I am really excited for my next race. It is still a ways off...October 15th. I have still been running 3-4 days a week to get ready. I have been running between 2-4 miles each time, saving long runs for Saturdays when I have more time. Yesterday, I decided to run to the foothills and back (approximately 6 miles). I left after telling my husband that if I did not come back in an hour he may have to come and pick me up. I told him I would probably be in a heap on the side of the road.
I know what you are saying...don't you have more confidence in yourself? The answer "no." Although I have gained self-confidence in this journey it is hard to get rid of so many years of self-doubt. I took off running. I really enjoyed getting out of the residential areas where I have spent most of my time. There are fields on both sides much of the way with an occasional house. I got to the foothills and made it about halfway up...then...I ran out of gas. I never changed my pace to run up hill and well I had been sticking to pretty flat to this point. I walked the rest the way up (this is hard to confess). So...after walking for a minute I ran back down and started the loop back home.
I was jogging at a modest pace I would say, until I saw a snake in the middle of the road. (Did I mention I am NOT a fan of snakes). Seeing that thing I picked up my pace. I told my husband I do not know if that thing was alive or dead, but I was not going to stick around to find out. I was tired by then. I had run about 3-1/2 miles. Then I see something to my left. It was a flash of black and white. I took off again. Skunk?? I thought so, but I never stuck around to see.
I made it back into my neighborhood and was about 1/4 of a mile from home when my husband pulled to the side of the road. He had made good on his promise to come get me after an hour (well 1 hour and 3 minutes). I am sure I could have made it the rest of the way home, but one cannot resist an offer so tempting. Here it is the next day and I have to admit that I feel the same way I did after my first 5k. How is that you ask? I feel like someone beat me close to death. Of course part of it was the running and the other may be attributed to the Tylenol PM I took before bed because my legs were burning.
I learned a couple of things from this: 1) I can run a 10k distance (with more practice) and 2) A run through the country can be exciting and definitely help you build some speed.
All this and I forgot to mention the dog that was chasing me.....hahaha.
