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Today was another long run, this time 14.4 miles in 2h 48m. What's really neat to say is that it turned out to be an easy 14.4 miles! I don't know why but I felt really good running today. I managed to establish a slower pace (11:40 per mile) and keep it consistent. I was probably running about 11 minutes a mile, with the :40 coming from when I'd stop to walk so I could drink.
Speaking of which, I carried with me a 1L bottle of Gatorade and by the time I got home, what was left had frozen into a slushie! In fact, I was drinking slush for the last hour of running. Normally when I carry drinks I hold them in such a way so that they *don't* slosh around because 1) that wastes energy, and 2) it makes the drink all foamy. Today's 20-degree temp and strong west wind were cold enough that I had to allow my drink to slosh so that it wouldn't freeze up!
While I was running Amanda rode the stationary bike again, going 45 miles while watching Return of the Jedi and Jurassic Park on DVD. She noticed that at the end of ROTJ they replaced the old Anakin ghost with a Hayden Christiansen version.
In other running news, I've started running with a few guys from work during the lunch hour. They run Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays but because of my Sunday long runs I just run Wed and Fri - I need to recover on Mon! We usually run about 5 miles.
One of the guys is Bob, who's in his early 50's and just a couple years ago he ran the Boston Marathon! You have to be pretty good just to qualify. Bob is now "done" with marathons and is running 50-mile races now. He'll be a good resource since I'm looking at doing a 50-miler next September.
Another co-worker I run with is Ty, who's a family friend of Josh - they're neighbors at their cottages. Ty was telling me how all of those cottages have been in the same family for four generations. I also found out that Jaime is pregnant and due in late April!
As usual I went for my weekly long run today. This time it was only 11.6 miles; however, all but three of those miles were on the North Country Trail. Making things more interesting was the 25-degree temps and 4" of fresh snow on the ground! I was properly dressed (note the photo Amanda took before I left) and carrying more than enough food and water, and even an extra jacket. My pack wound up being very heavy.
For some reason I started out very slowly - maybe the heavy pack, maybe I hadn't eaten much (I left at noon yet Amanda and I were planning to eat lunch after I got home). So I was slow. Then I hit the trails and it's amazing how much snow can slow you down. I knew I would lose some efficiency due to less traction, but simply plowing my feet through the snow really adds a lot of drag!
Believe it or not I wasn't making the only set of tracks in the woods. I saw fresh footprints on most of the trail and judging by the track, it was a 6-foot guy running! And probably running faster than me. Sure enough about 45 minutes into the run I crossed paths with that guy, who had just turned around to head back. Not me. I saw the spot where he turned and kept going - I may be slow but I ran farther! Slow indeed. I frequently walked the uphill portions since my legs were quickly tiring from the extra work.
On the return leg I stopped for a few seconds at a scenic spot on the trail that overlooks the Flat River. Lo and behold I watched as a bald eagle flew just below the treetops over the river. It was hard to follow its flight since he was brown and white, as were the trees and snow through which I was looking. No other bird around here, however, has such a large wingspan and powerful wingbeat. Any other time of year I'd allow that it could've been an osprey, but they all should be far south by now.
After 2 hours and 39 minutes of running I finally made it back home. During my entire run Amanda went for a ride of her own on the stationary bike, traveling 37.5 miles in a total of two hours, plus 30 total minutes of dumbbell exercises. She started right when I left and had just finished when I returned home. Once we recovered a bit we went out to Chili's for a well-deserved dinner!