Day # 101: 20 Mile Run in 2:51:55

It is done. The 20 mile run has been hanging over my head like a rain cloud for the past several weeks. This training run has been weighing on me, and today I finally completed it with the help of the Cambridge Running Club. I met the group of 15 or so runners at 8:30 this morning at 900 Beacon St. in Brookline to begin the run. We ran the Boston Marathon course backwards for 10 miles, which brought us over Heartbreak Hill twice as we went out into Newton and Wellsley before coming back. The club had volunteers that gave out water, gatorade, and Gu at miles 4, 7, 10, 13, and 16. With that said, here are the splits that I captured.

4 - 30:09
7 - 26:34 (56:44)
10 - 25:00 (1:21.44)
13 - 26:06 (1:47.50)
16 - 29:04 (2:16:54)
20 - 35:01 (2:51:55)

My quads cramped up pretty badly just as I finished the run. They are still incredibly sore tonight. I really need to work to devise a plan to prevent the cramping over the next couple of weeks. If I cramp up during the Marathon, my race is pretty much over. It is very difficult to run after they have tightened up to that point. Well, at least the run is over. Now it is time to taper for 3 weeks til Marathon Sunday!