Saturday Death March

Yesterday I ran my first legitimate long run with the crew since Thunder Road. I picked one hell of a day to push myself back into the routine of a weekly long run; 15 degrees with a nasty windchill. The thirteen mile course was one of the more challenging routes in our club’s course roster, made up of a series of grueling hills with little recovery between.  My legs felt likes shit and I knew I was in trouble when fatigue set in within the first four miles.  I finished but I finished frustrated.  I’m still amazed how I could be in such good shape less than a month ago and now feel like a running rookie.  I feel defeated.  I guess all I can do is just keep running with the faith that my endurance and strength will return within time and maintenance of a regular schedule of speedwork, intermediate distances and long runs.