i really don’t know what’s gotten into me. perhaps caitlin has inspired me. perhaps my former self has (the one who ran a 1/2 marathon lst november). after my 1/2 marathon last year (2:17:39), I stopped running. I took a few months off. at first it was weird, i missed it. but after a while i was okay. i started focusing on strenght training. i ran a 10K with my sister on 2.14.09 and that was pretty much the last time i ran until 9.21.09.
end of september to the end of october i pretty much ran anywhere from 3-5 miles. then i thought, “i wonder if i could do another 1/2 marathon before my one year anniversary of my first 1/2?” which would be 11.11.09. so i set out to accomplish that goal. on 11.4.09 i ran 6.25. thursday, 11.5.09 i was informed that mywork would be closed 11.6.09 due to asphalt resurfacing. perfect day for a long run! in the very back of my mind i was going to try for 13.1, but if i didn’t get there i’d be okay since i still had 5 more days. in the middle of my brain i just told myself to run 10 miles. when i got to 10 i felt great and knew i could do 13.1. i bought clif shot bloks the night before and took a bite around 6, 8, 10, and 12 (i think).
i went farther than 13.1….i did 13.35! i even BEAT my time from last year! I did 13.35 in 2:13:14…a pace of 9:58 minute mile! i was extatic. i cried ( i cried last year, too) i called my husband and cried and laughed and cried some more! I just could not believe i did it again and even did a little better. it was the greatest feeling of accomplishment.
i stuck around 10-15 minutes and stretched. i went home and made a delicious bowl of oat bran. i wasnt really hungry, in fact i felt a little nauseous ( i remember i felt that ay last year, too) but i knew i needed to eat something.
i ate while i iced my knees,watched tv, and just reveled in the fact that i ran for 13.35 miles. without stopping.
….then…..i was bitten…….
i bet i could run a full marathon if i wanted. sure. there are plenty of other people who do. why not me?
and there it began.
now the rest of the day, the next day and even a little bit on sunday i.was.sore. like i could hear and feel my hips ‘clicking’ my butt was sore, my calves, my thighs. but it was kind of fun. i knew i did something hard, but i did it.
monday i ran 3 miles. wednesday i ran 5 miles. friday i ran 3.1 miles.
saturday i told myself, again…just make it to 10. when i was at 10 my goal was 13.35. when i was at 13.35 my goal was 14. when i was at 14 my goal was 15. then out of nowhere i ran 16.06 without stoppig! and again beat my last long race min/mile time.
stats:
16.06 miles. 2:38:45. 9:52 min/mile average.
my sister was supposed to come the last few miles but she was late and made it for the last mile maybe. another runner caught up to me to pass me and asked if i was training for a race as he noticed i must be doing a long run when he saw me take some goo (it was another clif chot blok) i ended up chatting with him for abut a mile and a half. it was wonderful! i was trying to keep up with him ( maybe at a 9:30-9:45 pace) and the talking was wonderful! we talked about running. he really inspired me to do a marathon, too. he only began running in 2001, he’s an older man, late 50′s? he’s done 4 marathons! well i looked down and noticed 16.06 miles and i needed to stop since i really was only planning on 15 miles and i had 45 minutes to stretch, get home, eat and leave to see my sister run her first race!
i walked like i just got off a horse. my chins were burning but i felt great…on the inside! i did it again! i didnt cry this time, but i felt just as accomplished and proud of my body as i did last week.
i need to do better at blogging more often. i have felt so incredible the past week and a half. it’s amazing the things we can accomplish with just a little bit of faith in ourselves.
*pictures to come*
