This is Lake Waramaug, in New Preston, CT. This has been the training ground for coworker and training partner @spadachris and I for the last several weeks. I learned about Lake Waramaug from my friend Bill Baker, a serious marathoner and my virtual coach. It's just over 7.5 miles around, and mostly flat, which makes for a great training route. You can loop the lake and stop at your car after each loop and refuel with water, towel off, etc.

Lake Waramaug is also one of the more scenic running spots in CT, as it's a beautiful body of water, surrounded by multi-million dollar "cottages", where old money and new Wall Street money come to summer. (At least three weekends out of the year, anyway.)

We usually start our long runs at 6:15 in the morning, just as the sun is coming up on the lake. It's a beautiful time to run, and as the morning progresses, the road slowly fills with other runners and cyclists training around the lake. It's a popular destination for people who are training for longer races. It's fun to pass other people who are also on multiple loops, and know that you have something in common with them.

Today I was scheduled for a 19 mile run, my longest yet. I loaded up on carbs last night (really, just an excuse to eat all of the stuff that I love), and was up before the alarm at 5:30am. I arrived at the lake as the sun was rising, and snapped the pic above. @spadachris joined me for the first half of my run, which makes a huge difference. Great conversation goes a long way in forgetting about the miles you're logging.

All went well the entire length of the run, with only a dull pain in my left knee at mile 12 and then again at mile 18. I ran it out, and felt ok. In fact I felt so strong at the end, that I added another mile to the run, for a new personal distance record of 20.17 miles! I even picked up the pace for the last mile, and sprinted at the end. It felt great. Until I stopped. That dull pain in my knee kicked in big time once I stopped, and something inside my leg parts is swollen. Doesn't feel serious - just my knee saying "I wasn't designed for this!" Planning some ice and pain relievers for today, and will take it easy. Hoping it's all better in a day or two.

Anyway, completing 20 miles has built my confidence beyond anything that you can imagine, and I'm feeling completely ready for the marathon (now less than eight weeks away!)

As always, feel free to make a donation to the American Heart Association to help cover my donation/entry fee into the marathon! I can't do this without you.