MT7

So today was my first long run of my training schedule. I was scheduled to complete 19 km. I decided to run along the river as it has lent itself to easy distance mark offs. From the puente in parque oeste along the river, I can check off certain distance by the bridges. Today I was supposed to run to the puente de andulasia. As it turns out, that bridge doesn't exist. I asked more than one person along the river for its location. I was told that calle andulasia might be what I was thinking of. So I ran to that bridge. And told myself that I would "google map" it later at home. If my body was any indication, I did complete the distance. I was hurting and achy. Though it might be the heat of the day that played a part in my exhaustion.

One of the draw backs about running along the river in Madrid is that you little if any shade. The summer sun in Madrid is very hot, close, and unrelenting. As I have run under it for several months, I am feel a bit acclimatized. But I still shed so much water as to get stares from fellow madrilanios. Today was no exception. I was slick with sweat by the time I got to the first bridge. And dripping everywhere as I was a running when I got Vincente Calderon stadium. I've talked a lot about the usefulness of sweating and I do marvel that my hyperactive sweating allows me a high level activity in Madrid. So even though I do wish I didn't look like I dipped myself in the river, I do understand how important to my running is my sweating. But if you are going to run along the river, with all its benefits, you need remember about the lack of shade. If you are fair skinned, and burn easily, you need sunscreen. If you are impatient with crowds, go to the parque. If you don't want share paths with slow bikers, run in the city. Keep these in mind and enjoy your long runs in Madrid.

And I did enjoy my long run.

I may have had difficulty finding my turn around point but I was still able to cover the distance. I ran 20.3 km by google maps. I stopped once at around 15 km to get some water. It is the only water fountain that I know along my river route. I guzzled. I repeat guzzled. I spent something like 5 minutes drinking water and only stopped as a woman wanted her dog to drinks some water. I feared I had over drank and would be water heavy or at lesser cramp up. But on the way back, I had no trouble at all. In fact the water invigorated me for the last 5 km. Which begs the question, why am I not carrying water with me? (Something I will deal with in a later entry.)

Those who know my route or have read my blog know that the last few km of my runs go back up the hill thorough parque oeste into my barrio. It is the single hardest thing for me. I have completed a length run or even a short one and now need to power up hill to my house. All I am thinking of is the 3 liters of cold water sitting in my frig. I am thinking of sitting down with my bare feet up on the table and my kindle in my hand. I am thinking of cool down. I am thinking of sitting. I am thinking of stopping.

It is not easy. Sometimes the steepness of the ascent is enough to make me want to cry. But today I am able to get through it with no problem. I run by plaza espania. I run across calle princesa. And home.

I do all of the above and long warm muscle relaxing shower. I forgo my usual pass out and sleep for the day, and go have lunch with my girlfriend. The breakfast, at 11.30am, puts me to sleep. I have problems walking back home. As I climb into bed to sleep the next 4 hours away, I feel quietly content. My training is on track. I'm stronger, if sorer, than ever. Ready to tackle the week's milage. But only after my Rest Day tomorrow.

So enjoy your Sunday, loyal readers.

If anyone has any questions about this or anything I've written about, please email me.

Ciao!




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