The run was beautiful. I really felt in the moment the whole time. I also used my "fuel belt". I had used it last weekend for a 3.1 mile run and then 6 mile walk but running with something and walking with it are two different animals. It was fine for the 3.1 miles but, well that is just a short run. For the full 14 it was awesome. Why it was awesome:
- No big 20 ounce jug in my hand switching it from hand to hand, so I don't end up with one bicept bigger than the other or one trap sorer than the other. It did take a few miles for me to get the whole what do do I do with two free hands situation all figured out.
- It didn't bounce around, stayed in place.
- It did give my lower back a little bit of support.
- I didn't chug all my water in the first 5 miles. In fact, I arrived home with water to spare!
GU Chomps, new find for me. They came in a race goodie bag and have sat for a while. I am always nervous about trying something new. I loved them! So much less messy and so easier than the GU packages. I do have a couple dozen GU packages and I will use them, just later.
I like to have my phone with me. What if something happens and I need to call someone? What if I find something totally cool and need to take a picture of it?
What if I desperately need to check FB? Plus I use MapMyFitness along with my Garmin to track my miles. I use an arm band, that always chafes if I have it on bare skin. Yes! Glide would solve that problem, do you think I remember? Of course not!
14 miles in 2:25. Why couldn't I have found that pace for my 1/2 last weekend, at least I would have beat my PB/PR. Oh well. I think it was the "fuel belt" and the reduced humidity and temperatures. Maybe a few less hills?
One of my Besties stumped me with this question:
" So how does it feel after you've run 14 miles? Spare no detail, I've no intentions of finding out the hard way. :-)"
Stumped me because, well I had never really thought about it. I think about how I am feeling while I am running, does my breath feel ok, am I pushing hard enough, my heel feels a little tender, concentrate on mid foot landing, holy crap the sweat stings my eyes, oh this hill is killing my ass, oh wait, thats a good thing push harder.
How do I feel when I am done? As a sensation: sweaty, gritty, dirty, energized, a little sore. As a perception: powerful, accomplished, opportunistic (what can I work to improve next run). Mostly I just feel glad I did it, and look forward to stretching, showering, icing the sore parts, eating, guzzling some water, and yes, later, a diet coke.
I still don't know if that is what she meant. I think it would make a great essay, I just haven't gotten beyond the listing part, yet. I don't think she wants to know about the biological balancing? or does she? I'll have to think on this and pay more attention, see if there is, in fact, a story in there.
How do you feel after you've run 14 (or more) miles?
