Long run from hell

I had the worst run ever today. I guess I could look at it as a great run, since I eventually hit my pace (8:44 for 17 miles), I ran negative splits (not by choice this time) and walked an additional .5 mile at the end to cool off (so more time on the legs). But, no, it was still the worst run ever....maybe not...oh, yes..

I was excited to run again with the Sue(s), with whom I trained for Boston. Sue M backed out last minute because the forecast threatened rain, so it was me and Sue C. I was excited. In fact, I was so excited that I was up at 6:00 to get ready for a 7:20 run start. As soon as I stepped outside, I felt like entering a sauna: hot, muggy, and dark. Yikes. But, I felt good, met Sue C and both worked hard at not going faster than 8:45. Sue was going to do 10 miles with me, and I would add 7 at the end. Two miles into the run 1 Nuun bottle was gone, and my shorts and shirt were completely wet. Sweat was dripping from all over my body. I was like one of those overweight people at the gym running on the treadmill with a pile of sweat under them, that you don't want to run near. And I am far from overweight. Sue C was having issues of her own, struggling with the pace so we ended up slowing down a lot, running close to 9 min miles. I was a bit concerned since I wanted to maintain an overall 8:45, but figured I would push it the last 7 miles. Plus, I did not want Sue C to feel bad for going slower.

I was feeling really tired when I said good bye to Sue C. My Asics felt really heavy, and were making funny noises with each step. It rained on and off during the first 10 miles, so between the rain and the sweat, my shoes were drenched, too. Those last 7 miles were unbelievably hard. I felt very uncomfortable in my wet and heavy clothes and shoes. I was thirsty and although made an effort not to drink too much, I drank much more than I wanted. Note to self - need more than Nuun for electrolytes during long runs. My belly felt bloated, I was nauseous, yet I had to push the pace and I did. A couple of people walking on the path looked at me with pity, I can only imagine what I looked like. I kept pushing away thoughts such as "Why are you doing this to yourself?" and "Imagine running 26.2 mile like this". Hrrrr!

I was too exhausted to be excited to be done. Legs felt mostly OK, though heavy toward the end, as expected. I walked .5 mile home. This is something new I am trying, adding more mileage (ideally over a mile, but not today) after the long runs, to cool off and stretch the time I spend on my feet during long runs.

At home I weighed my Asics. Each weighed 1.1 pounds. A dry one weighs 10.06 ounces! Looks like I have been running with ankle weights. Not sure how much weight my shorts and shirt added, but it felt like a lot! Now, one icebath later, one hot shower later, one recovery shake later, I feel much better about things, and actually excited again for my 20 miler next week. And then I think, we runners are a bit crazy, definitely not "normal". But "normal" is boring, right?