My longest run in preparation... 10 DAYS!!!!

First...where has all the love been?  Where are my regular commenters?  I miss you!!!!!!   I have been freaking out the past few weeks that this half marathon is right around the corner.  Actually, its 10 days from today.  I figured the only way to calm the nerves and "what if"'s was to get out there and prove that I CAN do this.  I needed to turn the doubt off now so I dont spend the next 10 days petrified. 

So yesterday I dropped the kids off at preschool and left from there for a run.  I knew I had exactly two hours and thirty minutes before I had to get back to pick them up.  I set out for what I figured the time would allow me:  12 miles.  I was armed with my Gu and Gu chomps, my friend Laura's water belt (I now realize this is a must have), my Ipod, and Garmin watch.  When I dropped the girls off I could feel people staring at me.  But I didnt care.  One dad said I looked like a science experiment.  hehe.  I really did.

I went six miles and hoped to go a bit further to make it 6.5 so I could make an even 13 miles, but I knew that would put me over the time that I had to be back to pick the girls up.  The first six miles were better than the last six, as expected.  My legs were getting tired and my speed slowing.  But I was doing it!!!  And when I returned to the school 2 hours and 26 minutes later I had gone 12.3 miles.  And if I can do that then what's .8 more to make a half marathon, right?  I felt so proud of myself.  People were stunned that I had just run 12 miles in the time we dropped our kids off.  I was still in shock myself.  The most I had ever run before that was 10 miles. 

Last night my legs started to stiffen up before bed.  I woke up several times during the night because they hurt.  My knees and ankles were so sore.  Even my upper body was a little sore.  When I got up this morning it wasnt much better.  But it doesnt matter because I set out to accomplish 12 miles and I did.  Mind over matter. 

I did have a little "altercation" along my unfamiliar route yesterday.  There were several groups of construction guys I assume working on the same thing in different spots.  The first set was two guys.  The one guy saw me coming and went over to the other guy and said something in his ear.  They both looked up and stared at me.  So 7th grade right?  It bothered me the whole run.  On the way back, about 11 miles in, the same thing.  He saw me, went over to the guy and said something and again they both stared.  They were down in a field.  I worked too hard to let them take my pride.  So...I went right down there into the field and said "Is there something you want to say to me since you keep talking about me and staring?"  He looked shocked that I spoke up.  He said.... "uhhhhh, we have to look for traffic".  I said "Down here in the field?  What you are doing is rude" and off I went.  Now, I know I am a bigger girl (for a runner) with big boobs and a FUPA.  I dont need to be reminded.  Maybe it was traffic, or maybe they were judging me. Or maybe it wasnt negative at all.  Whatever, I said my piece and accomplished my 12 miles.

So the countdown is on:  10 days!!!