Friend to Friend relay long run

RUN 18.4 miles in 3hrs

My training plan called for a 26+10 weekend, or 36 miles total. Being the OCD fool that I am, I decided that since yesterday had only 16 miles, today should have about 20. Great idea, right? Not surprised, right?

I started out from home, walking with DH and the dog through the park before splitting off. Very shortly after splitting off I run into MK! She turns around and runs a loop of TGP with me. She had just finished a big race and I was happy to hear about it, as it's the type of race I'd like to do someday but probably won't. But hey, who knows!? This was the best-paced 4 miles of the day, with a nice sub-9 pace. Things slowed down after that. While running with MK, we saw CB twice going the other direction :)

I continued back through TGP and came up behind some of the BRR training groups. One of my plans was to run to BRR SC before heading to the RDP Greenway, so while heading that way I run into BK! I run with him a bit before a break at the YMCA. Off to BRR SC where I see him again, and get a chance to see EC! Four friends in just the first 7 miles, this was awesome!

The day was beautiful--cool and sunny, but I was suffering already. I wore the Camelbak, I usually don't in the in-town runs but I'm glad I did today--I really needed it. I stuck to my q45 min feed schedule and soon noticed that the only time I felt good running was soon after eating. Was that physiological or psychological? Hard to say, but it was pretty clear. After leaving the store, my mood and motivation started to slip such that be the time I reached 12 miles I was ready for this run to be over. But I was still miles from home!

I hadn't run the RDPG in a while, probably since 2011, so it was kinda new to me. Also new was the diversion into Carondelet Park. I've never run there! And unfortunately today's run didn't enlighten me to the layout or perks. I just wanted to be done. By the time mile 15 came around, I realized I didn't have much more in me. By 17 I was happy to be a mile from home--my feet were scuffy and stuttery; my head wasn't calculating traffic; my legs felt dead; my water was mostly gone; and a right quad muscle felt like was about to seize up.

My initial plans were for 20.3 (to round up yesterday's 15.7 to 36). I'll be honest, I didn't have another 2 miles in me. Even the last half a block walk to the house was awful.

I recovered relatively quickly, but wow what a run. What a weekend! What a week! 55.7 miles running!