16 Miles: Girls Just Wanna Get Done

Later, at the grocery store, I purchased Airborne tablets even though I told Mr. T I was NOT getting sick. I refused to. Mr. T stocked up on OJ. He, too, had the feeling. 

Saturday night, Zoë and I agreed to do less than the 17 scheduled because it seemed so early in the training plan to be running 17. We settled on 15. My chest burned while I gathered my supplies for my run. I took a shower to help relax, but it was clear the cold — like Charlie Sheen — was winning.

I considered texting my running buddy and canceling our 7 a.m. meeting. But I really wanted to get the long run done. Also, we were supposed to meet up with Alma, her friend S, and WeROKC group member, P, at Mile 3. Plus I’ve always felt better running while sick. Mr. T gave me an Ibuprofin and I went to bed.

Sunday morning was hazy, but I got dressed. I put on my pink plaid skirt, then checked the weather: 35 degrees. I made a quick decision to change into capris. I left a few minutes late, but I hoped I could pull a George Costanza and “make good time.”

Luckily, I got a call from Zoë — she was having herself a morning, too. “No worries,” I told her, “I’m running a little late, as well.” I pulled into the parking lot at 7:01 and Zoë arrived a couple minutes later. We weren’t that late at all!

But then we started getting ready. I had a new belt to try to fit my Zune in and I almost left my keys in the ignition of my car, but finally we took off running. Except then I felt like I needed to use the Honey Bucket and I realized I hadn’t double-knotted my shoes. I was wearing my pink compression socks, which are thinner than my other running socks and my shoes were loose. I decided if they didn’t need it, I would fix them  at Mile 3 where we were meeting up with Alma, S, and P. And the feeling of needing to go passed. (Although, as we ran by the Honey Bucket, it’s door opened all by itself. Creepy — it was like it was beckoning.)

We settled in and three miles passed in the blink of an eye. Later, around Mile 14, I would confess to Zoë that I didn’t even remember the first three miles of our run (except for what I’ve written above, which was all in the first mile). Weird.

We didn’t see our friends right away at Mile 3 and considered running a half mile past the meeting spot, then turning around and coming back to get them. They were running 8ish, so I was thinking we could even it up in order to have the same turn-around spot, but then we saw three colorful ladies running toward us. There they are!

After a couple minutes of chatting (and me tying my shoes), we were back on the trail — all five of us — chatting away, running, laughing. The next four miles passed quickly. We stopped to say goodbye to our friends, stretch and take a couple of group photos.

Then Zoë and I had a decision to make. Go a half mile to the turn-around or just make it one more mile so our total could be 16. I felt good. My legs felt fresh still. Zoë said okay for one more mile, so away we went.

The way back was a little quieter. We both went from talking to listening to our music. But it was comforting knowing my friend was next to me. Last year, I ran 16 by myself. This run was so much better.

And, we saw the most colorful runner ever! I’m talking tie-dye and red tights. He definitely gave us a run for our money in the running outfit department. On another note (a musical one), I need to figure a longer playlist. I had to restart mine at Mile 10.

At Mile 11, Zoë’s painful neuromas were bugging her and we walked for a little bit. We chatted about walking and how it’s okay to do and how it really doesn’t make that big of a dent in your time. I’m thinking for the next long run, I will do the run/walk. I’m curious to see how my energy level will be at the end.

By the time we hit the half-marathon mark, I was starving. I’d had most of my Nuun and both gels, and my stomach was growling. Note to self: bring an extra gel even if I think I won’t  need it.

At Mile 14.5ish, I all of a sudden felt like the running was getting harder. It seemed like we’d been pretty steady around a 10:30 pace, but now it felt hard. When I looked down, I notice we’d picked things up. I laughed. “Oh, that’s why it felt harder.” 

But we both agreed we just wanted to get done and we picked up the pace. Our last mile done in 9:37!

Once we stopped, I felt the soreness. I’d been feeling it creeping in since about Mile 12 and, now, ouch! I stretched. Zoë stretched. Then, of course, we took pictures. Silly ones. Just for you all.