8 Miles Easy

I am not sure if it was because of the hard tempo run a few days before or thinking about running in PR while looking at the ocean but this run went really well and felt great. For the first time on one of these longer runs I felt like all the training was actually purposeful and helping. I could sustain my run pace for longer periods of time and even remembered how focusing on “long thoughts” helped make the miles go by quicker.

I broke the run into 4 parts – each 2 miles which while in those parts make things seem more feasible. Usually the first 2 miles are the worst and on this run the first 2 miles felt great. When I moved into miles 3 and 4 – I also felt good and had my first of 2 maple syrup energy shots. I had a slight pull in my right IT band but it never progressed. Miles 5 and 6 went by quick as I spent the entire time thinking my “long thoughts” and focused on thinking about how a plane engine did the same thing over and over for hours at a time and that I could do the same.

By the last 2 miles I could feel the fatigue but the thought of being able to finish 8 miles had me in tears of joy. I got it done and felt very proud.

All this at 27F outside.

Route:

Path to Hicks to Cunningham to Garden to Hicks to Stacy’s to PHS to Palatine to Winston and then home.