Total Runner's High and Sheer Exhaustion! Today was my longest run ever and it felt great! I set out with a planned course that included part of the Capitol Crescent Trail and then wound back down WIsconsin Ave to Nebraska to Massachusetts, and took me back home via the mall, but ended up running entirely on the CapCrescent Trail. The shade was too nice to sacrifice, the water fountains were necessary (I still haven't broken down for a fuel belt), and the temperature must have been a solid 10 degrees cooler than anywhere else inside the grid. Constantly seeing bikers and other runners and adorable older couples strolling hand in hand kept me entertained and motivated all along the way. With a little help from podrunner and the upbeat techno tracks, the first 18 miles went smoothly, and I held a 9:00-9:10 pace without even thinking about it. The last 2 miles proved a little more difficult, as by that time my muscles were truly aching(ohh those quads!), I had to run back through downtown to get back home, and the temperature had undoubtedly gone up 15 degrees since I'd set out 3 hours ago. I made it back home in 3:07.10 for 20.5 miles and was exhaustedly ecstatic...and craving an omlette and bloody mary. I cannot wait to do a 22 and a 24 in the next month and then do the marathon...today's run proved that I think I can handle it!
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