For our penultimate long run before the marathon, we returned to a trail we ran last month.

Underneath a light dusting of snow, the trail seemed smooth and flat. Now with the snow melted (and rain spritzing for the first nine or so miles), we discovered areas of ruts from bike tires, divots from horseshoes, and mud puddles that we had to zigzag around.

Some of it was smooth and flat, but the “stone dust surface” is packed pretty hard, making very different than the asphalt we’re used to.

Still, my left knee held out and I was able to run the whole 22 miles. I’ve been wearing a knee brace recommended by a sports doctor I saw last week — I finally got it checked out (since it’s been bothering me sporadically for over a year), to make sure I could keep running on it.

Unfortunately, the other knee started hurting!

I think my right knee wants a brace too. One of my friends has also had lots of knee trouble, and despite having straps on both knees had an extra strap on her. Once I put that on, the pain got a bit better and I was able to finish.

Or maybe the ibuprofen I took a few miles back kicked in. A little of both?

It was slow (we’re partially blaming the puddle-jumping), but we did it.

And then we got burritos and wine, and soaked in my friend’s hot tub.

We earned it!