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RVP's Long Run Adventure

May 10, 2018 (Morning)

Exercise Type: Run

Weather: 60s, sunny, humid, cloudy, windy, etc

Comments:
The first thing I have to say before I dive into this adventure of a long run is FUCK NEW BUFFALO CONSTRUCTION! New Buffalo construction really fucked me over this time. It all began at 7:30am.

I woke up at 7:30am, finally about to do the long awaited long run. I knew the weather was supposed to be 60's, cloudy, and 80% humidity, but I figured if I ran early enough it would feel fine. I planned to do a 17.2 mile route that started at New Buffalo High School, went on Maudlin Road, then went to Three Oaks (our rival town), and then back on Krueger Road. The last time I did this route was with my best friend in high school, Alex Woerdehoff, in 11th grade. We randomly decided to run as far as we could and that run alone almost put me out of commission. Beforehand, I had only run 8 miles at the longest and then I did 17.5 lol. It was my longest run ever at the time and I didn't run for a solid month after that. So, the goal for this 17 miler was to simply survive and avenge Young RVP's embarrassment.

I arrived at New Buffalo High School, put on my headphones, and started the long grind. The first part of the run on Maudlin was actually really fucking sunny. I mean almost no shade from mile 3 to mile 8. Luckily, I started at a conservative enough pace to where I could deal with it, but I was worried the entire run would be like that. I passed many cows as I was running in the middle no where. One cow saw me and started booking it away as fast as it could sheeeeessssh.

I hit mile 10 in Three Oak townships and i was feeling pretty good. This was the first time I looked at my pace, which was 7:02. So not bad at all. But the drama started to happen after mile 11.

Around mile 11, it finally started to get cloudy and cool. I got onto Krueger Road and was running straight into a headwind. At about 11.5, suddenly I had to shit really fucking bad. And i was in a neighborhood. So I acted fast, ran behind a farm couple's house, and proceeded to destroy their backyard. Just absolutely blast it. Luckily no one was around, so I pulled up my shorts and continued on the run.

Around mile 13, my thighs started to chafe. I forgot that my gold bond was still packed away, so that's RIP. At 13.5, I had to shit YET AGAIN! SHEEEEEEESSSSH jesus christ, who am I, Lucas? So, I go into the woods this time and proceed to absolute decimate a tree. The only thing I had to wipe with though was dry leaves on the ground.... it was that or poison ivy. So, I got through it as best as I could (though it was messy) and then continued on the run.

Now at mile 14.5 is when the real drama happened. There's bridge that goes over I-94 that I had to cross. Now, I had saw signs further back saying the road was closed.... but there was no signs indicating that THE FUCKING BRIDGE WAS CLOSED! Not only closed, but it the entire bridge was pretty much gone. So, I could not get across! I had less than 2.5 miles to go at this point, so I debated crossing I-94.... but then realized I'd rather not get sauced by a semi. So at this point, I pull out Google Maps and try to figure out the shortest way back. As it turns out, I have to now go over 8 MILES FURTHER IF I WANT TO GET BACK TO THE HIGH SCHOOL. FUCCCCCCCCCCCCCKKKK!!!

So, I realized i have no choice and continue the run. Now at 14.5 miles, I haven't had any water or anything since I started. My thighs are chafing badly, my asshole feels demolished, and I'm starting to feel the first signs of fatigue. However, I have no choice, so I put my head down, turn up the music, and keep pushing further and further.

I had mile 18.5 and I'm feeling like absolute ass. This was literally the furthest I have ever gone. But I make the decision to at least try and hit 20 miles at this point. I mean I might as well or I'll be walking a long way back. So, though my pace is slowing at this point, I decide to go for 20 miles.

I got back onto Maudlin Road and hit the 20 mile mark behind Four Winds Casino. I still had over 2.5 miles to go, but I didn't want to run any farther. I know i technically shouldn't not been soft and gone for 22 miles, but I never even planned to hit 20 miles before this upcoming marathon. So, I turned off my phone GPS and walked about a mile in a half. Luckily for me, my little sister had a half day in school. So, I walk of shamed it until 1 mile to go where she picked up my broken ass (shout out to Sean Virden, I know you've been there before lol).

I made it back to my car and chugged 2 bottles of water. Dammit, I was dehydrated. I found a tick on my leg in the car and flicked that boi off. I picked up a Poweraid at a gas station and chugged that down too (chugging for me is still aggressively sipping). Then I went home, took a shower, fell over in the shower, then turned it into a bath and contemplated life. I hadn't taken a bath in probably 7-8 year. That bastard tick also made a comeback in the bath (he must've grabbed on back on to my leg). The bastard was trying to suck my O- blood out, so I sent that man down the drain. So mannnnn, what a day!

Overall I'm sore, my thighs hurts, RIP to my butthole, but I got through 20 miles. I know I had to stop 3 times, but I think I can at least finish the marathon. I don't know about going 6:40 pace (I don't think I'm ready for that yet), but hey I'm happy to know that I can probably get through it now. I redeemed my 17.5 miler from junior year, which almost mentally ended my running career, so solid day.

Splits:

1-4: 7:11, 7:00, 6:53, 7:05
5-8: 6:56, 7:04, 6:55, 7:01
9-12: 7:04, 7:08, 7:10, 7:09
13-16: 7:05, 7:06, 7:13, 6:57
17-20: 7:11, 7:00, 7:20, 7:24