~ LONG Division ~

“The most instructive experiences are those of everyday life.” – Friedrich Nietzsche

Long Run #1 ~ 14 Miles in 2.37.04

Not to pat myself on the back, but I truly believe that this run was perfectly executed from start to finish.

I met up with Eva and we headed over to our favorite park.   Prospect Park.   I really thought about the route in detail, in my head.  I didn’t write it out or have a turn sheet with me, but I used my brain as a turn sheet of sorts.  My training plan had me at a 10 miler, but Eva had to run 14 miles so who am I to say no to 4 extra miles?  So we started our run easy and trouble free in Prospect Park.   As we approached Grand Army Plaza we veered right and left the shady goodness of the park.   Here is where I had to use my brain’s turn sheet.

We/I got just a tiny bit lost, but not lost in the sense that I had no idea where we were going.   More lost in the sense that I turned down the wrong street which still led us to the right place.   We both took our GU Chomps at this point.   Funny, we both had the same flavor.  I thought the Chomps were great.

With the Brooklyn Bridge looming in front of us, we both had a bit of a smile on our faces.   Eva had never run over the Brooklyn Bridge and I was eager to approach the Bridge and also give Eva the option of taking some photos.   Option taken.   That photo up there is kinda humorous with the graffiti Night Owl sprawled to our left.

Up and over the Brooklyn Bridge and onto Chambers Street which would lead us right to where I wanted to be.   The West side Greenway.  A beautiful expanse of paved road along the West side of Manhattan island, right beside the Hudson River —  Long pleasant stretches of flat riding and running right next to the Hudson River — grass and trees, views over the water.   At this point we had about 8 miles to go in our quest for 14.

At mile 8 I started BONKING badly.  My legs became heavy and I really thought I wouldn’t make the mileage.   I told Eva and she was very patient and very encouraging.   I also took my GU (chocolate) and that really seemed to give me the much needed boost to continue on.  As luck would have it, there was a very pleasant breeze coming off the Hudson for a lot of our run.   We were both a bit apprehensive as the weather was quite warm and humid.   The warmth never became a real issue at all.

We also bought 1 bottle of ice water and 1 bottle of gatorade each to refill into our hand held.   This worked perfectly and we both had enough fluids to last for the entire run.

By no means was this run easy.   But, by no means was it hard either.  We both knew what we had to do to get it done, both physically and mentally.   Running a LSD with a friend who was both encouraging and great company really (to me) makes the world of difference.   We are both similar runners and when one of us was lagging or hurting the other one picked up the slack.   It just worked.

I am very glad I ran the 14 miles.   We took numerous walk breaks as we did 3:1 for most of the run.  I realize this is just the very beginning of my training for Marine Corp but I sense that with this long run out of the way, the rest of my training is going to really work for me.   Sure, I have many more long runs.  Sure, I have many speed  work outs.   I just feel everything falling into place.

Stats:

I found a new sport for xtraining.  Well not new, but new to me.  SWIMMING.  There are numerous free swimming pools throughout the NYC area during the summertime, so I took a chance and went to Red Hook, Brooklyn to the pool.   Man, what a pleasant surprise.  The pool was not only clean, well maintained and beautiful.  It was HUGE.  Swimming width of the pool is about 44 meters and I actually swam 10 laps.  I figured it out to be about 500 yds of swimming.  I loved it.  I am by no means a good swimmer but I was actually able to get myself across the pool.   Good times.  Can’t wait to go again.

This right here……Post run treat.   I was so happy to spot the waffletruck at Riverside Park and could not get the thought of a waffle out of my head.  There really is a waffle underneath all that goodness.   And oh my, was it good.

To live is to choose.  But to choose well, you must know who you are and what you stand for, where you want to go and why you want to get there.

Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who could not hear the music.