Camelbak, The Zoo and The Beach

Spring temps are here! As is layering season; warm in the day, a little nippy the evenings, carrying an extra bag to stash jackets, cardis and scarves which you want to do away with. But I ain’t complaining too much. Carrying around extra layers is worth feeling the warm sun. It’s also the in-between season of wanting to wear summer wear, but being respectful of others, not wanting to look like tourist while keeping cool and looking in your wardrobe realising you need a slightly longer pair of shorts or rather a tailored pair to see you through until it’s hot hot and anything goes as it’s hot.

I hope you had a great weekend! Monday was a holiday, second Easter or something so it was a puente or a long weekend. It was like everybody with the warm weather suddenly remembered they lived next to a beach. After months of relatively quiet beach fronts, getting to the gym Monday took a little longer with lots of deep breaths, second guessing, mental screaming as people crossed bike lanes without looking, while trying to understand they’re on holiday. It was also a reminder why I stopped going to the gym on Saturdays. My gyms near the main tourist beach with the bike lane being almost non existent there’s that many people.

Back tracking a little, Friday afternoon I made the zoo gates before closing and it felt like I had the whole place to myself (Sunday it was a different story. Packed full). Saturday morning Tone It Up workouts under Mr Aj’s eye at home, before getting caught out in the rain cycling later (I’m good at groundhog weekend!). It had been great weather all day it was almost like the weather was okay, you want warm weather? I’m going to give you one last rainy day.Baby wallaby’s out the pouch!

Rainy skies

Sunday I took my Camelbak hydration pack out for it’s first run, 12km up the coast. I cycled with it no problems last weekend but running with it I had some reservations. Would it chaff?, Would it bounce around? Would it make my shoulders hurt? Would the sound of sloshing water make me want to pee?I needn’t have worried. It didn’t chaff, wasn’t heavy neither did it hurt my shoulders. In fact I had better posture as I was conscious not to round my shoulders (added bonus extra ab work holding posture. I engage my abs running anyway, but the pack’s a good reminder to engage them more.) and they weren’t sore or achey the next day. My biggest concern would it make me want to pee. Not so much. I had to stop at one of the beach bars for a pit stop as I was drinking a more water anyway with it being warmer than of late. I ran with music so I only heard a little between tracks, but it wasn’t enough to trigger I need to go NOW! I liked that I was also able to stash a 30ml bottle of sun cream in the pocket. On long runs in the summer I get concerned the sun cream is running off with sweat, so having the option of being able to take a small bottle with me I like. The only cons, the water has a strange taste however that’s to be expected and now every time I leave the house I have a rucksack. But it’s a small price to pay.

Fishes running through the Badalona portSecond graffiti horse of this kind I see running this route.

Sunday afternoon, there was only one place to be…the beach. 4 weeks till summer! 

Hydration pack or hands free/ hand holder water bottle running? I usually take a water bottle on short run, however I’m liking the idea of the pack being hands free.