FitLifeSF

Done with my longest training run yet! 11.53 miles at exactly an 11:00/mile pace. You can check out the details here.

In related news, I’m within fractions of a pound of being down a total of 10 pounds since working with the nutritionist! About 8 more pounds to go to ring in my 35th B-Day at 125lbs! Read on after the jump for reviews of products I tested out on this run.

I was pacing by heartrate, trying to stay as close to 150 as possible
and definitely felt like I had more in the tank to give (had a nice
kick at the end, which doesn’t show as much in the last 1.5 miles’
time because there was a fierce headwind- some might even call it a
“sandstorm,” I figured I’d file the experience away should I ever run
Badwater.)

This run gave me loads of confidence for the upcoming half. I think a
good A-Goal is 10:30 average splits, 10:45 as a good B-Goal. The run I
did today hit 2 of the biggest hills on the half marathon course. I
plan to run a 12 miler next Sunday and then taper the week after to be
fresh for the race on the 2nd.

New stuff I tried out:
- Amphipod 12 oz handheld. Loved it! I had to fill it up 3x at water fountains, though, so I also have an Ultimate Direction 20oz to test next week and decide which I’ll use in the half.
- HEED High Energy Electrolyte Drink. The selling point of HEED is that it is supposed to double as both a sports drink for hydration and take the place of a gel for energy/carbs. I have been messing with fueling since the nausea at my first race on the Jelly Belly Sports Beans. On this run, I drank 4 oz of HEED (subtle melon flavor) before leaving the car and started with 12 oz in my Amphipod. The goal was to drink 3
oz every 2 miles. I am supposed to take in 15g of carbs every 20 minutes. Woops- between not running 10 minute miles and mathing out the Heed wrong, I should have been drinking about 2x that. After 4 miles, I filled the amphipod at a drinking fountain, diluting the solution by half, and then drank 1/2 the bottle at each of the next two 2-mile increments. Despite not getting as many carbs as I should have, I didn’t bonk and found the HEED very tummy-friendly!

PowerBar Gel Apple Flavor- After the HEED was gone, I switched to this gel. It appeared runnier in the package, so I picked up a few to try, thinking it might go down easier. I had 1/2 a package at each of the
next fueling increments. Blech. Not good. It must be really acidic because I had apple-flavored chest burning for the last 4 miles.

Injini Toe Socks- LOVE these! I have never had an issue with blisters until I started pushing 10 miles, and then I would get them on the tips of my ring and pinkie toes, because I have somewhat “clubbed” toes (they have a rather sharp-angle seam that tucks under the toe next to it. They really are quite adorable, or so I tell myself.) The Injini Socks were magic, keeping those toes from sticking and– no blisters! Will def keep on using these on long runs.

Stay tuned for reviews of the Ultimate Direction bottle and GU’s new Roctane gels, both of which I plan to take for a spin before deciding on my plan for the US Half Marathon.