In my never ending attempt to keep hydrated on long runs in below freezing temperatures, I decided to give a Camelback a try. I purchased the smallest and sleekest model available: the Siren by Camelback. This sleek and aerodynamic model still holds a healthy 50 ounces of water.

Normally, I hold a water bottle in my hand, two if I am going more than 18 miles. But when the temperature gets below 20 degrees the bottles always freeze up. I thought that with the Camelback I could wear it under my wind shell and keep it from freezing up. I have also tried wearing waist based hydration systems, but I don't like belts around my waist.

In my first test, I ran a hilly 10 miler with it. Although I didn't like the sloshing, I felt like I could wear it for longer runs. So I faithfully filled it up this morning and went out for a run. I had a gel in my pocket for around mile #10 and carried a small water bottle of Accelerade in my hand. Cleaning a Camelback is difficult enough when you only put water in it. I was not about to put a sports drink in it.

A typical bike water bottle holds 24 ounces, so I had the equivalent of two water bottles on my back and a smaller 20 ounce bottle in my hand. That was way too much liquid. I had a good 20 ounces left in the Camelback when I got home. Overall, I really didn't like all that extra weight sloshing around on my back. It seems to go directly down to my feet. When I run with bottles in my hand my arms absorb most of the shock. So I’ll give it another try but will only fill it half way. I can't imagine using it when the temperature is above 25 degrees. Water bottles held in the hand are so much easier.

So how about the run. Today's 19 miler was on my Boston simulator course. It is plenty hilly with it being mostly downhill on the way out and mostly uphill on the way back. Except for the first two miles and the last one mile, most of the miles were close to 7:15. I pushed the final uphill miles, not to MP but pretty close. Two of the last uphill miles were at 7:00.

I was tired today, but otherwise felt OK with one significant exception: my feet hurt. Especially my left foot. I'm going to blame that on lots of miles and on 50 ounces of water in the Camelback. My feet feel fine today, so I don't think any permanent damage was done. My left ITB also hurt at mile 3. This was not the typical constant low ache or tightness that I usually run through. It was a sharp twinge that came for a few steps and went away, but then came back. I stopped and stretched and the twinge went away for the rest of the run. I do notice that my left ITB is a bit tender to the touch, so I will have to focus on message and some ITB stretching.

Add a mile walk to today's mileage to make it 20 combined miles.

Yesterday I rowed for 10 minutes, worked on core strength exercises, and then went for a five mile run for a total of 7 miles.

Cross-training: 2.0 miles (Saturday) + 1.0 mile (Sunday)
Running: 5.0 miles (Saturday) + 19.0 miles (Sunday)
Shoes: Nike Pegesus (Saturday) + Asics GEL Flash (Sunday)
WTD running: 67.0 miles
WTD total: 76.0 miles

posted by Not So Competitive Runner at 5:47 PM