Going long

Following last weeks training camp in the Trossachs I went out with a group of ultra runners for a 22 mile run today. They included Scotland's number 1 woman Rosie Bell and 2 West Highland Way vets (95 miles in 1 day). We did an 11 mile out and back (22 total)in an undulating track through Whitelees Wind Farm (the largest in Europe). We got plenty of strange looks from walkers and cyclists as it is really wild out there. I learned very quickly that the pace was slower than anything I had done before as this lets you go on and on. However on the way back they explained that I needed to walk some of the hills as an important part of my training. Starting to run after the walk wasn't easy but I started to cool down too quickly so agreed with them I'd run on and keep running back to town and they would pick me up. So it was a total of 25.5 miles for me in 4 hours and 7 minutes. It's not about the pace but about the miles on your feet. I'm extremely pleased with my performance as this means I've reached my marathon fitness 1 month early. So I'll continue with my yoga, swimming & cycling but these long runs will become very important. I'm excited already and have so much to learn from my "new found ultra running friends"!