A Long Cool Anzac Day

Today:
Distance: 50.8 km
Time: 5 hrs 22 mins 45 secs
Rate: 6' 21" per km
Altitude gain/loss: 600 metres
Calories used: 3900
Weather: cool, cloudy, temp 10-14 degrees, humidity 80%, west wind 25-30 kmph
Week: 108.7 km, April: 374.55 km, Year: 1486.95 km

I seemed to have covered more territory than the early explorers today. The weather was predicted to be showers if not rain, a bit overnight dampened the gravel and dirt on the trails, but did not eventuate through the day. It's raining now at night at home as I type using a couple of fingers and a bit of luck.
Started at Mawson shops, with Liz sleeping in, her excuse, but I reckon she looked outside, saw the conditions and hit the snooze button. Good idea. I was running anyway and thus could change my mind about the course which I did.
Before leaving home to drive over to Mawson the sun was shining, a scramble to find the sunnies not anticipating they would be needed. However forgot the spray jacket thinking that would not be needed. Wrong on both counts. The original intention was a double of the Tour de Mountain course ran in December. The revised course is a beauty, just under 25 km.
Starting out heading up Athllon Dr, I turned towards Mt Taylor, a circuit around the base and back to the start. Clouds low, humidity very high, a sprinkle of rain drops, but very cool with a strong westerly making conditions very average for a good running. I didn't have the spray jacket, but had the sunnies, wrong combination, so I headed back to the car and gave Farrer and Isaacs Ridge a miss. Very misty over Long Gully Road and Isaacs Ridge as I drove home. Good decision to cut that part short. Just 10.3 km done and well short of the daily requirement.
Home is now base for the rest of the day. Stopped for a drink, hot cross bun, small mandarin and creamed rice. Then out towards the mighty suburb of Theodore, not because Ewen & Michael live there, but if has a few hills around the outside of it. No change in the weather, still cool and windy, spray jacket carried but not required, sunnies needed as the sun appeared now and again. Arrived at the sub station, over to the two reservoirs, back to the sub station and then back to Calwell shops and back home. Lap distance 16.12 kms.
Bit more to eat and drink, this time some left over lasagna from last night's carbo load. Slow going on that lap, no inspiration to go faster, plenty of walking up the hills and trying to work to a run/walk pacing of 27 mins run, then 3 minutes walk. I kept this up all day and it worked well.
Back to home base, this time some corn soup, nice and easy to get down and importantly keep down.
Next lap was down Johnson Dr to Pine Is, up to the top car park, back along the river edge to Point Hut, up to Woodcock Dr, thru Gordon and home. On any run, there is always a bad patch, parts of this section I struggled, the wind didn't help and I looked to when the 27 minutes would be up and I could walk a bit. Back home having covered another 15.85 kms but just over the marathon distance and still not far enough for the day, needing to get to 5 hrs or 50 km which ever came second.
Last time out was at least the flattest run, with a bike path run around Isabella Plains, Tuggeranong Homestead and back home. So glad to finish, this short last part just 8.5 km making 50.8 kms for the day.
An experiment on feet, shoes, eating, pacing, drinking and where I am at. As well can I run 10 kms at any sort of pace at the monthly handicap tomorrow morning. Hope so.
Big day, something similar next Saturday, short 30 km the following Saturday then GH 80 on 17th May. At least the weather should be warmer than today. I was never warm today, two tops to keep the wind out and the spray jacket just in case.