Long Runs, Trail Runs and a Double! Oh My!

Long Run: At dark o'thirty Saturday morning I met Elsa up at the Cady Way for a nice and easy 10 miler. We caught up, swapped marathon stories (she just ran the Nike Women's Marathon in San Fran) and just like the last time, it was done and over with before we knew it. I tell ya, I love me a 10 miler and post run I texted B.o.B that we should rally together and make 10 the new 26.2! Who's in?!? LOL!

Long Run - CHECK: 10 Miles @ 9:30 Pace

After the run I hurried up and got cleaned up so I could help move the Beaker Luv clan cross town to her new house. I swear, they grow up so fast... My little Beaker Luv all married with a RJ and now her very own big girl house! *tear* After the move I got cleaned up again and met my cousin Mel & her husband Matt up at Downtown Disney for dinner and from there headed downtown to celebrate Fishy's birthday where a gloriously yummy Shock Top was most definitely consumed. Mmmm...

Trail Run: Reading Frayed Laces post the other day reminded me that I had yet to break in the trail running shoes I scored awhile back at a BRA run. I was at the right place and the right time and just happened to be the only one who could fit into a super sweet pair of New Balance 910 Trail Running Shoes that D had extra from her work. Now unlike the drama Spike has going on with his anti-social Asics my Asics didn't mind a lick when I brought home the New Balances; in fact, they were down right accommodating. See the Asics aren't that partial to trails after that tragic experience with Lazy Runner awhile back, so they happily made room for the NB's and sighed in relief knowing that they'd be kept safe for roads only. (Emotionally Scarred much?!?!)

Speaking of Lazy Runner, it's been awhile since we've had a running adventure together and who better to break me in for my first actual trail running experience than good ol' LR! So with the NB's laced up we headed over to Little Big Econ National Forest Trail Sunday morning to break them in.

Park Map

The NB's just waiting to be broke in

The trail starts as a narrow path thru some short trees but soon opens up to palmetto fields, jungle canopies with tangles of roots and steep hills that run along a beautiful river. It was so gorgeous and well worth all the hard work and profuse sweating. As it's been so long since we've enjoyed a run together we spent most of it catching up; swapping marathon and dating stories, etc...

Palmetto Field

LR leading the way

Looking out over the river at the turnaround

Breaking in the NB's

Surprisingly, LR only tried to kill me once; when opting to choose the easy way or a narrow trail along the edge of a steep hill he chose the latter. Obviously. Thankfully I made it. The entire run I tripped up more oft than not on the gnarly terrain but my ultimate and inevitable demise came in the form of a little stick poking out of some soft sand as we were headed back. It was def no blood & guts spill like Rachael had, just a graceful stumble and eat sh*t that was easily laughed off. Shortly after, we brought it in and I am happy to report the NB's are good and dirty. I had an absolute BLAST running the trails and I can't wait to hit them again soon!

Trail Run - CHECK: 5-ish Miles @ ? Pace / We were out on the trails roughly an hour we think

Trail Running Success! Look at those dirty girls!

Double: Now typically speaking Sunday's I run a 4-5 miler with Deputy S after I work my night gig but this week I wanted to attempt my first double to "train" for Ragnar. So rather than call it a day with the trail run I headed out once again after work last night. Now let's be realistic here, my legs were dead as was I. Having already logged 15 miles in less than 2 days I wasn't sure if I could really pull this off but I wanted to try. Then Deputy S canceled on me. I thought about throwing in the towel but then I thought... nah just get out there and see what you can do. So I laced up and headed over to Lake Eola for a couple jaunts around the block... 2 laps later I called it a day. Although it wasn't the 4 miles I had intended, I think that considering the pace, it still counts right?

Double Run - CHECK: 2.14 Miles @ 7:55 Pace (BOO-YA!!! Sub 8 wat-wat!!)

I think I've pretty much earned myself a rest day today so with that being said, after work I plan on heading home and taking up residence on the couch with a good book and my ice packs. I hope ya'll had a fab-tastic weekend!!!