Glorious marathon weather

Today was the Performance Projects first 20 miler.  It was an easy course - out and back on the last 10 miles of the Austin Marathon but I like the course so there were no complaints from me.  Chilly at the start - my arms and hands were actually a little cold - I wore a shirt!  We started at 6am with the San Antonio, Dallas, New York crowd and the Team and PP folks were quickly off the front.  I ran by my self.  I have found that as the longer distances become more managable, I prefer to run on my own.  I don't get sucked into stupid stuff and I can focus on what I am doing and how I feel.  Easy first mile and then I got up to my long run pace.  Plan today was easy out and back with a fast finish.   As we are running up Congress, they are getting set up for the Live Strong 5K.  Not sure how that will impact the way back.  They were closing UT down as we ran past the stadium - yeah - that means traffic free roads on the way back.  A few of the side roads between Duval and red River were freaking pitch black - I was extra careful.  Cruised all the way to Northcross Mall - uneventful - I'm just feeling good and enjoying this absolutely, off the charts perfect weather.  Turned around at Northcross Mall and now am on the marathon course.  Felt great on the slight down hills - smooth - I didn't worry about pace - it was all about effort.  Still on my own.  As we got back to the Intermural fields, we caught the AT&T 7 am group.  A lot of them turned around at that point.  I found their inane chatter annoying.  I can see how that would annoy people who were sleeping - it was really annoying me.  Left most of them behind on 46th and focused on maintaining rythym and form on the slight up hill to Red River.  Did not lose pace as I have in the past.  Still feeling really strong.  Reminded myself to hold back until UT.  As I turned on to 41st street across from Hancock Center - I remember thinking last year how the Austin Marathon was in the bag - a done deal and that it was time to haul butt.  Once back at UT, I picked up the pace to MGP.  That's not a super fast finish but for me it's a safe fast finish.  There was a lot of foot traffic and redlights to negotiate and I didn't want to have a wreck because my brain was tired.  Maintained pace up San Jac and down 11th - turned onto Congress - now I'm going backwards on the LiveStrong course - I ran through the finish backwards and cruised past the people walking to the finish - this whole section from UT until 6th street was closed to traffic - yay!!  Kept going along 4th over to Rogue and even managed 5 strides at the end.

Did I mention the amazing weather?  It was freaking perfect.  I felt great even though my left ankle is just plain stiff and I can't seem to loosen it up.  I can remember when 20 miles was a momentous occasion.  Not now, it's just another opportunity to get out and enjoy running.

Hope everyone else had a great day too!!