Creve's Longest Run ever:

On Friday Jan 2 Flasher and Creve had planned for a final big marathon prep 26 mile run.  After a solid nights sleep and most preparations with food, equipment and clothes done the previous night, the morning started off bad for Creve...

We were hoping to start by 7am but Creve was plagued with some bad stomach cramps/ gastric bloating.  Surmising his morning protein shake didn't digest so well, kept waiting for the inconvenient condition to subside.  This was the only day with training/work/marathon tapering to fit this run in so by 9am we were forced to go out and see how far Creve could make it.  Started in the sand up to 51st and back down on the boardwalk to 26th and back out into sand down to pier.  Running at a slow pace for the bloating agony which thankfully cleared up after several miles. 

Creve's guess is that starting out slower than normal really upped our endurance potential.  The day was magnificent!  Mostly sunny with about 20% cloud coverage and temperatures from 67-74 degrees.  Around 20miles Creve commented how despite some achy knees he wasn't even fatigued and asked Flash about adding an extra 5miles, to which she was game.  Then at 32 miles it was only natural to run down for the fortuitous start of the Raven Run and say 'Hi'

Well we met them at 8th as they had just ran from 5th and now it was only acceptable to do an 8 mile Raven Run (Creve has No partials)  Luckily there was a SoBeLife Water stand at 4th street giving out free promo bottle's so we had plenty of fluids and Creve was carrying 4 more oranges (We ate 8 oranges that day - Creve's new super food! Digest better than protein for Creve)  They had the SoBeLife lizard and camera out and Flash & Creve gave them a little blurb about running over 40 miles drinking SoBeLife water so maybe we'll be in a commercial... probably won't get paid as Creve's hand writing was so shaky on the release form. 

We had a little interval run catching up with the group and then Creve's knee's were really aching.  Amazingly no trouble with the shins!  This may be to running mainly on sand and Creve was trying this running technique called the 'Pose Method' where you land mid foot as opposed to on your heel or toes.  Flasher was also having trouble with her knees and was a little irritable.

After the Raven Run Creve suspected he would never have this amount of mileage accumulated (40miles) and better go for a record even though it was after sunset.  So running north in the dark to 47th Creve's faithful Flasher started having doubts.  Her knees were really sore and she was getting stomach cramps.  We trudged on to Creve's condo and Flasher could not pass up the restroom and had her fill with running...  41.4 miles (She missed out on 1.8 miles earlier when she had to move her car from visitor parking) for her- a personal record for her as well. 

Creve continued on to the end of the board walk and besides the knee pain and worries about causing an injury - [Very important to distinguish between discomfort & injury]

Creve was hurting but actually contemplated doing a final 2 miles to make it 48 (6 8mile Raven Runs) but fortunately Flasher was waiting at pool for Creve and he knew if he made it to 48 miles he would have to go to 50!!!  He'd be running all night till he passed out... 10 hours was enough.

Creve lost 8lbs weight during the 10 hour run (About 5% body weight).  Was achy and sore with bottom of feet tender.  Knees hurt for two days and had a cold/congested several days.