Thanks to daylight savings time, I got an hour of extra sleep Saturday night and it was much needed. My alarm went off at 5AM. I had devised a plan that allowed me to get my long run in without interfering with my family activities. My son had a state cup soccer game that morning in a neighboring city so I figured I'd get a head start on the trip and run to the game.
I was able convince my better half to drive him to the game and to pick me up on the way. Fortunately, my logistical planning worked out perfectly, if I may say so myself. I had planned out a 20 mile route the night before and I knew that I had to run it at sub 8:30 pace to stay within my training plan requirements. The route led from my house near the university in Huntsville to the Mooresville exit. At 6 am sharp, I took off. Due to the "fall back" of the clock as a result of daylight savings time, it was already broad daylight outside. My route would take me straight from my house towards and through research park and into and through Madison.
Once I arrived in Madison, I had to take a right turn to make my way towards the local interstate highway and the old highway that ran parallel to it as that would be my route for the next 8 or 9 miles. Everything went smoothly and I was able to maintain my pace the entire way. I had decided to run "light" without carrying a pack. Instead, I carried a hand bottle, a gel, a cell phone and 20 dollars in cash (just in case). I knew it would take me about 160-165 minutes to run the route of just under 20 miles and with the temperatures starting to cool down, I figured one bottle would be enough.
As I continued to run, I figured I might as well see if I can go without any refueling for the entire distance. I wanted to see if I would perceive a drop in performance, e.g. be unable to maintain my target pace. Granted, i wasn't racing, but I figured I'd feel a difference in my ability to keep pace, if I got tired or if I was under-fueled. With a little over a mile to go to the Mooresville exit, I started to feel a little sluggish. While I am certain that was partly due to the fact that I knew that I was almost done, I am also quite certain that my signaled the need for some fuel. Either way, it felt great to know that I could go that distance at that pace without needing to fuel, if I ever had to;-)
As I approached the Mooresville exit on the old highway, I saw my family passing me on the interstate as they took said exit to pick me up. Of course, as I am waving at them like a maniac begging to be rescued, they were oblivious to me or my antics. Instead, they turned left towards Mooresville. Only my quick thinking (e.g. grab Blackberry, call fiance, tell her to turn around to get me) saved me. I love technology. It was a perfect day for a Sunday morning adventure run from Huntsville to Mooresville. I will definitely do this again some time.
I was able convince my better half to drive him to the game and to pick me up on the way. Fortunately, my logistical planning worked out perfectly, if I may say so myself. I had planned out a 20 mile route the night before and I knew that I had to run it at sub 8:30 pace to stay within my training plan requirements. The route led from my house near the university in Huntsville to the Mooresville exit. At 6 am sharp, I took off. Due to the "fall back" of the clock as a result of daylight savings time, it was already broad daylight outside. My route would take me straight from my house towards and through research park and into and through Madison.
Once I arrived in Madison, I had to take a right turn to make my way towards the local interstate highway and the old highway that ran parallel to it as that would be my route for the next 8 or 9 miles. Everything went smoothly and I was able to maintain my pace the entire way. I had decided to run "light" without carrying a pack. Instead, I carried a hand bottle, a gel, a cell phone and 20 dollars in cash (just in case). I knew it would take me about 160-165 minutes to run the route of just under 20 miles and with the temperatures starting to cool down, I figured one bottle would be enough.
As I continued to run, I figured I might as well see if I can go without any refueling for the entire distance. I wanted to see if I would perceive a drop in performance, e.g. be unable to maintain my target pace. Granted, i wasn't racing, but I figured I'd feel a difference in my ability to keep pace, if I got tired or if I was under-fueled. With a little over a mile to go to the Mooresville exit, I started to feel a little sluggish. While I am certain that was partly due to the fact that I knew that I was almost done, I am also quite certain that my signaled the need for some fuel. Either way, it felt great to know that I could go that distance at that pace without needing to fuel, if I ever had to;-)
As I approached the Mooresville exit on the old highway, I saw my family passing me on the interstate as they took said exit to pick me up. Of course, as I am waving at them like a maniac begging to be rescued, they were oblivious to me or my antics. Instead, they turned left towards Mooresville. Only my quick thinking (e.g. grab Blackberry, call fiance, tell her to turn around to get me) saved me. I love technology. It was a perfect day for a Sunday morning adventure run from Huntsville to Mooresville. I will definitely do this again some time.
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