(tw:  mention of calorie and weight numbers)

I can state unequivocally that today was my best long run yet.  Save for sore feet near the end, I felt strong, energetic, and clearheaded through the entire 18 miles.  I think a combination of several factors contributed to this:  being fully out of the withdrawal/new side effects stage of my meds; said meds working really, really well for me; superior quality sleep as of late; extra rest due to derby being on hiatus and me choosing to skip the “rest” long runs of 8 miles that come in between the double digit ones; and most importantly, introducing additional calories into my run in the form of Gatorade Prime, Gatorade’s version of the concentrated running fuel Gu.  

According to the treadmill’s calculations, I burned approximately 2,000 calories during my run today.  Now, normally I don’t pay mind to calories, because with a history of ED, I tend to get a little weird about it.  Instead, I make sure I eat food that helps me function at my best mentally and physically.  Some days, that’s good, clean things like vegs, fruits, and lean protein; some days it’s creamy, high-octane foods like clam chowder, eggnog, or even (gasp!) fast food.  But I couldn’t help but be fascinated by the fact that I had just burned an entire day’s worth of calories—a pretty generous day’s worth, too!—in one session.  It also helped me understand that it was quite natural to start gassing out during these runs, and why bringing in the restorative calories had such a good effect on me, even if they only totaled up to a quarter of the total amount burned.  

I’m going to have to work on pushing a little harder with my hydration, though.  Despite keeping both water and Gatorade at hand and consumed at the times I’d be receiving them in the marathon, I still managed to lose just under 2 pounds (158.1 to 156.3…side note, 158?!…when the hell did I lose 10 lbs.? O_o) during the run.  I’m sure they’re back now, since I’ve eaten some food and drank another hearty serving each of the water and Gatorade, but that’s still a bit too much weight reduction for me to be comfortable.  Since a tendency toward hyponatremia is a side effect of both my meds and also being a slow, Athena-classed runner, it’s important for me to be extremely balanced and proactive about hydration.

Water concerns aside, I am happy as hell right now and even though I told myself (when motivation was flagging a bit) that I’d take it easy teaching class tonight, I’m feeling froggy and fancy.  I think I can feel an ass-kicker of a training session coming on.  Nothing that ails me, in my mind or in my body, is the boss of me.  I’m the boss of me, and it feels good, man.