Thursday, November 20, 2008

I think I may be able to do this!

I am an "on again/off again" runner, but when my office got a spot in the "Hood to Coast" relay this past year, I signed on. I was running 20 miles a week from January to June, and enjoying it! Then I injured myself - bulging disk. No running the entire month of July, and a "return to run" program of "walk 10 minutes, run 1 minute" for the next few weeks. When HTC rolled around, I had run no more than 1.5 miles at one time in the last 8 weeks. I considered quitting - after all, I injured myself by running tired up a big hill, and my second leg was a BIG hill, at midnight, for nearly 6 miles. But when our team captain announced he had a stress fracture and would be driving, not running, I knew I couldn't quit. We'd exhausted two alternates and were scrambling to find a last runner. If I quit, my teammates would either have to double up or forfeit their spot.



I ran. And it was awesome. Ok, so my pace was deadly slow. But I finished all my legs, the last two on no sleep, not nearly enough food and far too much ibuprofin. We just got word we're in for '09 and I can't wait.



In the meantime, I am training for the Cascade Half Marathon in January. I started with a training program from Marathoning for Mortals but had to kick it up a notch and now am using one from Coolrunning.com. I am in week 5 and sticking to it! Actually, exceeding it.



This past weekend, my husband and I were camping (yes, in November!!) at Ft. Stevens with my son's boy scout troop. We were looking at a map with all the trails and my hubby says "let's run out to the point and back." I started calculating and thought to myself, "That's 11 miles. I've never run that far." I wanted to say "No - I'm only supposed to run 3 today, and 8 tomorrow." But I said, "you know what? I'll give it my best shot. If we get out there and I can't make it, you can come and pick me up in the car." Well, I did it! It took me longer than I wanted it too, and I wanted to quit about 9 miles in, but I didn't. When I saw the post at the end of the trail I was so happy! I just kept saying "I just ran 11 miles!" I know I can run 13.1 now.



I'm back on track, I'm running my measley 4 miles tomorrow, and 3 Saturday, and then 7 Sunday. And it sounds like a walk in the park.

4 comments:

Mel said...

The HTC sounds like a lot of fun. I'm glad you were able to do it! Woohoo for running 11 miles. I remember the first time I hit double digits... such a great feeling. Keep up the hard work, you are going to love running 13.1!

5 Miles Past Empty said...

That is great! We put in for HTC and haven't heard yet, either way. No rejection email or acceptance email. I don't know what that means but I am afraid I will be terribley dissappointed if we are rejected.

Great job with your 11 miles! What fun!

Vanessa Shannon said...

Sounds like you ran a Ragnar Relay? I just signed up for the one here in Utah called the Wasatch back. Ive only run 5ks so far, Im needing to train pretty hard too cause I have the gnarliest hill in the race... 4 miles straight up. YIkes. Good for you for doing it! Im excited to do mine. Scared too....

JP said...

Way to go, Girl...way to stay motivated and positive!!