My First 30 Miler

Monday, February 14th 2011: 10 miles @ 9:54 minutes per mile pace. The run went well and this may be the fastest pace I have run 10 miles outside of a race. But let me tell you something amigo. It's no good to see 4:45am on the alarm clock so that you can run 10 miles before work.

Tuesday, February 15th 2011: 4 miles @ 9:50 minutes per mile pace. It was a beautiful morning and I loved watching light start to spread across the sky:


Wednesday, February 16th 2011: 30 miles @ 11:27 minutes per mile pace. Mission accomplished: my first 30 miler. I went to a new dirt road I had never run on before called Sheep's Bridge Road I think. As far as scenery, this is one of the most incredible places I have ever run.


My pace isn't completely accurate because it doesn't take into account my numerous picture stops.




I decided to give the Camelbak another try despite my first unfavorable attempt. It actually went a little better. I got back to my car after the first 12 mile loop to refill my water and made a critical error. I saw how much I drank on the first loop so I filled up the same amount for the second loop. I didn't take into account that it was getting warmer outside and that I was more fatigued.

So at mile 20 I went to take a sip of water and much to my horror - started sucking air. I didn't see how this was possible. I couldn't be out of water. I still had another 4 miles to run uphill into the wind before getting back to my car. I wish I was exaggerating. I hoped maybe there was just a kink so I removed the whole water pouch. Empty! Houston: we have a problem.


The 4 mile trudge back to the car was not enjoyable. I bit the dust. Literally. There was a wind advisory that day and running into the wind was like trying to run a marathon in a swimming pool. When I dared look ahead of me I saw a continuous river of dirt flying at me. The flying dirt stung my face and skin and got in my teeth. This was the advisory from the internet:




My pace tanked for those 4 miles but I finally made it back to my car for a refill. I had also packed one of my Valentine presents: a delicious cupcake. I figured I would regret eating it with another six miles to run but at the moment I just didn't care. That cupcake had a life expectancy of three seconds.


I set out into the wind again for six more miles and felt so proud of myself after finishing 30 miles.

My Garmin said I burned 3,316 calories during the run. And what better way to celebrate burning 3,316 calories than to eat 3,316 calories worth of carne asada french fries? (Yes, under all that meat and cheese there actually are french fries.)


Thursday, February 17th 2011: Rest. My purpose at work was to walk normal so nobody would ask why I was walking like Frankenstein. I certainly felt like him, but didn't want to walk like him. Didn't tell anyone what I had done the day before.

Friday, February 18th 2011: 4 miles @ 10:50 minutes per mile pace. Surprisingly not as sore as I expected.

Saturday, February 19th 2011: 8 miles @ 9:27 minutes per mile pace. I have no idea where the extra energy came from but that run was much faster than I could have hoped for.

Dogtown Half Marathon next week! I'm planning to run with Mel and see if I can pace her to a PR.

"It is the illusion that we can go no faster that holds us back."
Kenny Moore, American athlete and journalist