Another 30-miler. If it's to be, it's up to me.

RUN 30 miles in 6:39

My 2nd 30-miler of this training plan was on the same trails as what I did last week -- Lewis and Clark. I had identified some problems after last week that I aimed to fix today.

The first was my pace. I think I start out too fast and don't walk enough in the early hours. Today I more purposefully walked up hills and kept my effort such that I might could breathe through my nose if needed.

The second was hydration. I didn't let the Camelbak get empty this time.

I stayed on the trails more this time. Instead of doing 7 miles of Katy in each of two loops, I did 2 miles of Katy in the first two loops but not in the third. This probably accounted for how this run took 25 mins longer than last weeks.

My back was MUCH better today, in fact it barely bothered me at all!? Also I didn't struggle to get started mentally. Even though today was colder (low 30's being "cold" right now) I took off right away and didn't stop, stop, stop for every little thing.

I did podcasts again, rotating between NPR, Marathon Training Acadamy, OSR, and the Procrastination one. This time I set up a play list instead of listening to a few hours of the same channel, and I put them in a shuffled but interesting order. The first was an NPR called "Oops", about mistakes in history. After that and OSR interview with a Medal of Honor recipient who said "if it's to be, it's up to me". After that...not sure of the order here...some procrastination podcasts, and MTA on Duhigg's habits, a Procrastination on Duhigg!, MTA with Four Mantras for 2015. All great, all inspirational, and surprisingly all connected. I'd hear something in one that repeated or followed another. Lots of great ideas for the Cue-Routine-Reward thoughts I've been mulling since last fall. Now they are more concrete, better formed, having heard them from differing descriptions.

I did better mentally throughout this run, whenever I stumbled I just said outloud "oops" and kept going. Usually I'd cuss.

I drank whenever I wanted, but only ate once every 5 miles. It wasn't until later in the run that I even wanted more. Problem was I think the corn flour I tested overnight was sitting VERY heavy in my stomach leaving it feeling weighted. No other symptoms, which is good, except for having an appetite. I did only 2 powerbars and a maple shot for this run! Only 600 calories. But as I've been learning, I do better to eat a big dinner, medium brekkie, then avoid too many solids in-run.

This was a much better run too in that I didn't die off at mile 28! Last week I was cooked and down to a walk by mile 27. Today I kept going, better paced, better back, better mental approach in that I wasn't so focused on the numbers. The only number I'm hung up on is the fact that this is only (not even!) one-third of the race distance!