20 miles on frozen pavement.

I woke up and debated where to run. I knew the trail would be frozen and although I just bought YakTrax I didn't feel like driving thirty minutes out to run on ice. Call the whaaaambulance, I know.

As much as I normally detest long runs through the city - the rude comments, the hills, the stoplights, the lack of space to get in any decent mileage - I decided to do my 20 out there today. I mapped out my run on Gmaps Pedometer to make sure I'd get in enough distance [v. few things more annoying that realizing you are two miles from home and need to get in four more miles].

Checked the weather - mid 30s! a heatwave! blue sky! no jacket needed! and got dressed. Wore UA coldgear tights, UA coldgear base layer, thin gloves, and light hat [the gloves would come off at mile 3 and stay off]. Threw on my six bottle fuel belt - with three GUs - and headed out.

The first few miles were - as usual - slow. [I normally don't warm up before a marathon or half, but I think I will run a couple miles before National to get the blood flowing and the heart pumping]. I felt good after mile three or four, though.

20.05 miles in 3h 05m 21s // 09m 14s/Mi.

splits:

mile 1: 9:18

mile 2: 9:55

mile 3: 9:47

mile 4: 9:20

mile 5: 9:09

mile 6: 9:11

mile 7: 9:28

mile 8: 9:00

mile 9: 9:45

mile 10: 9:26

mile 11: 9:05

mile 12: 8:58

mile 13: 9:00

mile 14: 9:04

mile 15: 9:01

mile 16: 9:08

mile 17: 8:57

mile 18: 9:07

mile 19: 9:03

mile 20: 9:15

next week's long run is a break: 12 mi. whew!