Day 73

I ran my longest training run of 12 miles last Saturday. It was challenging and I wasn't feeling 100% that day, but I completed my run on pace. When I finished my run, my body was feeling just how I expected it would....like I had just finished running 12 miles. I think I chugged a 20 ounce bottle of Gatorade in 1.3 seconds flat after I dragged myself to the refrigerator by my fingernails from the front entry where I involuntarily collapsed after walking into the house. Okay, I'm exaggerating a little, but I was in pain. I seriously did have to use the handrail to safely make it upstairs. I spent the next 30 minutes (at least) in an ice cold shower. It felt wonderful. Advil was my best friend Saturday night.

This will sound crazy after what I just wrote, but after last Saturday I'm really excited for my race. Even after all the pain I dealt with Saturday, and for the previous three months for that matter, I know I can do it! I mean come on, if I can run 12 miles, what's another 1.1 miles? The race is less than two weeks away now and I get butterflies in my stomach every time I think about it or someone asks me about it. I'm starting to build my travel list and I'm strategically planning laundry days so my favorite running clothes are clean for the trip.

Over the past three months I've learned a lot. Not just about what I'm personally capable of, but also about the science behind running, the importance of "fuel" and Gatorade, how to avoid chaffing (which by the way is no joke - it's downright painful), how to deal with blisters, tight muscles, stiffness, how to run with a cold, what clothes are best for what weather conditions, and a slew of other things I can't think of right now. I'm sure I'll be digressing for a while after the race is done. For now, I have a little more training to do before I can stop to look back at everything I've accomplished and learned this summer.