The A to O Express

Normally, I don't wax poetic about one particular training run. Or compare a run to a train. I will do both below. However, I often DO compare my runs to the alphabet, privately, and will do so publicly for the first time here.

If you haven't noticed, a marathon is 26 miles. The alphabet is 26 letters. See? It lines up if you forget about the pesky .22 miles at the end which, after the preceding 26.0, hardly matter anyhow. By then, you're in full stumble stupor and could care less.

Yesterday's long run was the farthest since Boston. The Summer of Speed is rapidly coming to a close as I replace it with the Fall of Speedier Endurance in preparation for the Detroit Marathon. This requires slightly different type of training. I'll have to console myself with just the 2 age group place awards which I have been bathing with regularly since.

This long run was, really, the best of the year. A cool, breezy 70 degrees. I literally felt like a train chugging along as my pace hardly wavered over all 15 miles. I should also point out that my first experience with Gu's new Roctane gel was positive. This product delivers twice the punch of regular Gu with additional vitamin replenishment not found in the original (at twice the price, of course). As first times go, it delivered. I'll see how it works as the miles start creeping towards 20 before fully endorsing.

This run covered the letters A through O.* Still aways to go to get to Z but I was very pleased with the pace. A side effect of the SoS has been, as expected, the relative ease at which a faster pace seems compared to before the interval training this spring. Get busy on some intervals all you speed seeking folks!

15.0 miles
1:43:26 time
6:54 pace

By the way, I was running along all train like listening to my mp3 player when possibly the BEST running song rotated into action. For some reason, I loaded a few Queen songs onto my mp3 awhile back. I'm listening along to "Bicycle Race" with a big goofy smile on my face when "Don't Stop Me Now" comes on. Awesome at its most cheesiest!

"Don't stop me now,
I'm having such a good time,
I'm having a ball

Don't stop me now"...repeat

I heartily endorse loading this song up and having it kick in just at the point you start feeling a little tired.

Happy trails!

* If you need this spelled out for you, that's 15 letters into the alphabet at a 1:1 mile to letter rate.
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Actual quotes from my world this weekend:

While watching the opening ceremony parade of nations of the Olympics, my filly asks: "When are the leprechauns coming in?"

While discussing Guitar Hero, I ask my family: "When are they coming out with a Huey Lewis Guitar Hero?"

Mrs. Nitmos responds: "Only when they want the worst selling Guitar Hero ever."

Pfffffttt.