Week 6 - Long Run

Saturday's run was the longest and most difficult run for me so far. I crossed the 10 mile mark!! I'm just 3.1 miles from the finish line - by my calculations that should be another 45 mins of running or so. The end is almost in sight :)

The run wasn't easy though - and there was a point (7 miles in) when I had given up. My legs were just so tired. They felt like they were made of lead and at various points along the way, I thought they'd buckle over from exhaustion. I don't know why I was that tired. I'd gotten my sleep, I'd had a great breakfast, I stretched.

Perhaps it was a combination of different things. I hadn't run very much at all during the week - just 3 miles when I should have done about 10. So maybe my legs were rusty. Plus it was really cold on Saturday - really, really cold. It was 48 degrees F, which is like 7 degrees C!! And this was at 2pm!! We were running with gloves and knitted caps on.

Mile 3 was when the tiredness began to kick in and I began yearning for the halfway mark to arrive. When I get to the turnaround point (mile 5) I stopped and stretched rather than just turning around. I thought to myself - that wasn't so bad.. I just have to go back now. But it didn't get any easier. Mile 7 I couldnt take another step. I just got off the trail - I was so disappointed in myself - I was on the verge of tears. I couldn't believe I was giving up but I just didn't have the energy to go on. I stretched a little and had my legs massaged. When I found out we had just 3 more miles to do, I thought to myself - I can do this. 3 miles is nothing!! I can do this!! Please God let me do this.

He could clearly see the disappointment on my face. He knew I was struggling but that I wanted to finish. That's when he said "Don't worry baby - we're going to finish together. I'm running the rest of the way with you - each and every step. We're going to do this - you can do this." That's when I found the strength to go on. If it had not been for him, I wouldn't have made it. This is a man who runs 3 minutes faster than I do! I run as fast as he walks! And he could have hurt himself running at my pace but he was willing to set all that aside and stay with me. Before I knew it, 3 miles became 2, 2 became 1 and soon we were turning that last bend that marked 10 miles! I could have cried from disbelief - I didn't think I was going to make it..

Days like Saturday serve to remind you that you're only human and there will be days when you will be tested. And days like Saturday also remind you why you love the people you love...