Semi-Sweet Sixteen

This video is for Donna from Team Point Two. Her marathon (Portland) is tomorrow!

Today was to be my 16-miler. Wouldn't you know I woke up at 12:30 AM and couldn't get back to sleep until past 4 AM? Grrrr! I hate that. So I turned off my alarm and resolved to do the run mid-day. I have just about decided to have a glass of wine on the evenings before long runs to knock me out!

My options were either the 11 AM - 3 PM time slot or 3 PM - 7 PM time slot. I opted for the latter because today we wanted to go to a Greek food festival in nearby Bartlett, Tennessee. I was definitely "well fueled" for my afternoon run.

I am here to tell you that it was hot (80 degrees) and very windy - always at my front. Ugh. I ran about 5 miles away from home and then headed back. I somehow got back to my neighborhood with about 9 miles on the Garmin. I went back home momentarily for a pit stop and some Ibuprofen. A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do!

FYI, I always write my Marathon Advisor an e-mail after my long run. At this point in today's run it would have gone something like this:

Dear John,

Are you trying to kill me? This is just not working. I am so slow. This is my longest distance in 22 months. I am never going to make it.

Sorry,
Susan

I decided at this point to do the remaining 7 miles in my neighborhood. They would have been bad anywhere; might as well be close to home. Amazingly, the temperature dropped at least 10 degrees. Now we're talking! I seemed to actually be getting faster (still doing the 1:1 method) although my splits do not really show any improvement.

I dreaded the fact that the last 3 miles were to be run solid, and at a 12:48 pace. Yikes! But, as I said, I seemed to be gaining speed as the temp dropped. It had to be approaching 60 degrees by now. Hallelujah.

At about mile 12 my fabulous neighbor (and friend) Nelms drove by. I demanded that she go and fill my G2 bottle with ice water. HA! That's what friends are for. After that refill it was just nearly time to do the 3 solid miles. Here's how the first 13 went down at a 1:1 ratio:

Mile 1 - 13:53
Mile 2 - 13:57
Mile 3 - 13:57
Mile 4 - 14:05
Mile 5 - 14:15
Mile 6 - 14:45
Mile 7 - 14:33
Mile 8 - 14:03
Mile 9 - 14:23
Mile 10 - 14:55
Mile 11 - 14:29
Mile 12 - 14:15
Mile 13 - 14:03
Average +/- 14:14

Then I started hoofing it around the 'hood and it felt GREAT. The last three were just awesome (and faster than 12:48!)

Mile 14 - 12:29
Mile 15 - 12:35
Mile 16 - 12:41
Average +/- 12:35

Total - 3:43:28
Average - 13:58

On the all, I am really glad I stuck it out (not that I really had any other choice, mind you). This could be my amended e-mail:

Dear John,

You know what, you just might know what you're talking about after all! Bring on Rocket City!

Your Adoring Student,
Susan

Tomorrow I have a lovely 2-miler on the docket. Yesssss!