20 miles..still Alive

After running 20 miles this weekend, it is safe to say, I am still alive.  

I woke up bright and early and made my way over to my favorite spot for a long run.  I met up with Jessica and Aimee who are both training for Chicago.  Jessica is also doing Disney with me, and when I saw with, I simply mean we will be there the same weekend because, well, I am slow.

We were off and I brought my handy dandy flashlight (which I somehow already lost) this time.  It was needed and Jessica kept hearing animal noises and I was luckily their guard.  

This run started out slower for me than most runs.  By mile one I was scared I wasn't going to make it, or I would have to walk majority of it.  By mile 4 my body started to cooperate.  I practiced running to the water stops and after I would get water, walk for a few minutes because realistically, that is how I am going to do it in New York.  For NY, I know I am not going to break any records, and I may even finish slower than my last run even though that is highly unlikely unless I stop and smell the roses or get sick.  Wow, I talk a lot.

The next time I looked at my watch it was mile 5.5 because I wanted to see what time it was..well, I couldn't my watch turned off.  It wold not power back on and I know it was fully charged.  I was freaking out in my head.  Luckily, my trail has every mile numbered and figured out how I wold get all 2o miles in before hand.  Hallelujah!!  I truly believe my Garmin not working was a blessing in disguise.  I didn't worry once about my pace, I paid attention to my form and my crazy swinging arms.  I took my time and felt great.

At mile 11 I met up with some cool folks I know from Team in Training.  They were doing 9 miles so they were at mile 2(ish).  Christa was so kind to let me borrow her watch just because I like to know what time it is.  I trecked on along with some cool folks for another 3 miles.  It was their turn to turn around and I still had 1.5 to go.  At this point I was starting to feel it.  

Mile 16 is where it hit me.  I was hydrating and every water stop.  I had some gatorade I brought along the way and was eating my honey stingers about every 4-5 miles.  I knew I had four miles to go.  That was the only thing getting me though the rest of the miles.  Every step I got closer to my car the happier I became.  I just wanted to shop.

Mile 17 I walked..I hurt.  My arms were chaffed I had to keep them up.

At mile 18 I ran walked because its the easiest mile to break  up with the bridge :)

Mile 19 I saw my amazing friend Kat and I "ran" the rest of the way home.  And by home, I mean to my car.  I wanted to cry.  I hurt and wanted to be done already.  I am not sure how I am going to make it 26.2 miles.  After the run, I am not sure how I am making it 39.3 miles in January.  I also wanted to do a Ultra, a 50k trail run.  

Well.  Finishing my first 20 miler of the season was an accomplishment.  I finished in under 5 hours, I had nothing to pace myself.  That included all the times I stopped to chat and eat.  

Thanks roommate for letting me use the tub

After the 20 mile run, it was off to Panera and a 30 pound ice bath.

Before I started my run, I bribed myself.  I do that often.  I tell myself, if I complete XXX then I get XXX.  Today was a trainer for my bike.

Not only did I get a trainer, I now needed  a new watch.  This was one expensive weekend for me.  I guess that means a lot of saving the next few months.

How do you get through tough long runs?  How do you motivate yourself? 

**Please check out my Team in Training Website.  For every $5.00 donation now through October 1st, you can choose a song for my to listen to and pick the mile for either the NYC Marathon or DIsney Marathon weekend :)**

Team in Training Webpage