Long Run

Lovely symmetry.  On October 11 I am writing about how I ran 11 miles this Saturday, on Route 940 in the Poconos.

I was a little nervous, since I would be running 11 miles all by myself, no distractions other than what my head could dream up, and I wasn’t sure exactly how hilly the route was.  I mean, knew it was hilly, but I wasn’t sure if the hills were steep, or just gradual but extended.  So, I got a lot of sleep on Friday, woke up early Saturday and methodically got myself ready for my run.  Toast with peanut butter, coffee, I filled my fuel belt with Gatorade and water, strapped on my watch, tied up my pigtails, and hopped in the car.

I drove the route I’d mapped out before I ran it, and got really excited.  It was a beautiful morning — clear & sunny with a breeze, the foliage was turning and so the red, orange, yellow and green leaves waved against the blue sky.  I parked the car, and headed off.

It was a solid run.  Not a great run, where I was elated the whole time, but a good one, where I didn’t get so winded, I maintained my form, and I kept my mind occupied enough that the miles didn’t seem endless.  After a few of the hills I was a little tired and flopped out of good form, but slowed down and pulled myself together.  When I got to the half-way mark and turned around, I was so excited that I wasn’t too tired, that I still had juice, and that I’d even made it that far.  I finished the run in 1 hour 58 minutes, which averages out to about a 10:45 minute mile.  That, I can’t believe.  Truly a fluke, that I was that “fast.”  As my gentle, funny, and brutally honest coach likes to say: “Speed is a relative meausre.”  Yeah, and he also likes to say: “None of you are going to win this race.”   Yeah!

After the race, on the drive home, I was feeling pretty macho and strong.  You know, kind of jocky.  That is, until the emotions kicked in and I gave a few quick sobs since I was so surprised, proud and happy I’d actually run all that way by myself and without stopping or injury.

All the rest of the day I was physically exhausted — a little sore, dragging.  And then on Sunday, I didn’t get out of my pajamas until like 6pm when husband made me.

Sunday is the Staten Island half-Marathon, and husband, mom and dad are all coming to watch.  Husband is bringing the dog, too!