Ran in the afternoon heat. 95 degrees? It got pretty tough after 3 miles. I got down to Crestwood pool to get a drink from the water fountain and after that, the uphill started. I was trying to keep my heart rate at about 160 bpm. It was hard to find a pace that would do this. I ended up playing ping pong with my heart rate. It was like some sort of stock market game where I controlled what direction the stock price went by running very slowly (up) or walking (down.) I'd sell at 170 and buy at 150. I just gave all control over to the heart rate monitor and kept alternating between barely running and walking until I got home. I had to start rationing my gatorade with two miles left. I decided to save the last couple swallows until mile 9 and then press through to mile 10 when I would be home and could drink water. Had I taken a camelback, I think I could have continued the ping-pong for 10 more miles. It was easy on my legs, but my heart got a very long and intense workout. It ended up taking my 2 hours. | 