The Long Run

faster than yesterday but still a little tough going, but I think I'm fully done with any jet lag now. Started out later than usual because I'm taking the day off and felt some sun which I'm sure I'll be seeing a lot of on Saturday.

Ran at the Y with the Striders. At the start I felt incapable of running 6 miles, much less at any sort of decent pace. But, once I started felt better right away. No intervals today but did steadily increase the pace. Weather was nice and cool.

Decided to sleep in a bit and not meet for the 5:30 run. Little by little I felt back to normal by the end of the run. Did the t-route in the neighborhood.

Easy run around the neighborhood. I felt great at the start, felt ok at the end. I was just looking for something easy, maybe should have kept it a little bit shorter, oh well.

I wore new shoes today, Asics Cumulus which felt so amazingly cushiony  compared to the other shoes I have which either don't have a lot of cushion by design or are way past the expiration date.

I can't quite believe I'm going to run a 50 mile race tomorrow!

The weather was great at the start, low 50's I think. After the 5 mile starter loop, I dropped off some layers.

I hadn't been watching my pace at all until after the first loop and noticed it was slower than I thought. I had a bit of a cough and I could feel it dragging on me a little bit. In fact I was seriously considering not doing this race, however I did not want to skip another race.  I was regretting that I had skipped the Georgia Death Race for a some other reason besides health related.  Was not feeling very well by the end of the first big loop. At mile 17 I had serious thoughts about quitting (I usually got those thoughts but not until much later!).

When I was in the mid 20's for mileage I thought to myself just make it to 30 miles then I'll just walk if I have to. Made it to 30 miles, and then eventually I was approaching the end of the second big loop.

I had a thoughts of just walking the rest. I also thought, just at least start the third loop and see how things feel. A few miles into the third and final big loop, there was a runner at an aid station who was doing the 50K. She was on her second loop and not long before was at the loop starting area on the verge of quitting. She had sat down for 45 minutes until someone convinced her to keep going. I walked with her for a bit as we left the aid station where she told me about this stuff. Eventually I was ready to run again. When you can't run anymore, walk for a bit, if that's all you can do then keep on walking. But, what's happened so far for me is that I'll see a nice flat section of trail or maybe a downhill section and decide it's time to start running again. So, that was the third loop. I finished about an hour slower than last year in 29th place (males) (was 6th place last year), but I did finish, my cough didn't get any worse, and as a bonus I got to spend more time on my feet for training.

I learned some valuable lessons today and it was a refresher course of going when you think you can't go on anymore, something I'll need for Western States.

I kept the distance shorter but felt really good, thought I might be all slow and sloggy today but wasn't.

Today felt like redemption.  Saturday's race could have felt better, but I don't think the first run after it could have - good encouragement.

Easy run around the neighborhood, did the t-shaped route. Perfect weather.

One more shorter run. Felt pretty good running. Enjoyed some conversation with Michelle H. A bit wamer this morning than yesterday.  Recovery week is going well, it almost feels like I didn't need it but I think I'll play it safe.

felt good, warm and humid out. I told myself not to start out sluggish and it worked!

I ran from the neighborhood and then along Trinity Blvd grassy shoulder wearing trail shoes.  The Peak II's are finally starting to grow on me I think.

Ran with Cynthia, Victoria and Eudair for the first time in months. Stopped at Diane's house and ran with her and Craig into the park. Returned back to Longleaf then I did another out and back by myself. Saw Keith, Dixie, Jammie and Greg at Havana Dreamers for a bit after the run.

I slept in a bit and was going to skip my run. Lisa was going running later in the morning so I joined her. Ran out almost to the Y with her before running back by myself. It warmed up quickly but not bad at all for late in the morning.

Did some weights and ran on the treadmill. Put the incline up to 15% to see how it feels. It feels hard.

Special feeling run this morning. I wasn't sure how many people would show up or what kind of mood they would be in. It was a good crowd and there was a certain amount of joy in the air. The weather and running were good also. Patrick had a lot to share about what happened yesterday and everyone's concern for Marcia, David J, and Andrea. It was a good morning to celebrate.

Ran from my house to the Y, taking the shortest route I knew (3.18 miles), did some weights and then did 2.1 miles in 20 minutes with incline between 3 and 15 % then ran back home taking a longer route.

5:30 Longleaf start with the Striders. Great morning to run and greet returning Boston stars Andrea and Marcia. I was also motivated to do three one mile pick ups of 6:50, 6:45, and 6:35 just to remind myself to run faster sometimes. There was still a little bit of coffee left when I finished.

About half dirt/grass and half pavement this morning from my house onto Trinity Blvd.

Left the house a little after 5:00, ran to Longleaf and met up with Cynthia, Eudair, Keith, and Dixie, then to Diane's house where Keith and Dixie headed back and Craig and Diane ran with us into the park. Stopped to pose for "Welcome Home David J, Andrea, and Marcia from Boston" group photo, then continued on with Cynnthia and Eudair until they had to turn back.

I continued up the dirt road to Serenova Tract park and then across the street to Publix where I looked for cold Gatorade, but they didn't have any so I bought some shelf temperature Gatorade instead.

Got a little lost coming back through until I finally found the right dirt road along the power lines. Did short walk breaks most miles. After Publix my pace was 10:20 average (I kept the clock running the whole time), but ended up with a 9:48 average for the total. It wasn't easy but it did go pretty smoothly. This was my longest not-a-race training run I've done so far.

Yesterday, my cat got out of the house for the first time.  I didn't notice she was missing at first so wasn't sure how long she had been gone.  About noon today she finally showed up.  I know that cats usually find their way back but wasn't sure if this cat would.

My brother was here and wanted to go for a run which was good because I probably would not have run today otherwise. It was nice and cool and after about a mile my legs felt back to normal.

Chilly again this morning. Ran with the Striders at the Y. Schedule said 8 so I thought I would try that.

Nice cool morning again. Ran in the neighborhood.  Slower start for the first two miles and faster toward the end.

Ran with the Striders at Longleaf. I started out feeling pretty good, trailing behind Scott for a while and running with him for a bit. I did three pick ups in the middle miles: 6:46, 6:41, 6:37.

Simple easy run around the neighborhood. Still enjoying the weather.

Started from Longleaf with Cynthia, and did the usual route to Diane's house and then into Starkey. Saw many of the regulars as well as some I hadn't seen for a while. Got to run with Jamie for a bit before I had to turn back - I hadn't seen her for a while and she confirmed that she can make it out to California in June to help crew for my race. Weather was great again. My legs felt a little bit tired today, so I was glad it was "only" 16

I was already planning on getting up at 5:30 instead of 4:50. Pretty heavy rain at 5:30, so I stayed in bed for a while longer. Still some lightning when I headed out, so went to the Y and started with 4.6 miles on the treadmill. It was all clear outside then so did 7.46 outside. While I was there did a couple sets of leg extensions.