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So today started out like a typical Saturday;  wake up at 4pm and have some wonderful spinach omlette.  Tough to wake up and get out of bed.  Need that rest.

After waking up and eating, go on the computer to check email and social networks.  For some reason I thought to myself about setting a new running record.  Having a lot of running thoughts on my mind, I decided to try run half a marathon tonight for fun and personal challenge.

This is a serious undertaking, and I spent the rest of the day mentally and physically preparing for the journey ahead.  Prior to the run, I loaded up on quinoa mixed with green lentil as my primary source of fuel.  A tub of chobani greek yogurt.  A few small scones.  I then created some powdered electrolyte/salt drink and drank some as well as prepare a bottle for my run.  A muscle milk protein shake for post-run recovery.

My plan was to run 7 miles before taking any water.  Eat a caffeine gel at mile 10. (This had to be done this way because my water bottle was at the starting point, since I can’t run with it.  So the caffeine gel pack had to be timed with availability of water.)

I massaged my muscles for a few minutes prior to the run.  Rolled them using a Tiger Tail.  Put on my gear and equipment.

Tonight was a first test ever of a Heart Rate Monitor (HRM).  It was an interesting experience, and maybe I should have tested it on a shorter run.  I found the strap on my chest somewhat annoying and I may have ran better without something squeezing me the whole run.  The watch from this thing is however very good for running.  It’s perfectly streamlined.  It’s a polar brand watch and chest strap.

The other gear I have is an HTC Nexus One for my GPS tracking.  Vibram Five Finger KSOs.  Headband.

I have learned to avoid the common stretches that people think are helpful, when they’re not.  Before all my runs, I walk for a half mile or so.  Doing butt-kicks and other preparatory exercises.  Sometimes I’ll even do advanced jumping jacks.

So then the run began, at exactly 4:00am.  The weather was pristine.  It was 87 degrees Fahrenheit, 77% humidity, Clear skies.  The moon was full.

I didn’t know there was a full moon tonight, but something did want me to do this tonight!  It was my companion throughout the night, and towards the end the sun would be on the horizon.

The first couple miles were no problem.  My body is well familiar with running 3-5 miles.  But it was funny as I passed around 4 miles, according to the heart rate monitor my heartrate was definitely getting faster and working harder.  I tried to maintain a pretty slow pace of around 11:30/mile not to run out of energy too early.

As I neared the half-way point, I grabbed my bottle of electrolyte mix and slowed down to walk and drink about 3-4 ounces of the drink.  Hid the bottle somewhere and continued to run.

Half way into lap 3, my shoes started to get wet from the sweat.  This started to be a minor issue.  It can evolve into a huge issue, I will have to address this in the future somehow.  If your feet get wet, they can very easily get irritated and the skin can get ripped.  At this point I began to consider taking off my shoes and running in socks or barefoot.  I tried to work through this by alternating my landing a bit.

Nearing the end of lap 3, I opened my caffeine gel packet and started taking tiny amounts.  Have to be careful without water, as this stuff will dry your mouth.  But I needed the extra fuel, I had another 4 miles to go at this point.  Sticking with about an 11min/mile pace.

Finally I had reached the water bottle and I slowed down for a few seconds, and decided to take bottle with me till the end of the run.  It was about half-way empty.  I started consuming the gel and mixing it with the amazing electrolyte water that doesn’t feel like it’s coating your mouth.  This was good and sort-of helpful, but ultimately would not be enough.

I started to now focus on the last 3 miles of the run.  I slowed down to around 12:30/mile pace and recovered a bit.

At this point I rounded the corner of my first street and was greeted by the first light of the day.  Once rounding the second corner, I was running towards the sun.  Great feeling to run all night with the moon and greet the sun at the end!

After a mile and a half, I started to feel really tired.  I started to take little walk breaks, at first.  Then I just could not move my legs to run.  I was upset that I could no longer run, but I had to make it home.  Several times before I considered quitting, at the 10 mile marker, because damn that is pretty good too.  But I had committed to half a marathon, and I would try my best to get it done.

At this point I was feeling exhausted, and was rationing my intake of electrolyte drink.  My plan was to drink the last sip right before turning into my housing development.

I walked the last mile and a half.  Right as I walked up to my house, I hit 13.1 miles.  Wow.  I did it.  Took two hours and thirty-eight minutes.

Recovery was quite crazy.  As soon as I got home I took my pre-prepared muscle milk shake and a big cup of ice cold water, and headed towards a cold shower.  Cooled myself off as I could.  My legs seemed to be white, so I was trying to get some circulation going.  No aches or pains anywhere, just the feeling of exhaustion.  Finished cooling off and headed for the muscle roller.

I tried to roll my calves and quads.  They were happy to have the tiger tail, but my arms could barely do it.  I continued drinking my protein shake and water.

After about two hours , 8:45am, I finally started to feel like my body had calmed down from the run.  My head got clearer and I felt like a weight had lifted from me.

It was quite an experience.  In the end, according to the heart rate monitor, I had burned 2450 calories.  Done 2h20m of fitness exercise, 20m of fat burning exercise.  Maintained an average heart-rate of 147 bpm, with a maximum of 169 bpm reached.

I did not do anything out of the ordinary to train for this, just decided to try it and do it.  I think that next time I should pre-load on more food, or do just 10 miles.

It’s a personal achievement for me.  Probably a first serious physical one for me.

That’s how I ran an impromptu half-marathon in my vibram five finger KSOs for fun.