Thoughts and Ramblings from a Very, Very Long Run

So yesterday I did my longest long run ever, other than the actual marathon of course. The term "long run" is relative of course, but in my case it was 24.3 glorious miles in perfect weather! Now 2 hours and 51 minutes is a lot of time to think about how things are going throughout the run. Some people have asked me, "what could you possibly be thinking about when you're running for that long"? So for those of you that'd like to get a glimpse of what went on in my head during the run yesterday, here's a little mile per mile run down. Enjoy.

6:30am-Starting at Casa de Daum
Mile 1 (7:36 pace) Man this weather is seriously perfect, I lucked out. Why am I breathing harder than normal? Is it because I'm nervous? Calm down, it's way too early in the morning for that. This mile better be faster than 7:45 or it's going to be a very long run.

Mile 2 (7:38) It's really dark. That would suck if I twisted my ankle this early into the run because I couldn't see.

Mile 3 (7:21) Alright, you really need to use the downhills when you can get them. Good, build up some momentum.

Mile 4 (7:18) Oh good...there will actually be daylight today. I thought the sun had forgotten to wake up this morning.

Mile 5 (7:18) Doing great, I'm ahead of the scheduled planned progression and feel amazing. Although I remember Jer saying it's going to feel pretty comfortable the first part of the run. Just keep it the same pace until I get back to the house..there's still 14 miles of workout left by then and that's plenty of time to start showing off.

Mile 6 (7:12) Just stay focused...pretend like it's the actual marathon and stay relaxed. This is exactly what you need to be thinking when things get tough the second half of this workout...It's so freakin beautiful and peaceful out. I love being a runner.

Mile 7 (7:16)  Holy crap! There are other people in this world! Hello runner...I can't believe it's been nearly 7 miles since I've seen someone.

Mile 8 (7:04) Listening to the Death Cab for Cutie song "I Was Once a Loyal Lover" and here's the point of the run where I'm running through what we call the bacon strip of hills in Hill Country Village. As soon as I hit the top of one of the hills the lyrics "There's plenty of hills to climb" comes on. I immediately start laughing out loud and thinking...yes, this run does and will have plenty of hills to climb. Thank you Death Cab for making me laugh. I can't remember the last time I laughed out loud running by myself.

Mile 9 (7:13) I feel really great..this is going to be a wonderful run! You are going to kill it even with getting nearly no sleep the night before the night before!

Mile 10 (7:01) Almost time to see Jer! I hope he's out with the Gatorade when I get there. I know I'll be a little earlier than expected because I'm doing so awesome! I LOVE downhills...they seriously are the BEST!

Mile 11 (7:01) hmmm why didn't Jer get upset when I told him my time which was quicker than what he wanted me to hit for the first 10? Oh well, I'm sure I'll get an earful when I pick him up in a couple miles, but I'll just tell him how great and easy everything feels.

Mile 12 ( 6:59) half way done!! The first half went by so quick!! Wait, I'm already hitting sub 7 pace and there's still 12 more miles left of this thing. No big deal, just don't get any faster until the last 4 and go 6:50ish for those, just like Jer said.

Mile 13 (6:56) down hills are wonderful. My legs are feeling a little tired. I really hope this mile is 7 minute pace.

Mile 14 (7:06) I could use some more Gatorade..my mouth is already starting to dry up again.

Mile 15 (7:02) NINE MORE MILES?!? Why did I have to get cocky and start off faster than was planned?! No worries I have Jer and Chass now. They'll help get me through this, just gotta get in a nice rhythm with them.

Mile 16 (7:07) Everything is fine, just listen to Jer and Chassy's conversation. It'll make the rest of the run go by as quickly as the first half. Why aren't they talking? They ALWAYS talk. They're probably worried about me. Here is when I tell them they can talk and then they reply that they were afraid to say anything funny for fear of making me laugh because I'm the type of person that can not run when laughing too hard. Hmm, them talking isn't really helping out.

Mile 17 (6:48) This mile feels significantly more difficult than it did the first time out. I really hoped we picked it up because it definitely feels tougher now. Wait, we should not be picking it up THIS early. IT BETTER BE 7 minute pace or a little slower or I'm going to say something to them.

Mile 18 (6:52) Well it was faster than 7 minute pace, but that's ok, I'm doing awesome and it felt just like the previous mile did. I'm almost to the 5 mile out and back and then it's all over!

Mile 19 (6:56) I NEED WATER! Why the crap are these houses so far back from the street? Would people really be upset if there was a runner in dire need of water using their hose?...Are we to the turn around yet? Why did I have to show off the first 10? This always happens. I always freaking go out quicker than I should on a progression run and never want to slow down, because it's called a PROGRESSION run. That's it, I'm not running the last mile of the run. Jer specifically said 23-24 miles, so stopping a mile out would be 23 and that's still really good. We're already going sub 7 pace. I don't care what they think, I'm stopping at 23.

Mile 20 (6:51)-My mouth is so dry. Why does it feel like my stomach is sloshing around? I had gatorade 5.5miles ago?!...I'm telling Jer I need water, I'm not going to make it back without water...Dammit, I should've let Jer plant that water bottle like he wanted to before the run. Why is the sun so freaking bright? I'm wearing sun glasses and I'm still squinting.

Mile 21+.3 (6:38pace)-We end up going off the course to get water and use the port-o-potty. Why does water taste so good? I probably shouldn't be drinking this much water, but I don't care. I'm so thirsty!...Crap, I shouldn't have drunk so much water. No worries, the run is almost over and you're pretty much done with all the hard hills.

Mile 22 (6:39)-I've got this...I feel like I could actually make it back...I'm so freaking close!!! Stupid water. I hate that I had all that water. If it wasn't creating massive waves in my stomach I'd actually be feeling really great right now. I hope it was worth it Em.

Mile 23 (6:32)-Holy crap we're sub 6:40!! I feel awesome! I don't care what this mile is I'm going to finish this run and NOT throw up before the end. I seriously can't believe how great my legs are feeling. This is  the first run where I've felt so horrible for the last portion of it and am actually bouncing back for the last couple of miles!!

Mile 24 (6:15)- I'm running really really fast and feel like I could go even faster. It would be really awesome if I could close in goal marathon pace. 6:30 is way faster than Jer wanted me to close, but they keep encouraging me. I'm really glad I didn't go crazy on them in Hill Country. As soon as we approach our street there's about a minute left in the run and Chass starts commentating in his British voice "Here comes Emily Daum approaching the finish. First female by minutes. She gives a little wave to the crowd and even a fist pump". You can let loose now, it's over! Wave to the invisible crowds! Put that big smile on. You freaking did it!!