The Big Twenty!

I shifted my long run from Saturday to today (to allow for a recovery/rest day from Friday’s 10K fun run).  I wasn’t feeling up for the challenge this morning because I was tired and didn’t sleep well…  But still, I woke up and hit the pavement…  I am glad that I did!

The starting temp was 64f and it felt great!  It didn’t get hot all day, despite a clear sky!  The finish temp was around 75f with a 12-16mph wind (which kept things cool).  Well, I did exactly what I did the past few weeks; I placed two liters of Gatorade-water mix in a thermos cooler on my front porch…  My make-shift water station worked out great!  Hydration was on spot today!  I didn’t have to refill my bottles until after mile #10.  I stopped by the front porch and refilled the water then ate a Gu energy gel, mint chocolate flavor (yummy)! 

I was doing fine up until mile #16 which is where I hit “the wall.”  I don’t know what happened but my legs felt like jello and my pace suffered a bit.  Each step felt like I was carrying a ton of bricks in my shoes…  Blah…  Well, I ate another Gu energy gel (this time, Lemon Sublime) to help out.  I ended up getting to the #18 mile mark then I alternated a ¼ mile of walking then running up until the final mile where I walked about a ½ mile.  I was done… 

Splits:

#1  8:48           #11  10:08

#2  8:56           #12  11:43

#3  9:14           #13  10:24   13.1 split: 2:06:15 (9:38 pace)

#4  9:16           #14  11:06

#5  9:35           #15  11:58

#6  9:23           #16  13:48

#7  9:12           #17  12:50

#8  9:16           #18  13:39

#9  9:17           #19  13:24

#10  10:06       #20  14:04

20 @ 3:36:11 (10:49 pace) overall.  Overall, I was very pleased with today’s run!  I thought for sure that I wouldn’t make it the distance…  I never felt like quitting but my legs were fatigued.  I’ll have to dig down deep to get through the final 6 miles…  Take care and enjoy the rest of your Sunday!

Happy running and God bless!
"Fight the good fight, finish the race, and always keep faith"
2 Timothy 4:7

600 miles for 2010!

I missed two runs this week because that 18-miler took a lot out of me last Saturday…  Today was an off day but I decided to run with my coworkers at the WPAFB Fun Run.  I was only planning to do 5K but at the decision point (turn), a buddy said “let’s go for 10K.”  Sounded like a challenge, so we did the full 10K!  It was a nice morning run in low 60f’s. 

I have a planned 20-miler tomorrow.  I know, not a smart thing to run the day prior to your long run day…  Well, I wanted to be a team player and I will give it all my best tomorrow morning…  Lord please help me get through this run.  If I can do 20, I can do 26.2.  Three more weeks!  Take care and have a nice weekend! 

PS: today’s run puts me over 600 miles for the year!  1,000 miles is looking very possible right now…  We’ll see…

Happy running and God bless!
"Fight the good fight, finish the race, and always keep faith"
2 Timothy 4:7

18 Miles

I set off for my planned 18 mile run today and managed to get through 7.5 miles outside before I made the decision to finish my workout indoors…  It was extremely hot and the temp was quickly reaching 80f degrees…  I felt like I was getting ready to suffer from some heat-related illness too, so I decided to return home and finish my run on the treadmill…  So, doing my math; I had 10.5 miles to run on the “dreadmill.”  It was absolutely boring.  But I reached my mileage goal today. 

18 total miles @ 3:06:29 (10:21 pace), not including the 20 minute cool down for my "walk of shame" home; I was over a mile away from the casa...   

I cannot count this as a distance PR since it was actually two separate runs/distances…  I was able to work on pacing better on the treadmill though; historically, I’ve dropped significant time off my pace after the 10-12 mile point.  Although indoors, today’s 10.5 miles on the treadmill wasn’t easy…  I set the speed to 6.2mph with 1 degree of incline and finished at 5.8mph.  I guess the 7.5 mile run outside combined with the heat stress took a lot out of me.  

 I hope the temps start to cool off soon.  I have a 20 miler next weekend and I want to complete it all outdoors…  Blah… 

Four weeks until the marathon.  Have a nice weekend and be safe! 

Happy running and God bless!
"Fight the good fight, finish the race, and always keep faith"
2 Timothy 4:7

All Hail The Treadmill!

I got home late from work today and it was hot and humid…  So, I decided to run on the treadmill today.  It’s amazing still, how much you sweat even while inside with air conditioning… 

5 @ 48:07 (9:34 pace).  I have a planned 18 mile run this weekend…  Lord help me! 

Happy running and God bless!
"Fight the good fight, finish the race, and always keep faith"
2 Timothy 4:7

Week #14 Underway

It’s a run day and what a nice day for it!  The weather has been very favorable lately…  I’d be lying to you if I told that you that today’s run was easy…  My legs were still sore from Saturday’s 16-miler… 

Splits:

#1  8:40

#2  9:09

#3  9:17

#4  9:46

#5  9:56

5 @ 46:53 (9:22 pace).  Take care and have a safe week! 

Happy running and God bless!
"Fight the good fight, finish the race, and always keep faith"
2 Timothy 4:7

Sweet 16

Another wonderful morning for a run!  The starting temp was just under 60f and ending temp was 82f…  I got off to a late start because I overslept…  Blah…

Well, I wasn’t too sure about today’s distance and didn’t think I’d finish.  Negativity aside, I took off and kept pace very well.  I felt really fine up until the 14 mile point; I think I blew a head gasket because that’s when the “brain-pain” kicked in…  I got this really weird feeling that I was going to get a headache…  Thankfully I didn’t… 

Well, I have to admit that I was getting really bored out there today…  I didn’t venture out of the neighborhood, as planned, but I may consider it for the next big run…  So, I knocked out the 16 mile run (in the neighborhood) and only walked about a ¼ mile of it today…  Good news, I didn’t run out of water…  I had pre-positioned a liter of Gatorade-water mix on the front porch so I could refill my running bottles during laps…  Hydration worked out much better today than last weekend. 

Splits:

#1  9:22

#2  9:46

#3  9:53

#4  10:10

#5  9:59

#6  9:57

#7  10:14

#8  10:25

#9  10:27

#10  10:28

#11  10:58

#12  10:58

#13  11:34

#14  12:14

#15  13:18

#16  12:05

16 @ 2:52:47 (10:48 pace).  A little slower than planned, but it’s done.  And, I set a new distance PR with today’s run!  Have a great weekend!  I’m taking a nap! 

Happy running and God bless!
"Fight the good fight, finish the race, and always keep faith"
2 Timothy 4:7