Big June

This month isn't even over yet and it's been one of my biggest training months EVER!!

At the start of June I was lucky enough to have 2 1/2 weeks when I didn't have any work on, so I decided to seize the opportunity to get some good running and bike miles in while I could.

This month has included;

A couple of beautiful runs over the cliffs:

No fewer than 3 bike rides to the beach and back:

Several stops inbetween cycling for this sort of thing:

And lots of long runs and cycles up and down the lovely Cuckoo Trail:

Unfortunately the work is now piling up again and I haven't got as many chances for long runs and long bike rides coming up, but I have got a race coming up next week which I'm really looking forward to. It's a 15 miler - not a race distance I've done before - so I've had to some long runs as training.

Over the last 3 weeks I've done a 10, then 12, and finally 14 mile run. The last of these was a bit of an adventure. I usually do a loop round the local towns for a long run, but at this time of year we are plagued by seagulls who like to swoop down towards me and scare me! So I am avoiding the areas where they are and sticking to the tree-shaded path of the local Cuckoo Trail.

So I set off one morning with a plan to run 7 miles one way, turn round and run home. This would be further than I've gone along this path before - including cycling. I don't usually take water with me, but this was a very hot day, so I filled a bottle, put it in the freezer to cool quickly, finished getting ready, and left - without the bottle.

I wasn't too worried as I don't drink much when I run anyway. However, this was a hot day and a long run. After about 5 miles, I stopped seeing anyone on the path. It got more isolated and far from any roads, so there were none of the dog-walkers, kids on bikes and horse riders I sometimes pass nearer home. I eventually turned around and started feeling very hot and thirsty.

About 2 miles from my house, there is a little place off the trail called The Loom Mill, where they sell arts and crafts, and there's a cafe and toilet. I started thinking about it at about 8 miles, but wouldn't reach it until 12 miles...

I was really enjoying the run though, and the miles went by quickly! When I finally got there, I went into the toilet, turned on the tap and started gulping down water. I sounded like a dog, slurping away, and it tasted amazing! After a while I left and finished the run.

I felt thirsty all day after that, and couldn't drink enough. Later I had a bad headache and felt unwell, and I think it was down to the lack of water. Lesson learned.

So with a few days still to go, I've already run just over 100 miles this month, and cycled about 90. This is big mileage for me!

This is bound to drop over the next few weeks as I have more work to do, but I'm hoping to get in some more long bike rides and plenty of running too!