Long run

I did something different on Sunday morning. I opted to skip the trail run with the group and just do a long run. The five mile trail race is in two weeks. I've been meeting the group to run the course to become familiar with it for the race. I've run it a couple of times and did OK. As long as the course is properly marked the day of the race, which it will be, I will be fine.

I wanted to wait until after the trail race to start this, but I just couldn't wait any longer. I was happy I skipped the trail run to stay home and run long. Yes. I run long every day. But this was a longer distance. I ran 23.1 miles. My goal for the morning was to run 20 miles. When I started, I decided that I would base how many miles I would actually run on how my legs felt. My legs felt good for the first 13 miles. As soon as I passed 13, my legs started feeling great. It felt like I actually just started running. By the start of mile 14, I knew I was running longer then 20 miles.

After running 18 miles, I was trying to decide how long I wanted to keep going. I was thinking that I was so close that I should just run a full marathon. Then I thought about how my previous longest run ever was only 18 miles. I didn't want to increase my mileage too much and hurt myself or be really sore. My final decision was 23 miles.

Near the end of my run, my legs still felt really good. I knew I could have continued running and would have felt fine after. I finished running 23.1 miles in 3 hours and 15 seconds. It is a very good time, but I know that if I ran this outside, my time would be different. I ran the 23.1 miles on my treadmill. Most people I know despise the treadmill. I love it. I was never bored while running. I watched two basketball games that recorded and finished the run watching the news. The TV keeps me entertained.

I gave myself a challenge for next weekend. My challenge is running a marathon on my treadmill. Anyone who is up to running a marathon next Sunday is welcome to join me. I thought it would be fun to run a Super Bowl Sunday marathon. I will be running early in the morning. My husband and I have plans at noon, so I need to get my run done as early as possible. I thinking I'll start my run between 5-6 a.m. That will give me plenty of time to run, shower, eat and do some laundry.

I'm really looking forward to running longer distances and running a marathon next Sunday. I want to challenge myself and try something new. All of this running is helping me reach my goals of running a 50K and marathon in 2012.