Week 3 - Day 3 - 10 Miles

"Marathoning is just another form of insanity." - John J. Kelly, winner of the 1952 Boston Marathon

This week I had another record day on the training schedule, 10 miles. I could think about little else this week. I often found myself looking forward to it like I used to look forward to going to Disneyland when I was a kid. However, the next second I would find myself dreading it like I used to dread taking a test I hadn't studied for when I was in school. I think this is the mental game of the distance runner. I believe this experience is literally taking up the extra space in my head that used to be filled with needless worry and replacing it with personal challenge.

I am grateful to my Father this week for being so supportive of my new obsession and doing all he could to make room for me to fit in my runs. I was worried that it would be difficult for me to keep up while wanting to spend as much time with him as possible. Saturday was the biggest challenge, I would have to fit in the 2.5 hour long run before we headed down to Eugene to see my niece graduate from high school. I hit the road at 8am and made my way around the Willamette River. The run was challenging, mainly because the night before I had the brilliant idea to "carb load" on pizza and poppycock. While I quite enjoyed stuffing my face all evening, I did not enjoy running for 2 hours all the while feeling like I had to run to the bathroom at any moment. Fortunately I was able to complete the run. As I rounded the final corner I checked my watch and noticed I had only been running for 2 hours and 12 minutes. I instantly doubted my distance and decided to round around the block for the final 8 minutes. As I approached my car I still had 1 minute to spare so I ran in place. Later I mapped the run and realized I had run 11.2 miles. This means my time has improved quite significantly! My goals with the long run is to complete it and feel as if I still have another mile in me. This time I achieved that and more. I no longer recognize myself in the mirror. I no longer feel like I am a slug. I no longer worry about my health and I no longer fear a zombie attack.