New personal record!

Long runs. They bring pleasure and they bring pain. Either way, it is amazing to realize that one can set new personal records EVERY week!

Today, the goal was 16 miles.... and I OWNED IT! :)

The run was definitely an improvement overall... and what was exciting about it was that I actually had a running buddy! :) Ashley Rubisch, a friend of mine from college and a former PA Ren Faire actor, was in town and willing to run the long distance with me. We set a good pace, right around 10 minute miles, and did not stop or slow down until I had to stop for a bathroom between miles 8 and 9. We immediately picked back up with our pace and continued on.

What I have learned now, is that once I stop on a run - whether it is for a bathroom or to stretch, or for a quick relief for my heart rate - it becomes much more difficult to get back into a nonstop running groove. Case in point, after picking back up with the run after the brief bathroom stop, I was only able to run 2 more miles, then had to stop to stretch. I then picked up running again, but half a mile later, started walking due to muscle discomfort. This is where the running buddy SAVED me. She ran right up next to me, encouraged me to run, and I picked back up with the pace. I made a super brief stop again as we passed the parking lot between miles 11 and 12, only so I could grab my extra water bottle from my car.

As I picked up the run again at that point, I was really hurting. My arches were SO sore, one of my shins was really hurting, my hip joints were sore, my butt was even sore from the inclines I'd just finished... and I felt ready to puke. As I was running, Ashley had dropped just behind me at this point, I decided I was just going to make myself puke and get it over with. Then, something changed. I stopped myself from gagging, and made a decision: If I was going to puke, it was going to be because I EARNED it. I was only going to puke if my body had worked so hard that it had no other option to expel whatever was inside of me. (I apologize for being so blunt about all this.) I then visualized my coach (the man I work for in NYC) look at me straight in the eye and telling me to GO. Just go - run - move... earn the discomfort, earn the soreness, earn the puke if it decides to show up. And I did! I was able to continue running miles 12-14 at a full stride, quicker pace, and felt great!

Then, at my turnaround point, when I had 2 miles left... I felt the need to stop and walk. I mentally convinced myself to keep going. What happened next was truly surreal. My experience was based on what Pat, my NYC coach, told me: Pat said that my mind and my body were two different things when it came to running. No matter how much I train my body, it's possible, like a car engine that it will run out of gas. However, more gas can be added. If the mind runs out of gas... it's like a computer crash... there's no quick fix. So, if I can keep my mind active and fresh... I can fool my body into feeling the same way.

I took Pat's words to heart... and for the last two miles, I focused solely on my mental state. I made my mind "run." The surreal part was that I felt almost "out of my body." I was still conscious of my stride and my foot placement and breathing... but I still managed to feel like the only thing that was doing real work was my mind! My mind was refreshed and active... I didn't feel the pain or soreness in my body... but rather the excitement that my mind was running toward the finish! I got teary eyed when I saw the final mile marker just yards ahead of me. With Ashley running by my side for the last half mile, it made all the difference. It was so nice to have someone to celebrate with! I know I will carry that feeling with me on my next solo long run. :)

So all in all things are GREAT! I can't believe I completed 16 miles today... I'm still scared of the idea of the marathon... but I know believe with all my might that it is do-able! Next week: 18 miles! New York City marathon, here I come!

Signed,
Your-longer-and-longer-distance-running-runner,
Kelly