Come Run With Me

I just ran 8 miles. I just ran 8 miles. I just ran 8 miles. The repetition is for the writer, not the readers, I'm in shock and trying to get it to sink in. This is a new record for me, up to this point the farthest I had made it was 7. I am so happy and proud that I can't wipe the smile off my face. I feel like a giddy jr. high school girl, and I wasn't a giddy jr. high school girl even when I was in jr. high! I wish I could say it was that much sought after "runner's high", but I'm afraid I am actually just bordering on exhaustion induced hysteria.

I want everyone to feel included in my running experience, so I am going to share with you the thoughts that go through someone's head during an 8 mile run on the treadmill. This way you can experience an 8 mile run without ever leaving your chair. It goes something like this.....

Mile 1: 8 miles, huh? ..... ok, here we go ..... don't start off too fast ..... nice and easy ...... good ..... now start the movie .... better watch the previews .... don't want the movie to end before I do ...... this feels good ...... nothing hurts ..... ok speed up

Mile 2: feeling good ...... wish my speakers on this tv were louder ........ can't hear movie ............ hot ....... want to turn on fans ..... then really won't be able to hear ...... not that hot ...... don't think about it ....... ok speed up again ....... going to take forever at this speed

Mile 3: still doing ok ....... thirsty ........ better pause for water ......... this movie kinda stinks ......... just keep watching ..... getting tired ...... slow down ....... ok good ......... going to take forever, speed back up

Mile 4: getting a little tired ....... do I really have more than halfway to go ......... gotta slow down ......... need water ....... want to stop .......... can't stop ......... not even halfway there ........ don't think about it ........ concentrate on movie ....... ok here comes the end of mile 4 ...... half way there ......... better reset treadmill or it will stop ....... only goes for 1 1/2 hours before auto shut off ........ this is going to take longer than that

Mile 5: why am I doing this ........ tired ....... need to stop ......... can't stop ....... keep going ........ stop thinking about it ....... tired ....... slow down ....... need water ....... this is torture...... my shoulder is starting up ....... just ignore it .......why am I doing this? ........ oh yeah Matthew ..... stop complaining ........ ok not complaining ...... running ....... speed up get this over with ....... ohh tired ..... slow down ........ concentrate on movie

Mile 6 - 8: I'm going to die ..... no you aren't ...... yes I am ...... need water ..... gotta stop ........ shoulder hurts ....... tired, go slower ....... gonna take forever, speed up ....... tired, go slower ...... gonna take forever, speed up .....right foot going numb .......... ignore it keep going ........ I can't do this ........ I wanna quit ...... you know darn well you won't quit, so just shut up and run ....... I hate this ...... why am I doing this? ....... oh yeah, Matthew ...... need water ......... gonna die ....... speed up ....... shoulder hurts ........ slow down ...... speed up ..... foot numb ...... slow down ....... almost there ....... come on strong finish ......... speed it up only .2 mile to go ...... YES!! I DID IT!!! WOO HOO!!!

Well? What do you think? Are you as tired as I am? I don't want to start making this long run on the treadmill thing a habit. It really sucks. By next week's 9 miler I need to find some new dirt trails to check out. I haven't been doing it because I had no way to track the distance, but I just ordered myself a GPS distance tracker today. Thanks to my boyfriend, I got a great deal. He can find an incredible price online for anything! It said about 5 days to ship, so everyone keep your fingers crossed it gets here by next Thursday.

I talked to Amy and it looks like my choices are Jefferson Hospital Philadelphia Distance Run, The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon, or the Nike Women’s Marathon. I'm still thinking about it. It's pretty much between Chicago and the Nike Women's Marathon if I do it. But San Francisco, isn't that like the hill capital of the world? You all know how much I LOVE hills. Plus if I mentor, I'm going to choose not to fundraise and to pay my own expenses. (I know that you are all so sad to hear that I won't be hitting you up for more money!) I could drive to Chicago, and wouldn't have to miss as much work. We'll see.