Notes
New longest run--16 miles. Felt okay, apart from Tree Incident. Faster pace than last week's 15-miler, no significant aches and pains, although left hip is bothering me a little. At moment doesn't feel serious.
Nutrition: took gel at 5 and 12 miles, opened 100-calorie pack of Goldfish at mile 8 and ate a few every mile until 12, also had a few at 14. Nuun for drink, in Nathan pack. Once again made a liter, made an effort to drink more than last time, and still drank the same half-liter. Finished the rest afterwards. At one point in run felt like I had to pee, so I think I was hydrated enough. Very cool weather, though, below freezing at start, so maybe I just didn't sweat as much as usual.
Clothing: wore CW-X tights, blue MC bra, black long-sleeved Indy Runners shirt, Mini cap, trail Kinvaras, brown Maui Jim sunglasses. Shirt fine with Nathan pack acting as vest over it. Never cold, apart from first mile, never too hot. I did not check weather at end, but assume 40s as hours later it's still only 50. Used Bliss on various parts, including where HR strap hits, but still chafed there some.
The tree: My route was to run 5 out and back, then 3 out and back. To do the 5, needed to incorporate the trail loop around the little lake at mile 2.25 on both outward and return trip. First lap was without incident, but on way back, almost exactly at mile 7, I was looking down to make sure I didn't trip on roots and ran smack into a tree that arched low over the trail. Knocked me down but not out. Paused Garmin, checked for injury--no bleeding, legs seemed fine, head hurt but no signs of concussion. Got up, restarted Garmin and went on. Head stopped hurting after a few minutes, but back of my neck is painful--a little whiplash, probably. Surprised I didn't bite my tongue in two--I had it between my teeth and did give it a pretty good chomp, but no blood. There's a scrape or two on my forehead and an indentation on the bridge of my nose where I suppose my sunglasses got mashed into my face. Also lip is swollen on one side, slightly cut inside mouth. All in all, I got off extremely lucky!