Run: 14.3 miles in 1:51:56 min. @ 7:10 a.m.

Scheduled Workout: 14 miles.
Weather: Mostly Cloudy, 21°F, 74% Humidity, Wind: From WSW @ 7 mph; feels like 12°F.
Course: Scott's 14.3 Miler on USATF's Map It!
Pace: 7:50 min./per mile

Having learned from last weeks long run, I packed my hydration belt with water and gel (PowerBar GEL Raspberry Cream Flavor) this time, despite my intention to take it nice and easy, I anticipated needing a little tap-ready H2O and energy, both of which came in handy. The course I took today , a departure from my most recent long runs, took me not onto the Erie Canal path but rather into the city, over the river, out to the edges of a number of burbs and back home. I found myself easily (I hope I don't jinx myself) shifting into an easy pace and staying focused primarily through visualizing the area about one mile ahead of my arriving. I've found planning my runs in advance using USATF Map It! to be incredibly helpful in this endeavor.

By planning ahead and carefully studying my course in advance, I find myself less concerned with where I'm going to turn and more psychologically capable of focusing on the run and allowing myself to gently visualize the run's progress on the map, sometimes even imaging it moving along the map, a yellow line dropping to the ground as I pass over an area.

Breathe in, breathe out… YOU AND I ARE ALIVE!