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Back to training - 18 miles

After almost 3 months off of training, I'm back on a new training plan for this 50k race in January. This weekend's long run - 18 miles. I was pretty scared driving over 520 today imagining running that far after not having run more than 11 miles since Ironman. It's more mental, but I also wasn't sure when it would start to hurt. On the trails, would it start to hurt at 13.1 miles? Maybe 15? No, the answer was 10 miles. It started to hurt at 10 miles. The trails seem to work my muscles a lot harder than roads do. I don't know if it's because there's more climbing and descending, or if it's because I have to push harder on the soft ground.

Has been helping inspire me every day, great book

Bridle trails, I love you. But I did not love the pouring rain for an hour today.
 
Nothing about training for endurance sports is easy. It's about embracing the pain and continuing to push forward. Luckily, I've trained my mind to enjoy it - to know that once it starts to hurt - that's when the real progress, work and improvement begins. I like the pain. I know it's strange, but it's how I know I'm getting better and stronger. I missed this feeling.

Happy Saturday. :-)


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