Goal acheived, 18 miler Friday

Yay!! I didn't run the last 2 days, in preparation for a long run today with Abby. It was my mini taper/rest my knee. She is training for an ironman in 3 weeks (Go Abby!) and had a 20 mile run slated. My goal was to run 2 hours and see how it went and maybe do more.

We ran near where she lives which is a nice path and we did out and backs of 2.5 miles, so 5 miles at a stretch, with our cars in the middle - water, gus, luna moons, and bathroom. It worked out well. I was planning on swimming this morning before the run, but the lifeguard didn't show up (probably a good thing in terms of my survival of the run), so I was at the path early and did 2.2 miles on my own. I did 2 out and backs (each 5) with Abby and we did one where I thought it was the end for me of out 1.5 and back. My knee started hurting around mile 11, and my lower back (new thing) around mile 14. I took some time and refueled, stretched, drank, while Abby went to finish, and decided I wasn't fully spent. I wanted to do 18 miles. I did one more out and back of 1.5. By this time, I was running slowly. I definitely slowed down Abby, and running slower sucked!!! But I was just happy to be getting the mileage in. My ipod (nike+ use only) died after 7.2 miles - my own fault.

The slow stats: 18.2 miles 2:55:27 9:39 average pace (blah)
Passed 1 dude, was passed by 3 people. Made me want a shirt with a blacklight running pedometer so people know they are passing you on your long run. What do you think?

pre-run - half a peanut butter sandwich and a piece of a luna tea cake
1 vanilla bean Gu, 1 pack of Pomegranate Luna Moons, 1.5 of sport beans (fruit punch and lemon lime), 4 bottles of water.

So for the week 31.7 miles so far, yay! Goal accomplished! I might run on Sunday in Pittsburgh, it is so great running in new places and being a discoverer. I love that.

Couldn't have done that long one alone though! Afterwards, I was really excited to try this protein bar that I picked up yesterday when I was getting my bike fixed in Cookies and Cream flavor. Yum. It was covered in chocolate and so good!! I had that and kept drinking water and driving home I had the other half of the pb sandwich. This worked well. Then it was ICE, ICE, BABY - for the knee. I also made an appt to go see my orthapaedic dude.

I decided for lunch that I wanted a powerbagel (Einstein) and cream cheese so I got that and I'm excited to have that on our way to Pittsburgh - for the weekend to see the Mets play and to see the stadium (my husband is a superfan). Yippee! There is some crazy place that has sandwiches with cole slaw and french fries in them. I want to get the cheese one (total cheese issues). Yummy!! Hmm... maybe I think about food a little too much.

Oh and I think the 2nd trimester starts tomorrow or maybe today, so this can be my celebratory run. I love long runs (especially when you're almost done them!)