Training Week Five

I am sore.
The route was way too hilly for this girl who's used to flat terrain or running on a treadmill.
I would have taken 16 miles on the treadmill any day over the rolling hills I ran today...well, actually that's not true.
But, I have heard that hills are tempo runs in disguise
and it was so nice to run and chat with a friend.

The first 6 miles were great. We kept a 10:15 pace, which was really comfortable and left us both able to talk back and forth with one another.

I downed a GU packet right before heading out the front door of the church (we ran from church to home - the back way). It was pretty nasty and a little too much, but I got it down. About 45 minutes later, I downed another and it was almost more than I could take. The thought of ever eating one of those again about sends me in to dry heaves. I need to figure something else out.

Around mile 6 or so is when the big, giant, never ending hills started. Our pace slowed a bit. I was starting to feel my calf tighten up and pain shoot up my right leg. I focused on my music and then next short stop for water.

It was around mile 10 that I ate an energy bar my mother-in-law made that was oh so good. I had little to no stomach issues during this long run. I was relieved because it was my biggest fear about running a one way run somewhere...no bathrooms.

Mile twelve the pain got a little bit worse and my running buddy was in a lot of pain too. I am not used to the hills and the wear and tear on the legs.

We ended up going 14 miles and calling for a ride. My heart wanted to keep going, to run through the pain...but my body, I am afraid would have been really sorry for listening. I can't risk a serious injury now. Sometimes you just have to put the will to not give up aside because you'll be better off in the end.

Next week says 18 miles and I hope my body does too. We are looking in to a different course that's a lot more flat...a nine mile loop would be good to give us the option of a bathroom stop.

Weekly total : 32 miles.