Long Runs

Last Sunday, Adam and I did what we considered to be our first "long" run ... 10 miles. I never imagined the day that I'd run 10 miles and I most certainly never expected to enjoy it. It's amazing the impact that the weather can have. It was absolutely perfect ... in the 70s and minus the Kansas City humidity. Starting out, I felt a bit overwhelmed ... wondering if I could really do 10 miles. Once we ran the first two miles, I fell into my rhythm and it flew by. The running conditions were perfect; trail was often covered by shade, mile markers at every half mile point, water fountains to refill the water bottle, and Adam and I had a conversation for most of the way (the best part about this phase of running - talking and running simultaneously are becoming a bit easier). Training works. By following the plan, I'm able to complete miles I never expected I could/would.

Today, Hal's training plan had us run 7 miles. Because we ran 10 last week, we felt pretty confident that 7 would be a breeze. The actual running was ... the conditions ... not so much. Even at 8 am (Adam just couldn't get me up this morning to run earlier), it was unbelievably hot. We tried a different trail since we both love variety. We discovered that we love variety, but only when it involves water fountains along the way with some mile markers. It got to the point where I didn't know how long we had been running (felt like days) or when I would be able to drink again (my saliva just wasn't as appetizing as I was hoping after our water bottle became empty). Regardless, we completed it and it always feels incredible to complete another long run.

When I got home and looked at the running calendar to see future long runs, I realized that today's 7 miles was the last time "7 miles" would be considered "long". Next Sunday, we're scheduled to run 12 miles and eventually progress up to 20 miles (in the next two months, the shortest distance we run on our long days is 8 miles). Had I known this information before today's run, I would have loved every second of those 7 miles.

That will be the last time ol' Hal's marathon training tricks me.