Long Run Sunday: Hell in (a Runner's) Paradise

Today would be the first Sunday morning that I put in a medium-long run (between 11-16 mi) on the road - and not trails - in a while. Since I was already down in San Diego for my nephew's birthday on Saturday, I figured I'd stay the night so I could do my run around Lake Miramar - an absolute runner's paradise. Why? A) It's on an enclosed road B) The entirety of said road is paved asphalt, and C) The 5-mile loop is long enough (and plenty scenic) that it doesn't get repetitive.

When I awoke around 7am, I peered outside and saw nothing but clouds in the sky. Perfect. Unfortunately, from cleaning up the blankets/air matress, regular morning prep including going to the bathroom, kissing my nephews goodbye and explaining why I couldn't stay longer, getting my morning cup of joe, and then driving in circles trying to find an area to park, by the time I arrived it was a little after 8am and wouldn't you know it - the sun had just come out. Urg.

Lake Miramar while ideal in a cooler conditions, when it's sunny and warm out, there's not a whole lotta relief by way of shaded roads or cool breezes. Anticipating that it would be warm out but not quite expecting it to be as warm as it was, I set off on a moderate pace of somewhere between 8:45-9:00 min/mi. By the time I hit mile 5, I was already drenched in sweat and my pace started slowing. At the 10K mark, I took my one and only GU shot (should have brought another). By miles 6-7, I started walking some. At mile 10, I had drained my 22-ounce bottle of Cytomax mixed drink and stopped at the car to grab a 12-ounce bottle of Evian to take with me for my last 5-mile loop. Wasn't enough.

By mile 12, that bottle was empty and had nothing to replenish the buckets of perspiration that I was losing (yeah, sexy ain't it ladies?). The last 3 miles were tough but since I was determined to at least finish strong in spite of my lackluster performance, I put in my last mile under 9 minutes (only my 5th sub-9 mile of the day). Final stats: total distance = 15.07 miles, total time = 2:24:57, avg. pace =9:37 min/mi.

Bah.

Still treated myself to a cold 32-ounce Gatorade (which I downed in record time) and a hamburger, fries and a coke at McDonald's for the long drive back up to Los Angeles.

This week's total = 44.2 miles.