25 in the snow

25M long run (as crescendo as the snow would allow)

I was going to keep it a bit shorter and sharper today, but the snow made me change things around a bit. I was in Oxford and ran four and a bit laps of Port Meadow (with a detour down to Folly Bridge). It was 25 miles.

The snow wasn't too deep - about 2 inches - and was a good running surface where it was fresh. Ideal for my Innov8 trail shoes. What slowed me more than anything was that it was melting. The tow path in particular was really slushy. My feet were soaked by the end.

I slowly increased the speed and pushed as hard as I could for the last loop (6 miles). The surface (and perhaps the aches left from Friday's effort and my exercises yesterday) meant that it wasn't as good as a road long run. And it was my hamstrings and glutes that felt the pain mainly. But it was still a good one. And not a bad way to end another really solid week.

Yes, I'm still on the post-long run endorphin buzz, but I am enjoying my running more than ever.