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!