This week's LONG run

Another long run under my belt. My husband had to see a client yesterday so afterwards we headed out to a bay on the ocean and ran along the dyke for a total of 18.2 Km.  Even though it was on the ocean, it certainly wasn't the most scenic route.  So boring in fact that I can't even find a decent picture online to show you guys.  If we had had a camera we were surrounding by clouds and misty rain the whole time - very grey and blah.  But the trail was flat and easy.  Good thing because the weather was that damp, cold, bone chilling that we get here on the wet, I mean .... west coast. 

The run out wasn't too bad, though I was downright miserable before we left and it was COLD! But a few Km's in I got into it. Then a couple of male runners came on the trail in front of us and my competitive nature kicked in and I wanted to pass them (even though they were a fair bit in front of us). They ran at pretty much the same pace as us so we had to push hard. Almost caught up to them and my shoelace came undone. Plus we were at our turn around point and they finished their run there.  I think they may have had the right idea.  They parked one car at one end, then drove to the starting point.  I hate having to repeat my tracks.

The first half we ran fairly fast, 7.5mph average, which was a pretty good average considering how slow we started because of the cold.

When we turned around the rain and wind came in and it felt like we were running into a brick wall. I told my husband it felt like I was on a treadmill going nowhere. Near the end both of us felt like we had legs of heavy, stiff steel. Our legs were frozen and stiff. I think this was a run we probably could have used some nutrition on because we clearly ran out of gas. But you get to a point where you know you have to keep running because if you stop your legs will just lock up completely and you're done.

In total it took us 1 hour and 40 minutes. So if I could hold that pace for another 3Kms (which I think I could) then I could finish a half marathon in under 2 hours!! WOOT WOOT!!!  That would exceed my goal at this point.

Per my SILs suggestion I'm trying to eat more protein than I was. She looked at my diet journal and figures with the exercise I'm doing that I need more protein. What I'm eating now is probably fine for most people, but not with the activity level I have.

I haven't lost any weight really in ...hmmm, 4 months, but my scale this morning showed that I've lost another 1% in body fat (however accurate that thing is - I'm not very confidant in it). It shows that I'm 27.1% body fat and I think it was 31 or so when we first got the scale (Jan 2008??).  However it says my husband has gone from 28% body fat to 26.7%.  He's lost about 40 lbs and if you were to see him you'd think he has maybe about 15% (very athletic, lean type body).

Tonight I'll probably just do some easy time on the elliptical to loosen up my muscles.  Maybe some light upper body weights and/or core.  Overall I'm not feeling too terrible.  More like being hit by a bicycle as opposed to a freight train. :)