10 miles - in which I discover the essesnce of long distance running

Yesterday I planned my long run at the last minute. Which turned out OK.

The day was gorgeous, and one of the only days off E and I have had, or will have, for a long time. We spent the morning driving down the coast on Route 1 and had another amazing breakfast at Queenie's Roadhouse Cafe (huevos rancheros for her, Potato Hash with Garlic and Gouda for him (stinky!)). We were stuffed. Our drive took us to Point Arena where we walked 1.5 miles along the beach to our secret kiteboarding spot. Alas, the wind never picked up enough to board, but we enjoyed the walk anyway! Once home again, we lunched, napped and read in the sun on the porch and at 5pm I decided I needed a run.

I filled my bottle and put on shorts and a tanktop, E threw his bike in the truck, and we were off. After a mile, he asked me how far I planned on going -- 10 miles, I hope! I said. Wow, said He.

• Miles 1 & 2: ITB was slightly cranky and my lungs were heaving a bit.
• Miles 3 & 4: started feeling the huge breakfast and the recent lunch (on top of a huge turkey dinner we'd had the night before - whoops!). E tells me I'm just "well fueled".
  
• Mile 5: the turnaround. felt pretty good. things are coming together on this run. I can do this!
  
• Mile 6 & 7: ok... I'm back at my 10K turnaround!
  
• Mile 8 & 9: 8 passes by uneventfully, 9 hits me like a truck. my legs are heavy (lead weights), I consider passing out. E tells me I'm about to hit my second wind.
  
• Mile 10: My legs are shot, and feel like they belong to someone else. I trudge around the last few corners with bursts of warm liquid pain in my sacrum.

Done. I realize that miles 9 & 10 must be what marathoners experience for the last 8 miles. Am I right? Utter fatigue. The run was no longer about any athletic or cardiovascular workout. It was about managing, and pushing through, the pain. I crossed the finish line and wasn't even breathing hard (?). This is a whole different ballgame, isn't it?

I then went home, ate plain greek yogurt with granola, made tea, and prepped an ICE BATH. I put on an additional shirt and sweatshirt, cued up The Office on the laptop, and slowly, painfully submerged my legs. I turned around so my torso was at the faucet end of the tub (more quad coverage), and other than accidentally leaning on the cold water handle so it turned on and poured down my back, the whole thing wasn't actually that bad. My toes stuck out of the water and managed to stay frost-free. The ice actually felt good, and I was even able to laugh a bit at Michael Scott et al. A hot shower and pasta dinner later, I felt better than after my 6 miler 4 days earlier.

So I continue to ponder painful mileage and ice baths, and good advice from Katie (" just know that you'll feel awful for a few days after"). Glad to hear that's normal!

I know I should have gone out for 2 or 3 miles today but I'm SO tired. E and I spent the whole day installing drywall, and I think I trekked up and down the stairs 40 times. That has to count for something!

My goal for this period week is to do a P90X leg&back, yoga every day, and a 3 mile run.