A 03:24:00 Long Run
Yesterday morning I got up around 6:00 for my long run, which a little later than normal. I had my company Christmas party the night before and got home rather late. I had driven my car, so stayed away from any alcohol the night before. The only problem was that I ate like a glutton and carrying about 5 pounds of good food with me. In any case I skipped breakfast, food just didn’t sound good.
Around 6:30 I drove to Weingarten, 11K away, to my hilly running route. I hadn’t run this route for awhile and felt the need. It was still dark and 0C/32F as I arrived and strapped on my CamelBak. Due to the large quantity of food from the night before I figured 2-2 ½ hours would be enough, especially since I haven’t run hills lately.
So I turned on my headlamp and set out of my hilly loop, first the semi-flat kilometer warmup, then the 8 minute climb up the mountain. I wound my way up and down and over the rolling hills, eventually circling back to the car and up the mountain again. By this time it was light out and I enjoyed seeing the frosty grass, bushes and trees, this is my favorite time of year!
After about 2 ½ hours I circled back toward my car, but had to detour because the logging crews had blocked the trails. So I tried a couple other trails, but kept running into closed trail signs. I should add all these trails were still open the first time I ran through. Anyway I ended up having to turn around and run all the way back around the mountain to my car.
I ended up running for 3 hours and 24 minutes, around 31-32K (19-20 miles), which is close to what was on my schedule anyway. The one time I try to be lazy and cut the distance of my long run I end up getting it in anyway due to the trails being closed! At least I burned off all those calories from the Christmas buffet!!
This morning I have a big blister on one of my little toes, but I think this is from my dress shoes that I wore to the Christmas party Friday night. My legs are comfortably tired, from a totally satisfying run!
Have a nice Sunday!
Comments
You have a blister on one of your little toes. If I had run all those km I would be a blister!
Posted by: Black Knight | December 17, 2006 6:24 PM
Great run jack. Way to work off that holiday food!
Posted by: Kim | December 17, 2006 8:58 PM
At least running helps balance that holiday food consumption. Because the truth is, I'd be a glutton whether I ran or not!
Posted by: backofpack | December 17, 2006 10:13 PM
Sounds like all that fuel did your body good! : )
Posted by: Sarah | December 18, 2006 3:24 AM
Great run on a very cold morning Jack. Sounds like a lot of fun.
BTW - thought you'd find this to be interesting. I got a hit on my blog from someone Googling the following: "back to back long runs". Of the 236 million references using these words, my blog came up #1, your blog came up #2. What are the odds (OK, I can compute the odds .. but you get the point).
Have a great week.
Posted by: Phil | December 18, 2006 5:20 AM
What a great run, long and good! Busy is the name of this time of year, right?
Posted by: olga | December 18, 2006 6:34 PM
That's an awesome long run!
Posted by: Rich | December 19, 2006 5:07 AM