10.0 miles - FASTER

I was so glad that it was just cloudy and cold today. If it had been pouring down rain I might have blown a gasket. I planned on a long run, my 10.0 mile route from before, and I could not have done it in the rain.

I had a small breakfast of some low-fat yogurt (Key lime flavor from Tillamook Creamery) and a PB&J sandwich on toasted whole grain bread. I waited about 2 1/2 hours until I ran, and tried to sip a bunch of water until I left.

Last time I did the 10 miles in 1:49:08, which felt really good.

I was apprehensive about the run. I brought my watch with me, but kept wondering if I should have not timed it. I felt slow-ish, although that's difficult for me to judge. But not too slow because I was able to just keep moving.

I started my watch at SE 9th and Clatsop. I couldn't remember if that was the same starting point as last time. But, if anything, I started my run last time closer to the river, so today's run would be at least 10 miles.

My first walk break was around 24 minutes in, and lasted less than a minute. I stopped again at 41 minutes or so, for water under the Hawthorne Bridge and some Cliff Bloks (lemon-lime flavor, no caffeine). Up and over the Morrison Bridge and then I was on the return half.

Had a couple of short (30 seconds or so) walk breaks on the section along SW Moody. Water break in Willamette Park. When I glanced at my watch as I ran along Macadam, within sight of the Sellwood Bridge, I was astonished to see that my elapsed time was 1:36:something. Whoa! I estimated less than a mile to go! Would I beat my previous time?

I was feeling empty, as in my stomach felt empty. My legs felt sore and stiff, but they kept moving. I took a shortcut at the west end of the bridge by taking the stairs instead of following the trail for another switchback - but that's the same shortcut I had taken last time. Taking the stairs forced me to walk, and I had a hard time getting my legs moving again, but thoughts of blowing away my previous time got me motivated. I could literally see my finish line from the top of the bridge, and I just kept thinking and imagining what it would feel like to cross that finish line for only the second time.

My time on finish was 1:44:53! Holy crab! Four minutes, fifteen seconds faster than before, for a pace of 10:29! I rocked the river!

I wonder what the breakthrough was that is letting me get all these incredible (for me) times. Whatever it is, I'm going to keep up my training for the winter, and next year I should be able to set even more personal records.