Long easy run today. Lost Nation Road and Indian Brook Road plus a bit. I think this is my longest run since I was very serious about running back in the mid 1990's. I'm pretty pleased. However, in context of Holt's recent training, it's about 1/2 of one of his long days!
I was fine through about 15 miles. My legs started to get very sore over the last 2 miles and my HR started to creep; probably due to dehydration. I'm going to invest in a hydration belt for these 2 hour-plus runs. 17.26 miles. 2:08:54. 7:28/mi. 141 BPM. After reading a few marathon race performances (way to go Cody and Bonnie!), I started to think about my first marathon, the Tucson Mary in late 1994. I was in pretty good shape, but hadn't done may runs over 2 hours. I had recently run a couple 1:12s for the 1/2 marathon. I figured I could try to run with the big boys in the marathon. My training partner at the time (a 2:25 marathoner) cautioned me to take it easy and predicted a 2:45 marathon. When the race started, I felt great and went with the second pack, averaging around 5:45s. I was feeling great through 18 or 19 miles, on pace for about 2:30. I though I had a super fast first marathon in the bag. I realized my miscalculation soon after a late race water stop. I slowed down for fluids and never sped back up. The wheels fell off the bus and I went from 5:45s to 8:30s quickly, finishing in 2:47. I was humbled, but learned my lesson. I came back and ran my 2:30:30 PR with a negative split in the SGM 11 months later. Now, I hope I can put some good training together over the next 2 or 3 years and improve on my PR.
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