Had a great long run with Allie. Met at 3300 S and did the Jordon River Parkway. What a great trail to have access to. Within a mile or so we found RivertonPaul, so great to have him join and get to know him. We kept a pretty good pace, around 7:30. At the water stop I admired Allie's hot pink shoes, and Paul asked me about mine. I looked down and expressed surprise that he was asking me about my toilet paper. Then he pointed out I had two different colored shoes. I was wearing two different versions of the waver rider. Funny! Allie wanted to do 5 fast toward the end. I talked her down to three, we started after 17 miles. And I barely survived those three. She graciously said I could pace her through some 6:40 miles, which sounded hard enough, but then she was pushing 6:20, pulling me and my training-weary bum along. The splits were 6:21, 6:35, 6:19 (picked it up further for the last 1/4 mile). I was spent and pretty much done after these miles. Last two cool down miles to get to 22 miles were 8:18 and 7:54. I was sore and whiny through the last two miles, but Allie was kind. Now I am euphoric. 22.31 miles in 2:43:37, 7:20 ave pace, with only doing three miles outside of easy range, makes this the strongest long run I have done. Thanks Allie and Paul for the great run. The run should be a confidence booster for Allie, I know it is for me. I am so syched for my marathon. The training is the work, the marathon is a (masochistic) reward. Afterward had a leisurely and decadent breakfast with Bonnie, who is in town. She is so wonderful, so glad I got to see her (ie that my Paul watched the kids until 1:20 so I could see her). I feel so blessed to be in the fray. To be training and racing once again. I am mindful of my friends who are not, as I wasn't this time last year. I am grateful for this time granted to me by God.
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