Running Journal 9 - Long Run Day

Day: Sunday , June 10th

Time: 6:29 pm

Duration: 2:07:15

Pace:  14'08"

Distance: 9.00 mi

Course: Willow Street, Freret Street, Calhoun Street, St. Charles Street, Audubon Park, Magazine Street

Weather: Cool, Sunset/Dusk

Mood: Ready...then Sweaty

Favorite Song on this Run: "Shake It Out" Glee Cast Version 

Notes:  So I missed most of my runs last week.  However, I don't like missing a long run.  So I laced up and hit the pavement.  I had it in mind to go 10 miles.  I started down Willow Street, hopping over the bojankety sidewalk and turned on Calhoun. I leaped over water puddles and made my way to Freret Street.  Before I passed Tulane Law School the first mile was over.  Pause.  I hate the first mile of any run.  It's the hardest.  My body always wants to give up on the first mile.  But I never hit a stride until after the third mile.  Guess how excited I am on mile two? :~|. Unpause. Anyway I ran from Calhoun to Broadway and back on Freret Street. Then I took Calhoun down to St. Charles, and by the time I got to Audubon I already had two mile under my belt.  I ran around the park twice before escaping down Magazine Street.  That was uneventful.  Too many people, not enough sidewalk.  So I turned around and went back to Audubon.  I think I looped it two more times before heading back up Calhoun Street.  It was getting to dark.  And everyone I know says, "Don't find yourself alone in Audubon Park after the sun goes down".  But this point I was only on mile seven, and I was drenched in sweat.  It was ridiculous.  My clothes were sticking to me.  It made the seventh and eigth mile horrible.  It was at this point that I was only going to go nine miles.  I looped down Freret again and turned onto campus on McAlister Place.  Then to finish the eighth mile I ran in front of the LBC, on Audubon Rd, and onto Drillroad before running by Soho, and back to my apt.  Nine out of 10 miles isn't bad...right?  But what made it worth it was seeing the first bloomed Magnolia on a Magnolia Tree.  Favortie flower.  Magnolias rock.  Yeah, I said it.

Anyway for the first five miles I was listening to Shake it Out (the Glee Cast version) on repeat.  It's kinda slow and I was able to pace with it very nicely without feeling fatigued. But I like the Florence + The Machine version just as much.

Lastly, Marathon, is a pretty good read so far.  In the first five chapters he's gone over the joys of running the mystique of the marathon, and what he suggests new runners should do before they attempt a marathon.  Haven't gotten anything I don't already know...but a refresher is always nice. Marathon training plan is 18 weeks so I will officially start July 1.