This morning was my first scheduled long run for my Berlin Marathon and Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) training.
17 miles.
That’s a dozzie of a starter for a long run!
Last week, I took it pretty easy. I think my longest run was 8 miles. I ran a total of only 30 miles last week. When I say I took it easy, I really took it easy!
Coming off an easy week and jumping right into a 17 mile run, I knew it was going to hurt. Hurt it did!
I am so thankful for my Mississippi running friends! Whether we are traveling to races together or just chatting online, Mississippi runners are awesome!!!
This is what happened:
First off, I set my alarm for 2:30 am. I wanted to give myself an hour to stagger around the house so I would be awake enough to navigate in the dark outdoors when I started running at 3:30 am. However…
Paxton woke up around 2:00 am with a puppy nightmare. He was howling in his sleep and really kicking up a fuss. Poor Paxton. Seeing as it was leaning on 2:30 am, I went ahead and got up.
MFH (My Favorite Husband) woke up to Paxton’s howling, too, so we sat down for some toast and coffee together. After that, I got dressed and was out the door around 3:15 am.
It was super dark out there at 3:15 am! Wowzers! The moon was bright and I took a pic because I knew that just saying, “The moon was bright” wouldn’t do it justice.
I set out with my knuckle lights (with fresh batteries).
I had run a little over 10 miles by 5:00(ish) this morning when my cell phone rang.
“Where are you!?”
It was one of my running friends, Bonnie.
“I’m on Evan’s Road. Where are you?” I replied.
“I’m at your house!” said Bonnie.
“Oh!” I was surprised! “I’m a mile away. Give me 10 minutes.”
I picked up the pace, hurrying back to my house.
I had run about a half mile when a car flew by me. ZOOM!!! I saw a hand stick out the window and wave. Automatically I waved back. That’s what you do where I live.
I turned onto my street and was about .30 of a mile from the house when I see two people running towards me. It was Bonnie and another friend of mine, Claudette! Claudette was the one who had zoomed by me and waved. They were running to meet me.
How nice is that!?! 🙂
There aren’t many people who would drive from their house to yours to run the last bit of a 17 miler with a pooped friend.
Claudette only had time for 4 miles because she had to leave and get ready for work but Bonnie, bless her heart ran the entire remaining 7 miles with me. Towards the end, that run was getting ugly. I was tired and it was toasty. 74* 85% humidity.
I guess 74* and 85% humidity isn’t all that awful but it IS awful if you’ve run 17 miles in it!
We chatted and had a lovely time. Bonnie, bless her heart, has RA so I did slow the pace down for her. She did drive a half hour to get to my house at that awful time of day. The least I could do is run at her pace. That, and she is hilarious and we had a ball!!!
While we were running, I crossed the 1200 mile mark for this calendar year. Closing in on that 2015 miles in 2015!!!
Last but not least, here is the selfie the three of us took at 5:00 am before we started the last leg of today’s run. And yes, they both are a lot taller than me. HA!
