28 confidence boosting miles (45kms)

This morning we ran 28 miles as our long run. WOW! 28 miles! Farthest I've ever run in my life!

We did awesome. A rather large group of us started together, and over time, people veered off as not all were going the full 28. At the end, Ken, Tausha, Damon, Jason Bruce and I ran the entire 28 mile loop together.

We did AWESOME!

We ran the following non-flat roads:
- Mile 10 - Enfield from Hula Hut to Exposition
- Mile 11 - 13 - Exposition to 35th
- Mile 14 - Up Mt Bonnell
- Mile 15.5 - Up 35th up to and over MoPac
- Mile 22-23 - Loop around Hancock Golf Course ans then up 38th to Red River.
- Mile 24-25 - Red River Southbound rollers around UT campus
- Mile 26.5 - Up 11th street from Red River

So, the route was not flat at all.

Here are some stats:
- Full 28 miles: 3hrs 57mins GROSS
- Full 28 miles: 3hrs 39 mins 55 seconds NET (7:51 pace)

- First 26.2 Miles (Marathon Distance): 3hrs 44mins GROSS (including water stops)
- First 26.2 Miles: 3hrs 26 mins!! (7:40 pace) NET (without water stops)

But assuming 8 min 15sec or a bit more for mile 1 and 2... if we remove those, and replace with the last 2 miles we ran... then we ran about a 3:24 marathon

Other than a few miles around 20-21 (Intramural field area) where I had tired legs and mental downs, I felt great most of the way. We purposely ran very conservative 8-8:10 miles for many of the miles, then the pace picked up on it's own without us trying in the later miles. Apparently Damon said we ran several 7:30s and even 7:11 for the last mile. Hell yeah!!!

A 30lb Ice Bath, a long warm shower, and a giant nap later, I'm feeling pretty good!

Conversations of the day...

At Mile 26.2 with Tausha:
Group: Tausha, you just qualified for Boston on a training run!
Tausha: *Big Smile*

At Mile 27 with Damon:
Me: What's your Marathon PR (personal record)
Damon: 3:26.
Me: Well, we just matched your PR on a training run!
Damon: Oh yeah! Hadn't thought of it that way!!

At the finish with Larry:
Me: I can't believe I just ran a 3:26 marathon and feel great.
Larry: Yeah, I know, Patrick and I ran about a 3:15. And do't forget that this run was hilly including Mt Bonnell!
Me: Oh yeah!... and Exposition, and Red River, and 11th! I forgot about all that!

Approximate splits from Mile 6 onwards (courtesy of Damon and Bruce):
6 8:05
7 8:06
8 8:06
9 8:13
10 8:10
11 7:35
12 7:40
13 7:37
14 7:56
15 7:38
16 8:08
17 7:49
18 7:49
19 7:40
20 7:43
21 7:54
22 8:10
23 8:05
24 8:37
25 7:35
26 7:23
27 7:29
28 7:11

Nothing felt forced. Well... except some of the hill climbs weren't as easy as running downhill ; )

We just ran a 3 hour 26 minute Marathon with tons of hills!!!
All I can say is, all the high miles I ran over the summer is REALLY paying off.