Well looks like this post will be split into two separate ones because it will be long since I have not posted a blog in a few weeks and I apologize for that. It seems that we stay pretty busy and my husband has had some issues with his truck so we have been preoccupied. I have been able to get a few runs in so I will tell you how those went.
Sunday I met up with the running group that I have been telling you about. The course was set out to run 10 miles but since my first race is Sept. 28 I needed to run 11. So I decided to add another mile like I usually do when I need to get more in than the group is running. Everything started out great and I ran with another lady for about 3 miles and we chatted off and on. I am definitely not one of those runners that can carry on a full blown conversation with someone else but it was nice to talk when we could.
Then a little further down we split ways and ran out our own pace. This long run seemed a little easier to me. I don't know if it was because I was not having to stop as much because I carried a water with me that slides on your hand when you run. I did great up until about 5 miles when I stopped to get GU gel. I struggled a little bit to get my momentum back up and there was a good half a mile of uphill so stopping and starting back is rough when you turn right around and go up a hill for a solid half a mile. Regardless of how long it took a minute to get started, I still made it up the hill.
After the hill, we had to make another turn and I did pretty good but I could tell that my legs were starting to get fatigued and to be able to finish 11 miles I was really going to have to work for it.
This next part is funny to me now but not on Sunday. I wind up running by myself for most of the run and with the course bring mapped out I still felt as though I was lost. I turned around and went back the way I came. Then when I got to one of the side roads, I realized that I wouldn't have gotten lost so, at the time, I didn't know how far my run was actually going to be. To be honest around 9.5 miles, I actually thought about calling my husband to come and get me. Then I remembered that his truck was at his Momma's since he was working on it the day before. After I realized that, I thought to myself that there was no way that I could have him come and pick me up even if he could have. I would have felt like a quitter and that would have bothered me all week so I kept trucking on. It was slow but I didn't give up.
When I reached mile 10, I really had some major doubts that I would be able to make it. After stopping a couple of times, I even gave myself a pep talk. In case you were wondering, yes it was out loud and yes I did answer myself. Lucky for me, no one was around to hear or see that. :) I literally had to gather what last bit of strength I had to just be able to finish the 3/4 of a mile I had left but I did. I can honestly say after that long run, I have never been so happy to see our local rec center in my life!!!
I have finished yet another long run. This one makes me going 3 miles past what I went last year in training. So even though it may not be the fastest right now, I feel better equipped for it this year and I have only one more "long" run of 12 miles before race day!!! I will do six miles the weekend prior to the race. So until next time.
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