Well.
I did it.
I ran 20 miles.
So strange. And fabulous! I can hardly think 20 miles, and somehow I ran it. It feels really good to say it, and I find that somehow, the more I run, the more I find I am naturally inclined toward doing it. That makes me quite happy.
So... here's how it went:
I didn't sleep very well the night before... The main reason being that in typical fashion of me, I was afraid I would oversleep my alarm, and would awake with a start multiple times throughout the night. About an hour before I needed to get up, I feel asleep quite decently. Too bad it wasn't much.
I needed to drive from Victoria, MN to Stillwater, MN for this training run, so that meant getting up at about 5 am to ensure that I had food, water, vitamins in me and leaving no later than 6 am. I did manage to get there a tad after 7 am (great music in the car along the way), and while I initially got a bit lost in Stillwater (I don't really know the place), I found my way and met up with some other runners.
The upcoming rain must have scared away a few, but right away I was noticing that the general vibe of the people at this training run... was about the best I have ever come across. It was was really wonderful... like stepping a bit into a family... great energy. Good feel. Definitely was thinking, "Wow. I could do this a lot. I like these type of people."
I was a bit nervous about completing this whole 20 miles, especially as I had never done it before... and so I started off in the slowest pacing group--the 10 min/mile and over. It seemed like a good idea initially so that I wouldn't wear myself out. But within the first few miles, and the other pacing groups were either passing or catching up, I stopped trying to stay with the 10 min/mile group, and aimed for a couple of people I knew were about a 9:30 min/mile pace. About half a mile from the first water stop, I noticed a girl passing the 10 min/mile group a ways behind me and as I saw her catching up, had to wonder if she was at my pace so that I wouldn't have to run by myself. There were some really awesome people on the run, but finding the right people in the running speed I could maintain for the full miles was a bit more difficult.
After stopping for a bit at the first water stop, and drinking some high fructose corn syrup drink--aka, powerade, but it was so helpful!--and asking the girl what her pace was, we set off with one another... at a pretty decent pace. It felt good. That really emphasized to me how important finding the right "fit" and pacing partner. Seriously, Rachel, it was amazing! I couldn't have made it so well without you!
Oh, and did I mention it was raining. Oh, and not just raining. In the first 5 miles it dumped. Seriously poured! I was drenched. It was not particularly warm, and so my hands got a bit stiff from the cold. But my feet stayed cool! I was still soaked even at the end of the 20... probably because it didn't completely stop drizzling, at least. When it was really raining hard, I was kind of wondering if I could run with my eyes shut... I could hardly see from how much it was raining.
During the run... Definitely felt the hills. I slowed down slightly (other than the water stops, which felt amazing on my legs as the blood and nerves went rushing back into place), twice--once when I had put my hair back in a pony tail. And once with a massive hill. But I caught up to Rachel again... ha... So glad!
I like hills actually fairly well... but I tell you... the hills in Stillwater and there around... they don't end. The downhills became my friends. And I loved the bursts of energy I was finding along the way.
Rachel and I had some good conversations along the way... Ha... We had about 3 hours. And granted, at one point, we missed a turn, and ended up going a little out of the way... but fortunately, there was a dead end before long... right after a wonderful enjoyment of going down a hill, which we then turned around and enjoyed less going up. Ha... oh well. We figured we did about an extra half mile. So... technically, we did 20.5 miles... or approximately there abouts.
Oh, and did I mention that at first Rachel had planned one of the shorter runs, but was feeling good and enjoying it so much that she kept going with me. It was the furthest she had ever run, too. I am so glad she was there! So VERY glad she was there! Thanks, Rachel!
Oh, the funny things we talked about... The "sloshy" feeling when you've drank too much water and have to keep going with that sloshy feeling in your stomach. The fact that the pain with running really does decrease the more you run over time. Granted... both of us had our hips and knees hurting in those last few miles. It was after the mile 16 water stop... yeah... those last 4 miles...
And that's really where the "runner aggression" came out. We had talked about that before it hit, but it's actually always amusing to me in retrospect.
What is runner aggression? It's the fact that you are so exhausted that if a car doesn't move over or stop for you, you have a very big inclination to flip them off. Suddenly any inconvenience or anyone in the way or making you stop or slow down when you're just really needing to finish those last miles... suddenly annoyances are MUCH bigger. Don't put a weapon in the hand of a runner finishing their last miles. Don't ask questions. And don't take it badly if they tell you to shut up. But just the same, you probably should shut up. (smile...)
We made good on the time... being a little over 3 hours... and every last surprising hill up or every last bit of pain was met with somewhat of a complaint by one and usually a comment or distraction or both by the other person. It helped. Suddenly saying lots of random words... and "oh look, the birds!" "nice house!" "Syracuse... or... I mean, Sycamore street..."
But we were there. 20 miles. And I felt good. Really good and happy! And I've been invited to do another 20 with the group in another couple of weeks. I think I will. I need to anyway.
In relation to food. I definitely need to put some food at the water stops that I can eat. And something besides poweraide. I need electrolyte drinks. So! Who's in for the water stops for me? (smile!)
Loving the running. Loving this marathon... I'm thinking already that this is a repeat.
Oh. And random. But I was talking to another runner about typical problems people have when running. Like blisters, chafing, dehydration, etc. I am trying to stay REALLY well hydrated during the week. Really important. And eating well. For me, like I've said before, staying away from any animal products helps so much for right before the run. Amazing.
The food and hydration has needed a bit of figuring out. I was able to run up to 12-13 miles without food and just water or tea. But I start feeling my limits around 10 miles. Or approximately in the 12-13 range. I also really feel the pull at 16 miles. After 18... amazingly, I probably could have finished an entire 26.2 Because I was zoning, coasting... cruising.
My toes do blister a bit. And my toenails bruise. But otherwise, I'm pretty much set and I feel good. I feel good doing 20 miles. How did that happen? Not that I could do it every day. I was REALLY tired. Loopy. Light headed. Even after the food. Sleep helped.
I REALLY like running. I'm just still needing people with me. Three hours can get long. So, I love the company! I love the activity of life. And I keep thinking about my bike. It's not an incredible bike. But it's mine. And I think it needs some company soon. June might be a bit far. So some Sunday, it's coming out for company. And I'll be climbing a bit more... as I can afford it. And keeping up with the yoga. Yoga is still great and wonderful and amazing. Such good stretches!
I ran 20 miles. And I wanted to flip off a couple of cars. But I am SO VERY HAPPY that I ran that. How did that happen?
P.S. I had a double serving of this last night... amazing... and zero muscle cramps. It's the Magnesium by Flora. Check it out. Tastes good, too!
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