Built for Distance

I thought I'd be bold on Sunday, and have a stab at a longer long run. It was such a sunny, autumnal day, it would have been a crime not to. So, I consulted my maps and decided to risk an 8 or 9 mile round trip from my house in New Ash Green to Trosley Country Park (near Trottiscliffe, which is pronounced "Trosley"; names are like that round these parts). I didn't want to risk injuries to my feet on this longer run, so I opted for the Trail Gloves. I've taken to wearing them with socks, which prevents the uppers from rubbing my skin raw near the metatarsal/phalangeal joints of my big toes. The paths were slick with mud, which made things a bit more fun and gave me some good practice at keeping my balance. Shorter, lighter strides became a bit more important, and in places I had to keep my mind on where each step was to be taken. There were times, though, when I was running downhill over grass, and was able to let rip without fear of slipping. Bliss! Between Stansted and Ridley, I met another runner who ran with me to Hodsoll Street. I was quite chuffed, as he commented on my "light-footed" style. I've been trying for months to land lightly, so it was good to hear someone saying that unprompted. I still felt fresh when I was running along the North Downs Way within the Country Park, but stopped for the hot drink I had promised myself. Then I ran home. Things were fine, till I was descending the last hill, about a mile from my house. I got stabs of pain shooting up my calves, so I walked till the path levelled out, then ran the rest of the way without any further problems. Furthermore, I felt fine on Monday and did a short barefoot run Tuesday lunchtime, with no soreness or stiffness in evidence. So there it is: despite my weekly mileage dropping since the summer, despite my not having stuck to Jason Robillard's half-marathon training schedule, and despite my failure to register for a half-marathon, I know that I can go for 9-mile runs. I probably still need to work on those calves, though.