[S]he Conquers Who Endures

16 miles on the Chicago lakefront path heading south bright n early. I was terrified for this run. Crying was involved the night before. It is my first long run post-injury with MP miles - 10 of them! I don't know what MP to target. I think I could hit a 7:45 min/mi AP (hopefully) by November, but not so sure I could run 10 of them now! I headed out targeting a 8:30 min/mi pace for the first 5 miles. The first mile was over 9 min/mi!! At this point I seriously doubted things. I had a very solid/tough training week, maybe I should do fewer MP miles or push back the MP a week? Things started loosening up after a mile or so. I stopped at mile 5, gu'ed then went after the big 10! I was able to hang on the first couple miles just under 7:45 min/mi. I didn't think I could hang on for 10, but thought I'd use the same strategy I used for the half: just see how far I could take it. I was able to make it 5 miles at MP, stopped very shortly to take a pic of the gorgeous city skyline, and gu'ed. Then finished up the last 5 miles of MP!!! The cool down mile was enjoyable and well deserved. Looking back at my paces. My MP miles ended up being 7:41 min/mi AP! The last two miles were 7:38, 7:39 and the 2nd 5 miles were faster than the first 5 miles of MP. I cannot believe this!

I got back to the apartment and my fiance looked at me like a deer in the headlights and said "why are you back so soon?". Cause I ran fast, lovie! :) That felt good to see the shock on his face, it was confirmation that I rocked that run!

Then, took 1 giant ice bath after trashing these legs!