18 Miles - DONE!

Wow, I have to say there isn't a rush quite like the feeling of accomplishment you get when you do something beyond the realm of normal, and running 18 miles straight would fit that bill.  My run today was in great weather.  There was a little wind, but it was tolerable.  The temperature was cool with the sun shining for most of the duration.  And I felt GOOD!  I ended the run feeling very strong.  My average pace was about 9:11 per mile, which is actually pretty quick compared to my typical 10 minutes per mile pace.  I wasn't concerned with running fast -- I just ran how my body was telling me to run and it came naturally.

I won't go as far to say that 18 miles felt EASY, but it felt easier than when I did 16 a couple of weeks ago.  And I am really zoning in on my fueling strategy.  Usually I fill my CamelBak with Gatorade (probably 20 oz.) and bring a Clif Shot gel for the midway point.  But sometimes that makes me nauseous, so I began to wonder if it was just too much Gatorade.  Today, I filled the CamelBak with JUST water, brought my gel, and also brought my handheld 10 oz. waterbottle filled with Gatorade.  It's a compact design, so I could stash it in the pocket of my CamelBak when I drained it empty.  And this worked perfectly.  I felt strong the whole time, not nauseous or bloated.  So this will be my new fueling strategy going forward, and if I need additional fuel, I'll bring 2 gels rather than 1.

I'm also learning that as I extend these runs (today's run was about 2 hours and 45 minutes), I need to plan my route so I have a "pit stop" where I can take care of business at about the halfway point.  Today's route brought me right by the Dunkin' Donuts in Ballston Spa.  I was prepared to buy a bottle of water in order to use the facilities, but the counter help seemed pretty distracted so nobody minded me slipping into the restroom and then quickly out.  Nobody except the two ladies sitting with their coffees who looked at me like I had five heads.  I guess it's not an everyday sight to see a girl with a reflective vest and a backpack with a hose out the back, red-faced and sucking air, heading into the Dunkin' Donuts restroom...arriving and leaving on foot.  Luckily the marathon will have port-a-potties at some of the aid stations where I won't be judged, lol.

With another successful run under my belt, I'm one step closer to my goal.  After running almost the equivalent of six 5Ks back to back, it's hard to believe I still have to add 8.2 more miles to make this a marathon distance.  Next week I take another step forward with 20 miles.