20 miler

Saturday it was a beautiful day. Birds were chirping rivers were gurgling. All was right in the world and I decided to try and get a long run in. In fact my longest training run yet. I overslept by an hour and didn't make it to the trails until 6:15. Still I was the first car in the Valley Green parking lot; roxborough side. I got myself together and headed over to the Chestnut Hill side going West towards Northwestern. I was doing the 15-1 run method. I had the Injinji socks on and today I wore a jacket to break the wind. Very happy I did because there was quite a bit of it. For breakfast I had had oatmeal and I carried three gels with me: A Stinger, a Hammer, and a Powerbar. I was using Nuun in the water bottle.

The run started out slow. Just couldn't get the legs going. On the Ipod I was listening to Podcasts, in particular Trilogy Running and Shawn was talking to Gordon from Running to Disney. Very interesting discussion on life, history, cultural sociology, outhouses and the resilency of the Southern male somehow they were encapulated and explained in a 1 hour chat waiting to Jason to cross the finish line in the Mercedes 1/2 marathon. I saw Joe Kulack coming the other way around Rex Ave. He was looking strong.

I made it out to Northwestern in a little over an hour and headed to the Roxborough side out to Bells Mill and then up Pain. that fricking hill killed me and the meadows kept reminding me that they are a sleight uphill the whole way. Phedippidations kicked in on the Ipod and Steve was talking about his e-mail. I love listening to him, sometimes he can get pious but today he was right on with the catholic guilt thing. I made it to Buck in about 2 hours and filled up with water and another Nuun and went out to Lincoln Drive on the upper trial on the Mt. Airy side. The day was warming up nicely and I could take the gloves off occasionally, buy I ended up wearing them most of the time. I was continuing with the 15-1 and I saw Bob and Noah near Horter Street. Both in shorts and both moving fast on the uphill.

After crossing Lincoln, my legs started to hurt. Nothing specific just overall pain. I ignored it and felt I was pretty tired. At this point I had eaten the Powerbar and the Hammer. When I got to Fall Bridge, Auggie called and I checked my watch, I was about 2:45 into the run and over 3 miles from the car if I stayed on Forbidden and I was really late getting home as a result of the late start. I told him I would cut my run short and hoof it in. I downed the Stinger and headed back on Forbidden. The run moved surprisingly quick and I was back before I knew it. I don't know why. I was listening to UYD and laughing outloud. I ended up doing 20.5 in 4:02 which works out to be about a 7 hour pace in the end. Chris and Polly were just pulling in as I was getting back to the car. And as I was riding home I saw Susannah and Susan running up Wises Mill. Amazing seeing so many people on a run.

In all it was a good run. My legs killed but I figure some Advil before the HAT and I should be ok. Fueling was miserable and I am going to have to work better at that but I felt strong and there is no doubt in my mind that I can do the HAT, although I will be happy with a 7 hour finish.

After I got home the kids wanted to go for a hike and we went back to valley green and hiked to the indian. They crapped out at the same place they always do. But we did about 4 miles more. next time I am parking elsewhere and hiking in so that we get to see parts of the park we always miss.