I am participating in a 5k race on Saturday so I was going to forgo my long run this week. I was also a bit nervous for my long run, since it was calling for 7 miles and the farthest I have ever gone is 6.2 miles. It does not sound like a big leap, but mentally anytime you go the farthest distance you have ever gone you can really psych yourself out.
I contacted my IM buddy last night and asked if she planned on running today. "Of course" was her answer. So we made plans to meet at a local park to run 7ish miles. Why do things always sound good when you are first making plans? It was not long after that, that I checked the weather forecast. Oh no big deal...8 degrees with 20 mph winds and windchills ranging from -10 to -20. What??? Oh maybe this was not a good idea.
This morning my friend texted and asked if we were still on. I smiled and remembered what she had told me last summer as she prepared for her Iron Man. She said, "I can do anything for one day." So I texted her back, "Sure, we can do anything for 1 hour, right?"
We arrived to howling wind, dark skies, snow falling and blowing across a path that contained the warning, "conditions are icy, use at your own risk." Uh-oh. But we are crazy, and we are northerners, and we are runners. So we abandoned all reason and took off.
I love running with friends. We talked the entire time. When we hit 6.3 miles I looked down at my Garmin and exclaimed, "This is now officially my farthest run ever!" We finished out the run and ended at exactly 7.0 miles! What a great feeling. I love hitting new milestones! An 8 mile run lay ahead of me next week! I am also excited that Monday I will have the opportunity to meet with a trainer at the Y (Macomb Family YMCA)! Can't wait to see what new and exciting challenges lay ahead! I CAN DO IT, YOU CAN TOO!
I contacted my IM buddy last night and asked if she planned on running today. "Of course" was her answer. So we made plans to meet at a local park to run 7ish miles. Why do things always sound good when you are first making plans? It was not long after that, that I checked the weather forecast. Oh no big deal...8 degrees with 20 mph winds and windchills ranging from -10 to -20. What??? Oh maybe this was not a good idea.
This morning my friend texted and asked if we were still on. I smiled and remembered what she had told me last summer as she prepared for her Iron Man. She said, "I can do anything for one day." So I texted her back, "Sure, we can do anything for 1 hour, right?"
We arrived to howling wind, dark skies, snow falling and blowing across a path that contained the warning, "conditions are icy, use at your own risk." Uh-oh. But we are crazy, and we are northerners, and we are runners. So we abandoned all reason and took off.
I love running with friends. We talked the entire time. When we hit 6.3 miles I looked down at my Garmin and exclaimed, "This is now officially my farthest run ever!" We finished out the run and ended at exactly 7.0 miles! What a great feeling. I love hitting new milestones! An 8 mile run lay ahead of me next week! I am also excited that Monday I will have the opportunity to meet with a trainer at the Y (Macomb Family YMCA)! Can't wait to see what new and exciting challenges lay ahead! I CAN DO IT, YOU CAN TOO!