Previous long runs for Marathon Training:
- One Way Ticket to Double Digitland (10.0 miles)
- Eleven with the Ladies (11.0 miles)
- A Hellish Half Marathon (13.1 miles)
- Fabulous Fourteen (14.0 miles)
- Sweaty Sixteen (16.0 miles)
- Screamin’ Seventeen (17.0 miles)
- Energizing Eighteen (18.0 miles)
- Easier Eighteen (18.0Â miles)
- Terrific Twenty (20.0 miles)
- Solo Seventeen (17.0 miles)
I survived my VERY, VERY LONG 22.0 mile run
Megan and I finished the race in 3:57:30 for an average pace of 10:45. I am really proud of us because – truthfully – we bought woke up with QUITE the headaches following last night’s debauchery. Seriously, I don’t know WHAT I was thinking by going out the day before a long run – it was the worst decision of my life! Never done that before, and I will NEVER do it again. Umm. Basically, do as I say, not as I do. 🙂
Before we left, I had two pieces of toast with peanut butter.
I packed three packets of Goo (for about 300 calories) in my SpiBelt and drove to Megan’s place.
Our 22.0 mile run literally took us ALL over Orlando – we actually ran through 4 or 5 different neighborhoods and didn’t repeat any mileage. It was ONE BIG LOOP. That was definitely a good thing because Megan and I both talked about quitting MULTIPLE times during the run. In fact, I noticed that we were both SO volatile in our emotions – one moment, I felt great. And the next, I wanted to curl up into a ball and sleep on the side of the road.
Here’s the breakdown:
- Mile 1 – 4: OMG. My head is throbbing. I am never drinking beer again.
- Mile 5 – 6: Wow! I suddenly feel SO MUCH BETTER.
- Mile 7:Â I really need to use the bathroom!!! BADLY!
- Mile 9:Â Do we REALLY have 13 more miles to go? Freak out.
- Mile 11: Halfway there! Yippee. I feel great.
- Mile 13: Only 9 miles to run! Realization that being happy about only have 9 miles left in my run makes me literally insane.
- Mile 15: I hate my life. I am never drinking beer again.
- Mile 18:Â Start heading back to the car; feel relieved.
- Mile 20.01: NEW PERSONAL DISTANCE RECORD!! YAY!
- Mile 21: My knees hurt. My face hurts. My back hurts. My armpits are chafing!
- Mile 22: Done! And so relieved.
We took several walking breaks (which is why our overall pace – 10:45 – was slower than normal) and also run into 7-11 on three separate occasions to use the bathroom and refill our water.
I am SO proud of us! Never in my entire life did I think that I would be running 22.0 miles in one go.
Proof:
Epic.
We were SOOO hungry after the run. I definitely need a lot more than 300 calories during a long run like that! We bolted into the supermarket right away, and I made myself a lovely French bread and cream cheese sandwich on the hood of my car. 🙂  I ate most of the loaf on the ride home!
Hit the spot!
And when I came home, I made this entire box of pasta:
Which I ate with 1/2 container of baked plain tofu and cream sauce.
Wonderful post-run combo of carbs and protein! Definitely recommend this flavor.
I am off to nap – obviously I am very tired. But I’m happy and feel like if I can run 22.0 miles under these conditions, I am MORE than ready for the marathon. I know I will do great, and I’m really hoping for a good time. Whew!
Congrats on finishing when feeling…ur…not your best 😉 I can barely run a 5k! Hope to be able to run a half marathon by the end of 2010, wish me luck!