As my fall race schedule looms over my head, my long runs increase as well as the quality of my mid-week runs grow. This time around, it feels ‘easier’. Now, I use that word loosely. Running 10-20 or 25+ miles is not easy in my book. But my mindset, my prep, my understanding of what goes into it has evolved. Last year during my training, I was someone who wanted it so bad but was still beaten up from a DNF that really probably resulted from crappy self-training.
Saturday’s 18 miler would consist of a pre-run, group run, and a post run. I wanted to do 7 before our group’s 7 mile run. Well, I left 10 minutes late because I was having some issues. Yeah…. read into that what you want 
But my 6 mile pre-run was amazing. Just me and the stars. Oh and my new head lamp.
I did run by a gentleman that was walking in all black. So as I approached him, about 50 feet behind, I sternly and loudly said “Good Morning, Sir.” He replied and kept walking. He didn’t look harmful, but seriously dude. 5am. All black clothes. Working out. WTH.
Any-who! Our group 7 mile run went great and everyone was glad to have a scale back week, right gang??
Then came the last few miles on my own…. I was thankful that Nancy ran 2 of them with me. Just getting going again was a big step. I didn’t want to. Like wanted to sit down and curl up, not wanna go! But Nancy pushed me (she was killing her run Saturday!) and we made it over the bridge on the Islands and she waved goodbye.
Then I felt like I died around mile 16.5. Ugh. I kept meddling through but I wanted to stop so bad and just roll, crawl, walk home. But I didn’t. Now I can’t say that my run didn’t look like a walk, but hey, whateves!
And to get my tired legs back moving, I did an ice bath then made some love to my foam roller. I swear by that thing. Love, Love Love it! And what better way to recover then to spend 8 hours of playing Cranium with the best girls, best food and best libations. Pretty amazing way to recover from a long run if I do say so myself!
How do you like to recover from a long run?
Thinking of food and drinks that await me is usually what gets me through a long run
I’ve never attempted 18 miles though!
Great job Victoria!
Thanks for hanging back with me during the run on Saturday.
Not a problem! It was fun!
Ughhh I thought I was going to die around mile 16 too yesterday…what is it about that number? I was alone too in those last miles, and honestly, I think I walked/limped the last .75 miles of the 18. …great job! I thought you were only training for the half though?