20th Follower Contest Results!!

The contest was a success! The objective was to gain at least one more follower to take RTP to 20 followers. My blog now has 20 followers, though a couple quit me (I can't quit you!!)

 and 2 added. C'est la vie -- and a boring blog.

In honor of the contest, I ran 20 miles this morning. A first! 34 for the week.

I also took an ice bath afterwards -- another first!! No photos. If you want gratuitous and exhibitionistic photos, go see Steve in a Speedo's blog.

I almost had another first (and would, no doubt, have been the last) along the route but there was a golf course bathroom that came to the rescue.

The run was uneventful. I ran the first 4 miles, then ran/walked the remaining in a .9 run/.1 walk. Around mile 15, I started to walk a bit more and got nervous about my water supply. I did have several sources planned out and they were all available, so no hydration problems. I started at 5:30 am and it quickly became hot. Nice and salty hat!

I was out there almost 4 hours. The salient question in my mind is: Can I extrapolate success for 26.2 from relative success in 20? Answer is yes with lingering doubt. My feet really swelled up in my shoes and two toes took a bad beating, but otherwise I'm 'normally' sore. Cardiovascular stayed strong, form began to break down a bit after 15, and I ran much faster than I planned while walking slower than I planned. The plan calls for 3 runs this coming week and another long run next weekend (22?), then taper and San Diego RnR Marathon on June 6. The fallback plan is to downgrade to the 1/2 and set a PR, though I really want a marathon on the books.

I hear you, I hear you --get to the contest! The winner (randomly selected from a hat by a trustworthy 2 year old)  of the 20th Follower to Running Through Phoenix is..... Runlaur! You most likely know her and her blog, but if you don't, check her out. She is an awesome blogger, and person, and is running in the Bob Potts marathon (her first marathon) this weekend.

That's her on the Phoenix map pin. She wins a $20 GC to Zombie runner and some bragging rights. See ya when you get back Lauren and we will work out the exchange. There were some interesting entries and the contest was more difficult than I expected. I'll re-tool for the next contest. Thanks again to all my followers and have a great running weekend!