Notes
I suppose this week's run was mostly focused on mental strength. No denying how totally wiped I was going to bed yesterday. I squeezed every last mile out of this last week and am coming off a physically and mentally exhausting few weeks. After yesterday's run, my legs were feeling achy and full of gunk. I took a long nap and did as much as possible to not do anything at all. I went to bed around 10:30 and woke up at 6:30 so almost a full night of sleep.
This morning I was tired and sluggish for sure, but I was also feeling much better. Took me about 10 minutes to get out the door. I jogged up to the track and then ran for 3hr 10min. I would call this a success/fail. I wanted to just run 6:40-6:42 flat and dial in that pace. But whenever I step onto a track I get competitive. I decided to just get my 3 mile splits so I wouldn't focus on that too much. I wound up running around 19:30-40 for split so I was super consistent, but fast. Fine for a 30 mile run but not a 100 miler. I brought some syrup and salt drink for hydration. It was already 70 degrees by the time I was at the track and felt really muggy. I drank and ate about 70 minutes in and then again at the 100 minute mark. at 110 minutes I just kind of crashed. I took a pit stop and refilled my water. Took about 3 minutes or so total and when I got back on the track I was totally refreshed. It took me one lap to find my rhythm and then I hit 6:30s for the next 45 minutes. By the last 4 miles I was feeling great again. Closed in 6:20, 6:16, 6:20, 5:55. I felt tired by the end, as to be expected. But I didn't feel totally drained as I did yesterday. Nothing for the rest of the day so I'm going to relax big time.
Highlights were definitely the flicker eating ants on the edge of the track and then sharp-shinned hawk swooping after grackles for about 10 minutes.