15kms - Done and Dusted !!!!

Last weekend I planned to do a longer run - I didn't because of the crappy weather and I felt bad, I felt like I was always saying I was going to do this longer run but it just never happened.  I had done a 12km run the Wednesday before but, for me I wanted more.

I knew A and K were working today and so had planned to go to work as well - but only after I had run.  A left at about 7am and I got up and got dressed.  Thought about what to eat / drink before I left - this is a dilemma for me because I always run at night and have something to eat at about 3pm.  Anyway, I had a couple of sips of water to take my tablets and had a protein bar - worked like a charm which is great because now I know what I can have before the race on 30th June which starts at 6.30 am !!!!  Bloody hell - how am I going to manage to get up for that !! Sorry I digress - again !

The next dilemma was what to wear - I have long sleeve tops which are great but I thought they would be too hot by the time I was 5 or 6km into my run and the weather got warmer. I found two short sleeve tops that I had bought when we were doing a lot of bush walking and it worked so well - warm enough when I started but not too hot later in the run.  The only problem was my hands - they were bloody cold for most of the run and have got so fat I battled to get my rings on when I left home a little while ago.  It's been a long time since my rings have been so uncomfortable on my fingers !!!

I got to half way and stopped to stretch my gastrocs, hamstrings and quads - they were getting tight and tired.  I turned around and headed home -  I had run 7.5km away from home knowing that when I got there I had no option but to turn and go home - no short cuts - no way to get home except put one foot in front of the other and keep going.

Up until I stopped to stretch I was still averaging 6:32/km which I was extremely happy with.  At about 11km my legs were getting really tired - I considered giving up. I thought about phoning someone to come and fetch me.  I thought about what I was doing and why.  I thought about my village of cheerleaders and I put my big girl undies on, sucked it up and go on with it.  At 12kms my pace had dropped to 6:42 - still good and still acceptable for me.  At 13km I had tears running down my face - why was I doing this ?  Why didn't I just stop ?  Why didn't I call someone to come and fetch me ?  What was I trying to prove ?  What did it matter if I didn't finish these last 2 kms ?  Would it be the end of the world ?  No, it wouldn't be the end of the world but it would be one more goal that I set for myself that I didn't manage to achieve.  In any case, who could I phone - A was at work and I thought that K would have left for work already. I could call my BIL - how to explain I was 2 kms from home and just couldn't go on.  I could call my folks - no explanation required - just could you please come and pick me up and they would be there faster than I could say Jack Flash. 

And then I heard the voices (no I am not going off my head - they were virtual voices) - Aroha, Lyndal, Jane, B and Lee - cheering me on those last 2kms - telling me I could do it and to just keep putting one foot in front of the other - cheering me with every step that I took - cheering me to keep going - not for any reason other than to help me on my way.  1.25km from home K called to say she was leaving for work (I COULD have called her at 13kms to come and collect me - I am SO FRIGGIN' HAPPY I didn't !!!) - I waved as she drove past and I knew that I would make it all the way home - and I did !!! 

This morning I ran 15kms in under 7min/km (because 6 mins 59 secs is under 7mins isn't it ????) - and, right now, I would have to be one of the happiest ladies on the planet (even though I am about to start working for a couple of hours !!!) - my legs are tired and aching (not helped because I didn't stretch) but I can live with them like this - they tell me I am alive and I have achieved something I NEVER thought I would - never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would RUN (plod ?) 15kms.  Rhianna asked the question yesterday - when does jogging become running ? If anyone knows I would love to know the answer.

Tonight may be a different story when I have to walk up the steps at Metricon Stadium to get to my seat but I will deal with that when it happens !!

For those who think they can't run - you can - you so can do it because if I can do it - ANYONE can do it !!!

Have the best weekend ever - and thank you again for your support, encouragement and motivation - I can't tell you how much it means to me !!   This TFTD is for all of you who are on this journey with me - A HUGE BIG THANK YOU !!

TFTD : Never forget where you have been.  Never lose sight of where you are going.  And never take for granted the people who travel the journey with you.