I got my long run done early last week. But getting it done early meant paying a little money for day care and rushing around to try to get T Junior there on time so I could meet Jill in her neck of the woods on time.
Even though I got most of my things ready Thursday night, I was still hurrying around Friday morning. I mean, you can only get an almost-2-year-old to eat his waffles so fast, especially when a puppy is nipping his toes and licking his feet.
As I hurdled the plastic baby-puppy-divider-fence between the living room and the kitchen, when the sole of my Saucony clipped the top.
Down I went onto the hard linoleum: right knee first, right hip, right elbow, shoulder and finally my head. I wasn’t expecting to fall so fast. I was surprised I hit my head. And I wasn’t down for a complete second and the puppy was jumping all over my face and eating my ponytail.
I started to cry. Mostly because I was surprised. Next thought: Oh my god, I hope I didn’t injure myself four weeks before the marathon.
But then from underneath the table, I could see T Junior’s blank, surprised face twisting into a scared wail. That sobered me up.
“I’m okay, honey. Mama’s okay.” I stood and went to him. “I’m okay, honey.” My knee hurt and my head, but I knew they would, in fact, be just fine.
T Junior sniffed. “A Mommy a fall down a kitchen.”
“Yeah, but Mama’s okay.”
“A Mama cwying.”
“Yeah, I know. But it’s okay. Mama’s all better.”
So, I didn’t get the best start on Friday. And despite being fine after the fall, my muscles were tight. Everything felt knotted. On top of that, my legs had been tight all week. I wondered aloud to Jill if maybe it was from missing my mid-week long run.
But what a beautiful day for running, and it was even better because it was with an upbeat friend who kept my spirits high and encouraged me to keep going when I really just wanted to park my rearend on the curb and call for a cab.
We started off waaaay up high with a breathtaking view of Mount Rainier. You’d think we’d be going down the whole way after that, but no, we had to go up the road Jill called “Mile-Long Hill.” But she said it’d be the only big hill on our 14-miler.
Except we took a trail she’d never been on before and it had lots of hills. Jill felt bad and kept apologizing, but how was she supposed to know!
“You don’t need to apologize,” I kept saying.
The views were amazing. The sky was blue. There was an occasional cool breeze. I wish I would’ve been feeling better.
In addition to clenched muscles all over my body (and unfortunately my back, which had me a bit worried), I also had a “womanly” cramp that nagged me the entire way.
Somehow, and probably because I had Jill mentally and probably a little bit physically pulling me along, we finished. We even ran up an inclince Jill calls “Nice Hill.” Trust me, it’s not nice.
Gotta love a running buddy. What would we do without them?!
14.21 Miles – 5/7/10 – 2:37:47
Average pace: 11:34
Mile 1: 10:27
Mile 2: 10:20
Mile 3: 11:39 (Mile-Long Hill)
Mile 4: 10:48
Mile 5: 10:52
Mile 6: 10:59
Mile 7: 11:25 (I’m hurtin’)
Mile 8: 11:34
Mile 9: 10:45 (Got through it)
Mile 10: 10:53
Mile 11: 11:03
Mile 12: 11:14
Mile 13: 11:26
Mile 14: 12:03 (Nice Hill)
.21: 10:33 pace
10 comments
Wow! that is awful! Am i awful for chuckeling about the fall? Only because I would SO do that! I HAVE done that! And I know what it is like to hold it together because the kids freak out! Like stepping on Levi's pin! When he saw it sticking out of my foot he lost it! Cried and ran to me! He was so empathetic I could help but beam with pride, my son had empathy! Thank God! I had to stop my own crying and not pass out (like I wanted to) and say I was fine for his sake. Poor T Jr.! It must be so scary when they realize their mommy's aren't super heros, or are we!? =)Great job toughing out that run!!! How are you feeling now? I hope your back is ok! That was quite a spill!!! And FOUR WEEKS until the marathon!!!!! Shoot fire! It is getting close!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OUCH! When I was about four weeks out from my marathon, I fell down the stairs. It hurt so bad. I just sat there and cried because I thought it was all over. It wasn't. So cool that you are getting to run with Jill!
Oh no! So sorry to hear about the fall. Yay for running buddies!
OUCH, that's one good tumble. 🙁 I hope everything feels okay… sometimes you feel it more a few days later.Great job getting the long run done!
Great job! that run sounds tough!!!That so sweet he was worried about you 😀 I mean it sucked you fell but that reaction is priceless! :DAnd cramps suck. Seriously 🙁
I hope you are okay, I fell yesterday and was thinking what will this do for running… Just skinned knees and palms I think. I love how the fear of T Junior screaming got you on your feet :)Nice hill, LOL from your time it doesn't look that nice 😛
You are one tough lady. I wonder if in your place I would not have called the run off. Now 'womanly' cramps are just not fair. That is all I have to say. But I cannot but chuckle at the picture of a puppy jumping all over you and nibbling on your pony tail. Hope your week has fewer adventures like that.
🙁 i remember my mom falling once when i was really little. it was so sad, i hated it. glad you are okay tho! good job with your 14 miles!
So glad we got to run together. You did great. Thanks for working with me on the surprising HILLS! They were tons of fun!
You finished and that's the important thing. The long run is the single most important workout when it comes to training for a marathon. If you run into a problem or you don't feel quite “right” just slw it down. Remeber – at this point you're training – not racing.Keep up the good work!