Believe to Achieve

Progressive 20 miler on the TM at PG rec center.  Kind of funny to start a run like this with all sorts of people all around and end with NO ONE left beside me.  I didn't notice until I stopped my TM at the end that everyone had cleared, except my dear husband who left home after his shorter workout and came back to get me at noon.  You may wonder why in the world I would venture to do this on the long run on the TM?  Well, I am in OPEN rebellion to the sights of WINTER in SPRING!!!  I refuse to accept the snow piles and Christmas Looking mountains in April.  I refuse to wear my headband, long pants and gloves with triple layer tops for another long run this season.  So, in my little gym world I don't have to feel such weather or even stare it in the face.  This was impromptu as far as pace but it came out pretty decent.  I took two gus, one at mile 7.5 and one at 14.5 miles.  I had to restart the TM at 7 mile mark then the 15 mile mark due to the time limit of 60 minutes.  It took me 56:10 to run the first 7, 59:30 to run the next 8 miles, then 35:30 to run the last five miles.  I felt great the first 15 miles with little pains in my toes and hamstrings at random moments but did a lot of kickbacks while running to keep them from flaring too greatly.  I even tried some ankle twists to stretch my feet and toes while running.  The last 5 miles were harder as they were quicker and someone was wearing the most hideous perfume and she was right behind me.  There were only three other people left in the gym at that time.  Luckily she only lasted 3 miles so my last two miles were almost perfume free.  Here are my paces for each mile with first 15 miles at 2 % grade and last 5 miles at 1% grade:  8:49, 8:34, 8:20, 8:06, 7:53, 7:47, 7:47, 7:41, 7:41, 7:30, 7:30, 7:24, 7:24, 7:19, 7:19, 7:13, 7:13, 7:08, 7:08 and last 4 quarter miles at 7:03, 6:58, 6:49, 6:40 down to 6:27 for the last bend.  AP for the entire 20 miles= 7:36. At the end I had shooting  nerve pains to my toes and my pelvis (symphisis pubis) was burning a bit but other than that I felt fine.  Took a warm shower than turned it to VERY COLD water for at least 7 minutes to the lower half of my body.  Wasn't hungry the first hour but managed at the hour to have some cottage cheese  and two pieces of whole grain toast with butter and honey along with a glass of milk.  I think I will now indulge in CHOCOLATE   : D