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.
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| 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 :)**
