It's been about 3 hours since I got home from the 20 miles I did this morning and I'm moving well and feeling great. I really couldn't ask for better. Yesterday, I did doubles of a 3 mile run and a 7 mile run, 4 hours apart and felt great after the second run. The first run was in super humid conditions and partially in the dark, so I didn't really enjoy it, but during the second run, the sun came out, the humidity dropped and I had a Strava friend visiting, so it was really awesome to be able to show him around some of my favorite places to run in Princeton. Town and the woods are really showing off at the moment. The colors are popping like crazy and the view across Palmer Lake at Mountain Lakes looks particularly pretty right now. This morning's 20 miler didn't feel as long as I thought it would. I had great company on the first hilly 12 miles out to Pretty Brook and back to CP, but knew the last 8 would be a little harder with no company. I ended up putting on my long run play list and it really powered me through. I was moving better than I thought I would be moving from miles 13 to 17. I stopped to take in the view of Carnegie Lake at the bridge and as soon as I stopped moving, my quads started throbbing. I made the decision to go through campus on the way back to CP and I think it was a good decision. Mile 17 was a steady uphill and it was nice to be distracted by people watching. I stayed pretty slow for mile 18, but as soon as I saw I had just 2 miles left, I was able to push the pace. I ended up finishing strong with my last mile at a surprising 8:59 min/mi pace. It helped that I saw a friend up ahead with his dog and I ran faster so that I could catch up to them and say hello and pet Maya, his dog. She is a Vizsla and I love how her fur feels. She ran up to me to greet me and that energized me to continue on to a strong finish. As soon as I stopped, again, my quads felt trashed. Mana, who I had started with, was back at her car, so we chatted a bit while she changed into dry clothes and I stretched. It was great to be finished with our long runs by 10AM. Finally got home and enjoyed a hot shower, leftover pasta from last night and some much needed time with the Hypervolt. It's so beautiful out that I can't not get into town again. Heading out now to take my daughter to lunch.
With this weekend's back to back long runs completed, I only have one more 18 mile long run to go next weekend. Then it's time to taper and race day is just a few short days later.
Happy Halloween!
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