best Run EVER

after 4.5 - looking a bit winded...

Saturday I knew that no matter what, come rain or shine, however I tried to spin it, I HAD TO hit 8 miles.  Hal Higdon said so, after all,  Who am I to argue?!  =D  Seriously, though, with my half marathon one month away, if I didn't hit 8, I knew I was in BAD shape.

I planned out a route in my head and got down to business doing 5/1 intervals.  The first 2 miles seemed effortless.  The third mile breezed by.  At this point, I started getting cocky.  I seriously considered tacking on an extra mile for a grand total of 9.  I was, after all, feeling ON TOP OF THE WORLDISH.  Mile 4 and still going strong and then eventually I hit the 5.25 mile point and I took a nose dive.  This wasn't really all that surprising considering I hadn't run all week AT ALL and that the most I had hit prior to this run in any one jaunt was 6 miles.  It took everything in me to finish all 8 and I have to say that the last mile was particularly pathetic.  I actually walked most of it as I got a blister on my left heel since my sock had slid down AND I had pain the ball of my left foot (courtesy of wearing heels the night before, I'm thinking) AND then, of course, I had an attack of the charlie horses (my b.f.f.s).

I took off Sunday.

Monday, I got a MUCH needed massage.  I have a monthly membership at Massage Envy, but for some reason I forgot to go in January and February...that is, until I couldn't bear it any longer.  My friend, and massage therapist, Sarah, worked her best torture techniques on me, but some of those knots are going to require another session, so I booked another appointment for next week.  I did feel better, though, leaving than I did going in, so that is progress!

I woke up this morning SO SORE from the release of all the knots in my neck, shoulders, left leg, and upper back.  I had hoped to run this morning, but it just wasn't going to happen.  I took an Epsom Salt bath instead and then I hydrated with the ol' H2O all day long like it was my job.  I'm talking a bajillion gallons, at least.

After a way overdue dinner with my friend Amy, I headed home for that run.  In my head I wanted to do 4.5, but I never tweeted or blogged a specific number because had I done that...well...we all know I would have been required to follow through on it. ;)  I knew that I wanted to run the mileage outright - no walking and no stopping and I knew that I wanted to feel good about the run.

I mapped out the course in my head and I got down to business.

Here are my stats:
Mile 1: 13:34
Mile 2:  13:10
Mile 3:  12:47
Mile 4:  13:15
Mile 4.5:  13:15/avg

Did you check out Mile 3???  Wowsers (uh...for me...it's all relative, after all)!

Bottom line, my little lamp chops - I felt AMAZING and STRONG - for all 4.5 miles.  Well, okay...a bit tired the last mile, but this indicates to me that I should run the Bayou City Classic 10K on March 12th without intervals! This makes me happy. 

Oh...I almost forgot to mention that I did run past a house that must have been a "coffee shop" if you catch my drift in the way that Amsterdam has "coffee shops".  Oh wow - the wretched pungent smell of "coffee" temporarily filled my lungs as I ran past said house.  So, my disclaimer is that I personally did not use any kind of enhancement ... um ... "coffee" for my run (though I'm pretty sure that kind of "coffee" would not be considered a stimulant anyway).  Ugh.

I have never had a week day run feel this good, not to mention this is the most I have ever run in a weekday (4.25 miles was my previous best).  A run like this restores confidence.  A run like this rocks my world!

What do I think lead to this accomplishment?  I freed my mind of all things cluttering it.  I released my body of all tension.  I was properly hydrated (for once).  I told myself, "you've got this!"

So, let's hope Thursday's run is just as dandy and that these two runs shall lead me to a FANTASTIC 9 miler on Saturday!

May you, too, have your best Run EVER or the equivalent in whatever area of life you've been struggling with!