Wrong Turn at Lungfish

Was it Kierkegaard or Dick Van Patten who said, "Oops, I did it again?

Someone like that anyway.

So, I set out on my 9 mile run this Sunday.  Eight miles two weeks before, a 10K race last week - nice easy progression.  And . . . I forgot the road jogged left and I stayed straight - onto a different road - en route to an eleven mile run, the middle of which had a decided uphill slant, somewhat similar to Everest.  (OK, so I compare all the hills I run to mountains - it makes me feel better.)  There is a decided loss in intensity when you realize you have no idea where you are going - or how long the run is going to end up being.  Add in the fact that it was exactly 32 degrees, and it was a much more challenging morning than I had planned.  But, I still did well considering, and that makes me pretty pleased.  I missed the personal fanfare of setting out on my first double digit run though - it just kind of happened.  Oh well.

I'm still following my half-marathon schedule ending on January 21st, my original goal.  I'm switching to the marathon training one next week culminating in the ING Marathon on March 29th.  Yes, looking back at what I've written here, there a significant gap.  I went to the Group Run at Big Peach, and it was a 'start the training for the ING Half/Full.'  With $15 off the entry fee - I made the decision then and there and signed up for 26.2.  I'm really going to do it.

There's a lot I want to write about that . . . but I'll hold off for now.  Suffice to say, I think it is going to be a pretty momentous event in my life when I cross that finish line.    

Run a 10K Race . . .Check!

My first distance race!  And, YES, I define 6.2 miles as distance considering I used to think anything beyond a mile was absurd!  Even though I have done 8 miles in training at this point, finishing this race was a huge feeling of accomplishment.  While I was pretty calm at the start, the questions were running through my head, Can I keep the pace I want, not go out too fast and gas at the end, not have to walk....all the standard questions.  Short answer, yes!  (Which is what I mentally screamed out as I crossed the finish line.)  

And almost more important than the distance to me - I broke through a HUGE mental block.  All through the race each time we hit a hill (and there were a lot of them) there would be someone near me cursing or complaining.... and it was such a realization that they weren't bothering me at all!  In one of the books I read, it mentions something to the effect of, 'treat a hill as a nice change of pace where you get to break the monotony of the flats and use different muscles.'  When I read it, I thought, "Yeah right, I'm running hills in training and they're just...miserable."  I have been petrified of hills in a race (and if I had looked into this course a little more beforehand, I might have skipped it as my first 10K.)  But yesterday, that quote is really how I felt, and that was a huge weight off my chest.    To find out that training works (Thanks Hal!) is just such a great feeling!  Now THAT'S motivation!