Went the HM Distance Today

I am so happy--I did 13.6 miles! But I am just sick. The Garmin "ate" my 13.6 mile workout. Gone. My splits? Gone. My true time? Gone. My official pace? Gone. :-( This is a guestimate, it's pretty close the time, I am sure of it. I slowed it down just a bit early on since I knew I was going the furthest I have ever gone and wanted to make sure I would have enough in the tank to make it. I know some of my last few miles were 12:06, 12:30, 12:50 (that was mile 12, legs were starting to get a little sore), so I must keep remembering to take it easy early on.

13.60 miles
2:52:00 (12:38/mile)

More lessons learned on a long run:
1. Drinking: Stop drinking much longer before the run. I still made 3 potty breaks:-( I stopped my Garmin each time, but if this had been the actual race, I might have gone over 3 hrs:-(
2. Bring a buck or two. I went to the bathroom at a coffee shop & swore I would come back & buy coffee if they let me use their bathroom (they did, mercifully).
3. Gel. I need one midway. I ate nothing during the run and drank maybe 10 sips in all. Not enough, I know. I didn't keel over or anything, but I could have used a little extra energy.

So I have now covered the distance. I am feeling a little sore, but just about ready for the HM, four weeks from tomorrow!

Lessons Learned on a Long Run - New Furthest Distance

11.50 miles
2:19:56 (12:10/mile)

Made it a morning run to try to replicate a race-day scenario, was on the road by 7. Great run. Wow! I consciously held back the pace a little in the first few miles, my best feeling miles were 7 & 8, just seemed to be easy to pick up the pace a little. Started getting lead legs towards the end. But I am amazed how I am tiring out later and later as my long run gets longer and longer. There must be something TO these training plans! :-)

Here is the breakdown:
Mile 1 - 12:20
Mile 2 - 12:09
Mile 3 - 12:21
Mile 4 - 12:06
Mile 5 - 11:54
Mile 6 - 12:09
Mile 7 - 11:51
Mile 8 - 11:46
Mile 9 - 11:59
Mile 10 - 12:54
Mile 11 - 12:21
Mile .5 - 6:02

Learned a few things today:
1. I R10/W1 the whole darn way, and I have no pain to speak of. NONE! Wowzer! I'm a little sore overall, but no glaring pain zone! When I ran with the NJRRC two weeks ago, I had the same pace but I ached at the end--because we ran straight through, minimal walk breaks. When I take my walk breaks, "needed" or not (and let's face it, they are always needed!), I feel better at the end. Lesson learned!
2. I need to stop drinking much earlier. Got up at 6 & drank coffee, ate 1/2 bagel and had a little water, stopped consuming 30 min before run. Duh. Need to get up earlier to stop drinking earlier to avoid mid-race potty breaks (I took two today in the first few miles:-()
3. I can run by myself at a decent pace for a 11.5 miles, no music, no conversation, just my own thoughts.

These are the big things I learned today. I am on cloud nine after this long run, such a confidence booster. I am getting excited for the LB Half, only 5 weeks from today.

Go give a cyber high five to Wes, he ran his first HM today, the ING Georgia HM!