All In All We're Just Another Brick

Yesterday, I embarked upon a quest to again set a personal record for distance running.  I plotted out and departed for what I planned to be a 20-mile run.  I had a relatively easy and familiar course plotted, prepped, ate, hydrated, and dressed accordingly.  I told myself that if I finished 20 in 3 hours or so I'd be quite happy.  The first few miles clicked away with relative ease.  I was maintaining about an 8:30 pace average through the first 12-13 miles, and thought for sure I'd meet my goal time and distance.  By 15, I was slowing, but expected that and figured I'd be good to go if I backed off the pace and rode it in to the end.  Toward 17 miles or so, I was coming up on the last hill of my course, and it was a doozy.  I crested it, but not without backing off to near walking pace, and the cramps were making their way in.  I shuffled the downhill portion of this hill, and settled in for the last couple of miles.  By 18, things were tightening up.  I was sure I'd finish the course, then at about 18.75, my body begain to revolt.  This is "The Wall" that so many runners talk about.  I'd heard the stories, and thought for sure this morning I'd be able to cross 20 miles without experiencing its effects.  Not so much, I found it, and hit it hard.  My glycogen stores were depleted, my water and Powerade were gone, I'd ate all the Gu I brought, and just couldn't go any further.  However, I still finished 18.90 miles in 2:51 (a 9:03 pace), so I still feel good about this long run.  I can also attest to the benefits of the ice bath.  I think I'm a believer!