Run Long & Taper

Today marked the longest run in my training for the Green Bay Marathon...20 miles.  Although I trained for a marathon back in 2008, I was unable to do the 20 miler in that training cycle due to injuries and made the decision to go to the starting line a little under-trained as opposed to in a momentous amount of pain.  This time, I was able to complete it.

Distance: 20 miles
Time: 3:37:56
Avg. Pace: 10:53

First, the good parts.  A popular saying in the distance running community is "Nothing New on Race Day", which means that you don't do/wear/eat/drink anything on race day that you haven't done in training.  So today I tested out my planned race clothes (Nike Fastback Tank Top and Nike Pacer Shorts)

Don't worry, my stuff actually matches (purple and white top/black and purple shorts)!

I also got to rock my new Chasing Rabbits hat, which arrived in the mail yesterday.  Talk about a timely arrival.  For the first time in weeks it was actually sunny out when I went for a run (which also explains the farmer tan I'm rockin' as well as my first sunburn of the year)!

The other good part of my run today was noticing several cute little restaurants and cafes that I'm now DYING to try!

Now the not so good parts.  I was slower than I wanted to be, but I'm still on track to beat my previous time...just not by as much as I was hoping.  I somehow wound up with a really gnarly blister on one of my toes.  And I did something fun to my right shoulder and now raising my arm over my head hurts like a mother.  That should make tomorrow night's yoga class interesting.  I think it's time to locate a sports massage therapist!

On that note, I'm going to go alternate heat and ice on my shoulder, cram fistfuls of Easter candy in my mouth while watching educational television (Yes, I am that nerdy.) and spend some time petting the bunnies and spoiling them with a few extra carrots.  After all...it is "their" day!

 Walter

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