Longest Run Ever!

Up until yesterday, my longest run had been half marathon races, with my longest solo training run at 18 km.  The schedule called for 10 miles, but because I've been lagging behind ever since my hiatus during the big trip North, I decided to skip the fall back week and get back on track with a 22km run.

After Thursday's 8K that turned into 12K, I didn't want to turn my 22K into a 35K by getting lost (again), so I carefully mapped out a route that would take me from the hotel down to Calgary's Bow River, and across near the zoo (major landmark), then back along the river on the other side to a bridge then a walk up hill back to the hotel.  There was no chance of getting lost.

I had a hard time getting out of bed.  It wasn't supposed to heat up until later in the day, so getting out at 7 seemed reasonable.  I'm sharing a room on this work trip and we have very different body clocks so I haven't been getting to sleep as early as I would like.  I was out by 7:30 with a plan to take mini walk breaks every 2 - 3K and to refuel with Gu every 5 miles/8K.

It was a beautiful morning, and there were lots of other runners, cyclists, roller bladers and walkers.  On my long runs at home I can often go for several kilometers without seeing a vehicle, never mind a person out for a run.  I found the extra people motivating like in a race as I caught up to and passed other runners.  Also, Calgary is a very friendly running city - when in New York, or Toronto or Vancouver it's all eyes straight ahead and nobody acknowledges the other runner.  In Calgary, every passing runner gave a little wave or a "Good morning" or at least a smile - I like that.  Do you greet other runners in your area?

The run went very well other than a few minor hiccups:

• I forgot to reset my Garmin at the beginning and ran about 500 m before realizing it.  Oops!
• At one cross walk I stopped my Garmin while waiting for cars to pass, then forgot to restart it for a few hundred metres, so though my Garmin said 22K at the end of my run, I ran closer to 23K (but don't know my exact distance or time).
• I ran through a swarm of tiny bugs that I inhaled, got stuck in my eyes, and coated my forehead and chest in bugs.  Ew!
• Coyote In Area warning signs.  Hrm.  I figured there were enough other people around that I didn't have to worry about this and kept going.  Of course, this was the one section of trail I ran through and DIDN'T see another runner for about 10 minutes.  Eerie.
• No water!  At about 12 K I started looking for a water fountain to refill my handheld.  By 16K, I was completely out of water.  Luckily, literally around the next bend was the one and only fountain I saw on my entire run.

So, I ran approximately 23 kilometres (14.3 miles) in approximately 2 hours 15  minutes and I feel great!