RUN: 4:25ish and 23.5 miles.
This is one of those runs that goes down as a turning point training day. One of those days where you realize you can do more than you think. Not quite a crucible day, though. But definitely memorable. And it might be my fastest trail run to date.
It was a perfect day for a long run. Sorta cool but not chilled, cloudy but not raining, soft but not muddy. The only downside to the day would be all the downed trees and debris. We found out later that the recent tornadoes pretty much started in these parks before heading off to the nearby houses.
TV and I started off on the Hamburg towards Lost Valley, but after a bad advice from me we turned away from the gravel road that took us to the LV trails and instead ended up at a flooded LV parking lot. Not that bad of advice I guess, the Hamburg has a nice slow climb on the way back and it was extra miles!
The loop of the LV trails started at mile 7 and went for 10 more. Nice single track, varied footing, and switchbacks to keep you guessing. But these miles weren't the money miles. Beyond mile 17 was the money. (New term for me, gotta name it!). First off the 1-2 miles back to the truck were money. I glanced at the Garmin at one point to see 8:51 pace. Me? Doing 8:51 after 18 miles of trails?!
We ended up back at the truck at 18.4, both needing water and thinking we'd decide on going further once refilled. If I had been alone, I would have stopped there. I could feel The Stupids coming on, the fazed silly mistake-filled brain state I get, and this was already 3 miles longer than last week's trail run. But I was encouraged, and after a few lame attempts and saying "nothing fast" we took off. Of course, we were running at the same pace we were doing earlier. Bring on the money!
We planned on the shorter L&C trail (I thought it was Lewis, nope it was Clark). This trail system had less rock and more soft mud, and more people hiking. It was while coming down a rooted hill with up-going hikers that I rolled my left ankle over kinda hard. I'd tweaked both ankles already a few times, but this one left me gimping a few minutes. Do I want to rest? No. Keep going.
Onward and after a while we started meeting a lot more hikers, and they started warning us that the trail was flooded out ahead. Instead of turning back we kept going, figuring we would at least enjoy the view and maybe find a way around. Being the intrepid trail nuts, we found a way around to finish the loop. The stop/start of climbing trees, the long miles, and the ankle were adding up on me. And I think I needed just one more gel to get by (I was solidly following my 45 min strategy, but hadn't brought enough for this long of a run!) and keep focused. By 22 miles I was starting to slip. I was keeping up, but starting to lose the fun. The fun was mostly gone by mile 23, and seeing the parking lot at 23.5 was a relief.
That's the money shot right there. Those last 5 miles that I didn't think I could do, and the last mile that I didn't want to do. But in the end, I was glad I did it and looking back it wasn't that hard to do.
My ankle is fine, it hurts a little but I don't think it's injured. Pork rinds and a protein drink for recovery (the pork rinds tasted better) and a long sleep ahead!
NUMERICS: 18hr 27 mins this week (holy shit! I had no idea!)
SWIM: 1hr 2400y
BIKE: 107.20 miles in 7 hours
RUN: 40 miles in 6:46
STRENGTH: 3hr 41 mins
ahhh....3 day weekends :)
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