sixteen miles
You know you’re a marathoner when…
…16 miles is just another day.
…you have a secret stash of your favorite fuel…go Honey Stingers!
…you think, “I only have an hour left to run!”
Sixteen miles were on deck for me yesterday. I’ve decided that I really like doing my long run on Saturday morning. Although I’m still a little tired from working the night before, it’s nice to get up and get it over with so it’s not left looming until Sunday morning. In all reality, I really wasn’t feeling the long run yesterday, but once I got going, that all peeled away.
The plan was to run my four mile loop four times so I could stop and have my water and chews that I left at my house. I’ve never done any sort of repetitive loop for my long runs before, so I wasn’t sure how I would like it. At other times I’m able to work my runs around water fountains or drop water for myself, but I wasn’t up for that this time. Not going to lie…I don’t think I’m going to do this little loop thing again! It doesn’t help that this four mile route is one of my least favorite runs! I ended up running two of the four mile loops and then did an eight mile loop instead, which felt much better than doing two more of the four mile loops! (Are you confused yet? I think I am.)
While I liked the idea of thinking “halfway done!” at the two mile mark of each loop, I also like to feel like I’m going somewhere…which I don’t accomplish with the loop course. It’s another reason as to why I hate the treadmill…I want to go places! Feeling like I’m moving somewhere is so much better and it makes the miles just click by.
Saturday, February 13
16.06 miles in 2:04:47, avg pace of 7:46
Splits: 7:53, 7:58, 7:53, 7:45, 7:44, 7:57, 7:55, 7:37, 7:56, 7:53, 7:56, 7:40, 7:40, 7:34, 7:31, 7:36, 0:11 (7:51)
The plan was to keep my miles above eight minutes for the sake of slowing down for the long run…but oh well. I’m okay with the fact that I can run 7:30-7:40 at the tail end of a long run…marathon prep? My legs didn’t start to feel tired until I had about half a mile to go, which is probably more of a mental thing with being so close to the end of the run. Ten more miles to go!
Oh, and of course I almost got flattened by a truck. I supposed that’s why you’re supposed to go 10 mph around the corner and not 40…
I almost got hit by a truck today too! I think we have just as much right to use the road as them
I hate looping around the same loop. It bores me and distracts me from distracting thoughts…confused yet?
I was thinking about how long 16 miles would take you yesterday. I guessed 2 hours, 8mph. CHA CHING!!
What a good run! I’ve been running inside because there’s no room on the side of the road for me (darn snow) and I know how people drive around here. So I’ve resigned myself to being miserable and alive rather than dead. Hmph.
Great job girl!! I think it’s hard to run the same loop over and over!! I usually have multiple shorter loops that always loop back by my car or house (to get water and/or fuel) and that helps break it up a bit. But the same one over and over would definitely not be fun!! Happy Valentine’s Day!!
Great run! I actually prefer looping…I will loop out my 4mile loop four times for 16milers. There is something about knowing exactly where I”m going when certain hills will be on the course, etc that helps me. But, great run! And be safe out there with all the snow and ice!
Ha ha. At times I have thought “only 30 minutes left!” and then… “that is a strange thing to think.”
Ugh. I am happy the truck missed you!
Great pace on the run. I don’t think I would be able to do loops either, it’s too repetitive, and gives me too much of an opportunity to bag the run! I’m glad you didn’t end up a pancake at the end of the run.
I love/envy your splits! I wish I could run that fast in a 5k let alone a marathon!
nice job on the long run speedy!!
Saturday mornings are my favorite for LRs too, otherwise I’m thinking about it all.weekened.long! I’ve never done a loop route, but I’ll take your word for it, doesn’t sound fun at all! Great job on a speedy 16!!