t w e l v e

OK, our 12 mile run this morning was quite enjoyable! We covered 12 miles in 2 hours and 5ish minutes (I forgot to set my watch when we started).

I did some things different this time.

• I got up extra-early to feed my body better… oatmeal from whole oats (not the instant package) and whole grain bread toast smothered in chunky almond butter and a bit of raspberry jelly. Yum.

• I bought a fanny pack. Not really, but kinda really. It’s a running pack that has a water bottle holder and two little zippered pouches. I filled one pouch with Gu, a Carb BOOM! and 6 Endurolyte capsules. I put my cell phone and 20 bucks in the other – in case I tanked and decided to run to the nearest latte stand and call for a ride home… I filled the water bottle with straight water. Sports drinks upset my stomach. I tried Heed (a powder to add to one’s water that contains much less sugar than typical sports drinks) earlier in the week, but the taste left me feeling unsatisfied.

• I wore the coolest clothes I own. Not “cool” like, I’m so trendy, but “cool” like, I’m not gonna get heat stroke. Like running shorts and a tank instead of running capris and a T.

What I learned – it’s worth 15 fewer minutes of sleep if it means you eat well before a long distance energy push. I learned I could have used more water. I consumed one Gu and one Carb BOOM! and one Endurolyte. I might have benefited from one more Gu and a bit more water. I think my last 2 miles might have been a little peppier. This is also confirmed by the fact I smelled just the wee-est hint of ammonia. So clearly, my body could have used a bit more fuel.

It was a stunning morning. Yes, there were hills, but they didn’t seem as mean this week. There was a good amount of shade… and the last 1.5 miles were mostly downhill. My knee did bother me (beginning around mile 4), and we walked for a short period of time because of it. However, it kept the pace the last several miles, and I kinda played with my stride and angle of my foot to easy the discomfort. Yeah, prolly not the best plan, but that’s what I did. What? Are you gonna tell my mommy er sumthin’?