UNCHARTED TERRITORY
I’m at the point in my training where my runs are getting much longer than I ever anticipated. Last weekend I ran 15 miles and lived to blog about it. It was my longest run yet, and I have to admit that it went pretty well…at least the first 14 miles did.
The last mile was a little rough. My hips and quads felt tight in a way that they never had before. I was out of water, grinding my way up a little hill, my running companions just barely in sight. I was officially in uncharted territory.
I spent that last mile thinking that 15 might be my limit. Maybe I just wasn’t cut out to run more. Too stocky. Too old. Under-motivated. Full of doubt.
I’ve been on the fence about whether I wanted to run a marathon, and maybe this run made my decision for me. I’m running the Bull City Racefest half-marathon. Isn’t 13.1 miles enough?
So I slogged my way to the finish, half-heartedly high-fived my fellow runners, and proceeded to chug a bottle of purple Gatorade. It never felt so good to stretch after a run. I was thoroughly exhausted and it was only 10am.
In my car on the way home, I couldn’t shake the way that I felt on that last mile. And then I had a realization: The last mile felt just as bad the first time I ran 5 miles. And 10. I wasn’t in uncharted territory after all. I was just at the edge of my comfort zone.
Maybe I’m not ready to run 26.2 miles…today. But if I keep running, keep pushing myself a little more each week, I’ll get there.
I’m running 17 miles this weekend. Wish me luck.
What is the longest run you have ever been on? Did your last mile feel like it went on for days? Let us know your long(est) run story in the comments below!
