I think I had mentioned to you that I had been able to obtain a free 3 day pass to our local YMCA.  I used that on Monday to do my tempo run.  It was a success!

Contemplating the rest of my training schedule, I realized I had a 20 mile training run for today (Wednesday).  It’s still running in the 100* every day here in Mississippi.  That meant another 1:30 am training run.

Ugh.

Seeing as MFH (My Favorite Husband) is still out of town, I really didn’t want to be running that time of day/night without him being near.  The treadmill (TM) option was looking very attractive.

Let’s face it, running on a TM is BORING.    It has two nicknames that pop into my head immediately:  Dreadmill (DM) and Satan’s Sidewalk.  Both names are accurate.

I threw caution to the wind and decided to be bored to tears and get my run in the A/C for my long run.

I arrived at the “Y.”  The front desk people remembered me so I didn’t have to jump through hoops this time to get in.  They asked me how many miles I would be running today.  I told them.  That’s when their jaws dropped.

Funny.

They asked me how long I thought it would take.  I shrugged and gave an estimate time.  I had my, “I’d love to run this fast” time and then a more realistic time.  I gave them the realistic time and toddled off to the TM’s.

I was making pretty good time on that TM!  I’m here to tell you, running when it’s not a bazillion degrees and the humidity isn’t waaayyy high, it’s not so bad!  Almost (almost!) makes me ready for fall running.

Anyway, I was clicking off the miles and feeling pretty good about it.  I mean, I was getting tired and everything but I wasn’t so bored that I was falling asleep…the run was just going well.

Finally, I clicked off mile 19.  YAY!!!  Only one more mile to go!  BOOM!  I wanted to be done so I jacked up the speed on the TM.  I would be over and done with the run in eight minutes (if I didn’t fly off the back of the thing.  I was moving pretty much at my max).  That when I noticed the front desk people come into the room and stand by the TM.  Their shift was done.

“How many miles have you run?”  I looked at my Garmin and told them I had a half mile to go and then I would be done.  I thought that was the end of it.  Nope!  They stayed by the TM!  They stood there until I clicked over to 20 miles, shut off my Garmin and turned off the TM.

Then they clapped!!!

Yes, I was embarrassed.

They wanted to know how long it took:  3:18:23.

Their eyes got big and they made, “Ooohhh” and “Ahhh” noises.

I was getting uncomfortable and ready for them to leave.  I was hot, tired, hungry and thirsty.  They wanted to chat about running.

*sigh*

I chatted with them a little bit and then wished them a good day.

Then I came home and drank a ton of water and ate all the food.

That’s my funny story.  If I hadn’t of been so tired, it probably would’ve hit my funny bone more than it did.  They were very kind AND let me monopolize that TM the entire time.  Not many places would have done that.

Good people!