Yesterday’s run:  12K race

Two years ago, right after I completed the C25K program, a friend of MFH’s invited us to run a race she was directing in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.  It was scheduled for New Year’s Day and we thought it would be a perfect way to bring in the New Year.  We said yes.

I trained and trained for that race.  I followed Hal Higdon’s 10K program to be ready for the 12K race.  I was a “Nervous Nellie.”

Never being considered a fast runner, I was terribly afraid of coming in last.  I was afraid of not finishing.  I was afraid they would roll up the sidewalks before I finished and go home.  I was afraid.

We drove to Hattiesburg for the race and I completed it in 2 hours and 2 minutes (2:02).  I was terribly slow.  It was painful.  I did it!!!

A few weeks ago, this same race director contacted us again and re-invited us down to her race~still in Hattiesburg, still on New Year’s Day.  She wanted us to stay at her house as her guests and run the race the next day.  We talked it over and decided, yes, that would be do-able and a lot of fun!

New Year’s Eve, we again drove to Hattiesburg and ran the race on New Year’s Day.

I still am considered a slow runner.  Very slow, actually.  But I ran hard.  So did MFH (My Favorite Husband)!  Instead of 2:02, I completed the race in 1:26!!!  and 30 seconds ahead of MFH (I think he was just being polite and letting me run ahead of him at the end)!  That is a 37 minute PR (personal record)! That is amazing!!!  I was not last!  They did not roll up the sidewalks before I was done.

There were a few ghastly race pics taken of me at the finish that a friend of mine posted and tagged me on FB (I wish I could un-do that!).

The news:  I think I may have a little injury on my left leg.  It is pretty sore.  I was supposed to do a training run today of 26.2 miles and I have postponed that training run for tomorrow or maybe even the day after.  We will have to wait and see how it feels in the morning.

I am pretty sure I messed up my leg on a run with a friend last week.  We were running in downtown Columbus, Mississippi on some concrete and ever since then my leg has been pretty unhappy.  Boo to that.

All that to say, my mileage and activity level may be down a bit for a few days.  My Ultra is in 57 days and the way my leg is right now, there is NO WAY I can run 50 miles on it.  So…patience is a virtue and I will take a few days to let it heal.  Fingers crossed!!!