Today I was at the Runner’s Roost to register for the Turkey Trot when I decided to pick up a handheld hydration system. That’s one significant difference I’ve noticed with runners here, many more seem to carry a bottle while they run. I do have a camelbak, but I’m unlikely to wear it on regular runs. When I noticed the Amphipod Handheld strap also had a pocket for a key, I decided to give it a try.
I loaded it up with a Cytomax/water mix, and set off for my 14-16 mile long run around 3pm. According to my target training paces, I should have been aiming for between an 8:15-9:15 overall pace.
Because I’ve been a bit low on my mileage lately, I decided I wanted to shoot for the 16 miles. It was nice out, so I set out in shorts, a long-sleeved shirt, a cap and sunglasses. I headed out from the apartment towards the high line canal trail.
M1: 8:51
M2: 9:08
M3: 8:52
M4: 8:58
M5: 8:53
M6: 8:39
By mile 6, I was in no-man’s land on the trail. I’ve run it a few times during the week, but rarely went this far. I started playing math games in my head: 6 miles meant 10 to go, it was 37.5% done.. etc etc. As I neared the 7 mile point I knew I had the choice to turn around, to get in my 14 mile minimum. But I convinced myself to keep going.
M7: 8:54
M8: 8:31 – 1hr10 cumulative
At mile 8 I stopped, stretched a little, and realized it was starting to get dark. I’d taken off my sunglasses a few miles earlier, and now I knew it was a race against dusk.
M9: 8:28
M10: 8:34
M11: 8:30
By this point I wasn’t even looking at my watch as the miles ticked off, I was just concentrating on making it home. In general I’m good at running negative splits on out-and-back runs, and my desire to make it home quickly helped! With every mile passed, I did the math of how much time was left based on an 8 minute and 9 minute pace. Things seem much more manageable to think “between 32-36 minutes to go!”
M12: 8:38
M13: 8:28
The route from my apartment to the trail is 1.48 miles, and a mile of it is through a neighbourhood with no street lights. As I neared the 14.5 mile point, I told myself I had two options: if I wanted, I could walk. Otherwise, I could take a “long-cut” down the road, adding an extra half-mile but running under streetlights. I chose the latter.
M14: 8:13
M15: 7:54
M16: 7:47
M16.5: 7:50pace
———–
cumulative time: 2:21:20 (average pace: 8:34, average HR 168, max HR 182)
For those of you doing the math, that was 1:10 for the first 8 miles, and 1:11 for the last 8.5. I can’t help but wonder if the cytomax availability helped as well; although I’m still not sure about carrying during a race, it was nice to have for the training run (without the chaffing I get from back-mounted solutions!)
The long run I missed last week was supposed to be a progression run, ending strong. Although I didn’t intend it as such, I’m glad that this run ended up that way.
edit: ok, so I’m a huge dork and did end up going back to look at how the three thirds of the race went. Since I ended up running 16.5, it made for three 5.5 mile sections:
S1: 49:03 (8:55mm)
S2: 47:17 (8:36mm)
S3: 44:09 (8:02mm)
Good luck at the Turkey Trot!