I had some pretty solid mid-week runs and I'm pretty sure I'm still on a runner's high so I wasn't all that concerned about running the dreaded 20-miler >> until of course Saturday morning when the day actually came!
My 4 year old woke me at a decent time - 8am-ish, and him and I had a nice breakfast and relaxed with a movie on the couch before my noon run date with my mom. I started to feel sleepy at 10:30am and worried if my low iron would keep me from having the kind of run that I needed in order to feel confident for Nashville.
I did my best to get rest even if it wasn't sleep, and hoped that my nerves would turn into excitement and give me the boost of energy I needed to start the longest journey of my running life...
I had the whole run planned out... my mom would meet me at noonish for a 10 mile run, and as we headed out the door I would text my friend Steph who would meet us approx. 1h40min later at my house and join me for the second 10 miles. My goal was to get 20 miles in and if I could do that with company I knew it would be SO much easier! The weather was great. The sun was bright but the wind was chilly, which made for a gorgeous day for a run. Mom and I did a 10mile out-n-back. I 'gu'd at 7 miles. When we got back, Steph was only 2 minutes away and was ready for our 2nd 10 miles! Mom stayed with us for the first bit but had to turn around as she was out of time to run. Steph reminded me to 'gu' at 14 miles, and she also kept reminding me that I WAS DOING GREAT and if I needed to slow down or walk it was PERFECTLY OK.
Neither one of us could believe the miles were ticking off as easily or as quickly as they did! With 2.5 miles left in the run and approx. 3 miles left to my house I felt it necessary to quickly run in to a convenience store and grab some gatorade - I knew as soon as my GPS read "20 miles" I would NEED fluid. Steph and I each carried a bottle... I refused to stop and fill my fuelbelt bottles - I didn't want to stop for any long amount of time and seize up with such a short and critical distance to go!
Boy was it a miracle to get to 20 miles... my legs felt FANTASTIC but my arms and shoulders? DEAD from carrying a measly gatorade bottle!!! I guess after 18 miles of running my body didn't want ANY added weight or stress.
To my amazement my GPS read:
20.0 miles in 3:33:45 >> A FREAKIN 10:41 PACE ON A TRAINING RUN!!!
And by some miracle, I wasn't that sore the next day and even made it out for a 4 mile hill training run!
Between my Around the Bay race and my 20 miler man oh man do I ever feel unstoppable! I KNOW I KNOW... the race is NOT 20 miles its 26.2 and that last 6.2 is likely the hardest thing I'll ever do in life other than natural childbirth (and yes, been there done that). And my training has been FLAT and Nashville is NOT... but I truly feel I can handle anything that course throws at me. I will not finish first, but I WILL FINISH. And that has been my goal all along.
And now?! TAPER TIME!! >> the gun goes off in just 16D14H1M38S!
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