20 miles

Wow!

Yesterday was THE test.

I passed.

It feels so good to have that 20 mile run under my belt.

I headed out yesterday at just about noon. Armed with 2 bottles of water, 2 carb/electrolyte gel packs and a few tissues. (I have been battling a head cold this week.) I went without my trusty iPod this run. Believe it or not, it was nice running without music filling my ears.

I headed out on my course nice and easy (aka: slowly).

It's a little weird running with two water bottles in my hands but I had a plan.

About 4 miles into this run I ditched one of my full, unopened water bottles on the side of the path with the intention of collecting it, drinking it on my way back.

Can you believe that it wasn't there when I came back?

Really, who picks up a water bottle off the side of the road? Who?

Never in my thoughts did it occur to me that someone else might pick up my water bottle...

Gross. I know it was unopened, but I would never have picked up a random water bottle!

Not even to throw away, lets be honest.

But all the same, it was gone when I finally made it back. Crazy.

Oh well. I ran into the Walgreen's not far from where I had ditched my water bottle and drank from their fountain. I still got water.

I ran straight out Metro Parkway 10 miles, turned around and ran back.

At the turning point I sucked down 1 gel pack and 1/2 my water then pitched the rest in the nearby garbage can. These gel packs, they're supposed to give you a little energy boost...

Do they? I can't say if it is physical or psychological - but they do, they're nice to have.

I made it to 10 miles in 1 hour 52 minutes.

A much slower pace than if I were running just 10 miles.

But my goal for this race is "to finish".

I anticipate it taking me 5 - 5.5 hours to finish.

Figuring it would take me 4 hours to run 20 miles, I was right on with my pace.

I had hoped to suck down my 2nd gel pack when I recovered my ditched water bottle (about 16 miles in), but since some random knucklehead helped themselves to it - I had to push through to Walgreens (~17 miles in) so that I could get some water to have with it.

I finished my run in 3 hours and 58 minutes (including potty/water detour).

I was so happy, I cried!

I did it!

Chris, Logan, Steven and Celeste were all waiting for me with hugs and congratulations!

It was AWESOME!

I walked a bit, then sat down to stretch out.

No knee pain.

My feet were tired, my legs were tired.

My hip flexors were tired and sore.

But it was over, I dit it!

Happiness is:

~having that 20 miler behind you instead of looming over you~

~having your family greet you with smiles and kisses when you get home~

~knowing it is NOT impossible~

~dreaming of the finish line~

~a Walgreens with a bathroom and water fountain~