Ah Yes, I did it... I have reached 7 miles!


Monday was the day I hit my new personal record for distance.

It was hot, and humid. I started running about 9 am and it was already 80 degrees!  It was hard, it actually sucked part of the time if I'm going to be honest, but in light of all of that it was truly AWESOME!

I remember thinking that at mile 4 I was over halfway to my goal, and by mile 5 I ran past the same work crew guys that I had passed at mile 2. They just looked at me like "Who's this crazy chick running these back roads!" Then came my mind  saying "you really ARE a crazy chick, why are you doing this?"

and the scary part was that I answered myself: "Because I Can!"

and that is the moment I realized that maybe I was just a little bit crazy.... I think everyone who sets out to test themselves and their body has to be. Then I also realized that I KNOW I am not the only runner who literally talks to themselves as if there is two of me running. I think it is actually absolutely necessary to talk to myself because otherwise I might quit, and I'm not a quitter!

Mile 6: on one hand I thought to myself "wow, you only have to go one more mile to make it".... on the other, I was SO HOT and SO TIRED and for a brief time I actually transported myself to one of those movies where you watch people trekking across sand dunes gasping for water..... only my sand dunes were wheat fields and pavement. This is when I realized I had sorely underestimated how warm it was outside, and the fact that I had not carried any water with me was just stupid. It lay back at my car waiting for my return.

I felt like this camel.... doesn't he look thirsty?! Oh wait, camels aren't stupid and actually DRINK ENOUGH WATER before trekking across wheat fields...I mean deserts.

I will NOT make that mistake again. I learned that 6 miles is definitely the length I can go without any hydration and that was a valuable lesson. Next time, I will have planted water or carried it with me for sure.

But I carried on, and for a few minutes I found myself actually just looking down at my feet. Saying "one foot in front of the other" and being amazed that they were still moving forward. It's a strange feeling knowing your body is kind of just moving forward in a routine motion and you almost feel as though you are disconnected from it.

Finally, mile 7 was reached!!! I heard the GPS tell me so! I think about when I hit 6 miles and kept thinking how will I ever make 7 and then it just... happened. So I suppose that is how I will continue on. Mile 8 will come next and for now that is enough for me to think about. Though I must admit, that 1/2 marathon thought is definitely in my head!

So there it is, my personal win. For that I am proud, because I didn't quit even when I didn't make good choices like camels most certainly always do. :)

Happy Running!

 

Today, my run mattered....

It mattered for this little guy!

Okay, so not this PARTICULAR frog. But clearly they were related because they look like twins! :) So that should matter even more because I saved a valued family member!

Today I saved his life and that made me smile. Yes, go ahead. I can hear the sighs. "Oh Meg, he's just a frog." but really...he was literally about to leap into the path of an oncoming truck! But I intervened, and Mr. Frog went on his merry way. Now, "Frog Hero" can be added to my contributions to the world.

This made me happy, I liked to picture him swimming home, hopping into his little frog hut. Where certainly Mrs. frog had cooked a delightful fly pie....yes, these are the things that come into my mind as I cruise along. Scary, I know. For those who know me well you know how far my imagination can take me :)

Anyway, my run really DID matter today and not just for Mr. Frog! It gave me such a great time to reflect on the 10K race I ran this past weekend and it made me just plain content. The picture below is of  me finishing a satisfying 6.2 miles in 1 hour, 2 minutes and 33 seconds. Not too shabby for my first official 10K and I was proud of that.

Ah yes... and here are my lovely supporters/photographers the Gilbert Family! How great it was to have them there. Steph, Kellen, and Tom were fantastic cheerers! THANK YOU to them for putting me up the night before and being there the day of.


I also have to thank all the wonderful people in my life who wished me well,  and gave donations. Perhaps the highlight was finding out that my own husband and father had wagered a six pack of beer over my finishing time.... classy, I know. Yes, Dad won. So he is proudly waiting for his prize :)

Today I ran just to run, and I love that feeling. I didn't care how far I went, I just went.

The music was playing and my feet were moving, and that MATTERED. I love these days, because any stress or anxiety that comes into my head just flows away. It is possibly the best feeling of control and freedom at the same time. Something I don't find anywhere else.

I don't really know how far I went today, I guess if I sat and figured it out probably somewhere between 2 and 3 miles but it was just great.

"I just felt happy, and that mattered."

So I guess things worth doing are sometimes hard, and sometimes wonderful, but the truth of it is that in  the end it all truly matters. It matters to reach a goal, to fail to make you stronger, or simply produce a wonderful few minutes free of stress or worry. For all those experiences, I am thankful.

Happy Running!

 

Meg Runs for Lola!!!

Hey all, so it's official...I signed up for the Rochester, NY race the "Fast and the Furriest" 10K which will benefit the Verona Street Animal Shelter. I decided TODAY after realizing I could make the trip happen. So...

I'm running for Lola!

 or rather for dogs and cats that were once where Lola was....In a shelter waiting to be loved!

This particular Shelter worked with the Rochester City area to provide a safe place for stray pets to wait for their FUREVER homes!

For those of you who don't know Lola's Story, she was dumped in a shelter in Tennessee before being taken by  Belly Rubs Basset Rescue. She then was transferred after two years with her wonderful foster mom up to ABC Basset Rescue of Rochester in hopes she could find her furever home. That is where she found me....brought to Suburban Animal Hospital (which may I plug now as a wonderful place, with WONDERFUL people) as a boarder until she could be fostered again. But Lola picked me, crawled into my lap and the rest is history...

 Soul basset is found :)

So that is "Lola's True Hollywood 30 second story" and why I am passionate about adopting and helping shelter animals. Please always consider the love a shelter animal can provide!

So can you help support Lola and I with a donation? If so, please click HERE and it should take you to my fundraising page. Please remember: NO amount is too little. EVERY dollar counts!

Thanks so much! If you want more information about the event you can go to Fast and the Furriest

update: It's been brought to my attention that when you go to my fundraiser page there is a $10.00 minimum, if you can help wonderful, if not right now no worries.  Also, there is an "optional $1.00-2.00 add on fee which you CAN remove if you click on the optional fee words at the bottom. Just wanted to let everyone know as I know not everyone is best friends with their computer :)


Happy Running!