I did it!

Thursday I decided to give my knee a try and attempt to run our marathon pace run. I ended up completing a 1-7-1 which is 1 mile warm up, 7 miles at race pace, and 1 mile cool down (The actual planned run was a 1-8-1, just one mile short) at an 8:15 pace! I was really excited but the next day I was sore like the first week of training! Then the next day I completed the 6 mile easy run. This morning I woke up really sore but I decided to give the scheduled 20 mile run a try and I DID IT! My pace was 8:18 which is 5 seconds faster than my marathon pace. And, on top of that, I felt great! Of course it hurt and I was sore before I even started but it was the first 20 mile run that I have ever run when I didn't have an injury bothering me (I consider my knee good as new since I didn't really have to "rehab an injury" I just had to let the swelling go down enough so I could bend it back). Now I know what it feels like to go on those long runs and just really enjoy it. I think God may have had a hand in slowing me down. I require more rest and recovery time than Dustin and this was break for me, both mentally and physically, for running. Now I am excited again and feel rejuvenated. One day when I write my book about marathon training (lol, I can dream) I am going to develop a system where you take a week off right in the middle of Monster Month and just cross train. Runners will have a difficult time doing this, but I really see the benefits of the running break, as long as you keep up your cardio. Experts will ponder the reasoning and do extensive research on the benefits....okay, I'm back to earth now.

Anyways, I think I deserve Andy's! They announced the new Boomer the Bear concrete and they are giving it away for free from 4-5 today. Too bad I'm leaving town at 3:00 :( It is vanilla custard, strawberries, almonds, and Heath pieces. mmmmm...you know you want some too.... so "Getja some!"