25 miles - DONE! Taper Time!

saturday - 8 miles on the greeway. maybe it was too much considering i just ran 23 two days prior - but i felt stresssssed, and i was hoping to run an easy 5 ... but it turned into a fantastic stress relieving run in the warm sun!

monday  - 5 miles on the streets - feels good to hit the street but my legs were definitely tired today.

tuesday - 4 trail miles before dinner with my 12 year old :) it's just fun to watch her run - she just glides!

thursday - 25 trail miles. warm (88), humid (72% the entire run), and boring (i repeated a loop about 15 times!). i was soaked with sweat by mile 5. at mile 11 i wanted to quit. and then i talked myself into going to 15. from there i decided to take it mile by mile. i just felt tired and my legs would hurt off and on. i didn't want to go to the edge of training and end up injured. so i talked myself to aim for mile 18. at that point i said go to 20. and then i kept saying just a few more. what's a few more?! i took a few walk breaks. my adductors were sore. and then before i knew it, i was done. my camelback felt so heavy this time.i didn't want to drink my water as much as last time. i longed for powerade. so i had my son bring me some more when he got off work.

i fueled every 4 miles with: 1 quarter of a pb&j, a cliff bar (two halves), and 4 gels (2 powerbar and 2 roctane). i didn't feel like eating or drinking water so i forced the gels and powerade and that pushed me through. some runs are harder than others.

i decided to take the plunge after much reading and feedback on the Hoka One One trail shoes. last year when i ran the 50k, the balls of my feet (forefoot area) hurt SO SO bad. the rocks just killed them. i have always worn brook's cascadia's for trail running. i love the way they feel and fit. but there really is no cushion and anything over 13 miles with rocks just hurts. the hoka's were amazing. they're very soft and plush. the heel drop is only 6mm and my foot is used to that now from the saucony triumphs. i can't wait to see how they feel this time on the 50k!

now, i'm SO READY TO TAPER!!!!