Hiking, camping, running

Saturday, I got out and put 6.5 miles on the legs.  Good results.  I'm really hoping for less sun, less humidity, and lower temperatures for the 20k, though.  For now, the forecast is a high of 81F with overcast skies.  The overcast skies will be awesome, if that materializes.  Hopefully there is a small breeze, too.

After I got back from that run, we packed up and took the family hiking.  It was sunny and warm.  The hike wasn't very long, but I was carrying a good load on my back with a crappy pack, so my back didn't enjoy it much.  It was complaining especially loud on the way back, since I had slept on the hard ground (sleeping pad has a hole) and the backpack didn't rest on my hips.  Still fun, though.

This morning I got out for another 3 miles.  I almost talked myself out of it when in bed, thanks to a somewhat late night, but knowing that the 20k is coming up this weekend got me going. Thinking that my foot issue might have been caused to some degree by my feet slipping around in the forefoot of my shoes, I tightened up the toe box laces a bit.  During the run that the first pain came after, I had run in wet grass, so my feet were sliding around a bit.  Today, I started to feel the issue again a bit.  No pain, but a feeling that it isn't 100% normal.  So, I'm not sure the tightening helped at all.

One more short run before the race.  I think I'll try to round up a few Gu gels.  I'm not 100% sure how I'll carry them, though.  I'm back and forth as to what to wear and what to take with me Saturday.  I was thinking I'd take my cell phone, but now I'm not sure.  I have a shirt that has a pocket.  That would work for the gels, but I noticed on long runs, the phone gets a bit heavy.  I'm not sure what adding 5 miles to my longest run to date will do.  Also, I either need to wear my compression shorts, get a different pair of shorts, or get some bodyglide for the knees of the knee length shorts I had been planning to wear.  They aren't tight, but they keep my legs from rubbing.  I have noticed on longer runs that the loose material rubs on the skin around my knees.  My compression shorts would be ok, except that they are men's (all the store had) and it seems that they are looser than they need to be up front, to the point that I think it looks funny.  I wonder if the women's version would fit better.