Start Line: This is a funny spot to be in. Somehow standing at the edge of a long run is kind of like peering over the edge of the diving board.
Mile 1: This is the time to try and find your comfort. Adjust whatever hydration system you bring along to fit snugly and make sure your underwear is rubbing minimally.
Mile 2-3: If your like me at this point, you are not in high efficiency mode yet. It takes a little moving to find that comfortable breathing pace and induced meditation.
Mile 4: Start to find your stride and test out some incline.
Mile 5: 1/4 quarter of the way their, things are feeling alright.
Mile 6-9: Things are flowing now. You can feel like a train on the tracks. It's important to try and not think about your exact distance you've traveled relative to the finish-line. This is where the flowers pop out against the grass and your thoughts extend further then your eyes can see.
Mile 10: That's half. If you focus on being half way done at this point, don't, the feeling of being half way done with 20 miles can put you into a high gear momentarily, but the feeling will soon wear-off once you realize you have to run another ten miles.
Mile 11: Eat a Cube. An important part of running such a long distance is to try and supplement the hard-work with any nutrition and always hydration. Your body burns to much gas to not refill the tank occasionally. I eat gel cubes but anything you buy will have a faint sense of eating some form of boogers.
Mile 12-14: At this point I begin to measure how far I've ran, the pace I'm at, and most of all how much I have left to do. This can be some dangerous thoughts, as anyone who has waited slowly watching a ticking clock can tell you.
Mile 15: The mental game kicks in. Suddenly your finish-line is at reasonable distance, and you have 15 miles behind you. Can't quit now.
Mile 16: Keep your head down, 3rd wind is bound to kick in.
Mile 17: Whew, on paper you seem so close relative to the distance you have already traveled. Consider this a good half-way point on the 20 mile run.
Mile 18: Perhaps it's impossible due to all body fluid escaping through the sweat glands, but I bet it would look funny to see someone crying while running.
Mile 19: Have you ever sat on of your feet long enough for them to fall asleep? Then have you gotten up to walk out of the room only to feel a weird lightning bolt of numbness shoot up your thigh? Now do that to both feet and hop on the bike trail.
Mile 20: Much of the thoughts at the beginning of the last mile would probably need to be edited for most cable television shows, but once you reach the final stretch, red carpets appear before you and a tractor beam buzzes you in; all accompanied with a sense of accomplishment, an understanding that anything is possible.
Finish Line: Let the rest of the world catch up behind you
Knowing Your Boundaries
Makes Them Easier To Break
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