20 miles, out and back from home, flat route. Planned on a 10 mile easy recovery run since I raced a 5K Friday night. Once I set out I figured I'd maybe run two full hours slow which would have given me about 13 to 14 miles. I was feeling pretty good and did the first 5 in 42:53 which was an 8:35 pace. I planned on going at least a mile or two more, and then something rather surprising happened. The next part of this run is at least a half mile from the first 5, which I have marked, to the Legacy Highway bike path, which is marked. I'm starting to feel even better now that I'm 5.5 miles into my run. The next mile I go 7:58, then 8:00 and I don't feel like turning back, I want to stretch this into about a 16 miler. Next mile 7:58 and no way to I want to turn back, I'm starting to get a nice little runners' high going. Now I can't hold back, feeling light and strong. I'm ready to turn this into a 20 miler. I go 7:33 and I'm higher than a kite. I know I can hold this pace coming back and I'm very excited to do so. I've never done a 20 mile training run this fast. I don't know where the strength is coming from. Maybe all this hills and 90 degree days are starting to pay off on this relatively cool Sunday morning. Next mile, 7:37, still higher than a kite and headed back. Wow, 7:20, what am I doing? My marathon pace is 7:56, am I in over my head on this run? ... Sure doesn't feel like it. 7:26 and 7:19 follow. I'm back to my half mile gap where I start the five miles home. Each individual mile is not marked so I'm not able to check my pace but I'm still confident I can hold it. I figure I need to be back home in about 37-38 minutes to hold at least 7:30 pace so I start pouring it on. Holding this pace on a 20 mile run would be incredible for me. Feeling great but having to work hard, it feels like I'm hanging on. I finish the last 5 in 35:40, a 7:08 pace. I'm feel like I'm on top of the world. What a run! Great day to be alive. I don't know who to thank, but I feel like a need to thank someone? I cherish everyday on this planet.
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