Did you know maple syrup in a flask will FOAM?!

RUN 25.1 miles in 4:20 (no autopause)

The original plan was to run trails with the group, but an overnight ice and snow storm scared us all off from driving. We ended up staying local, it sounded boring at first but in the end it worked and I'm terribly happy with the outcome.

I did most of my fueling the night prior, I don't know if I like this idea or not because within one mile of running my stomach was growling. So maybe cross that off the list. I didn't really plan it that way, it just happened that way. Either way, it didn't work.

Fuel for today: Goal is EVERY 30 MINS dammit!!! I know this works, so why do I need to "re-test" it every, single, season?! Had half a steamed potato at the start, then a serving of plantain chips, 200 cals of maple syrup in flask with 2oz water and 2 salt packs, and 1 gel. That's all I ate in-run.

The maple syrup test worked! No stomach upset, no energy up/down, and no I couldn't taste the salt. But it foamed!!! How do I fix that?!

When we started the run, the snow was done falling and I ran to the FP VC in a few inches of crunch snow. The sidewalks were in better shape than the street, drier and better traction. 4.5 miles to the VC, meet up with TV, fuel stop, then we took off. TV was excited to run the golf courses -- I've never done that so I was happy to try it. Excepting I didn't have sunglasses, was a little bright!

Within two miles we run into DT and he joins us for a loop. And he's excited after the Grafton race about ultra running  and is considering a role as a pacer for Kettle :) He'd be great peppy energy, TV and I were happy to hear that.

I stuck to my schedule, even if I wasn't hungry. And I managed to drink much more than usual. It did help to have the VC stops, guaranteed "break" for each loop. We only did 2 loops ending at 18 miles before we hatched a plan to run to work (we both had stuff to do there) then meet up later for lunch! Vietnamese!! And the fact that I went for lunch! Would not have done that 'before', I would have come up with some excuse and stayed home. Great part too is that TV offered to 'pay this time', meaning I get to pay next time, meaning we're doing this again!!  DAMN that noodle soup is PERFECT recovery!

This was BY FAR my best long run yet this year. I needed this confidence boost after last week's long run fail. I got last week's miles done, but not as planned. It really did help to have warm weather, and admittedly it really really helped to not be on trails. And that's the biggest flaw in being too happy about this run -- the next one needs to be on trails. I need to prove I can stick to the fueling and hydration plan on trail whether or not it's cold.

My sis came to visit this afternoon!! So my recovery had to be compressed a bit, yet I was surprised at how good it all felt. 38 miles in less than 24 hours! WHOOP!