Wednesday's Run

So I decided that I wanted to do a long run. Things were quiet at work. The weather was okay. I hadn't run that much in the last few days. I was itching to do something significant. That morning I planned out a route that could be anywhere from 9.75 to 12.5 miles, depending on how I felt. My longest run this winter was only 9 miles. I was interested to see how pushing myself farther would feel.

I got into my running gear and headed out from my office. The side roads I run are very scenic - great views of Narragansett Bay and the wildlife it holds, and impressive waterfront homes. My plan was to pace myself. At the 1 mile marker I felt like I ran it in 8 minutes. To my surprise I clocked in at 7:02. This was not what I was looking for and I tried to go slower. The first 3.25 miles on the roads I did in 24:21.
The next 3.25 miles I ran the trails of Rome Point. Famous for its seals, but should be known for the incredible number of dogs and their business, this nature preserve has some pretty fun trails. The footing wasn't good as there was a lot of icy sections or melting snow. I kept it to a comfortable pace and did this section in 25:41.
Back on the roads, I was feeling surprisingly fresh. I decided to do the full 12.5 mile version of my plan. About 8 miles in, I got the feeling that my legs were starting to get tired, and I wished that I wasn't wearing my trail shoes. However, this was a fleeting thought, and I soon felt fine again. In fact, I was able to pick up the pace for the last two miles and finished the entire run in 1:34:40 - 7:34 minute mile pace. I didn't even feel tired. I could have gone further. I couldn't believe my time. I didn't think I was at that fitness level. I want to do more long runs!