My second NS trail in two weeks continues where the previous one ended. And actually, there seems to be progress in both blood sugars and condition.
The last few weeks I have been training more and more on the Me-Mover and running less. Last weekend it was time for some compensation: I decided to do the NS-trail Extended Utrechtse Heuvelrug, the trail that actually connects to the Utrechtse Heuvelrug that I did two weeks earlier.
Last time it did not go well with the food. The ‘superstarch’ from Ucan did not work well during the last tests, the blood sugar goes pretty low with it. Time for a new plan. Especially for this purpose, I have arranged a 40 km ride on the Me-Mover in such a way that, on the way back, I can pay a visit to the Mud Sweat Trail Store in Zoetermeer. It's the sweet shop for trail runners, and it's so remote that I'm not afraid to chain the Me-Mover to it. Tom's 12-week-old Jack Russell will pay attention, I hope…
In addition to a supplement of Hammer's peanut butter gels, I was looking for some solutions for energy drinks. Not with ‘superstarch’ but preferably not too sweet either. In the end I take some Hammer Heed (soft melon flavour) and Torq powder. The Hammer contains 27g of carbohydrates per bag, fairly comparable to 1 gel or bag of Ucan.
Large quiet heath
I leave Sunday a bit late because I want to wave Franny off first. This means that an hour after lunch I have to start with just a bit less insulin than usual (2 units less). So I estimate my start a bit higher, but I haven't measured it. Probably 10-12 mmol/l at the start.
This time I also have three bags of drinking solution (and a bag of plain water): 1 Ucan vanilla with protein in the front, 1 Hammer Heed watermelon in the front and an Ucan orange in the backpack. The first half hour I mainly take the Ucan, then in combination with the Hammer.
The start of the route is the part I was looking forward to the most, the heath. They are at their best this time of year. Despite the fact that the weather was not great, the heath was crowded. But certainly worthwhile.
Fences and barbed wire
After a 10 km run, I'm poking around. How did it go this time? A reasonable 5.6 mmol / l. I empty the Ucan and take a gel just to be sure. Not too low. We walk nice and quiet.
Meanwhile, the landscape does begin to change. And not for the better. There are more and more fences: fences, barbed wire, it doesn't feel free. In Soesterberg I have to go through a boring neighbourhood and along a big road. The gpx is not clear. I seem to be walking well, but with so little soft ground, I must be slightly off. However, I didn't see an entrance to a further sandy path anywhere. A little later I climb under a tree and find myself just beside the path. Rolls of barbed wire block my way. Is this all because of the airforce base?
Actually, the whole middle section is a lot of road and unclear. Also at a piece of mountain bike path there is no clear road. So I would not recommend this route, unless you really want to do the 60 of both at the same time. There are nicer MST NS trails.
Known forest
At some point the scenery becomes more beautiful again. I think I recognize the landscape. And that's right: we are near Laage Vuursche, where I have been many times before for courses and festivals. I am starting to feel like it again.
In the meantime, my blood sugars are also going well. Around 20 km I reach the 6.3 mmol/l mark. I finish the second Ucan and the watermelon drink.
The forest runs seamlessly into a residential area. Slowly but surely the houses – and cars ’s – get bigger. We are in Hilversum! Shortly thereafter I am at the end station, Hilversum Sportpark. 28,8 km in three hours and three quarters. A nice and quiet run and the legs remained good. No big dips in speed or moments that I really had enough – not even in Soesterberg. I think that's also because my blood sugar was never too low. 2 km before the end, it was 10.8 mmol/l and I felt more than enough energy to continue.
All in all, I used three gels and three drink bags. That's two items less than normal and the energy levels are leaking pretty steady. If I can keep that up during the Airborne Freedom Trail, that's super.
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