Run: 80 minutes of easy distance, hilly

Distance: 8.6 miles

Time: 80:03

Performance Stats (out of 5 ★)

Legs: ★ ★ ★ ★ .5

Gut: ★ ★ ★ ★ .5

Energy: ★ ★ ★ .5

Mind: ★ ★ ★ ★

Overall: ★ ★ ★ ★ .5

Soundtrack: Led Zepplin, Remasters, Disc 2 and 3

This was a great day for running. This long run was exactly what running is supposed to be. I had a LONG weekend in the hospital, but finally got out around noon today. I needed to get in my long run for the week, and was a little hesitant about pulling it off in the middle of the afternoon. But, we had a birthday party to get to by 4:00 PM, and it had to be done.

With the fall beginning to show itself around New England, even though it was decently sunny, 77 degrees made for a very tolerable temperature. My stomach was empty from basically getting up and coming home after rounds, and my legs felt great the whole run. I was a little low on energy, but drinking some 100% juice before and during the run kept me from feeling too run down.

A lot of people like to talk about a "runner's high". I think that this comes in many forms, but one of my favorites is feeling the endorphins pouring out of my brain and running down my spinal cord. People describe this as, "tingling all over". I get this on most runs over thirty minutes, and if I'm listening to music, it usually gets timed with some dramatic part of the song. For example, I don't know anyone who wouldn't feel something like this listening to Houses of the Holy about 45 minutes into a long run! It kind of pumps you up for two or three minutes, and it is certainly one of the more "addictive" parts of running. On a good run like today, this can happen two or three times. Unfortunately, it's sort of a combination of emotion and effort, and it can't simply be turned on - which would be nice for a boost up a hill or a final kick in a race.