16 Miles Completed!!!

Pre- 16 Mile Run

Today, I have a 16 mile run, the longest run I have done is a 14 mile run. I have been using the Galloway Marathon Training and this weeks run is actually a 20 mile run that I know I am not ready for, nor would I want to do 20 miles alone.  I have been pretty inconsistent in running since the beginning of December, that's another reason I chose to run 16 miles versus 20 miles.

So as I started my day off,  I decided to eat something with some substance to sustain energy levels while out there running. I had a peanut butter, honey, and banana sandwich followed by an 8oz. glass of milk.  I wanna say that's roughly 450 calories.  The last time I ran a long distance it was either 13 or 14 miles my glucose levels dropped. I got the shakes around  8.50 miles it wasn't good.

Uncle George is also in town(my period) he popped in yesterday, so this is his 2nd day of visiting.  It just SUCKS to do any kind of exercise when Uncle George is visiting(oh yeah, if there are any male friends of mine reading this blog, What were you expecting? You knew eventually the word "Period" would come up in a woman's blog, LMAO,  Come on stop acting so squeamish)  Well it's time for me to roll out!!!  Be back in a few hours...

 Post-Run

 I survived the 16 mile long run today!!  I am very proud to have it completed.  There were many times in my run that I asked myself, "what the hell are you doing"?  I started off out of my house headed West on Swenson, South on Lone Star, West on Carl Stern, North on 685,and  then West on Hwy 79.  I ran 8 miles out and 8 miles home.  The weather was perfect, I think it was 47 degrees when I left my house, I wore a tank top, 2 long sleeved shirts, capris (which I had put on backwards, LMAO) a bandanna, and sunglasses(I have a funky, raccoon sun burn/ sun tan).  By the time I got back at home I was just wearing the tank top, I ripped the other shirts off and tied them around my waist.  It was absolutely Gorgeous out there today.   I ran the first 3 miles straight and then from there on I did the Galloway Method-intervals of 3 minutes running and 1 minute of walking. 

It was H-A-R-D work!!!

 I made several stops along the way:

• bathroom breaks 
• water refill breaks
• breaks where I realized OMG, I put my pants on the BACKWARDS! NO JOKE!
• tie my shoe breaks
• peel off a layer of clothing breaks
• stretch breaks
• OMG do I want to call Brian and have him pick me up breaks, LMAO, just kidding, No not really!

 In the beginning I was concerned about my time, I wanted a good time, whatever that would be. And, after really thinking about it, I took into consideration some factors. Like, the fact that the longest run I have done was a 10 miler on January 2nd. Before that long run was the San Antonio  Rock and Roll Full and Half marathon where I ran the half marathon, so I got comfortable real quick with the idea of just finishing my 16 miles in whatever time it took me.  Come on, I am not a professional runner, I am not a marathon runner, I don't even have a love for running like many people I know. Long distance running/endurance running is a challenge to me, it's an area where I have not really excelled(at least that's what I think), and I am OK with it.  As soon as I accepted it,  everything was in perspective. It was still a hard run, but I was going to be happy and proud to complete my 16 miles just like I will be happy to complete 26.2 miles in LA. Who am I kidding? I am still gonna be worried.  I don't know how I will run an additional 10 miles once I reach the 16 mile marker during the LA Marathon, and I'm terrified.  I say that with a BIG Kool-aid Smile on my face!  LMAO!!! 

The bottom line is today I really needed someone there at mile marker 13.  The last 3 miles were pure torturous hell for me. I needed someone to encourage me not to quit, because that's exactly what I wanted to do is QUIT!!!  I know I am going to have my crazy, little, energetic, buddy Megan with me at the LA Marathon, but I'm worried about my body just giving up, and my mind following suit and giving into my weakness.  I don't really think I am mentally a strong individual.

  I have a tendency to be like "whatever, I have nothing to prove to anyone"! Really, I don't, but still.  For many years I spent an endless amount of my time and my energy trying to prove myself to people. I mean, the attitude it can be a good thing, but it can also bite you in the A$$!  I can be a stubborn and prideful woman,  but I don't know if that's gonna be enough to get me through those last 6 dreadful miles my friends  warn me about in a marathon. I will be doing a lot of praying until race day!  Needless of all my belly aching and concern,  I am very happy about my 16 miles. My mom and Brian think I'm nutty, for running alone, but I'm a happy Nut!!