Great run, great day!
This entry was posted on 1/21/2011 6:22 PM and is filed under uncategorized.
Well, after getting the good news at my check up that my brain is good for another 4 months, I planned on doing my long run for the week. Fortunately the weather wasn't really a factor. It was cold, but tolerable, and since I ran a north-south route, the mostly west wind didn't effect me much.
For some reason, I was a little more anxious before today's check up than I normally am. I had no reason to think that anything was wrong, but I think I just got into my own head a little too much, so this afternoon I really needed to just hammer a bit and drain off any lingering stress. That can easily be done with just a hard 5 miler, but I wanted to put an exclamation point on the fact that I AM HEALTHY! So I did 16.
I drove down to Island Beach because I wanted some tranquility, and at this time of year, it is desolate down there. Perfect for a nice long run. I have only run there once before, during the Seaside half marathon a few years ago under the worst conditions I've ever raced in. Today was much nicer. I wish I had fueled up better, but I know from experience I run better if I'm hungry. But even knowing that, by about 3 miles I was thinking about turning around and cutting the run short at 8 miles. But I kept pushing, remembering why I was out there today. By 6 miles I was feeling great. Anyone who drove by me must have thought I was demented. All by myself, on a freezing cold windy day, with a big grin on my face, just cruising along, nothing to look at but the road, the trees and the sky (accompanied by the sound of the wind skimming across Barnegat Bay.) It was a straight out and back run, 8 miles each way. I wanted to run the way back faster than the way out, and I did, but just barely. 57:55 for 8 out, and 56:28 back. Average pace for the whole run was 7:09, and I felt solid the whole way, no strain. Just very thankful to be able to do what I do! 50 miles over the last 4 day, tomorrow is a work/rest day!
