Thursday, September 23, 2010

20 Solo Miles

Yes, I did run 20 solo miles last Saturday...not only was this the longest run I have EVER ran, but it is also by far the most I have ever ran by myself!
I got up around 5am on Saturday to get ready.  I ate my breakfast slowly and felt really good!  I was excited to get going!  I got all "geared" up and stepped outside.  There was a nice chill in the air!  I started up my Garmin....

Well, attempted to start up my Garmin watch...and the darn thing didn't do ANYTHING!  I had charged it overnight, so I knew it wasn't that...It was like it was frozen!  I started panicking...there was no way I wanted to attempt my longest run, BY MYSELF, and without my watch.  I was looking forward to keeping track of my miles with it, and knowing my exact time. 
I ran back inside and found the manuel.  By this time I was almost in tears...I read the manuel, and it told me if it froze up, to hold these two buttons, and it would turn it off and restart it.  I did it...AND IT WORKED!!!  Thank the lord!!!
So, I stepped back outside, stretched and took off! 
Mile 1-4: It was a beautiful morning and I just took those first 4 miles to enjoy running!  It was neat to run by myself for once, and I was able to really relax, enjoy my surroundings and think!  At mile 4 I stopped to walk, drink some water and down a GU.
Mile 4-8: I was still feeling pretty strong!  I did get passed by a really fast guy running...He flew by me!  Again, nothing to eventful happened!  I continued to enjoy my run.  At mile 8 I stopped to walk again and drank some more water and downed another GU.
Mile 9-13.1: I got to mile 9 and then had to run another mile out before I could turn around (I was running the same route we had ran our 18miler...except now I had to run an additional mile out)  This took me into the parking lot of a middle school and I took a path that led me into a subdivision.  I decided to stay straight on that road, so I wouldn't get lost...except I came to an end in the road and I was only at 9.5 miles so I had to turn right or left.  I made a left and kept going...so hoping I wouldn't get lost.  This subdivision was HILLY and I started to get a little tired.  I finally made it to Mile 10, and turned around.  I decided to walk up one of the BIG hills, and once up it, ran again.  I finally made it out of the subdivision and back on my route home!  Yea...over halfway there!  I finished the 13.1 in approx. 2hrs and 20min.  I felt I was going at a fairly good pace even with taking a few short walking breaks.  At mile 13.1 I walked and drank some gaterade and fueled with some energy jelly beans.
Mile 13.1-16: Right around Mile 14 I came to a McDonalds and ran inside and refilled my water bottles and ran to the bathroom.  I continued at a fairly good pace to 16, but I could feel I was starting to slow down.  This was where mentally it was getting difficult!  At mile 16 I stopped again to walk and told myself I could do this...I only had 4 more miles to go!
Mile 16-20: I started up again and told myself if I could run to 18 that I could walk again before I hit the home stretch.  During these two miles I did stop once to stretch my legs on the side of the road.  They were starting to tighten up a bit, and my back was hurting from the continuous motion of my arms.  After I stretched I ran to right around 18.5.  I did walk again, to drink some water...plus there were a million garage sales going on, and the cars were taking up my shoulder, so I had to walk to get around them.  
The last 1.5 miles, I kicked it in gear.  I was tired, hurting a little bit, and my mental attitude was shot.  I was sooo ready to be done!!!  Those last 5-6 miles was when I soooo wish Beck and Kris would have been there to help push me on!  
I came around the corner, and my dad, my husband and my father-in-law where outside working on a swing set for my son's 2nd b-day.  My dad let out a yell, and they cheered as I ran to the driveway...20 FREAKIN MILES DONE...SOLO BABY!!!!

I finished right around 3hrs. 40min.  I was happy with my time...I think I wouldn't have stopped quite as much had Kris and Beck been there, but I was still happy to have done it!
Since then, I actually haven't been nearly as tired or sore as I was from my 18 miles...which is a good thing!
I ran another 5 miles on Tuesday, and last night did a Body Combat class.  I'm feeling good!!!

Only a few more weeks until Chicago....

XOXO,
Stephanie 

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

wow good job!! that is pretty awesome.
thank god u got the garmin working. i couldnt imagine running with out it for 20 miles!

busyrunningmama said...

Awesome job on the 20 miler! Not sure I could've have done that many miles solo....honestly I couldn't do that many miles, period, but definitely not solo!!!
You rock!!

Laura said...

Soooo awesome!!!!!

Emz said...

WAy to go Stephanie!!

Got to love McD's for refills. ;)

track coach and adorable wife said...

Way to go, 20 miles sounds impossible to me, but 20 miles solo...wow!

Runners Fuel said...

Awesome 20 miler!!

Harold said...

Wow 20 miles is awesome!! Good job

Rae said...

Wow! Great job! I got all teary when you said your family was there and they cheered for you...I know, I'm a dork! :)

Tricia said...

whoohoooo!!! awesome job

Molly said...

that is a huge accomplishment doing that distance alone...my last long trainin run of 22 miles I did with a friend, great job!

DaphneB said...

That is AWESOME!!

Christine said...

Congratulations, that is huge!!! This will give you the confidence for your marathon and YOU can do it, even without your friends :) Good job!!!

fancy nancy said...

Yay!!! Way to go on your 20 miles! Doesn't it feel great to push your body beyond what you've done?!

Tortuga_Runner said...

You are awesome chica, way to rock out those 20 miles. Not sure I could ever do that solo.

Jen said...

Great job... I am uber jealous... I got injuried right aft er my 18.5, so I am easing my way back into running. WIll only get 1 20 miler before the marathon, in two weeks. Then taper.

Pearl said...

Awesome job!
I just have to say that being new to running again after a really long absence, I am just loving reading everyone's blogs and just feeding off all this positive energy!!

TutuRunner said...

way to go!! that's so awesome to have your big run behind you! mine is tomorrow.... yikes!

Aimee said...

Woohoo! Congrats on doing your 20 miler! Yay! I have mine on Sunday...yikes!
I did my 18 miler solo and will be doing my 20 miler solo too and I totally know what you mean about it being mentally tough to run that far by yourself.
I hope mine goes as well as yours did! :)