I am so happy to see Fall here…..the crisp air is a welcome
change to some of the hot and humid days we’ve had lately. I am so looking forward to the fall change of
scenery as it’s one of my favorites to enjoy through the runs.
I’ll back up a little and highlight the weekend….Saturday we
spent with dad while mom had a Cross Country meet. I think I’ve mentioned it before, but mom has
been coaching cross country since dad had to retire from it and keeps dad
updated on all the latest running news with the kids. The Rebel cross country team had a great
day! I got a phone call from Holli
before mom got home so I always tease between those 2 who get to me first for
updates J Johnny Hogue won the meet for the
Rebels! His time was a good bit faster
this year compared to last and race conditions were a little crazier this year. He must be a rain runner J The boys finished up 2nd in the
meet overall….a lot the middle school kids are coming around learning the new
sport to them, and the girls continue to work to improve. It’s always a great day to be a rebel.
We teased dad a good bit on Saturday when doing a few
things. I kept teasing whenever we’d
have to move his legs a few times and knowing it had to hurt him…..I’d respond
with a “remember when you told me to suck
it up……etc….boy dad it sure is coming back to haunt you now” J I’ve said it before…and I’ll say it a million
times….Humor is the best medicine…..We’ve learned to laugh and joke about some of
the difficult times and how to handle them.
I ended up post-poning my long run (does that story sound
familiar) till Sunday….so I went to run a few of the “country roads” around the house to get a 55 minute run in on
Saturday and enjoy the scenery some. It
is funny how easily some childhood memories can sneak into your head when you
visually see things you haven’t seen in awhile.
I also felt myself a little bit more startled at dogs barking being in a
“new” area again and not knowing the neighbors dogs after last weekend, so
lucky all were friendly J
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| How could you not enjoy this run? |
As for Sunday….minus the mental block I had to work my way
through I convinced Brock to ride the bike with me for a little while to make a
go at this 2 Hour and 45 minute run my training log told me to do. I don’t know what it is….but these runs get
the best of me sometimes with just the anticipation of it….where will I go for
that long?....what will I do?....How will I feel?....Can I do it?....somewhere
in there I tell myself “Seriously Missy stop being such a baby…what is your
problem”…. That obviously is dad’s input J I think sometimes I Fear doing it by myself….like
if I’m miles and miles from home I get bored or something in the midst of the mental
pressure you put on yourself. I’ve always
been a thinker…so I’ll consume myself with time…mile pace….distance….pace I run
the hill…should I push myself at this point….if I push myself now will I make
it the entire run… wonder if I’ll feel this way in the race…wonder what other
people are doing training and will I match up to them….. When I realize I’m partly going nuts and need
sidetracked from my own thoughts I realize this might be what people call crazy
J Having someone to chat with or breaking up my
thoughts as well as handing me water off and on was a great change of pace (for
a lack of the irony of that statement) J Don’t tell him, but I’m not sure I could have
done that run without him getting me through the first 10 miles or so. That first step of 17/18 miles was a tough
one to do.
I do have to say it made me feel a little better to hear him
complain how sore he was from riding the bike and the hills… I’ll regret that
statement the next time I try talk him into going J
I also underestimated the time it would take me to do some
of the loops (which I guess is a good thing) but then I had to keep running
when mentally I thought I could stop by that point! Brock by this point drove in the car a few
times to check on the time left and I assume to make sure I was still moving J It did make me laugh when I had to run back
up our main road a mile each way…and I passed a little kid I’d probably passed
about an hour prior and he asked me if I was lost and remembered where I
lived. I probably appeared a little delirious
at that point but told him I only had 2 more minutes and hopefully could
finally go home J
I’m certain that is the longest run I’ve done yet in my life….I
don’t think we ever snuck up that high in mileage for a single run in high
school or college so I’ll take that accomplishment until the 3 hour run creeps
in I saw on the training log J I suppose goals and records are meant to be
broken J So until next Saturday/Sunday….I’ll claim
this as my longest run J
