I ran 10 miles today…

Woke up at the absolute crack a dawn today to do a 10 mile run. 

I like to go for my long distant runs as soon as I hop out of bed (after a decent stretch).  If I hang around any longer, then I run the risk of getting hungry and I’ve never been able to handle being hungry; I always get really shaky and weak. 

I’ve become kinda neurotic with the eating and running thing actually…  It’s just that I am very prone to getting stitches so I have to wait about 4 to 5 hours after eating, otherwise I am crippled.   The less food I have in my belly, the more enjoyable the run…  But, this means that at the beginning of a run, I am borderline hungry.  It’s a thin line.

Running first thing in the morning is perfect cuz I have nothing in my belly and the run always feels more comfortable.  I swear, when I get going I feel like a panther or something!  I am now doing longer runs in the build up to the marathon, so lately, my stomach starts rumbling mid way through and this has been making me feel a bit nervous.  Well, I have recently discovered the solution to this neurosis…  and it comes in the form of these energy gel packs…

They’re just the job.  You eat them while you’re running.  They keep the edge off the hunger and they’re light enough on my stomach that I don’t get a stitch.  The whole thing could be psychological, but I know I’m alright if I have my little gel pack with me. 

The run was good today but not great.  In the first half an hour, I got a few stones in my shoe.  I was too stubborn to stop and take them out.  There were about four small ones in my left shoe all rolling about and then embedding themselves in various locations on my foot before moving off again.  They niggled at me for most of the run.

Anyway, me and the stones did the run in 1 hour and 35 mins. 

That wasn’t too bad.  If I keep up that pace then maybe I can run the marathon in 4 hours.  That goal is beginning to surface now despite promising myself I wouldn’t set a time goal for the marathon.  I told myself I would be happy just to run the 26.2 miles. 

I don’t want to go over the 4 hours though. 

I will be happy running it in 4 hours or under…