Notes
Live and learn on these long runs. Underhydrated and then overhydrated [playing catch up on the water intake.] I met with my buddies after runnig the first 11 miles by myself [w/ a 4:30 am start and met them at 6:00 am.] I though finishing with these guys guys would be great motivation but in truth, based on how crappy I felt by mile 14, all it did was get inside my head that I was running too fast and slowing them down. I really messed up my water / carbo intake. I ran the first 11 miles with no water and no carbs and then stopped back home and drank too much water and took two gel packs [i have never had more than one at a time.] Then the stomach was sloshing around. I was dry heaving within 2 miles and the rest of the run was pretty much a train a wreck.
Lessons learned -- better take more time and energy scouting out some places to hide a water bottle along the route [as i hate running with them in the hands.] I went out too quick -- which I always do ... I just feel so good through 7-10 miles ... it's a whole new world above 15 miles ... that's been where the mistakes come home to roost. No need to get up at 4:00am ... more sleep will equal better runs [at least mentally for me.] Don't finish with guys with fresh legs ... it felt like they were pulling me and I just didn't have it in the tank. I guess I can be philosophical at this point and know that I have two more training runs at 18-20 miles before the marathon in Nov ... the next one will at a more consistent managable pace. The first time I did 10 miles ... I hade the same learning experience and the next one was way better as have been the subsequent ones.
My splits went from 9:06 / mile through 11 miles /// 9:13 per mile through 13.63 miles /// really down hill from there [did a 10:54 mile and 12:03 mile … basically just dragging ass to get through the 18 miles at 2:58:12 or an average pace of 9:53. Last week I did 16 miles at an average pace of 8:48.
Dawg and Zoom-Zoom with get a chuckle out of the fact that you both entered my thoughts. Zoom-Zoom -- i was concerned about the slick stick leaving stains and Dawg ... as I was dry heaving i was thinking ... damn - the dawg was right -- slow and steady on the long runs -- the distance is more important than the speed.