Run Log 1/17

Two days ago, I ran a personal best in mileage at an average speed I still haven't been able to believe.

Run Stats:
Duration - 1:14:16 (phew)
Distance - 7.08 miles (WHAT?!)
Pace - 10:34 min/mile (double WHAT?!)



Weather Stats:
Temp - 32 degrees
Feel - It had rained most of the morning, but stopped right before I hit the pavement. The air was damp but getting warmer. It actually climbed to 53 degrees by 8pm that night (weird weather in the valley).
Gear - I started my run in yoga pants, a long-sleeve tshirt, hoodless sweatshirt, my awesome Nike LiveStrong running gloves (mine are black and bright blue), and my equally awesome Columbia gaiter and headband... and about 2.5 miles in, I bee-lined for the IM building on campus, where I shed the sweatshirt, gloves, gaiter, and headband and stuffed them in a locker I could pick up next time I was there. It was uncharacteristically balmy for a January afternoon and I had apparently overdressed myself! With all of that off, I was down to my long-sleeve (with the sleeves rolled to the elbows) and my yogas. Ahhh I could finally breathe!

In all, nothing short of an AMAZING run. I felt busted by mile 5, but luckily was in a part of the route that was diverse and gave me a lot to look at and distract myself with. Once I hit mile 6, I thought, okay, you've been here before and you stopped just because you had the goal of 6 miles and you finished it. But now, you're still a mile from home and your legs are still moving (miraculously). KEEP GOING! Of course, mile 6 started at the bottom of a hill, so by the time I got to the top, I took a minute to collect myself with a brisk walk, but then continued on all the way back down the hill, up another little climb, down again, and back up again to my apartment. WHAT A FEELING. I was soaked from head-to-toe but felt on top of the world. My belly was rumbling and I could tell I needed some carbs (STAT), but I also felt a huge resolve. I finally saw that finish line getting a little closer, my ultimate goal of finishing 10 miles with a respectable time in reach.

Speaking of time. I couldn't believe my pace. I knew that I could hold that kind of pace for a 5 mile run, but adding 2 more miles onto that was a whole other idea.

My homework for myself now is to doctor my ankles (they were getting pretty tired and my right one was super stiff yesterday morning) and try out some easy-to-run-with carb sources. I shouldn't need them in my 10-miler, but I would still like to have one or two on me just in case something crazy happens. Better safe than sorry.

Yesterday I didn't run and today I won't have time unless I go at later this evening (you may blame college for this lapse) but plan to do a mid-distance tomorrow, a long run on Saturday, and a recovery on Sunday.

Final note.. I love this quote/picture. It's SO true.