The Longest Run is DONE!

It's all downhill from here.  I just completed 23 miles, taking some walk breaks, but overall at a strong pace and feeling pretty good.  If not for the winds, which were overwhelming at times, I think I would've fared even better.  But I accomplished 23 miles in about 3 hours and 40 minutes.

At the beginning of my training, I set my typical three event goals:

• The goal I can live with:  To finish the race.
• The goal that will make me happy:  To finish the race in under 5 hours.
• The goal that will be cause for celebration:  To finish the race in under 4 hours 30 minutes.

It looks like I am well on my way to celebration on event day.  Even though it was tough to do 23 today, I'm glad I tacked on the extra 3 miles rather than sticking to another 20 mile run -- as many marathon training plans advocate.  It gave me a little taste of feeling so beat up and tired that you don't want to take another step, but you do anyway.  I'll need this for the extra 3.2 miles on race day.

So the hard work is over.  I've put in my training, and I have a nice, restful (somewhat!) taper ahead of me.  I start to cut back my miles with the Lake George Half-Marathon this weekend.  I'm not saying it will be easy; it will just be a nice change of pace and a good trial for my fueling and hydration strategies.

Today I think I nailed the fueling.  I filled my CamelBak with Gatorade and brought a Clif Shot for about midway.  The only flaw was that I ran out of Gatorade at about mile 18.  However, if I supplement my hydration system with on-the-course Gatorade at the aid stations, that should work perfectly.

Another happy note -- Mama's Ice Cream in Burnt Hills is now OPEN!  My mid-week 10 milers are much easier motivation-wise, because instead of bringing my Gatorade, I pick up an Only 8 cone at the halfway point.  Yummy!  If you have never had Only 8 Frozen Yogurt, you need to try it.  It only has 8 all-natural ingredients and 32 calories per half-cup serving.  I estimate a small cone has about 100 calories.  I am totally obsessed.

Anyway, with less than a month left before the big day, I'm feeling pretty good about where I am and I'm ready to tackle the race!