Two weeks to the half marathon ..

Amy and I completed our first 12 mile run yesterday. Running between Clacton and Walton, almost pier to pier (we can't wait to achieve that). It was really mild yesterday and incredibly windy on the return run but it felt great. I was grateful that I ran out of time for the hill training I was supposed to do the day before. Yesterday, we went in the afternoon which is a little out of routine and this meant that food intake needed to be carefully considered. I know what you must be thinking, isn't that a little obsessive but really it makes such a difference to your experience of running. What you eat before a run is crucial! So I played safe and had a bowl of porridge at lunch time. This was fine. I had a pouch full of sultanas (great tip Kevin) but didn't need any. I did run out of fluid - two bottles of 50/50 OJ and water wasn't enough so I need to consider taking 3. It was so mild we took our sweatshirts off and left them thinking they would Ok for our return run - however sadly Amy's really cool top was stolen - strangely they left my cheap as chips, slightly torn sweatshirt!
I find myself thinking about dogs and, probably more to the point, dog owners! There seems to be such a difference in attitude of these people! Some spot you running towards them a long way off, call their dog to them, hold them while you pass and continue, with a warm, and sometimes sympathetic hello. You can see that I'm building to something ... last run Amy and I were running towards two little boys on bikes with a dodgy looking dog running towards us - this is probably a good time to add that I am running with a real animal lover and a knowledgeable dog identifier - this is very useful in such situations as Amy immediately identifies the 'make' of dog, it's rough age and whether friendly or not. However this did not stop me feeling a little panicked and I have to admit, cross with the owner who was miles away. Actually the dog was OK - but it may not have been! Sarah told us at the training evening that she had been bitten twice by a dog whilst running and left on the pavement! Anyway - what is my point? Well, I suppose I just wish dog owners could be a little more considerate as probably most of them are actually. It's just the odd one or two added to which I am a bit of a chicken when it comes to loose dogs on a run! OK, rant over - feel like an episode of 'grumpy old women'.
So, this week, a hill training session, a six miles and a run with the training group. Have a good week!
Jo