Tough conditions

It's been a good but tough weekend for training. Yesterday was a confidence booster as I went out with 2 mega experienced ultra runners, Rosie Bell and Craig Hamilton, to run 16 miles of the West Highland Way staring at Drymen. "Dry" it certainly wasn't and on climbing up Conic Hill in the howling wind and rain we reached the snow line. In conditions like this I was inside "my bubble" that protects me from the elements. I had my buff pulled up over my ears and baseball cap and going down the other side it was over my mouth as the conditions deteriated.
We ran at a proper ultra pace and I felt I could have gone on for a long time which is reassuring. However after 16 miles we decided that was enough for the day. I had got to see the terrain I'll be running in just over 2 months and it's going to be a challenge. Between now and the event I will have visited the trail so I know what to expect.
This morning I went out for another 15 miles of trail running with some friends, in the wind and rain again.  I was hoping to do 20 but my body was telling me it was hurting and if pushed much further could cause an injury, so I stopped.  Also as the miles build up I need to carry more fluids and I had become thirsty which means you are dehydrated and it's too late. So that will be my next purchase so I can carry more water when running as it's essential.
It's still a mental challenge thinking how I will run 53 very challenging miles in about 75 days time when I've struggled with the mileage today.  But there are a lot of training miles between now and then and that is what I will be focusing on.  I just need to be patient and keep up the training. Finally my weight has dropped to 11 and a half stone so I'm not having to cart so much around - that makes me happy!