Running update

It's been so long since I've done a running update!! Yikes, a month and a half. The last run I posted about was our seven miler. Two weeks later we did an eight mile. It went pretty well. I use the website MapMyRun.com to map out our runs. I really like it, once I got the hang of how to work it. I don't remember much about the eight mile run, so it must not have been too bad. Although I do distinctly remember thinking when typing up our training plan, "Eight miles?! I'm going to run eight miles?!" For whatever reason that one stuck out the most to me and was the most crazy. Well, every run after that would be crazy but the thought of running eight miles was mindboggling.

The next long run on our training schedule was 9.5 miles. It happened to fall during our family vacation in California, while we were in San Francisco. At first when I realized we'd be in SF for that run I wanted to switch up our training so I didn't have to do it in one of the hilliest cities ever and by myself. Then when I looked up where we were staying and saw it was near Golden Gate Park, I reconsidered. I assumed the Golden Gate Bridge was in GG Park and I could incorporate running across the bridge into my route--how awesome would that be?! But, it was too far to work it in. But I did map out my run through the park (and later had to be remapped because upon seeing the park I realized the route I had initially plotted wouldn't work). It was nice and cool, I started my run around 7:30 and there was hardly anyone else in the park at that time. I had my first Gu stop along the ocean...how often does an AZ girl get to do that?! For some reason, I figured the park would be pretty flat, but I was WRONG. It was HILLY. I swear 3/4 of the run was uphill. I tried to power through and run most of the hills, but a few times my legs just stopped running...it was too much for this girl who is used to running on flat. I saw some really cool stuff while running--a bison paddock, lots of beautiful little gardens, I ran around a lake. As I was finishing up my run the park was a lot more crowded. My average time per mile ended up being 12:30 which I didn't think was too bad considering how much of it was uphill. I was beyond proud of myself for 1) having done 9.5 miles by myself and 2) having done the run in such a hilly place. I pretty much felt like a rockstar.

Last weekend our training plan was 11 miles. It's hot here in AZ, even early in the mornings unless you're out at the ass crack of dawn (or earlier). So we went at the ass crack of dawn. I got up at 4:00 and Jen was here at 4:30. We went and stashed our waters and then were underway by 5:00. It was still dark. I felt great the first eight miles. I didn't walk any, my breathing was good. Then we ran by a field. Or at least that's what I'm blaming it on. It was starting to get hot, but it hadn't been too bad yet. Then we ran by this field near my house, and it was so insanely muggy running along next to it. We got to our water stop at Mile 8, and I wanted to be done. I was so overheated. Jen insisted we press on...it was one mile down a road, another mile to our last water stop, then one last mile and we were done. I agreed. Mile 9 was pretty tough...I was so hot and just not feeling it anymore, but I managed to run I'd say 90% of Miles 9 and 10. By the time we got to our last water stop I was really done. I had felt like I might pass out at one point and the thought of running one more mile made me want to cry. Jen agreed she was pretty hot too (we were concerned about ending up with heatstroke), so we agreed to walk the first half of the last mile. We walked to a stop sign near my neighborhood and then ran the rest of the way, ending at exactly 11 miles at the start of my driveway.

Because it's so hot here now, we've decided to drive to a town about 90 minutes north in a few weeks and do a 12 mile run as one last long run before our race Labor Day weekend. It's funny, we ran five yesterday and I didn't think it was any big deal, but I remember really struggling with our first four mile run and then even the five mile one I did was tough for me. I really think that after running the 9.5 in San Francisco, I feel like I can do anything.