Woah! We're half way there!

We're officially 1/2 way trained to the half-marathon. I stole Danny's picture - I really need to figure out how to turn gmap into a pic.

So, I know that I am a day late, but I got busy with my 2 other posts yesterday, so it's only tonight that I got around to writing about yesterday's run. This was another milestone for me - my longest run in my life. The day was a perfect day for running - it was cool, Danny and Sara were a little cool when we started and Sara was also half asleep. I was pumped - I had been talking all week about the 7 miler that we were going to do today. My only hope was that my knee would hold up. I had been doing some extra stretching and my knee had felt really good after the 4.5-miler on Wednesday.

As we started walking to our starting point it started drizzling a little bit - thankfully Danny was like of course we are going to run. The run started off well - we were doing about 10 minute mile pace - my knee started aching a drop about 1.5 miles in - the same that it has on other runs - but nothing too bad. We continued over the bridge and headed towared city island. At about the 3 mile point the trail switched to concrete right before we hit the bridge to city island, which I am thinking wasn't so great for my knee. We continued for another 0.3 miles or so on city island concrete sidewalks. City Island, a place very close to me where I have spent very little time, is so quaint. I never realized what is was. It seems like this fishing town - there are shops that are full of fishing equipment. We must have gotten there about 8:15 or so, maybe a few mintues after, and the place was so quiet. It is so different than the Bronx and the rest of NYC where I have spent all my life. Not sure the pace would agree with me long-term but it certainly was cute in the middle of an earlyish morning run.

Anyway - we reached our halfway point, turned around headed back over the bridge and were 4.1 miles into our run when my left knee all of a sudden really started hurting me - I took another 10 steps or so when my knee totally gave out and I couldn't support any more weight on my left knee. I tried to walk it off for a couple of seconds and Danny and Sara stopped with me. I tried running again, but couldn't. I sent them on ahead. I walked for the next 3-4 minutes, interspersed with attempts to run and couldn't. I finally changed my stride a little bit and began running a little faster and tried to catch up with D&S. I never quite let them out of my sight, I guess it was good that it's a relatively straight run, and after a couple of minutes of painless running I caught up with them. I told them that the quicker pace that I was doing (I have no idea how fast I was going) was easier on my knee and I was going to finish up the run and wait for them at the end.

The rest of the run was relatively painless. Don't have an exact time - probably about 10 minute miles. Couple of points where my knee ached a little, but otherwise no problem. The only thing that was hard about the run was that for most of the run back the wind was blowing in my face - which certainly made the run harder. I can't wait for the rest of the fall and winter runs when I am sure the weather will be just dandy - any suggestions are welcome.

I took a couple more aspirin on Friday afternoon and since have been pain-free. I have no explanation for what happened in the middle of the run and I am definitely greatful that my knee has been in good shape since. A couple of weeks ago I had a lot of pain after a run - and had to take the rest of the week off.

One note: I bought a fluid belt last week and had a chance to use it on Wednesday and Friday. Friday's run I used all 4 bottles, 2 of them I froze halfway and filled the rest in the morning before the run so I could have cool water for the way back. It worked well and I definitely was happy for the water.

Not sure when my next run will be - definitely going to try to run on Tuesday and Thursday (maybe 5-milers each). Have to see if I feel like a run tomorrow morning - but I got Yom Kippur ahead of me with hours of standing in synagogue - so I have to see if I think that's a smart idea. I am leaving for Israel Thursday afternoon for 6 days. Going to try to get at least one run, maybe 2 in Israel - maybe I can do a 7-8 miler next Sunday morning (I only observe one day of holiday in Israel).

To all those fasting tomorrow - have an easy and meaningful fast. And to the few people who have come to my blog who I don't know (Darrell - good luck on your 50 marathons, I will be happy if I ever make it to 1) thanks for coming and dropping me posts. I feel lucky to have joined the RBF family - hopefully soon my blog will be listed on their official list.

Happy running and fair winds.