I never thought that I would say that i actually ENJOYED my 20+ miler today (it actually worked out to about 20.7 miles). I got back to the car and felt capable of still doing more (although my legs might disagree). Mentally I was there, which is something I was missing during training for the ocean drive … I hope i can keep it up for a few more weeks like this.

I’m trying to decide why it was such a great run compared to others, and focused on things that were different this time …. 1) I haven’t run since Wednesday morning (because of my back), 2) I ran a different course (and it was challenging, if you’re interested, http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=840068 ), 3) I used my fuel belt stocked with water, money, cell-phone, etc like I did last summer, 4) I used chunks of banana for fuel instead of GU-gels, 5) I stopped for a 20-oz water at around 15 miles to last me and keep me hydrated.

It was tedious carrying all that stuff, but it worked, and I think I have to look back at this long run when i’m preparing to run the marathon (and the half for that matter). I think keeping hydrated and staying away from those Gu-Gels might be the answer. I always did better during the summer too when I stopped for that water towards the end … the bananas did get a little slimy and sloppy in my fuel belt, I didn’t think about that, but I still ate them. The fact I ran a similar course, but ran it backwards was like seeing it for the first time … If I remember back to my 20-milers back in Feb/Mar, I was running a 10-mile route, twice. Painful, very painful. I also found the same thing in the course I ran on Tuesday morning’s 4-miler, a different course made it easier …. interesting.

The most impressive part is that my back didn’t bother me at all during the run. I knew it was there in the beginning, but as the rest of my body started to ache (like normal), the thoughts of my back went away. I made it, I did it, I will survive. I think taking the 2 days off were good though …. I urge anybody out there who is nursing a slight injury to TAKE TIME OFF TO HEAL … read back to my storied in late November, and late December to see why. If I would’ve kept pushing it on Thursday/Friday, etc, who knows what the outcome would have been.

So i’m 4 weeks away from The Run for the Red (the pocono marathon) … and feeling confident, the best part is that I ran the 20.7 miler in about 3:25, which is a 10-minute mile the whole way.

I’m not sure the cold weather and wind chill did anything for my sinus infection (blocked ears), but we’ll see.

Some very important notes
Steamtown marathon registration is now open, and NYC marathon pre-registration (for the lottery) is open as well .. I plan to run both!