Commit

I got in 21 miles Saturday morning in 5hrs.  I started at 5:15 and planned on doing the flat to Zilker, turn around and back to Spyglass, refill my hand bottle at the corner store and then up into the hills.  Well, I got down the trail a couple of miles and thought, "I HAVE to get in 20 miles today so I'm just gonna commit to it completely and continue to LBL."  And that's what I did, I committed to it. I had my bladder pack along with the hand held for a total of 70 oz so I had plenty to get me back to Spyglass.  I did the Mopac footbridge around to 1st street.  When I got to 1st street I filled up my hand held just to make sure I'd have plenty to get me to Spyglass.

Along the way I did something I've never done before.  After I finished the LBL 4 mile loop I crossed under Barton Springs Rd and sat on the cement picnic tables and ate a Clif bar.  At that point I had about 13 done and about 8 miles left so I decided to sit and relax for a few minutes.  Although I sat down for less 10 minutes, just sitting down for those few minutes really had a relaxing effect on me and I think it rejuvenated me.  Thankfully I was able to scrounge up a Clif bar at the last minute because I only had 4 gels for the whole run, so what few calories I had had to be managed carefully.

I continued on to Spyglass and bought two quarts of water and a 20oz Vitamin water from the corner store.  There is a very convenient cement wall outside the building that I was able to sit on while I topped off my bladder and bottle and I also took a picture of myself and posted it on FB .  I was able to maintain a pretty good pattern of walking and running the last 6+ miles to the HOL.  My bladder pack was a bit heavy due to topping it off completely.  I could have gotten by with less but am not taking any chances in the heat.

All in all it was another great experience out on the trail pushing my limits!!