I think it’s working!

20 Miles - 2 hours 46 minutes - average 8:15min/mile, but many late miles sub 8 min/mile.

I set off at 6am on my own to get 3.5 miles in. I mapped out my route to the foot, as the GPS said 3.50 when I reached Christine’s car. Francie, Jen, Christine and I took off for a 4.25 loop on town lake and returned to their cars. At this time, we met up with Julie and Lex for another 10 miles. Long story short, I then ran back to my car and got in, per the Garmin, 20.13 miles today.
I took a precautionary Hammer Gel 45 minutes in, and then another at 1hour 45. This was only because last week I felt pretty week at the end of the run. Miles 14.5 through 19 were at a sub 8 minute pace, as Christine and I, whom had the most miles on us felt good, and well, you don’t slow down to wait for people when you’re over 15 miles and you’re feeling good. The last mile felt sluggish, but still kept it at 8-8:10 or so. Probably sluggish because I was running alone, it was the last mile, and it’s slightly uphill from Festival Beach all the way home to Rogue.

Here’s the thing though. Here’s why I think it’s working. It? Yeah, IT, all the miles I’m pouring on. This is week 8 of my base building. With tomorrow’s 9 miler on the trails, I’ll hit 80+ miles. A new record again! Anyway, I noticed today, that at mile 14.5 or so, I felt great. I felt like I used to feel when I’d been running 6 or 7 miles. I think it’s a combination of many things.
a) High miles of running per week
b) Repeated 14 mile runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays and other 10 milers.
c) Slight adjustment to my food intake after meeting with mer. (more protein, more spinach and avocados)
d) Water and Salt tabs.
e) Good weather.

Any way. Here’s the cool thing, apart from feeling like a champ at mile 14.5, after 20 miles I felt fine. Sure, I was physically tired, and my legs were sore, but this is clearly and by far, the best I’ve EVER felt after a 20 mile run. I didn’t have crampy toes, crampy calves, I could walk down the stairs at Barton Springs to go soak without having to keep a leg stretched. I didn’t get cramp attacks while soaking in the water for 15 minutes. I was able to reach down and take my shoes off and put them on without issues. I walked back UP the stairs without having to act like Frankenstein.
Long story short, I’m starting to see some real gains from all this and it’s pretty friggin’ exciting.

I do think I’ll decrease my mileage to 60 or 70 this coming week, as the program officially starts the following week, and I should come in to it fresh in mind and body. Ha! I never thought I’d ever say, I’m going to decrease my mileage to 60MPW so I’m fresh! HAHAHAHA!!!

71.5 miles with one day to go! Good times!
Ok, it's nap time.