The LONGEST Run (so far...)

After the surgery and the resting that followed, I was pretty nervous about getting back to marathon training. Sunday's run was to be 16 miles. With my previous long run of 12, I decided that 14 or 15 was the most that I would tackle.

At 6:20 am, the alarm went off. I didn't feel like getting up, but I knew if I missed another long run, I was sealing my marathon fate. I wasn't giving up. I dressed, slicked on some Body Glide, ate the usual toast and black coffee breakfast, and took off for the store.

We discussed the route and the water/gel/Powerbar/Gatorade stops. The entire group was doing 16, except for me. None of the halfers showed up for the long run. (?) At 7:14 am, we were off.

The first mile took us through Country Park, where the local bike shop was setting up for what looked to be an elaborate race. Mile 2 took me onto the Greenway, where I bumped into Traci on her bike, she rode with me and chatted for a while. Mile 3 ended at water stop 1, where I drank 6 oz. of red Gatorade and hoped that red would be OK. Mile 4 was a jaunt through the rolling hills on the Greenway, mile 5 was the long sloping, uphilly part. Somewhere between 5 and 6, we had another water stop, I took a lemon gel and water. I walked a ways, sipping water and tucked my bottle behind a trail sign for my return trip. Then, off to Bur-Mil Park, where I ran a little bit past the park and turned at about mile 7 or 7.5. In this last stretch, I saw each of my running group folks, one by one, on their way back.

On the way back, I grabbed the water and finished it, as I walked for a short bit. The miles seemed to go by quickly and smoothly. Back to the first water stop, I retrieved my half empty red Gatorade and carried it with me. Instead of going back to Country Park, I took the long route through Military Park. I stopped briefly to dilute the Gatorade at a water fountain, the headed through the connector and to Lawndale. Only one mile left! I started out with a short walk through the hot, sunny part of the sidewalk. As I reached the shade, I ran and didn't stop until the "finish line," also known as Walgreens. The clock read 10:19. That means this 15(ish) mile run was faster than the previous long run of 12.

When I walked to the front of the running store, the entire group was waiting. What a fantastic bunch! We continued sipping on Gatorade, stretching, and chatting for a while. I found out that the two fastest guys are also doing the City of Oaks Marathon. Maybe I'll see them on an out and back somewhere.

Other than a massive blister on my right foot, everything is good. A little sore, but not too bad. The marathon seems very do-able now. In fact, I added another mile to my daily total, walking the Chubby Beagle.