Last Run in 2012, 20 miles, Sunshine in Portland!

My entire city was alive today.  Portland, Oregon was awake like I've never seen it before on a December Sunday.  The last Sunday in 2012.  MY Last run in 2012.  And my first 20 miler of this training season.  Couldn't have dreamed up a better kind of day to wrap up a year, finish up a 63 mile week of marathon training, and get in my first 20 miler.

Blue Skies... 8:41

Blazing Sunshine... 8:25

Not a Cloud to be seen... 8:24

Happy Bridges... 8:23

Dogs on Leashes... 8:29

Slow conversations ... 8:11

Smiles exchanged between people in the park.. 8:13

Lovers holding hands and stealing kisses while gazing at sailboats and mountains over water... 8:22

Old couples hand in hand... 8:28

Boats waving... 8:12

Buildings being seen instead of washed away in grey and rain... 8:23

Little kids on bikes... 8:21

A chorus of "On your Lefts" as cyclists zipped through lazy pedestrians with their face to the sky.. 8:15

Water bubbling under bridges... 8:21

Benches covered with friends... 8:28

Women sitting at picnic benches reading their phones and looking off into the distance... 8:19

A party of geese covering lawns and barely willing to share their path with people ... 8:26

A city alive with the gift of sunshine, so rare on a day like today...8:19

Every mile, easy and fully present...8:17

Thoughts focused on what a GIFT today is!  7:57

20 miles.. 8:21 average

I'm so glad for my 20 miler today.  It was easy, enjoyable, and GOSH, what a difference sunshine and blue skies makes!  It is so much better finishing up feeling dry and happy compared to sopping wet and cold from the rain and wind that I had expected to have today.  It also helped that this time I didn't have a few beers the night before like I did with my 18 miler two weeks ago.  I was able to run with a clear head and a strong body. Every mile was easy to just focus on the life around me on such a happy day. When I did find myself getting distracted in thought, I just reminded myself to focus on my Chi principles of breathing, relaxation, body sensing and meditation.  These words or cues always work great in getting me in my happy place with my run.  My goal here was for this first 20 miler to feel easy and to experiment with fueling.  I had water every 3 miles and a gel at mile 6 and 12.  No upset stomach and plenty of energy.  Feels good to not only end a 63 mile week this way but to have this be my last run in 2012 since tomorrow is my day off.

What a perfectly happy and enjoyable run to wrap up this interesting stretch of a year!  Here's to carrying this over with me to 2013!

What has or will be your last run of 2012?  
If you live in Portland, did you get outside today to enjoy this gift of a day?  

A Happy New Year wish in advance my friends!
Amanda