Midweek run - 45km (celebrating my birthday with a really long run)

dannewton just finished a 45.36km run, that lasted for 293 minutes.
This run helped dannewton burn 3414.0 calories.

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Description from Strava:
Yep, the clue is in the title, today is my birthday... and it appears to be yet another year older (but not necessarily any wiser!). I've booked the week off work, partly due to needing to use it up and partly due to it being at least 3 months since the last one.

I'm long overdue some time off work to be fair...

Unfortunately, I don't actually have a great deal planned due to the time of year, and lack of funds, and my partner being at Carlisle University. But although the week may end up being a little wasted, I was determined to due something a little more interesting on my birthday.

And after doing a 'Marathon' run 10 days ago, and feeling pretty good afterwards I thought I'd 'celebrate' by doing another one.

er yes I did say 'celebrate' by doing a Marathon... I do enjoy these long runs honest!

The trick is working out where to go. The last Marathon Run, was 7 and a half loops around the village. It was an interesting exercise in keeping going round the same loop over and over, but I needed something different this time around.

I have done smaller runs in the past of 13 miles to Navenby and back, and also a loop around Lincoln for 14 miles... and maybe I could do both in one session?

That sounds like a plan!

The weather has been awfully variable as of late, with heavy rain, strong winds and even thick fog at times. Today it looked like the weather Gods where going to be nice for once, and I was rewarded with what looked to be perfect running conditions. Nice and bright, with temperatures of 10C and only a moderate breeze

And it did look gorgeous as I set off this morning. The run was essentially split into 2 sections, and I chose to run down to Navenby first. The reason was due to a friend who lives nearby who had randomly asked me if I run to Navenby in my sessions, or was that 2 far away.

I replied that I frquently run miles and miles, and sometimes pass through there, and I asked why?

Oh, theres a really good bakery there, and the cakes are amazing. If you happen to go through there could you pick up some Cherry Bakewells?

Source

I replied "sure, dunno when I'm heading out that way, but if I do then I'll pick some up"

It was about an hour to run down to Navenby, and I decided to run the loop around Wellingore first, before picking up the cakes on the way back home.

I was slightly confused by the name of the sign though! Welbourne is the name of village located about 5 miles further south, quite why 'Welbourne's Bakery is located in the heart of Navenby village is beyond me haha!

Anyway, 4 Cherry Bakewells picked up, and very carefully stowed away in my packback. I the had to run the 6 miles home again, and wasn't entirely sure how well they would survive being bounced around. It does appear that they fit very snuggly into the pack, so I was optimistic.

As it turned out the only thin that happened was that was that the little glace cherries on top had fallen off and were rolling around in the bag.

I suppose it does help that as cakes go, these bakewell tarts are quite chunky, and pretty solid too. I'm not sure those danish pastrie things would have survived as well as these

er, when I was reattaching the glace cherries, one of them rolled of the counter and into my mouth by accident... oops!

So that was the first half done. I took the opportunity while at home for a quick bathroom break, and then I refilled my water bottle, and helped my self to some snacks (2 choc mini rolls, a kitkat, and some fruit pastilles). I also grabbed some more snacks for the road, and headed out for the 2nd part of the run.

This time I was heading down into Lincoln on a route I've done pretty often (such as here)

It was a pleasant enough run out today. I wasn't bothered about the pace, and I had also turned of the Heart Rate alerts, as they can be annoying if they keeping going for 4-5 hours! I did my best to run to feel, although I was conscious that I wasn't running as well as I did in my last Marathon distance run.

I think there were a number of reasons for that, that first run I wasn't running with a pack whereas today I was carrying water/snacks/wallet and other bits and pieces. Todays route was considerably more hilly than the last one, and if I'm honest I was as well rested this time around (including lacking enough sleep last night).

It wasn't really a problem as I was still enjoying the un in the beautiful sunshine anyway, it was just stuff to be aware of for next time (note: go to sleep earlier!)

I ran along Tritton road, and then cut through onto Monks Road. This then took me up onto Greetwell Road pictured above.

One thing I did notice was how quiet the roads were. I usually run this Lincoln route at the weekend, and theres cars everywhere. Mid-week is much quieter, but I guess at this point just after lunch most people would be working?

Eventually I made it on to the bypass, and started to head for home. The route I picked today was to be 45km, and I had toyed briefly with the idea of adding a 5km loop onto the end of it to make a total of 50km.

Slogging my way along the bypass, I decdided I was begining to get a bit tried now, and pushing to hit the 50km just for the sake of it would be silly, and worse it could lead to a longer recovery time and a potential risk of injury.

Its my birthday, I don't wanna get injured today!

Instead, it would be more sensible to just head home and eat those cakes...

So I did!

My friend was right, they were super tasty!

After 5 hours of running it was time for a quick shower, and then to go round parents for tea. We had a Indian Takeaway, its been ages since I've had a proper Indian (Chicken Jalfrezi), and that was super tasty as well!

I'm now slumped on the sofa, unable to move. I can't work out if I've run to much, or eaten to much (I suspect its a bit of both to be fair!) But regardless of that it's been a pretty good day. It would have been nice to see Dawn as well, but that can't be helped. I am going to take to her tomorrow which is something, and hopefully by then I'll have recovered from todays over-indulgences!

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If you would like to check out this activity on strava you can see it here:
https://www.strava.com/activities/10223223982

About the Athlete: Living in the UK, I am an intermittent Runner, but always striving for more consistency. When I'm not training I can be found photographing insects or listening to really loud angry music (which is the best type of music obviously!)

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