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I know the importance of preparing for a long run. I know. Yet for some reason I was totally unprepared for today's 20 miler.

Hydrate - I planned to drink lots of water yesterday. When I got home after my extra large coffee I realized I was out of bottled water. So I drank the bottle of gatorade in the fridge. I'll get water when I'm out later. Which I did. But left the case on the cart in the grocery store. I didn't realize until much much later when I was carless.

Carbo Load - I had a delicious breakfast bagel with my extra large coffee after the run. Then got busy. It wasn't until about 9pm that I realized that's all I had eaten all day.

Organize this the night before - yeah, no, didn't do that

Plenty of sleep - nope, couldn't sleep. Could of got up and organized my clothes and fuel belt, but no I chose to toss and turn til about 2am when I finally passed out

Fill fuel belt - at 5.30 this morning ... hmmm where's the gatorade? Oh yeah I drank it yesterday. Oh and no bottled water. Improvise with delicious luke warm tap water. I bought gels and bloks yesterday, where are they? Can't find them. Probably still in car, which is in Port Stanley, waiting for me at the end of my 20 miler. I manage to find 3 gels in various bags.

I didn't leave home with a whole lotta confidence for my luming 20 miler.

Today was our second of 3 destination runs we do each summer to Port Stanley. You can run any distance you like from 3 miles to 26 miles. There are organized waterstops every 2-3 miles along the way to fuel you with everything from water to powerade, oranges to melon, gummy bears to jubes. There are about 130 runners that take part each time, most from our training group, but many just join for this run. Once we arrive in PS, we have lunch and a few drinks on the beach patio.

P and D picked me up and we drove to where we would start our run. I always run with P and D. Today however, they are leaving early. I am leaving later, and running with 2 girls who are faster than me. This seemed like a great idea on Tuesday. Push myself a little. But as I watched P and D run off, I felt a twinge of doubt.

It was a perfect running morning, cool and sunny. Our first 3 miles went by quickly. I didn't feel pushed or uncomfortable, but it was definitely faster than my usual long run pace around 9.50 min/mile. Our first waterstop was at mile 5, I took my first gel.

We continued on with a steady pace. I felt great. The pace felt comfortable. My legs felt good. Even though everything was working out I was expecting the worst. I was patiently waiting for that dreaded tiredness. Those aching muscles that had hit me last time with about 6 miles to go.

The first big hill of the day was just ahead. Before I knew it, it was done. I wasn't out of breath. I didn't want to stop and walk. I ran it and kept running. After a quick toilet break we headed out for my least favourite part of this run. It's 5k of straight road, no shade, it seems long and never ending. It's where my energy got zapped last time. I felt fine. Actually better than fine, I felt stong this time. At the next waterstop I took my last gel and got ready for the big hill. Just over 1.5 miles of uphill.

You know what?

I ran the whole thing ... no problem!

The last 3 miles are downhill to the end. I felt great all the way. No dragging of butt today

I think this is my bestest everest 20 mile run ever!

Only one blister, on my left big toe, which I felt from about mile 8. I don't think I drank enough today or maybe it's from not hydrating enough yesterday. I think the dehydration is effecting my stomach ... it's not to happy with me right now.