I did a virtual 10-Miler on Sunday in its honor, starting off at MP 7 on the W&OD Trail behind my house at 8 am. I ran westbound and hit 10 miles at 1:28:54 (8:54). Seven of my ten miles were in the 8:50s so I was being consistent. This is where the genius of my plan came into play. I was now at MP 17 and there was nothing I could to do but turn around and run (or walk) back. No backing out now. Twenty miler! Fooled you, sucka!
I had never before run out west on the trail this far from my house. There are hills out west, unlike the flat eastern part where I usually run from MP 7 to MP 0. Oy. (Left: On Saturday's run of six miles along the Potomac with my 10K Group, I started thinking that it was time to do my first twenty for the year. Photo credit J.)
It wasn't pretty coming back, especially the seventeenth through nineteenth miles where my pace dropped to the mid-9s. Thinking about home spurred me on the last mile and I brought it home at 3:00:06 (9:00). Which would be my second best twenty-mile race (I have run three). It was the furthest I have run since last September, when I PR'd at the Charm City 20-Miler at 2:59:10 (8:58). The Chicago Fun Run last October doesn't count, as I didn't run for twenty miles there because the No More Running Police intervened (among other reasons).
11 comments:
that is a really nice 20 miler peter I wish I could pick up the pace like most on my training runs. Wasn't your club runing this race? any congrats on a nice training run.
Funny. As I was out cycling on Sunday on the W&OD I was thinking about you. And thinking about exactly what you wrote "I wonder how far Peter's ever gone on this trail running.".
Guess that answered that question. Too bad actually - pondering that kept me busy for quite a while (there's not much else to ponder for three hours). ;)
You should go beyond those 10 miles, it flattens out again.
That's a great run you did - and I love the mental trickery.. Your pace is impressive as well - how do you feel now?
what the heck? they changed the course? it was so great before! hains point and 10s of thousands sounds like a disaster... heard any feedback?
and oh yeah, congrats on the 20. nice time. i can barely run 9-min miles for 2 miles anymore.
-A
Way to hit 20 miles. It's nice to run a different course - I got to find something different myself!
Nice 20 miles.. with a hill workout thrown in. Thats great!
I liked the west side of W&OD much better than the east side when I was there in DC. Less people and fewer intersections. Good job getting the 20 in!!
wow! do you just not need water or gu or anything? you just decide oh, i'll do 20!
nice.
20 miles. Wow. I can do part of that, but I'll find out soon. You don't even look tired. Amazing!
In the latest copy of Runner's World, the city trails section is on Washington DC. As I read about the suggested trails, I thought to myself, does Peter run that one? Does Peter run that one? Would Peter suggest any of them or would he suggest another?
Thanks, Peter. Even though it hurts me, you always get me to think...
You really did 20 just for the heck of it? Wow!
Ha ha... "accidental" 20-miler... what a great way to train instead of running the race. There are no hills... only different levels of flatness :)
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