COLD, HARD, LONG RUN

I had to break out my running jacket, gloves, and ear-warmer for my 30-degree 18-miler this morning. The cold didn't bother me, but I'll never do a long run after a race again... it was hard from the start (my quads were sore from yesterday's hills and speedwork), and only got worse as the miles piled on. I felt pretty good between miles 3 and 7 (warmed up enough that my plantar fasciitis was no longer burning strongly and before my legs started to feel like lead weights), but as I crested a hill out of the cemetery (WAY out on the far side of the military park) and realized I was suddenly exhausted and not even halfway done, I started to get down on myself for letting myself get so out of shape. The rest of the run was super slow (as in, I ran at a VERY slow pace - I didn't even walk that much, I just trudged along at an 10:30 pace, practically shuffling my feet and trying not to look up at all the hills). Ashley and Lee pushed ahead at an easy 9:30 pace, but then had to keep stopping and coming back for me (which, if you've ever been at the back of the pack, you know is a very sucky feeling). When Lee finished her 17 (she'd started earlier than Ashley and I) and headed home, I tried to convince Ashley to head out for her last 2 solo so she could run a comfortable pace (especially since she only needed 15 total and could have been done half an hour ago...), but she stuck with me. I was glad for the company because I likely ran a lot more of the south loop with her than I would have solo (still very slow, but at least I ran), and she ended up with 17 herself (just imagine how many times she had to come back to get me to hit 17 miles at the point that I hit 16 miles...) After she headed home I still had 2 more to do alone. By that point, I had a bad ache behind my knee, so I just resolved to get the miles done, no matter how slow I went. (Had that ache turned into a pain, I'd have just stopped, but marathon training is supposed to hurt a little, unfortunately.) I'm glad I finished the run (training on tired legs is very beneficial for marathon day), but I'm very thankful that next weekend's 20-miler will be on the trails (softer on the joints, plenty of excuses to walk hills, and ultra fare available for fuel at aid stations). And I should have some good company out there, since Lee and Mack and Jay are all running. Onward and upward - marathon training is supposed to be hard. It's ok that this weekend's long run sucked. Hopefully next weekend's will be the opposite, as it tends to go in running...