It was a bit chilly this morning when I started my run – 44 degrees F. Did a little extra stretching before I started – warm up some of those muscles.
This morning I had some oatmeal for breakfast about an hour before my run. Plus coffee – can’t start my day without coffee 🙂
About 15 minutes before my run I opened my first GU Gel Pack – Strawberry Banana. I gotta tell you – I never had anything quite like that before 😉
It tasted just fine, although I can’t say I actually tasted strawberries OR bananas, but it was pleasant enough. But the gel itself was unlike anything I had before. A little weird to be quite honest.
So, the first 2 or 3 miles, I felt some tightness in my lower chins and ankles. No pain. Just a little tight. I ran through that and I felt fine the rest of the run.
I got to the 6 mile mark and made a u-turn. Then when I got back to the Chester Train Station, I stopped. There is a port-a-potty there and I made use of that. Plus I had water and my second Gel Pack (Vanilla Bean). Total stop time was ABOUT 3 minutes. Then back on the trail.
I should point out for anyone not familiar with my area – the word “trail” brings to mind some wooded path. But what the Heritage Trail is, is a paved-over railway. Flat and smooth.
I did not stop on the rest of the run. I hydrated on the fly. When I got to the end I actually felt pretty good. Even my knees, which is a good sign.
My overall pace through the 12 miles was 9:34. Here’s how it broke down by each mile:
Mile 1 – 9:40
Mile 2 – 9:31
Mile 3 – 9:45
Mile 4 – 9:42
Mile 5 – 9:45
Mile 6 – 9:30
Mile 7 – 9:38
Mile 8 – 9:23
Mile 9 – 9:50
Mile 10 – 9:33
Mile 11 – 9:29
Mile 12 -9:19
When I finished I stretched again. Overall, my legs and knees felt fine. My pace was a bit faster than I was aiming for so I figured it would hurt 🙂 .
So this coming week, my goal is to keep my runs to 3 miles only. Probably Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Then Sunday is the half marathon.
I am hoping for weather as nice as this morning…
