The first 25 Miler

So Sundays long run...and what a long run it was!

I started out at Goodson Rec Center at 7:30 in the morning. The temp was 25 degrees with the promise of high 40s later in the day.

My plan was to run out the High Line Canal Trail for 5 miles and return to the car to get more water- run out another 5 and return to car for water and then last 5 miles. I had bottles and bottles of water in my car- my Go Lite Fanny Pack ready and loaded and plenty of daylight to burn.

I started off my run at a very leisurely pace...my coach won't allow me to look at my Garmin to check pace or heart rate, so not sure my pace-just knew it felt good and I was not going out too fast.

You know there IS something about the EGO when you see people passing you. I have to hold my ego in check and what helps me do that is to think about the fact that these people probably where not running 25 miles. Thinking of this allows me to be ok with the fact that I was running slow.....Not to say that I actually ever run fast....but, that this run was going to take a few hours and my personal goal was to feel strong for the whole 25 miles.

So my first 10 miles went great. Felt fantastic- there was a slight breeze- the sun was shinning- and the people on the trail where friendly.....I fueled myself regularly and when I got to the car I exchanged water bottles and headed back out for another 10 miles.

As I was on my way back- around mile 16- I was running up this short hill and coming toward me was a run I recognized....It was my good friend Kristen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was so incredible to see her out there! I was instantly filled with love and energy! It was like a shot of adrenaline. To get a hug from her in the middle of my run was a wonderful gift! And with no time to dally- we both kept on our ways.

I made it back to the car for mile 20 and at this point my other very good friend Elizabeth (see blog entry "funnin on the mesa") met me for the last 5 miles of my run. What an amazing friend to do this.....So-I picked up another fresh water bottle- grabbed Elizabeth and we were off for the finale.

Elizabeth was awesome...you have to realize that she is a good 9" taller than me, and bless her heart she was running my pace the whole time. It was so cute because Elizabeth had all these wonderful stories to tell me- and it was perfect..... I didn't have to talk and could just listen to what she said-which helped to take my mind off the fact that I had already run 20 miles and that some body parts where starting to be a bit uncomfortable.

By the time we finished it was about 5 1/2 hours after I started....and the best part (or one of the best parts) was that I finished STRONG! I felt great! Elizabeth even commented that I was running a pretty good pace in the last few miles.....How exciting is that!

You know-after the marathon- and how I did not finish strong- it was nice to have the experience of finishing strong on this run.... What a difference going out slow can make-PLUS proper nutrition.

So-Thank you Elizabeth (immensely) and thank you Kristen for helping me get through my 25 mile run this past Sunday......It was a spiritual experience....and LOVE YOU GALS!