Sunday, October 30, 2005
Training Milestone: 21Mile Run
My legs have been sore from too much mileage, so I ended up spending a lot of last week not running at all. I got in a quality run on Wednesday and did my long run today. I got up a little later than normal, stopped for coffee, and drove to Roswell to run the 3.1 miles out and back trail there hoping it would be easier on my legs than running on asphalt. I intended to do a long run even though I was feeling a little tired and rundown. I was paying for my sins of the previous week: too much overtime, not enough sleep, poor diet, and no exercise.
My legs however, were feeling rested, and I had hopes of getting a good run in. I was a little disappointed when I started. Because I did not get going until 8:20 am, the trail was busy and crowded. I had forgotten the trail was an out and back trail, in my head I had been thinking it was a 3 mile loop trail which I would have much preferred. Many trees overhang the trail, so my GPS kept losing its signal. However, while I was grousing about the less than optimal conditions and thinking maybe it was a day for a shorter run, my legs got to the business of ticking off the miles.
I managed to take it nice and slow for the first part of the run. I thought I was taking it very slow, but in reviewing my run it turns out I was cranking out 8-9 minute miles for the first 15 miles. It was not until the final 10K that my pace dropped to about a 10-minute mile. I had to dig deep to finish those last few miles.
Passing the 20-mile mark seems like an important milestone in my training for the marathon. My legs felt like rubber after the run, but I did not have any serious soreness or injury. After getting home and soaking my legs in an icy bath, they felt better than they have all week.
My legs however, were feeling rested, and I had hopes of getting a good run in. I was a little disappointed when I started. Because I did not get going until 8:20 am, the trail was busy and crowded. I had forgotten the trail was an out and back trail, in my head I had been thinking it was a 3 mile loop trail which I would have much preferred. Many trees overhang the trail, so my GPS kept losing its signal. However, while I was grousing about the less than optimal conditions and thinking maybe it was a day for a shorter run, my legs got to the business of ticking off the miles.
I managed to take it nice and slow for the first part of the run. I thought I was taking it very slow, but in reviewing my run it turns out I was cranking out 8-9 minute miles for the first 15 miles. It was not until the final 10K that my pace dropped to about a 10-minute mile. I had to dig deep to finish those last few miles.
Passing the 20-mile mark seems like an important milestone in my training for the marathon. My legs felt like rubber after the run, but I did not have any serious soreness or injury. After getting home and soaking my legs in an icy bath, they felt better than they have all week.
