I needed to increase my long-run distance to ramp up for a spring marathon. Usually, I only jump the length by 2 miles over the previous week’s run. However, last week’s rain kept that run shorter than desired.
Today’s run was a little over 14 miles, up 3 1/2 miles above last week.
When I woke up at 6:30 am, it was 13 degrees. The forecast for 8:30 am was 17 degrees, and by my expected finish time, 31 degrees. It was sunny with very little wind.
I’ll wear my GoreTex jacket under 25 degrees. It’s too heavy for warmer days. Today I wore tights over compression shorts, a GoreTex jacket over a singlet over a long-sleeve CoolMax shirt, a gaiter, a knit hat, and my Saucony Triumph 19 shoes.
I wore my knit liner gloves with a GoreTex mitten on my right hand and a fleece mitten on my left. My left-hand GoreTex mitten is hiding somewhere.
My course was the same as the last couple of weeks, outbound through Chatham, Belmont-Ferry Farm Trail, Falmouth Bridge, and the Heritage Trail loop. To get the extra mileage, I ran a second Heritage Trail loop.
I felt overdressed in the sunny sections of the course and cold on the shaded trail.
The first 11 miles went well, and my section splits were within seconds. Coming up the switchbacks into Brooks Park, I started fading. That was a drinking break location. The break didn’t help much.
My final section was 10% slower inbound. This portion would be the additional miles. Next week, I’ll run the same route and will do better.