20 Miles - We're at the Top!

I ran 20 miles yesterday.

20 Miles! I'm pretty proud of myself.

Next Saturday, April 12th, our team is going to Hartsdale, NY to run on trails. The coaches want our last (and longest) training run to be on a softer surface. It's a little nicer on the joints.

However, they also suggested that if we were feeling good on this Saturday, to not be shy and go ahead and run the 20 miles. You never know how you will be feeling next weekend, or how the weather will be like, so go ahead and go for it if you can.

A chunk of our team ran the Paris Marathon this weekend, so we had a smaller team and only one coach (Luis). Our coach Lisa had to go to Paris with the team. (Poor Lisa! She had to go to Paris, drink wine, eat cheese...). They have finished the race by now, so CONGRATULATIONS PAIRS RUNNERS!!! I hope you had a great race.

Elizabeth was really determined to go ahead and run the 20. She said she would feel better if we could get two 20 mile runs in before the marathon. So we set off on a 20 mile out-and-back run. Luis ran with Elizabeth and I for the first 4 miles or so. He's super friendly and energetic, so he was great to run with. It helps to keep your pace up!

Once we got to the Brooklyn Bridge, we ran into some other TNT people and we all joined them for a mile or so. Once we hit the west side path, Elizabeth and I split off from the group because we like to run along the water. Anytime there is an outermost path, I choose that one.

We ran all the way up to 72nd Street on the west side green way in Manhattan. Once we got there, we turned back.

About 2 hours into the run, Elizabeth started to get the IT Band pain that I've had in the past. Once it starts, it usually gets more intense unless you stop running. She knows that Advil has been my wonder drug for this pain, and she mentioned that she might be joining me in the pre-run Advil club.

I asked her if she wanted to stop and she said NO! She really, really wanted to complete this run. When we got to the end of the west side highway, we ducked into a pharmacy and bought some Advil for her to take. She downed 4 of them, and we kept running...

I seriously don't know how she did it. That pain can stop you in your tracks when it is intense. There was a fair about of grunting in pain, but she made it through! I think it was a comfort to her that I had experienced it before. At least I could tell her about it, and what can help make it better.

We both felt pretty good at the end of the run. The marathon seems possible now. I could have run another 6 miles. I was really happy I didn't have to, but I COULD have!

This weekend's experiment:
I've been getting blisters on my feet since I got my new shoes. As soon as I finally got the shoes broken in, I switched the insoles and I started getting blisters again. They aren't terrible blisters, but a little annoying. They usually are gone by the day after the long run. I've been using band aids to try to prevent them, but it never works 100%. So, I bought this stuff at the drug store to see what it would do.


It looks like a teeny, tiny deodorant stick. You put a layer of it on, and it is supposed to keep down the friction on your feet when you run. On one foot, it seemed to do pretty good. It just had a small blister after the run. On my right foot - wow. It really did not work at all! I had 2 huge blisters on it when I got home from the run. A needle and some neosporin later... and they're gone. No pictures of those. You'll have to use your imagination.

At the end of these long runs, I end up pretty salty. I think I need to eat more salt in the days before these runs. I usually bring 2 bottles of gatorade, and 2 water on my fuel belt. Next week I'll do 3 gatorade and 1 water. I actually drank it all this week. The coaches said they will be giving us salt packets to eat during the race. That doesn't sound too appealing. I like salt, but on food. Not so much by itself.

I wiped most of the salt off before this picture was taken, but you can see some of the salt on the side of my nose.

The weather was beautiful on Saturday. It was sunny and in the 50's. That is pretty much perfect running weather. I actually got a sunburn! I was wearing SPF 15, but I put it on at 7am. I guess it wears off by the time we finish our really long run.

This picture doesn't really do it justice. I'm pinker that that.


We're 4 weeks away from the marathon!