uh, huh. that's right. 16 miles. and a gorgeous day it was - probably in the mid fifties, which is quiet a change from the sub zero temperatures i've been getting acclimated to. 16 miles is a long way to run no matter how you look at it. things felt great for around 14.5 miles and then i really started regretting not bringing along some goo or gummy bears to help replenish spent carbohydrates, since fluids like gatorade only take you so far. at about 15 miles i started wondering if i was just going to run out of gas. i wasn't in any pain, just...out...of...energy. usually at this point, particularly when you're running alone, it's difficult to assess whether you're just playing a big headgame with yourself or whether you really will run out of gas. objectively it's only a mile longer than the prior week's long run, but that doesn't mean much when you're in the thick of it.

speaking of headgames, there's a dirty little secret that they don't tell you when you decide that you want to start distance running. you'll lose a toenail. or two. it doesn't matter how much space you have in the toebox of your shoe, a toe will inevitably get bashed enough to bruise it sufficiently to begin the long, slow process of getting a new toenail. it's not painful, but it can give you plenty to ponder as you pile on the miles. after which run will you remove your sock to find an unattached toenail? i thought it might be this run, but my toenail next to by big toe on my right foot is a real fighter. i suspect i'll lose it sometime this week. oh the joys of distance running.

i'm doing the typical post-run ice and nsaids and everything appears to getting back to normal quickly.

next week, i'll add a few miles to the mid-week junk miles and leave the long run the same. for the mathematically inclined it's looking like 5, 8, 5 and 16 miles for a grand total of 34 miles.

i suppose in the interest of full disclosure, i'll add that this was the first week that i missed a run, but it was just a mid-week 4 miler so it's barely worth mentioning :-)