This morning started off like so many others have for the past 2 years. The long run. I had 17 miles on tap and pieced it together to have people with me the whole time. It's not hard really. I met Bianca and Laura at Bianca's house at 6:00 am. They planned to run about 8 miles with me. We picked up Mary around the 3 mile mark and she planned to run 12. That means I had people with me for all but the last 3 miles of my run.
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| Laura and Bianca |
The hill coming out of Bianca's neighborhood is always a bear, but it seemed worse today. I was definitely brining up the rear and even stopped and power walked like 3 times. I told myself that tackling the hill wasn't today's challenge. My goal was to get through the long run and if that meant walking the hill, then that meant walking the hill. There is one more small hill leaving Bianca's neighborhood and I told the girls I wanted to walk it entirely. I know it was wimpy, but I really was just trying to make it through these tough miles without dying. Bianca and Laura tolerated my slow pace and I appreciate that.
Mile 1: 11:45
Mile 2: 11:33
Mile 3: 11:06
At just about the 3 mile mark we picked up Mary along the way and I warned her that is was slow going. I feel like I'm always apologizing for my pace even though I know I'm trying my best. No one ever makes me feel badly, but it's just my own feelings. I hoped, since we hit the three mile mark, my muscles would loosen up a bit and I could speed up a little.
Mile 4: 11:06
Bianca and Laura turned around at mile 4 and we said goodbye. I'm sure they picked up the pace and carried on back home. Thank you SO much ladies for running slowly with me. It really means a lot to me to have your support.
Mary and I trudged along and I don't think either one of us were particularly "feeling" this run, but we were up and we were doing it. I was really trying to have a good attitude and trying to get my body to cooperate, but I was feeling discouraged.
Around the 5 mile mark we saw the most beautiful sunrise. I wish I could describe to you how BIG and beautiful the sun looked. I tried to capture it with my iPhone, but it just doesn't do this sunrise justice. Seeing it reminded me how awesome that it is that I can be out enjoying just the ability to be able to run. My attitude immediately got better.
I wound up taking a Gu shortly after seeing the beautiful sun and I'll admit thinks started to take a turn for the better physically.
Mile 5: 10:47----> Gu
Mile 6: 10:56
Mile 7: 10:37
Mile 8: 10:50
After we got to the 8 mile mark I told Mary it was time to turn around. I have no idea why I got it in my head that 8 miles was the turn around. I guess I was thinking of Mary doing 6 (out and back) and thinking we picked her up at the 2 mile mark when we really picked her up at 3 miles. Clearly I should have known 8.5 was half of 17. I quickly realized my mistake, but told Mary, "Don't worry I'll add it on at the end." Yeah right!
We stopped around the 11 mile mark to fill up my water bottles and I took another Gu. I was actually feeling surprisingly well. My feet were feeling a little tired, but I wasn't hurting anywhere. I was still going slowly, but I was just trying to survive the heat and the miles.
Mile 9: 10:46
Mile 10: 10:54
Mile 11: 10: 35----> Gu
Mary and I never seem to have a shortage of things to talk about and I think this REALLY helps the time to go by so quickly. She and I have so much in common and I often times find myself bouncing things off of her. Thanks for being my sounding board Mary!
Mile 12: 10:54
Mile 13: 10:42
After the 13th mile Mary bid me farewell and headed home. With just 3 more miles to go to reach my car, I felt positive and like I could do it easily. It was definitely heating up and I was sweating buckets, but my attitude was good and my body wasn't too bad.
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| Love that the guy on the bike is totally checking her out!!! |
Around the 14 mile mark I started having some pain in my butt and hip that has been flaring up, but I'm just glad it waited until then to rear its ugly head. I definitely still wasn't running fast, but I was running and I was honestly happy with that. I decided then 16 was going to be good enough.
Mile 14: 11:12
Mile 15: 11:03
Mile 16: 11:21
Total: 2:56:19
Average: 11:00
Just like that 16 miles were finished. It was nowhere near as bad as I had imagined, and even though I couldn't imagine running 10.2 more today, I know I'm one step closer to being prepared for the marathon.
Flashing the 1 and the 6 for 16 miles! Yeah!
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