This was a BIG DAY — double run day with two 2 hour runs for a total of almost 30 miles of running today. Seems like alot at just 2 weeks out from Ultraman, but I am feeling fit and more than able to handle this kind of volume. It was a weird day. Generally I like to get my morning runs done as soon as I can in the morning when I feel fresh, but I woke up late and had some work to attend to, so didn’t get the first run started until about 10:30. By this time it was already quite hot, albeit overcast, thankfully.
As usual I began slow an didn’t start to build until I was about 30 minutes in. But I felt quite good, fresh and light and continued to ramp up to a 7:30 and below pace which felt very comfortable. It was an out and back on Ali’i Drive followed by a loop into the nearby Old Airport where the Ultraman run finish will be set up. I felt solid, negative splitting my run by about 5 minutes the second half — 14.5 miles total. Hydration was intact and celebrated with a jump in the ocean which felt great, despite storm clouds looming.
After the run I worked for several hours, playing catch up on my lawyerly responsibilities. By the time I reached a comfortable stopping point, it was already getting dark and that second 2 hour was still looming. I was fried, it was dark and it began to rain. Hard. Truthfully, I really thought about bagging this run. It would have been so easy — too much work, too tired, dark…rain….only 2 weeks out of Ultraman — I need some rest!
No way. Jason and got dressed and I armored myself in full compression gear – compression shorts and calf sleeves and we headed out. As you will see in the video, the rain really started to come down. We parked at Starbucks on Palani and headed up the Queen K, where the shoulders are wide and we would be safe from traffic. I actually felt pretty good, amazingly. The rain was refreshing and countered the humidity. And in truth, it was one of the most blissful enjoyable runs I have ever had. As we neared the airport, Jason turned back before me and I continued ahead past the airport. Alone, serene and with long stretches where there were no cars or streetlights, total blackness interrupted only by the occasional lightning flash. I could barely see my feet, let alone the pavement ahead. It was like being entombed in an isolation chamber. Nothing but my breath. A complete and utterly blissful meditation. Truly beautiful. Captured only by the moment, time stopped…floating, timeless….perfect peace. It was that moment that every runner, every yogi, every meditator seeks. And I found it in the most unsuspecting place, out on a dark rainy lava field.
That said, the last 30 minutes were tough. I buckled down but my fatigue began to catch up to me. I pushed hard to home, negative splitting the course (as is my practice) knowing that I have pushed myself to the utter limit. Exactly where I wanted to be. Had it been too easy I would have thought I hadn’t done enough. Too hard and I would be worried I am overtraining. Instead, it was just perfect. And to think I almost bagged it altogether. 14.4 miles. Just shy of what I ran in the morning, yet on super fatigue legs. Mission Accomplished.
Were officially 2 weeks out and now will begin to taper. Still some hard sessions ahead, but more rest interspersed with some lighter training. Looking forward to my body recovering, building power and speed. I am ready for Ultraman.
