19.2 + 30

I completed my first very long run on Saturday with a 19.2-mile journey from Park Slope to Columbus Circle and back. Despite three separate stops for food, water and bathroom, the distance took only 3:34 to cover. That included treks over the Manhattan Bridge on the way in to Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge on the way out.

Looking at the numbers, I burned about 2554 calories during the trip. The first half took just 1:32 while the return took 2:02 and included all the stops. I began the run at about 7:00am and was home around 10:30am. Note to self: stay clear of cookie dough flavored protein bars. In the end, I think I lost about 2.5 lbs during the run.

The impressive part of the trip was not the distance but the pain in my right calf and left knee. The last time I did a long trip into Manhattan I nearly shredded my legs. This time this time was very different. The pain during the run was completely manageable, thanks in part to the consumption of four Ibuprofen at the start of the day.

Here's a Google Earth image of the route I took:

I felt so good, in fact, that on Sunday afternoon I did a 30 mile bike ride in Prospect Park. I had intended to keep the pace very manageable at around 16 mph but looking at the computer when I finished, I read 17.8mph. That is a great indicator of performance for the upcoming MS Ride which I am attempting to complete at an average of 16 mph.

I recovered on Monday and did an easy 3.9 mile run in Prospect Park on Tuesday morning.

My concerns about the NYC Marathon center around three basic subjects:

1) How can I ensure that I will not have to use the bathroom during the race? This was not a critical problem on Saturday but my concern about having a bathroom to use definitely colored my pace

2) What will the temperature be like and how will that impact what I wear? On Saturday I ended up running in a long-sleeve biking shirt and my fall weight biking tights. Hopefully, the temperature will be consistent during the days prior. Last year looked like this:

Mostly Sunny
High: 59°F
Precipitation: 0%
Wind: WNW 15 mph
Max. Humidity: 54%
UV Index: 3 Moderate
Sunrise: 6:29 AM ET
Avg. High: 58°F
Record High: 78°F (1975)

3) How can I avoid injury between now and race day? This is really the wild card. If I get into an accident or something during the MS Ride, I will have just a few weeks to recover. That's a scary thought. I'll just do my best to be careful.

Based on the training schedules I have been following, I am on track to complete the NYC Marathon. That's a nice feel after all these months.