All I can say is Holy SH!T !!
20 F'n Miles,and I have no idea how I finished the last 1+ !
It was BRUTAL !
I knew Saturday, that the weather was not going to be good, so I hit the sack early (asleep by 10:00am), and set the alarm for 5:00am. I got up a bit before the alarm went off, and was out the door a little after 5:00am. It was 72deg & 100% humidity at 5:00am!!
It was like walking into a heat curtain.
I mean I know we had an "easy" month of August, but this is/was ridiculous!
I got numerous tips to make sure I did my long run "slow". I tried like hell to pace myself around the 10:00 min/mile mark. For the better part of 15 miles, that was just what I was doing.
I mapped out a course on Saturday, an out and back run, that incorporated Mercer County Park, so I could make sure to rehydrate, using their water fountains. (very smart move!)
The first 10 - 12 miles where very good. I felt strong, even though I was soaked, like I had run in a downpour! My shoes where squishing from about the 8 mile or so on! I was as if I had run through a puddle, they were that soaked with sweat. My running shorts where stuck to my legs, just like my running tank was stuck to my body. The sweat was pouring down my back, right into my shorts, which made a certain area very irritated!
What was cool, during my run was, when I was running in MCP, I passed a fellow runner I know, from my son's school. He is also running the Philadelphia Marathon. I was a bit envious of him, as he only was running 12 miles, and I still had about 11 to go,when I saw him.
fyi.. I spoke with his wife today, and he was in as bad shape as I was, when he was done....
As always, MCP was hosting an event. This one was a heart walk. It looked like it was a huge event, just by what they were setting up. The volunteers probably thought I was some nut, as I had to run past them 3 times. Luckily I didn't need their help!
During my runs, I the thought of walking never enters my mind. This one it crept in, and took hold. I tell ya, the mind is one nasty mother! I was soo beat up from the 18 mile on, I had to do some walk/running in the last mile plus. I never had to do that before, but to finish this run, I had no other option than the walk/run.
While I am glad I did the 20 miler, I hope it was the weather that killed me, because if this was the marathon, I have no idea how I could have possibly finished the last 6.2miles!
Here are the stats:
3:26:48
10:20 min/mile pace
2,650 calories burned
1 9:35 min
2 9:42 min
3 9:46 min
4 9:36 min
5 9:40 min
6 9:53 min
7 9:54 min
8 9:57 min
9 9:59 min
10 9:52 min
11 9:40 min
12 9:59 min
13 9:49 min
14 9:47 min
15 10:07 min
16 10:11 min
17 11:18 min
18 11:35 min
19 12:04 min
20 14:13 min
12 comments:
Good job. Smart move to run/walk at the end. Some days are like that. You have to listen to your body and do what's best for you. I had my share of long runs like that. It's a little disappointing, I'm sure, but given the conditions that was the best thing.
Sorry that I couldn't meet you for some of the miles.
Nicely done, especially in that weather. I was closer to the shore, but it still sucked.
I agree with shoreturtle, in those conditions doing the run/walk at the end was smart, got to take care of yourself over those distances. Good job getting it done - brutal yes, but done nonetheless... and just think how much stamina you've shown in prep for your race!
Wow, you're right, we did run the same time for our 20. It was absolutely brutal but all that effort in miserable conditions really pays off. Sunday was probably my worst run so far in this training in terms of how difficult it was to put the effort in. Fighting the humidity was a really good mental test, as well as physical test. Great job gutting it out!
I feel your pain brother - my 20 sucked as well on Sunday. Now is the time to be thankful that Philly is in late November - not likely you will see this weather there. See you at the PDR.
Great run man! There’s nothing wrong with adding the run/walk method, especially towards the end if it’s going to help you finish… after all that’s the main goal. Hopefully fall will show up soon, it’ll be nice when it does. Keep up the good work.
Gross (the weather)! Humidity is killer!
Nicely done. Humidity is the worst.
I hate humidity! I think I tend to lose about a minute and a half per mile when it's 70% or more. I have to say you have some strong will power to be out there doing 20 miles in that.
Yikes! That is HUMID!!
If Saturday was at all like Sunday when I arrived in Philly for business you did well on the 20 miler. The conditions were not in your favor for sure.
I hear you... you are not alone. I ran a half marathon last Sunday and it was brutal. It was horrible !!! You did the right thing. That was smart! Nice progress despite the miserable condition you ran in.
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