6 Miles

Each week is now "personal record week". Since I am fairly new to running since I have never gotten very far with it, each time I run seems like I am setting personal records. I had never run more than a 5K before. When I ran 4 miles, it was a record. Last week when I went 5.3, it was a record.

Yesterday was another record. 6 miles.

I have to write about them the next day because that's when I truly feel it.

I had been with a friend of mine on Friday. She was planting a garden yesterday in memory of a good friend/family member. I told her I wouldn't be able to join her because I was running. She mentioned that is where her friend would rather be. Her friend was a runner. Loved it and was damn good at it. I remember several Corporate Challenges before she died. She would completely look the part in the running shorts (my thighs still rub together too much for me to wear running shorts so I wear spandex) and her running shirt with sports bra. She would return to the corporate tent afterward not even looking as though she broke a sweat. That is a complete change from what I experience.

At any rate, I told my friend that I would think of her friend while I was running.

And I did.

The first mile seemed much harder than previous miles. In fact I was worried that since it was so difficult, the last 5 would be impossible.

Mile 2 and 3, also difficult. We usually had a water break at mile 2 but yesterday they moved it to mile 3. I didn't know what to do! I thought, good lord, I need my water at mile 2. I thought I would break the 6 miles into three 2 mile pieces, with water after each 2 miles. But the coaches had a different idea and I have to follow along.

I think I thought of my friend's friend at about mile 2.7. There is a lovely little wooden bridge that crosses some creek or another. It is quite beautiful. I don't quite remember what I thought but I remember that it made me smile. I also wouldn't say it motivated me to continue, per se. But the fact that I smiled is enough.

When you feel as though you are killing yourself, if you can crack a smile, something is working in your favor. If you keep going, that's worth the effort.

Today I am limping around - more for sympathy than anything else (I am a Leo and fond of dramatics) - because my thighs are screaming for me never to run again. I will shut them up tomorrow when I run 2.5 miles with ease (it better be with ease after 6).

And I will do yoga later to make them feel a bit better.

After the water stop at mile 3, we turned around. The countdown is much easier for me. And I seem to get a second wind. It's as if the first half is a warm up and the second is just because I can. At mile 3.5 I felt pretty good and thought I could have kept going.

When I finished 6 miles, I thought, I think I could keep running if I had to. Thankfully I didn't have to.

Until next week. When it's 7. I better smile more than once. Thanks D.

My Personal Best

WOW! Whoever would have thought that I would be running 5 miles. And not just 5 miles, but 5.3 miles. In one day - all at one time.

This past week I skipped my Tuesday workout. I don't know why Tuesdays are so difficult for me. I work at the Downtown Country Market. I love it. But when I'm finished I don't want to run. And I usually plan things directly afterward which doesn't leave me much time to run.

I ended up just moving the workouts so Wed. I ran 3 miles, Thurs, 2, and Friday - 3 miles.

Friday is another story. I thought I would be clever and wear these shorts that would be looser on me. Turns out they rode up and I ended up chaffing because my thighs are not as small as they could be. Horribly uncomfortable. Didn't run 3 miles but ran 2.5 and walked .5. That's fine because Saturday....

Saturday was five miles. I was nervous because I had never run more than 3.5 miles in one setting. What if I couldn't? Then I remembered that I can do anything I set my mind to. The weather also cooperated. Wonderfully sunny, breezy, cool day. It could not have been more then 75 degrees which, given our recent heatwave, means we should have broken out the moon boots and parkas.

So I ran - consistently the entire way. Then as we were approaching the 2.5 mile mark, we couldn't find the marker! Those bastards colored the white marker black so we couldn't see it (I am sure that was not their motivation, but it felt like it at that point). By the time others realized it, they had run 2.7. I run slower so I only ran 2.65. So technically I ran about 5.3 miles or so.

And I felt good.

In fact, our team mentor was out taking pictures after the 2 mile mark and I smiled. I think I even giggled. I actually thought, hey, you're getting your picture taken, strike a pose, look like a runner, stand tall and sassy! Now, before training I would have looked like some kind of freak struggling to breath and stand upright gasping for breath with drool running down her chin - too tired to wipe it.

Then I got home and realized my legs were more like jello than anything and had to relax while my boyfriend changed the brakes in my vehicle. Not that I would be any help in that regard.

I am now looking forward to my runs. I have a day off tomorrow and plan to do yoga because that's an awesome low impact workout that will stretch my muscles. Muscles that are getting more supple and toned each day! And then I have to run 2 miles on Monday.

WHAT? Only two miles?