15 Mile Trail Run

After my measly day yesterday, it was tough getting out of bed this morning.

I was really cozy too and maybe a tad hungover.

Yet, I felt the only way to feel better was going for a 15 mile run. The other day, I posted that I have not completed a run above 14 miles since my marathon attempt. I thought today would be a perfect day to go beyond that.

I also had a new toy to bring with me...

This was a bit more convenient than the CamelBak backpack and now, I don't think I could ever run without this. I went the whole fall/winter without bringing liquids on long runs. I'm realizing that I was stupid for not doing so. Having Gatorade when I needed it was beyond satisfying. It also stayed decently cool the entire time.

I also brought along a snack.

Many runners seem to like gels, but for me, I will swear by granola bars. My stomach doesn't like gels, but it sure loves Nature Valley! You can't really eat this while running. Though, I never saw the harm in stopping to take a food break at the halfway point.

I checked my time during my snack and I was sitting pretty around 1:15:00, which was a perfect 10 minute mile pace. I was looking to have a negative split though, so I knew the next 7.5 miles would have to be faster.

I was confident I could do it. It was a gorgeous day and I was feeling great!


I was able to finish the second half about 2.5 minutes faster, putting me at 2:27:32 for the entire 15 miles. I was amazed how comfortable I felt through the entire run. I wasn't in pain, I wasn't exhausted, and I wasn't praying for the final mile marker to magically appear in front of me. I finished feeling quite energized and I'm looking forward to my next 15 miles in about 2 weeks :)

Hope you all are having a lovely Saturday!!!


How many miles did you log today? Was it a long run or a short run?

Do you bring Gatorade or other sports drinks on your run?

Do you like to focus on pace and splits?