Minot Long Run

Part 1
13.59 miles, 1:48:03, 7:57 pace, Max HR = 167, Avg HR = 139 (85% zone 3, balance below), 19 degrees, 75% humidity, elevation gain = 1,025, elevation loss = 822

Part 2
9.57 miles, 1:13:46, 7:42 pace, Max HR = 149, Avg HR = 135 (72% zone 3, 27% zone 2), 25 degrees, 70% humidity, elevation gain = 348, elevation loss = 551

I managed 23.16 miles of hills in sub-freezing temperatures at a respectable pace and I really enjoyed it. I didn't want to spend most of the middle part of my day running so I could spend more time with Adora and my family, so I got out of the house at 7:10 AM and tried to pick up a few miles before meeting up with the Magic City Striders to complete my run. By the time I hit the YMCA to meet them, I'd already run twelve miles and I was ten minutes early, so I grabbed a mouthful of water and ran a bit more before meeting them.

I met the Striders and found out they were gunning for 20 miles. They asked me to join them, but these tired legs weren't going to carry me that far. Since I already logged 13+ miles, I could only go out three miles with them before I had to head back and run home.

Notes:
1) My hands were cold, and it wasn't long before I couldn't feel my fingers at all. As a result I couldn't really shake the Striders' hands. Also, my face was so cold that I couldn't talk very well. My lips wouldn't work, so I'm not sure how much they understood of my talking. Thanks to Jake for providing some running pants, which felt great. My two shirt system also worked well, but next time I'll have to have a bit better protection for my mouth and hands.

2) The hills hills were steep and long by Houston standards, but they didn't bother me that much. I enjoyed the view from the top.

3) less than 6 ounces of water, and no nourisment during the entire run. Not good, but the cold temperature minimized sweat. The cold weather also minimized joint pains, and I didn't need any of my normal tricks such as an ice bath, NSAIDs or a nap.

People often ask me what I think about during long runs. I usually don't have an answer for them because my thoughts are fleeting and I don't really remember much after I'm done. For tempo runs I think about survival, and I try to convince myself to keep going. But on LSD runs (long slow distance) I generally achieve a stream of consciousness state where anything can and does pop into my mind. Today I got to see mother nature's creation gently adapted for human use -- beautiul rolling hills of farm land. I also thought a lot of my running form, particularly as I ran down the hills since my upcoming marathon with Cory is run almost exclustively downhill.

But most of all I thought of Adora, my neice, at home. Tomorrow at Adora's baptism Julie and I will become Adora's Godparents, and I could not be more honored.



8:22, 7:45, 8:08, 8:15, 8:35, 7:49, 7:42, 7:24, 7:52, 7:41, 8:12, 7:50, 7:54, 4:23 (.58 miles, 7:33 pace)
7:29, 7:32, 7:21, 7:12, 7:27, 8:05, 8:19, 8:12, 4:41 (.58 miles, 8:04 pace)

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TDLY - Rest