Last week was a busy week. This week, I started it off with another big day. I had a 20 miler scheduled. I wanted to push this a bit, so I planned to meet up with Mertz and his crew at Eddyside at 7:30 in the morning.
I would've been there on time, but I had to go to the bathroom at the last minute. Last time I was there, there were no portable bathrooms, so I headed to a gas station on Larry Holmes Drive. I sent Mertz a text saying that I'd be late, but I figured he probably wouldn't get it. Of course there were bathrooms there. I also so Mertz running out as I was driving up.
When I got there, two other guys were there. I thought one of them was his friend Rich, but I didn't know the other guy. I was correct. They were stretching and I didn't really know how long it would take, so I just took off. I had 20 miles to do and was already behind. I didn't want to waste any more time.
It seemed cool at the start, so I wore a short sleeve shirt and my compression pants. I also had on my visor. That gear made me hot as the run progressed.
I started off pretty comfortable as I headed to downtown Easton. I was planning on at least two out and back segments. I had a decent 7:34 first mile. They are doing work under the Route 22 Bridge, so I took a longer route, following the detour. That would add some distance.
I tried to gradually pick it up. It was a nice and scenic run along the Delaware River and then the Lehigh River. As I went down the path, I saw Rich and the other guy above me. I didn't try to pick up the pace, but I guess I did. The 3rd and 4th miles were both under 7 minutes. It didn't seem too hard.
Somewhere before the 4th mile, I saw Mertz heading back. He was cruising. By now, I could tell that I needed to slow it down a bit. It was good to hit 4 miles and turn around. I thought about going out farther, but elected not to.
On the way back, I did back the pace off. I was getting hot regardless. My miles were just over 7 minutes each. That's still around goal marathon pace, so I was happy.
I got very lucky as I took the construction detour. I came under a bridge and for some reason, I thought it was a stop sign that the opposing traffic had and not a stoplight. I didn't even look and I darted right out in front of a car. I was narrowly missed. I got very lucky. Needless to say, I paid more attention after that.
I cruised on back to the car. When I was on the sidewalk section back, I saw the three guys heading back out for their 2nd segment. I was glad that they didn't wait for me, because there is no way I would've kept up. I can hang with Mertz for awhile in the cold, but this heat and humidity kills me.
I got back to the car at mile 8. It was about a 7:10 pace overall. Not bad, but I was very beat and sweaty. I took some extra time to dry off and then ate some GU Chomps and drank some water. The break was much needed.
I knew that I would never last 20 miles if I didn't slow down a bit. I did that by a few seconds per mile. I actually dropped off my visor and shirt in the car. Now, all I had on was no shirt and compression pants. I wasn't too comfortable wearing so little, but I was hot, so I did it anyway. I did actually cool off in the beginning.
In the sun, things were tough. They got a little better in the shade. I went back along Larry Holmes Drive again and over the river. On the other side, I saw two friends, Frank and Dave. Then a few minutes later, Elyssia. Seeing other people you know, even if you don't run with them, is a nice boost. Having the faster guys running around helped me go faster too, even though I was alone.
Even with the slower pace, the heat and humidity was getting to me. I just tried to focus on getting to the turnaround. I wanted to go out to 6 miles from the start, but I figured that that would be too far. Right at mile 4 of this segment, I saw Mertz and then the other guys not too far behind. I was about 2 miles behind I guess.
Rich was encouraging, but I told him I felt like crap. I sputtered along, with my miles now flirting with 7:30. I kept at it though. I ended up going to the loopy part of Hugh Moore Park. I turned around slightly short of where I wanted to. It was mile 12.8.
I came back and struggled with the short hills. Getting to the half marathon point was tough, but seeing that my overall pace was still around 7:15, made me happy. Still, I was slipping. I focused on getting to mile 15.
Seeing that I was getting closer and closer to Easton helped a lot. I just tried to take it a mile at a time. I thought about the fact that I ran 50 miles in one day a few weeks ago. I figured I could survive 5 or 6 more miles. Plus, I only had to go around 17.5 miles and I would be at my car again.
I went through Easton and headed back toward Eddyside. Although my pace had dropped slightly, it really wasn't falling off much. I finally made it back to my car around 17.67 miles. I was exhausted. Mertz and the crew were finished with their run and hanging out for a bit. I talked to them briefly, dried off and got more water. I had to get back out there. The pace was still under 7:20.
I headed back out on the sidewalk. I don't like running on sidewalk, but I think the course I'm running next month has some of it. I might as well get used to it. I went until this was over and then headed up the street a bit. I came back slowly. My overall pace slowed, but it wasn't too bad. It was great to get back to the park and be done with 20 miles.
I was amazed at how I felt afterward. I was tired and sweaty, but the legs felt pretty good. There was only minor soreness. I think back to last spring when a 17 miler nearly killed me. I am so much stronger now. I wonder if weight training is helping too.
I was happy with my overall pace of 7:22. I wish I could've been a little more consistent with it. In the winter, I can go too hard and not fall off too bad. In the summer, that crash comes quickly for me.
Almost immediately after the run, I thought about doing a shorter run in the evening. I recovered well throughout the day and decided to give it a go. I headed to the Nor-Bath Trail after 7 PM. Lately, I've been starting in the middle of the trail. This time, I started on the end closest to my house.
I went without a shirt and that helped. I still did sweat enough. It was humid out, but also kind of cool. I couldn't complain too much. It could be worse.
I headed out and felt very good. Sometimes a second workout is slow. I felt good for this one though. The first mile was pretty solid. Amazingly, I made it over Airport Road without much trouble.
The big issue was the bugs. They were everywhere. One even hurt my head. I was itching like crazy. I could see them so well in the sunlight. I decided to put on my sunglasses and keep my mouth closed as much as I could. I saw couple running the other way and they were swatting at the bugs too.
There were quite a few people out on the trail. Most of them were biking. The legs felt good as I hit the turnaround point. I didn't want to cross Weaversville Road, so I turned around at 2.47 miles.
Heading back was nice. Either the bugs had left or I couldn't see them without the sunlight's reflection. The pace was slightly over 8 minutes per mile. I had no reason to push it.
I focused on getting to mile 3 and then mile 4. That 4th mile was slightly under 8 minutes and caused my overall pace to dip. I felt good in the last mile. I flew over Airport Road. I finished up at the end of the path. This mile was an even faster 7:24. That brought my overall pace under 8 minutes.
I was a little sore after the run, but still not too bad. I was thrilled to open the week with 25 total miles. That's a good start, especially since this week will be kind of hectic. I'm hoping to run a few miles in the morning. I plan to run in the afternoon tomorrow too. I'm thinking 10 to 15 miles total. Normally, I take Mondays off, but I think it is better to run tomorrow and take Tuesday off. Then, I can go to an IndyCar test at Pocono on Tuesday. I'd pick it back up again on Wednesday.
AM Run 20 miles - 2:27:23 (7:22 pace)
PM Run 5 miles - 39:53 (7:58 pace)
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