20 Miles, Baby! Oh, yes...TWEN-TEE miles.

Today, by far, was THE best run of the season. Mike Z has always stated that “the 20’s” are a very special place. Indeed, he is right. Fuel, hydration, and muscles all worked for the ENTIRE run. It was SO good, that Jen and I sprinted to the finish for the last quarter, or so, mile. I had minor moments of cramping and dizziness which were eliminated within minutes thanks to salt packets and water. In the end...my legs did not feel like they ran 20 miles, but indeed they did.

Here’s the day – up at 4:15am. Breakfast: two bowls of oatmeal, two hard boiled eggs, 16 oz. of Gatorade, banana in the car en route. Carpool to Natural Bridges in Santa Cruz with the usual Marathon Run Girls – Beth, Jen, and Robin. At 7 am, got the run lowdown from coach Tim – explanation of meandering trails and scenic beauty. This run was chunked perfectly.

• First Chunk: 8 miles out and back from Natural Bridges to just beyond the Beach Boardwalk along W. Cliff Drive. Friendly morning runners and others asking, “You all Team in Training? What’s your event? How far are you going? Go Team!” And the fabulous “dolphin show” – how’s that for a good omen? And, of course, the water stop manned by encouraging TNT volunteers.
  
• Next chunk: 2 miles along a bike path paralleling HWY 1 headed north, through a portion of the Wilder Ranch with historic out buildings and up to REAL bathrooms with sinks! OH…Beth nearly tackled fellow TNTers to get to the pretzels at this water stop – I had the trail mix with M&M’s, almonds, peanuts, raisins and a water chaser after the Hammer Gel.


• Third Chunk: 2 miles through asparagus and pumpkin fields to the next water stop along the railroad tracks.
  
• Fourth Chunk: 2 miles briefly along railroad tracks, through the fields and along the Ohlone Bluff Trail – THIS IS TRAIL IS A WINNER! On the coast, fog lifting then disappearing, pumpkin fields on the right, ocean to the left. It doesn’t get better than this.
  
• Last Chunks: Back tracking through the previous perfect chunks and water stops back to Natural Bridges to make a grand total of – 20 miles.

We four Run Girls really stuck it through– with the effects of endurance running hitting some more than others during the last 3 miles. I was amazed – my legs did NOT give out on this run. We did walk a bit more at the end, but when we saw Mike Z just near the end – Jen and I picked it up, and soon a run turned into a sprint ending at the finish line with cheers from the Team. That’s Team in Training, full support from the start until the last person crosses the finish line – no other group like it.GO TEAM!

End Note: Post-run re-fuel? Soy chocolate milk then Lunch at Hoffman's in Santa Cruz: coffee, croissant, eggs benedict, bacon. Drive home. Clean-up. Nap. Bragging rights. Oh, yeah, did I mention I ran 20 miles on Saturday.