March 21, 2009 – 2:08 am
Here’s a brief recap of this morning’s 18-mile run told as I lay here on the couch watching NCAA basketball icing my knees and tendons.
I couldn’t sleep Friday night in anticipation of 18 miles Saturday morning. That, and staying up late to watch Siena beat Ohio State.
Too riled up.
Almost overslept. Run was at 7 am. I woke up at 6:20.
Quickly threw on some shorts and remembered to put some body glide on. I had vowed to eat better during the long runs this year so I grabbed a handful of goos and a couple energy bean packets I’d bought the night before (hope these taste good).
Why is it that energy goos usually taste like steroids?
I pass Dave and Melissa heading out early as I near the Montgomery Inn Boathouse. I pull into the parking lot and look to grab a hat.
I’ve forgotten my hat. I also have no gloves.
It’s even colder than I thought. Probably in the mid- to high 30s.
This morning is a small crowd. I don’t see Chuck, Mark, Kristin, Carrie, Thomas the Tank or a number of the usuals. Missing from our group is Shelly and Helen.
1st 6 miles:
We head over the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge into Kentucky. Today we’ll run much of the actual race route.
I feel pretty good early on and just try to maintain a steady pass. Tommy is running with us and he tells us that we missed our turn in Newport. Once again, we’ve led the group astray. Oh well, we take the next right and will get back on course in a couple blocks.
Several people catch us as we are slowed by traffic heading back across the bridge into Cincinnati. The nice part of running the actual Flying Pig is that they close the bridges to traffic and there is much more room to run.
But it’s good to have the company.
We follow Rod and Chris and another girl who is setting a good pace down 3rd street and almost back to where we started. Then, we turn for the hill.
I’m still feeling pretty good as we head up the hill. Mark has caught us! Apparently, he pulled in a bit late, but managed to catch up. He’s one of the better runners of the group.
Glenna is hurting and tells me to go on. Hoping she’s ok, I pick up with Mark heading up Gilbert Ave into Eden Park. I know he’s going to kick my ass later, but I set a faster pace going up the hill.
We’ve made it to the first water stop. I can’t feel my hands and have to ask for help to open one of the goos. Glenna catches us and I wait for her. We are halfway up the hill.
2nd 6 miles
Glenna is feeling much better and we head up the rest of the hill. I’m glad because she really helps me pace myself and it’s also much tougher to run alone.
At the Overlook up at the top of Eden Park the half marathoners turn around. The river looks steely and cold, but it seems like the sun may come out soon.
Mark is pulling ahead and kicking our ass. Angela has joined us for the run up into Hyde Park. She’s a good person to run with as well because she sets a good pace.
I’m extremely happy when we find a bathroom at the UDF off of Marburg. Not only can I pee but it’s an opportunity to warm up.
Relieved, I hit the hill pretty fast. Angela yells at me to slow down: “Don’t pull a groin!”
2nd six is still feeling pretty good. I think eating well is helping.
3rd 6 miles
The downhill through Mt. Lookout is a relief. This is the really nice part of the course.
We joke with Angela that she is the “mom” as she seems to be able to stop cars at will with a wave of her hands.
River Road. The last stretch. I hate that Patti, our coach, always reminds me not to look at the skyline. I never looked at the skyline until she mentioned it.
Now I have to consciously look at the sidewalk.
At mile 14, Angela starts telling us about wearing monitor wires on her birthday. Really funny story. If you’d like to hear, ask me to repeat sometime.
The last six is much better than last year’s 18 miler. It wasn’t too hard to put it on cruise control with Angela and Glenna.
I even managed to pick it up over the last half mile and finish about 20 seconds in front. All in all, I don’t think I’ve ever felt this good about a long run before.
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