Double Digit Miles!

Today, for the first time EVER, I ran 10 miles!  I've never run double digit miles before!  I went with three of the girls that are also doing the 1/2 marathon, and I dominated 10 miles!  There is a great trail not too far from where I live, and it's a good place to do long miles because it is flat and shaded.

 

Before today, the farthest I had run was 8.7 miles, and that was two weeks ago.  Last weekend, on my Saturday long run, I had planned to do 9 or 9.5 miles and I TOTALLY bonked.  I was struggling after the first mile, and knew there was no way I had at least 8 more miles in me.  So I gave up, turned around, and came home majorly defeated.  Major fail.  I ran 6 miles on Wednesday of this week so I told myself that last weekend was just a fluke, but I was still nervous going into today's run.  I was so happy that it went well.  I ran a 9:30 mile pace for 10 miles.  I'm not going to lie...the last mile was ROUGH.  My body was begging me to stop, but I turned up my iPod and just kept going.  I really don't think I could have gone 5 more yards after I hit 10 miles.  But I did 10, and that's what matters...I don't have to worry about going farther until next weekend.  :)

Here's a picture of where I ran today (swiped from WRAL.com, a local news channel website).  It's called the American Tobacco Trail.  There are mile markers every half mile (every 0.25 mile in some parts), so it's really easy to keep track of how far you go).  The section we ran today was packed gravel, so not as hard on the knees as pavement.  I think it really does make a difference.

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These Saturday long runs take. it. OUT. of me.  I am so worthless for the rest of the day.  I really don't know how people training for a marathon do it.  I just have no energy left!  So, I've got a lovely evening of laying on the couch and watching a movie planned.  Lame Saturday night, but that's the best I can do right now!

Also - I tried a new kind of energy chew today on my run - Luna Moons. 

They were really good! I can't do the whole gel thing - just the thought of swallowing a flavored shot of gel while I'm running makes me nauseous. I've been doing the GU Chomps (a different kind of energy chew) on my 8+ mile runs, and they're not too bad. But I really liked the Luna Moons. I think these will be my go-to! I had the pomegranate flavor today...yum.  Ok, couch is calling...