20km Aerobic

Today was the last of the longer aerobic runs with 2 weeks to go until the Half.

Set off in the pre dawn darkness with the fuel belt loaded up. Today was run in a figure 8 pattern, passing home at about 70 minutes. I started down the length of Pacific Drive so I could take in the sunrise, heading all the way to the breakwall. As nice as a perfectly clear sky is, it’s more spectacular to have some cloud on the horizon to bring out the colours from the sun. Anyway, after a short trip along the river I headed back to the start mostly via Granite Street, which made a nice change as I don’t usually travel the full length of it.

I left some water and Gatorade on the front step, so after a quick refuel I headed out to the Lighthouse where I popped a Raspberry Hammer Gel. This had a similar consistency to the GU I tried, and tasted pretty good. But I think I prefer the likes of the PB and High 5 gels, which are easier to get down and require less water. Of course the trade off is obviously the thicker gels aren’t as running so they seem to reduce any mess/stickiness.

Then it was down along Lighthouse Beach and a loop out past the Tacking Point Tavern. I saved a solid climb for the final part of the run and felt that I ran it strongly. I didn’t need any persuasion to opt out of the gruelling climb to the top of Transit Hill, and settled instead for a solid finish up to the top of Astronomers Terrace, which brought up 1 hour and 52 minutes. Then it was just a short walk home followed by some relaxing stretches.

Overall I felt good at the end of it all. In fact the little niggles from last week seem to have cleared right up. I was happy with the variety on the run as well – certainly not a flat course for the most part today.

And just for a change, there was no weather whatsoever in Port Macquarie this morning :P