Well, yesterday was do or die on the marathon training schedule. 18 miles or bust. When I showed up for the 7am meetup, I was pretty sure it was gonna be die. Heat, humidity and dead legs -- the trifecta. Worse yet, only the fast guys showed up. I told them not to wait, and went out at my own pace -- slow. . . To get back in time to meet up again at 8:00, I took the short Prospect Park loop. The speedy gang went by me like I was standing still going up the hill. This would have been depressing, but I bumped into my long lost running buddy, M_, who was in town from New Jersey. We ran together for a bit, and then back to Carroll Park.
The air in the Park was still. By the end of the first loop (7 miles), I was drenched and despairing. We gathered another gang of runners at 8:00 am, including some slowpokes, so I had company from mile 7-11, at the far side of the Manhattan Bridge. From there I soldiered on alone, up to the Williamsburg Bridge, through Fort Greene, Prospect Heights, and then home. It was miserable. I was in survival shuffle mode pretty much the whole way. But I slogged through it and got it done.
All I have to do is run 20 next weekend (ugh), and then it's taper. I still haven't bought my airplane tickets, but it will be worth it, just to see Spencer.
You endured! You got it done. Miles in the bank. Well done mate! Running when you don't want to is a battle won!
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