Sunshine, warm temps, Lost Valley loop, half eaten Powerbar

RUN 16 miles in 2:48

Longest run so far this year. The original goal was 15 miles. But since I ran only 6.6 miles Thursday instead of 7, it meant that either today or tomorrow I needed to tack on an extra 0.4 miles so I could have an even number. Yeah...I know...

TV busy with his move, everyone else enjoying this amazing weather on their bikes. No one looking for 15 trail miles!? What?! Haha!

I looped the Mound, realized that I was already overdressed, but continued on. I had my podcasts, the Camelbak without the bladder and just a bottle, a half-eaten Powerbar (seriously, I found a partial PB powerbar in my supplies drawer, threw out the exposed edge, ate the rest today) and a gel. Sooooo simple. Maybe too simple, I got low on water by the end.

The trail was in perfect condition. Soft, little bit of mud, but open and smooth. I wasn't feeling terribly bouncy but I was feeling good. I kept wanting to slow down but didn't. My mind would wander and I'd bring it back. Podcasts were good, kept me entertained. I ran the loop counterclockwise (what is TV's word for this? Googling, maybe widdershins?), when I got to where I'd jump from the back road back onto the trail, I instead continued to the parking lot. My garmin said only 9.5 miles, so I needed the extra out n back.

Once at the parking lot just short of 11 miles, I really ran out of energy. I walked the lot a few mins, pulled out my PB gel (the gel was stored with the bar, I chose that gel over the caramel machiatto because the package on the PB looked worn and about to leak). Instead of heading back to the trail, I opted to cross Hwy 94 and head back on the Hamburg. No more trail. Too tired.

I forgot though that most of the Hamburg trends uphill. Up, and up, and up, slowly but steadily. I admit to walking through here. I did a run last year where I did the same thing, felt guilty for walking.

Got back to the truck just short of 14, saw EC's vehicle and sent her a text, grabbed more water, and set out for another loop of the Mound. Once I got to 15.4 I just kept going, little out n back until I hit 16. Oops :)

I felt good after this, appropriately wiped out but not pained or damaged. Saw EC, talked a bit, headed out for errands.

Just another long run day :)