3:40am...alarm goes off. Surprisingly, I am awake and am ready to do my long run. I thought my gym opened at 4:00am, but when I went to open the front door, the sign said 4:30am. Ughhhh....I had to be done by 7:00am so hubby could get to work (he was going in late so I could get my run in. He is AWESOME!!!!). So I set a water bottle outside my car and started running laps around the well-light parking lot. Yep - 100% LOSER!!! But I was on a time schedule and had to take care of business! I got in 2.25 miles (I think...didn't bring the Garmin, so it was based off of time).
Once the gym opened, I quickly grabbed my stuff and found my favorite TM. I brought my hubby's Ipad and turned on "The Help". I planned on doing two - 6 mile runs and then a 2.75 mile run. (TM resets after 60 minutes and I wanted to end at an even mile).
I set the speed at 6.5mph (9:14mm). The first 6 miles were very long. I stopped at mile 4 (which was really mile 6) and took a GU. Reset the TM at mile 6. Took another GU at second set mile 4 (which was really mile 12). I was SO darn surprised at how GREAT I felt - I felt like I could have run forever. I've had a fair share of hard and horrible runs lately. I'm not sure why, but I really needed a good run. I needed an emotional running deposit....too many withdrawals lately. I thought about upping my speed, but decided that if I continued to feel good, I would on my last set (which was 2.75 miles). I had to bring 2 sweat towels and 2 hats. It was hot in there today! I had a sweet pile of GU wrappers, empty water bottles, tissues by my treadmill. I got a few interesting looks from fellow gym-goers. I continued to feel wonderful (no hip or shin issues). So at bumped up the speed to 6.6mph and make the last 1.75 a temp run. So at the risk of sounding like a dork, I do a lot of visualization when I run. I know...dork. Shut up - it works! I was just so surprised at how great I felt AND "Eye of the Tiger" came on the last .5 miles. I had the perfect picture in my mind that I had just BQ'd. Maybe someday. I only had time to walk for a cool down for a few minutes. My feet were tired, but no other aches or pains. I contemplated doing another mile to make it 18, but didn't want to push my luck making my hubby even later for work. I came home - stretched and foam rolled. 1.5 - LLL x30 I feel like I can go on my trip with no worries (I just hope I can find a place to run at the resort). All the kid stuff is taken care of and I know they will have a lot of fun. My long run is over (I have to do an 18 miler while I am there) and I plan on wearing my compression socks on the plane. Just time to enjoy! I just calculated my time doing 9:14mm x 17 miles = 2:36:58 (didn't get a true time since I had to reset the TM so many times).
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