Trials and tribulation on the trail

And so another week of running was brought to close.  No photos today, but a good read!!

This week past was rather over the top for me..two huge assignments had to be re done due to corrupted files and memory stick – and they were my final ones too.   Two huge new contracts at work came live, so flat out there, and the weather was very wet and stormy..  Unplanned taper week took place.

Joined Scotty Hawkes Ultra Runner extraordinaire for a relaxing trail run of 8km and good info chat from a runners perspective.  No commercial punt, no push for a particular name brand shoe/fuel or other.  Just good advice from some one who has done a lot of running!  Very refreshing.

So, as the title suggests there was a little more to my weekend.  My New Balance trail shoes have worn through and I am devastated.  I have spent 3 weeks looking for another pair exactly the same, only to find they are now out of product range.  There are a few off sales clearing the stock, but the shoe is hi-vis orange, and even forgoing the unforgiving colour, there is nothing in my little foot shoe size!

I had to then go to plan B, and bought myself a pair of Innov8 zero drops trailrocs.  Using them for the first time on the Saturday short run of 8km.  Aside from slightly warm feet, it appears to be good, although I could tell “a difference”.  I came across my Tuesday coach who gave me a firm instruction to wear socks with these shoes..something I do not normally do..so.

Sunday had us out for our long run in prep for the Ultra in December.  MMMMmmmm…..

I put on a pair of sports compression socks, my new Innov8 Trailroc shoes.  And set off.  First 10km was all good.  Second 10km was all good, but feet were starting to heat up a bit.  Next 5km my feet were uncomfortable and starting to distract me.aka  whilst running, instead of focusing on the trail and the scenery and running, I was spending more time worrying over my feet.  The next 5km was the clincher.  By now there was not just discomfort, there was serious discomfort.  My feet were so hot.  My heels were feeling very bruised – not the base of the heel, but like the section of the heel that grades up from the arch?  No cramping, but heat and bruising.   Finally finished the main part of the run, but had to get my shoes off as a matter of urgency.  The shoes came off no problem, but the socks could not.    I had to get someone else to put their hands on my grossed out 31km sweaty smelly feet/socks and ask them to try and peel the things off.

First two attempts at removing them failed and we were about to get the first aid scissors and cut the things off, when finally the socks started to loosen and allow us to remove them.

My poor feet..have you heard of Chinese foot binding?  Ah Hu..that is what happened.  My feet were swollen, but misshaped, the toes were squished together and my feet were literally bent in half with spasms.  The pain on release from the socks had me in tears..shaking, wobbling, balling, sniffing tears.   Trying to walk the spasm out and flatten my feet a little had me walking in perpetual circles for a good half hour- I actually could not walk straight.  I tried to jog it out for a km or 2, but had to call it quits and hobble back to the back seat of my car where I curled up in a tight ball and sobbed the pain away…

NO WAY WILL I EVER WEAR SOCKS AGAIN when running….

Cannot comment on the shoes really – maybe other than that I did not really think of them much to comment..could be a good sign..Next week I shall try another long run with new shoes but sans socks…

The second item on trial for he trail was nutrition.  So simple soul that I am, I do not do gels or other sports stuff.  I pack a ziplock bag of my homemade trail mix comprising of raisins, dried fruit, chocolate balls, almond nuts and jelly babies.  In the last two runs I have started drinking a small bottle of gatorade to supplement my water.   I have heard a lot of Tailwind from other runners.  So I ordered a sample pack, and as small as my little order was, it was followed by a very friendly personal email from Gavin, who was interested in my personal running history and future plans.   I used the equivalent of one sachet for the 30km run, and chose to mix it into a gel like substance and sip from a small squeeze bottle where I could monitor my intake, and supplement with fresh water from my pack.   Added to this trial was the aspect of NOT EATING breakfast.   I have to wake up at 2:30am, to leave the house by 3am, collect a couple of other runners and reach our destination by 5am. (how hardcore is that!)  So was happy to skip breakfast.  After the first 10km stretch I was feeling a hunger gnaw in my tummy..then the tailwind kicked in.  Hunger pains disappeared.  I felt well fuelled for the duration of the run, but think I perhaps should up my calorie dose of the tailwind, as although I am smaller in build at 52kg’s, I have a very fast metabolism, and eat nearly twice as much as my 6ft, 95kg husband!  I felt just a small pinch in energy towards the end of the run.   Having said this, I am very happy to continue with tailwind for my next long run and the ultra race in question.  So in all, I would say that trial was a success!  I might add I only got home at 2pm, so my last meal was 7pm the night before, a 30km run, and  I was only ready for a solid meal around 7pm after the run…for fuel supplies I think tailwind stand by what they promise.