I did it! Twenty miles in the bank! Woot!
Now, I definitely didn’t do it alone and it certainly wasn’t painless but I completed all 20 and am feeling pretty damn good.
Friday night the Redhead got in to town and we caught up over noodles with a little butter and Parmesan cheese while Project Runway occasionally distracted us in the background (“What is that, a cape?”). It was so good to see my friend and actually have a face-to-face talk instead of the text/email binge that we are normally on.
Four AM came really quickly as my alarm blared and Lloyd rolled over with his back to me. Redhead and I got up and got dressed and were out the door at about 5:00 AM. We met up with the BRA and started off with some pretty nice temperatures. It was 60 degrees out and very windy.
Redhead and Hollster quickly moved ahead of me and P-Funk and I kept reminding myself to slow down, I had 20 miles to run and couldn’t be all hare-like. Slow and steady was gonna win this race. We made it to the end at 4.5 miles and I decided to try some Gu Chomps. This was not a good idea as on the turn around I had the PC’s like no other.
I pretty much ran Redhead over as I got back near the restrooms where she was already waiting.
After that bout I was fine but I’ll be sticking to just regular Gu from here on out. As our route is a 4.5 out and back we had to add in the extra 2 miles. We decided to add it in by running into a neighborhood and stopping at a water fountain. This put us about 12 miles. Redhead and I had partnered up at this point due to logistical reasons and we were ready for a drink. I was soooooo thirsty all I could think about was the water fountain. It’s along the route at a perfect spot. As we get up to it, I press the button and nothing comes out. Oh. My. God. The water fountain is broken. Kill me now.
Redhead and I decided to continue running and I am so freaking thirsty (yes, I hydrated well the day/night before but it was really humid) that I tell her I need to run into a nearby coffee shop to drink out of the faucet. Yep. Totally drank out of a faucet. (Oh but we did try to use a hose at the broken water fountain park to no avail either.)
This part of the run is known as The Mirage. Heh.
We finally get some water and get down to mile 15.5 and I am struggling. I had since gone all quiet on Redhead who kept up my spirits and chatted along the way. God bless her. At 15.5 I picked up P-Funk who was doing 18 and Redhead reunited with Hollster. Off we went back down the 4.5 mile home stretch.
For whatever reason I felt much better on this last pass. I guess I was just so preoccupied by the water situation before that I had let the tired voices take over in my head. I was getting sore in my legs but again, a running friend, chatted and it really helped. Seriously, running with Red and P-Funk really made the difference for this 20 miler.
As for my pacing, I think I did pretty well. I felt strong enough for the last 4.5 miles to push and wound up with an average pace of 10:10. Overall, I am very happy with this run. I am surprisingly not that sore today and am going to get in a recovery run at the trails this evening.
Things are looking up on this training plan. The 20 miler may have just been the confidence booster that I needed.
I hope you all had great weekends and great runs!
yay for you completeing 20 miles! That is no easy feat (feet)!!! Great job.
20 miles – rock on!
Great job. A good running partner is worth their weight in gold.
Way to push through Beth!!! I cannot even imagine a 20-miler at this stage in my running…sometimes I don't even like to drive 20 miles!! Awesome job!
You make it sound so easy! GREAT pace!!! 🙂 awww 60's I think I can remember what that feels like 😉 Actually it got up to the 50's Sat–heatwave!!! 🙂
Good job 20 mile girl!! That has got to feel pretty darn good….20 miles done!! Keep it up:)
Yay! I'm so glad you are feeling more confident! Did I not tell you we were going to have a kick ass run?!?!? We are going to dominate Gasparilla like no one's business!
Nice job on the 20! Way to go!!!
Happy new year and congrats on your 20 miler!
Good job!! You are totally making me excited for my 16 miler this coming sat!
wow I can't imagine doing an out and back multiple times, maybe with other people it would be ok but not by myself for sure. way to go on pushing through
Steady along there girl. You looked fine for the two miles I ran with ya.
Go girl!! 20 miles, you're amazing!
glad you got to spend time with the redhead, friend time is so good. 🙂
great job!!
I did 20 miles last week too. Oh … you meant all at once. Great job!
I miss doing long runs like this! Congrats on finishing and running with friends!
Nice job on the 20!
Yay! SOUnds like you have some great running buddies.
two thumbs up.
Long runs are to build endurance – pace is most important – build speed during the week. 60 seconds slower than marathon pace typically for these long runs – as your coach tells you!
I can't believe you guys went on a 20-miler with NO water! I take it on 5-milers sometimes. Then again, I am wimpy…
Yay for 20 miles and running with good friends!
Well done! Hey when you are running that long and need water, you gotta do what you gotta do!
Way to go on the 20!
nice job on the 20! so tough but soo good to get done. i've def drank out of some shady things myself… sink faucets, the thing a hose would be connected to in someone's yard (spigot?)… a little sketch, but hey, we need water!
Awesome job girly! And you are sooo right about running with someone else, it makes all the difference. I have the hubbs on the bike next to me, but it isn't the same. I want someone lugging the miles with me – you know, misery loves company! How's the ankie?
Woot woot! Twenty miles is a great accomplishment. Congrats. And even better that you were able to negatively split!
Have you tried Hammer Gel? I've been using that lately. I find that it's consistency is a ittle more liquid than Gu. I'm digging it. Not to mention – it comes in Green Apple flavor. Just a little tart. Yum!
Way to go on the 20! That was quite the jump in miles. And your average miles per minute… awesome! You're gonna rock that marathon! I hope old Wonky stays away. How did it do? I've had that drinking fountain problem a few times. I've resorted to going inside our public library a few times. Now that's desperate. Way to go!