Did a little more than I had planned, in fact a lot more than I would have thought a couple of weeks ago. I woke up at 6:30am, which was super hard for me being my first day of a much needed Easter break. I got out the door just before 7:00am. It was pretty cold when I left, low 30s. The goal was to do the same loop as I did at the first of last week when I got stuck out in a hurricane, and have about 14 miles in by the time practice started. I would then send the kids off on a run and run home myself. I took some toilet paper and a bottle of hammer heed with me this time just in case. Once I got out by Butterfield Park I realized that I had miscalculated the time and I wouldn't make it back in time if I kept to the original plan. When I got to Butterfield Canyon I ran or crawled up the road for almost a mile and then turned around and headed back down to Monarch Meadows. When I got there it was exactly time for practice, but I had to run the last few miles around 6:30 pace to make it. I was at a 7:25 pace and 13.6 miles when I got there. I figured that if I crawled along with the girls or some slower kids I could get a few miles in. Instead I ran with Greg up to the pond at the Cove and back. I was tired, but once I turned around and I felt fine and it was gradual downhill other than the rollers on the trail, so I knew I could make a 20 miler. The last mile was 6:19 and I felt strong. 8 miles were well under 7 minute pace and I got my first 20 miler in three years out of the way. Two years ago I never thought I would be able to run a 20 miler again, so I was feeling pretty darn good about today. 2:27:05 (7:21 pace ) for the run. Legs are tired and I have the beginning of a small blister under one of my big toes, but I feel good. Now it is time to relax, play a little wii with my son, and maybe get a nap.
| 