Hydration, hydration, hydration

Hydrate! I must hydrate!
I feel like I need a little drill Sergeant sitting on my shoulder shouting "Drink more water!"

My run on Monday was fantastic but yesterday's run was a complete polar opposite. As previously blogged, I am one of nature's foul weather runners but with the paths so over growth I was getting hit by wet Triffids who's idea of a laugh was to test the water carrying capacity of my jogging bottoms.
About a mile in to the run I had to stop and, I kid you not, wring out the bottom of my trousers - I got a good cup of water out of each leg.
I also had to tie my joggers up at the waist to stop the extra weight pulling them down, a disadvantage of losing weight is the added chance of losing your dignity!

The irony of this run was that whilst outwardly I was soaking, inside I was dehydrated and as a consequence I got the stitch from hell; a gift from the Daemon Sloth, patron dark lord of couch potatoes and fast food outlets.
I know some people still argue about what causes a stitch but for me they always happen when I have not drunk enough, so there's no mystery for this FraidyKat.
Feel free to experiment and find out what your trigger is, but from now on my little drill Sergeant will stop me from getting it wrong as I do my best to escape from the springtime Triffids and their plans to soak the world.



Spring is a dangerous time in the country and not just because of over protective ewes and curious lambs. Spring is when the plants grow, the Triffids multiply, the brambles migrate and the trees burst into bright mesmerising bloom - and the less said about flowers spreading their seed the better, they are the world's ultimate doggers, they don't care who see's them and beastiality is one of their favourite things, eew. Save us from nature.

FraidyKat Runs - away from Triffids

Foul weather runner

It's official, FraidyKat doesn't like heat.

Apart from having a supernatural ability to burn on overcast days (factor 50 is how this Kat rolls), I really don't react weĺl to hot weather.
A few weeks ago I wussed out of a run because it was raining and my old running jacket still doesn't fit.

*Sigh* still working on the weight loss - 14kg since December but still the same to go again, it's a long journey.

Now I realise that I would have felt happier getting soaked than getting baked. I must be one of a very few number of people praying for a mild summer.


In any case, the hydration bladder is fantastic and very needed in this melting weather.
I drink a lot while running but the weight of the 2litres of drink I compulsively carry  is evenly distributed on my back instead of lumped in awkward bottles and I don't really feel it.
Yes,  I acknowledge a lot of people carry bottles in their hands and I see an astonishing number of people who apparently run without any liquids (how??? I would collapse before the need of the road without drink).
I simply can't join with the drinkless, it's not for me. To this end I have come up with the following advice - don't buy the cheap random unbranded bladders on ebay. You might get a good one but the chances are you'll get a suspect one and wind up with a soggy back (bitter experience of a bargain hunter).
Only once have I stumped up the cash for a genuine Camelbak and if they weren't so expensive I would stick with them, for both seal of the bladder and quality of bite valve.
Currently, I have a bladder from Mountain Warehouse in my bag. I only went with it because they had a BOGOF in the store but I haven't been disappointed. No leaks (the important thing) but the lever on the bite valve is a little too stiff for easy use on the go. I'm hoping it loosens up with use.

Apparently, I have spent too long watching Doctor Who recently. Statues make me suspicious, I watch them carefully in case they move. It's okay at the moment but if I ever see one blink I'm out of there!

FraidyKat Runs - from hot Summers