Back to the beginning

I can't believe how far we have come! 

We wrapped up our final Saturday long run of our 10-miler training program by completing a 6-mile run along the C&O Canal.  This is the same path we took our very first run of the program --- a brutal 3-miles back in June!  Wow...that was so many miles ago.  According to my mileage tracker, I have so far logged just short of 200 miles over the last three months...200 miles people...that is INSANE!!

It was much cooler this morning.  Many of us were shivering as we waited outside of the store to get rolling.  Coach Katie was on vacation, so we were without our fearless leader.  Coach John led the charge and got us rolling down the path.

Half of our group ran along the dirt path.  I dropped down and joined Coach Elizabeth on the paved path.  I'm too klutzy to be anywhere near a rockier terrain!   I could easily trip over a leaf.

It was a very nice run.  I pushed myself a bit to see how I'd do at a bit quicker pace and was able to finish sub-11 min/mile pace which was nice.  I felt good.  I am hopeful that I can get closer to a 10.5 min/mile pace at race day.  We'll see!  Talking about pace, I heard one of the coaches talking about her training for the New York City marathon.  She has a goal to hit sub-8 min/mile pace.  Wowzers. 

It's so funny that many of us were talking about how 6-miles was a nice break given our recent distances.  Who would have ever thought something as nutty as that would ever come out of our mouths!!!  I still remember how pissed folks were (including me!) when we accidentally ran 3.25 vs 3.0 miles during our first Saturday long run.  3 miles...that seems so normal now.

Aside from just doing the miles, your head is such a critical part of the entire process.  You have to be mentally strong to keep going when your body starts crapping out, something feels sore or you just don't feel like running anymore.

I do think that in addition to guts and just digging down deep at those tough moments, so much of this has to do with the repetition and stressing of your body into understanding the distance and what needs to be done.  Your arms and hands get into position.  Your legs move into autopilot.  You get your breathing under control.  You focus on your posture.  Your feet adapt to the pounding because they are building on the stress they experienced during the prior week's long run.

When it all goes according to plan...it's a beautiful thing.