of time.
After mile 6, the area I was running in started to get HILLY! And I mean like roller
coaster hilly! I would reach the top of the hill, then start going down, reach the bottom of the hill, then start running back up the next hill! It had to be the most intense hills I have ever run but I was happy I made it and knew it would be good training for the 15k. I stopped at mile 6.5 to have the hammer gel and water and I actually think it helped a lot. I just don't know how I am going to open and eat a gel during the race.
I reached the strawberry farm ten minutes early but Kaylie was already there. I put my bag in her car and off we went to pick strawberries. It was actually good that I stayed on my feet and picked because that way my legs didn't get tight and I was stretching (sorta) by bending and picking the berries!
Running to places is my favorite. It was so much fun to know that I was running to pick strawberries and running 9 miles! This run reminded me I need to respect the distance because those last few miles were tough. Plus I need to rehydrate after a run - a post weigh in on the scale showed I had lost almost 4 pounds!! Overall it was a great run and I am so happy about it! A great way to start off the weekend!
9.14 miles/1:11:17/7:48 pace
Have a good weekend!!
19 comments:
i totally need to start running to places and put all my miles to good use! great idea :)
You killed it! It takes me an hour and a half to run nine!!
Wow, you rock! That was a great training run! :) How did you like your hydration pack? I run with the fuel belt and I like it. Does the hydration pack bounce a lot? I like that it carries more fluid and has more pockets :)
nice run!! and run to strawberries. Got to love that! I've been looking at that hydration pack, would love to hear what your think about it.
So fun! Great work!
That particular hydration pack is the BOMB! I love how it sits tight against my back and doesn't bounce around.
Nice run J!
Looks like sooooo much fun!!!' I love the self pic!! Way to go girl!!!
I love running places it really gives me a sense of purpose! Great job on the 9 miler, you're sppeeedy!!
good thinking incorporating your long run to get to the strawberry farm. great job on the run!
Well done on the long run! Were you happy with your hydration pack? I have a belt that holds 2 10 oz bottles that I am fairly happy with. It does the job but sometimes I wish I had more than 20 oz of fuel...
Awesome run! Those strawberries look delicious!
that backpack is adorable! i think i would just wear it around :) and i'm totally serious... i also bet it would be spectacular for a bike ride! so cool!!!
STRAWBERRIES!!!!!!!!!! mmm. fruit picking is the BEST! i need to make sure to go every year for every season. hehe.
AND GREAT RUN!!!!!!!!!! you are such a speed demon i love that you are increasing your mileage and keeping a fast pace. woo woo!!!!
Awesome pace! (And I recommend using your teeth to open gels during a race.)
What a good idea running to the strawberry farm! Those berries must have tasted GOOOOOD!
Cute pics and awesome job on your long run!
Great pace! I am hoping to get 15K done in under 2 hours next weekend. Did a 20K last weekend and hit the 15K mark at 1:59. UGH! The berries look delicious.
Awesome! Destination runs are great. Nice pace too.
wow great speedy long run! and strawberry picking...yum! I might need a pack like that. My little handheld just doesn't cut it in this heat.
That's a great pack. The only thing I don't like about my Camelbak is that it doesn't have pockets in the front. This one solves that problem.
That is so cool running to a strawberry farm. I can't think of a time when I've run some place...I;ll have to make that a goal.
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