Fantastic long run today. This is the 2nd in 4 progressively longer runs I do in my marathon training. This one is 17.5 miles and one of my favorite runs.

At the core, it is my favorite 10.3 mile 3 boro 3 bridge run over the Williamsburg, Pulaski and Queensboro Bridges, and through Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. To that, I tack on 4.5 miles in lower Manhattan, passing Union Square, Ground Zero, East River past the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges, etc. Also, I add 2.5 additional miles uptown after I get off the Queensboro Bridge.

I was concerned about the conditions, since we did have 20 inches of snow in the last few days, but the streets were in very good shape, and the temps were warm in the upper 30's. All in all, conditions were fine. Definitely some slushy areas in spots, and the streets were all wet, but it was better than expected. Worst part was on 1st Ave, from the 80's down to 57th. Lots of slush in the roadway.

While I did get 'slushed' by a passing car once, the main incident that occurred was getting hit by falling ice on the Williamsburg Bridge! Well, it wasn't "ice", but rather some slushy mass that must have fell from the top of the bridge. Had no idea it was coming until it hit me on the right shoulder and back. Scary stuff, as I can now see how someone could get hit by falling stuff, like the guy who got killed in Central Park yesterday.

Anyway, what makes this a GREAT long run is that I 'finished' it properly. On some long runs I struggle in the last few miles. In this one, I had felt like I hit a wall at about 14-15 miles. I stopped for a Gatorade at 82nd St, and consumed the whole bottle by 42nd St. Lo and behold, I got a second wind on the way and felt like I made it through the wall. 1st Ave is actually quite hard at the end of a long run as it is a series of rolling hills. Hills crest at approx 84th, 72nd, 59th, 50th, 42nd and 30th. And I was really able to get through the last few pretty easily. Even had enough left to race through the yellow to red light at 23rd and 20th, in the last half mile.

Final reasons this was great. This was the fifth time I've done this particular run in marathon training. Last Jan, I aborted because I overdressed on a cold day and couldn't deal - no problem there today. And, of the other completed ones, this was a 7 minute, let me repeat, 7 MINUTE PR!

2 more 20 milers before Rhode Races marathon on May 2 - only 9 weeks away...