Epic

17.25 miles - various greensboro trails (reedy fork + laurel bluff + nat greene + palmetto + greenway + piedmont)

In the world of running, there are certain vocabulary words one starts acquiring once different milestones are met. One such word is "epic." Anything above and beyond even the usual runner's call of duty is epic.

Today, along with Genisis, Kelly, and Danielle, I completed an epic run, though it's much more fun to say I crushed it. "Crushing" best describes the action of taking something, thrashing it against the wall, and then kicking it repeatedly. Many things can be crushed. Distances (" I crushed those 17.25 miles!"), people ("Watch out for so-and-so, they're a crusher!"), and eating ("Those pancakes got crushed!").

While I've yet to accomplish the middle description, and probably never will, the first and the last were taken care of. Check and check.

The epic run took place on many of my beloved Greensboro trails. I most likely will never get sick of saying how much I adore the trails. They are well kept, do-able distances, linked together, and technical enough to be interesting while not so hard that you feel like you'll get hurt if you fall. I carried plenty of water and gus, made sure that I didn't let the pace get quick, and tried to plug my brain directly into my ankle awareness.

I crushed it.

The epic eating took place (btw, any object or activity that gets crushed is usually epic) at IHOP, a place I haven't frequented since my ritual Monday Brunches with my friend Kate Cardalico in Wellington, FL. I had strawberry cheesecake pancakes, hash browns, scrambled egg whites, and 2 sausage links.

I crushed it.

There are reasons, though, above and beyond the sheer distance, that make this run a milestone. First, it's third time I've ever run this length. Second, it's the first time since Uwharrie that I'm back up to both my longest distance and my largest weekly mileage.

Third, and most importantly, it's the first true long distance I've run where I actually prepped for it eating and training wise before, after, and during.

The results? Well, muscle wise, I'm definitely drained. My legs felt the last 5 miles, not going to lie. Some of that I think was the transition from the trails to the paved greenway so late in the game. BUT!!! I definitely feel better than I ever have previously after such a distance. My attention to nutrition and proper training seems to be paying off. The ankle especially feels solid, though I'm still running in the brace, and may always wear it when I'm on the trails (why not?). We'll see tomorrow what the real damage may be, but as of now, all is more than well.

This week coming up is probably the most important one for me in my training schedule. Next week's goal? 20 or 21. My last long training run before the marathon, before I enter into the no-mans-land that is 20+ miles. The first time a person goes above that distance and into marathon zone, it's like entering a personal Bermuda triangle: you don't know where it might take you.

Right now, though, I'm still safely ensconced in do-able crushing distances. I may never be a crusher against other people, but at least I can give mile-age and eating some serious pain.