Holy cow! 16, 18 and 22 miles!!! I'm just SAYIN'…good grief, was it just me, or was today's run hard!?! I grew up in Colorado, the altitude was killer. In Oklahoma, it's the humidity. I'm not sure which is more difficult to run in; high altitude or humidity---either case you are sucking air!
Last week, I said I would write a blog on Saturday's after our long runs. However, I know I will be writing more since I am finding so many things to write about. So check back often, and feel free to comment on the blogs, as I appreciate the feedback. For now, this blog is about:
The things I learned on today's long run:
1) I love running with a group, especially M3B, the Hawt AsSphalts! I also adore our coaches, who truly help motivate, inspire and keep us going when we need it most.
2) I love that Coach Paul will always say he will spit on you if you go too far in front of him! (That makes me giggle!)
3) Rain feels really good!
4) Humidity, well…humidity is just a pain, for lack of a better word! (I'm trying to keep it clean, this is a family blog.)
5) I don’t glisten…I sweat! (and I am SO glad that I am not alone in this category!)
6) While running downtown, winding our way through streets, we look like a herd of cattle— a cute herd, but a herd nonetheless!!
7) The smell of hamburgers at 7:30 in the morning is not enticing.
8) The rain makes your shoes "slosh.” Especially Tiffany Gunther's shoes, which helped me keep pace…and my mind off how hot and humid it was.
9) "GU" of any sort, flavor, or consistency is NOT MY FRIEND!!!
10) Water and Gatorade are the best EVER!
11) With runners, there is no shame talking about anything that could, has, or will go wrong with your body. I love this because it makes me feel like I'm not completely alone in my pains, strains and hardships.
12) Vitamin B-12 really helps. A LOT! Thank you Dana!!!
13) When your legs feel like they have 50 lbs of weight on them, pumping your arms really does help keep you going.
14) Running skirts are great…and they don't stick to your legs when they get wet!
15) You will have highs and lows during a long run.
16) When running hills, don't look back and don't look up—just go, pump your arms and breathe. You can do it…again, thanks Dana!
17) There is not enough portable toilets downtown---even with all of the construction.
18) When you feel like you might puke, "Don't puke on your shoes," according to Coach Paul. And, as one of the runners found out, make sure you have a Jolly Rancher handy—it'll keep you going!
19) Running, indeed, is all mental…except when you have a stitch, when your intestines feel like someone shoved a knife in them. Others would argue that a slipped disk or a severe ankle problem might cause you great pain, but apparently I was VERY wrong on that theory since Kathryn ran 22 miles with a disk out of place, and a major ankle problem…all while maintaining a 9:20/mile pace—which she thought was slow!! Are you human Kathryn?!? In all seriousness, you truly are a person who motivates A LOT of people, thank you!!!
20) We are all a little crazy…especially to WANT to run 16 or more miles at 6:30 on a rainy Saturday morning, when the bed is a perfectly fine place to be! LOL!
21) Wringing the sweat out your shorts, running skirts, and shirts is perfectly normal and accepted.
22) Losing weight is easy! (insert sarcasm and laughter) All you have to do is run 16 miles in the heat and humidity! Hahahahaha!
23) The coaches, Fleet Feet, and my running friends, are AMAZING. I really appreciate Gladys's never-ending laughter, which is completely intoxicating and very helpful…especially towards the end of a run! I also appreciate Tiffany's company when my stitch was horrible! (Grrrr, stitches!!!) I also appreciate the fact that I am not in M1 or M2, as they are not human because they run waaayyyy too fast!
24) We are all athletes, no matter the distance.
25) And finally, I learned that I should say "sorry" to Travis. Sorry I didn't help you through your stitch, and that I may have made it worse by making you think about it more.
Whew, that was a lot. But one more note: Coach Paul, I took the challenge of the ice bath…sorta. I didn’t take an ice bath, but I did take an ice cold shower. I hope the results are comparable!!
I hope you all had a good run and a fabulous weekend. I will write again tomorrow. Again, feel free to comment as it is encouraged!
Happy running!
Chera
