tactical

Lots to catch up on here.  Misty and I did a 4 mile version of Forest Ridge Saturday afternoon.  We mostly power hiked it.  I was a bit hungover from Kelsey's wedding the day before.

Yesterday I did 21 miles in 4:24.  I had some very tactical "no bailout" planning that worked perfectly.  I started at the E. Riverside entrance to Townlake at the far eastern end of the boardwalk and went towards Longhorn Dam first.  By doing it that way I was going to end my run at the car instead of any loops or refueling at the car that might tempt me to call it quits for whatever lame reason. I maintained a pretty even 12 minutes per mile pace until I got to the Greenbelt.  From there I slowed dramatically.  I didn't want to have a repeat of rolling my left ankle like the previous day.  I misjudged my distance on the Greenbelt and took a break at Ricks Spot and used that as my turn around place.  When I got back near the Spyglass entrance I checked the bladder in my pack and decided I should head up to the store to replenish.  I got a Vitamin Water and Snickers, poured the drink in my bladder and ate my candy bar and was back on the trail in no time.  By the time I got back to Townlake I realized my mileage was going to come up short of my 20 mile goal.  My mind went to work then.  The inner voices were battling back and forth about whether to continue toward the original mileage plan or find a reason to justify quitting.  When I got back to the car I was at mile 17.  I could continue 1.5 miles and turn around but instead I did the whole Pleasant Valley/ I-35 4 mile loop.   What a beautiful day to get outside and get a good long run in.  My feet were hurting pretty good the last few miles but I gutted it out pretty good.  Towards the end I reminded myself that to continue being an endurance athlete a person has to beat themselves up pretty good once in a while to remember the pain.