20 miles!

Last Sunday was the 20 mile run. I was able to complete 16 of the 20 due to pain in my foot. I was afraid to keep running through the pain and then getting to the point of no return if I actually injure myself and can not continue to run. Everything else felt great. I feel that I was mentally prepared and the rest of my body felt good. I just got to the point where the pain in my foot was too much. New shoes are right around the corner and hopefully then my ailments will be relieved.


We had two guest runners at our site this week to run with Tara and I. The two women who ran with us were a sassy mother daughter pair both training for their second marathon. The mother was a powerhouse and reminded me a bit of the Energizer Bunny! We nearly needed a lasso to keep her pulled back and on pace with us. The daughter is an exuberant student finishing up her thesis work at Princeton. She chatted through most of the run keeping us all perked up and distracted from our task at hand as well.



I was able to coax Phillip and Dolly out of bed at 4:30 am on Sunday morning to come out to College Park and serve as water volunteers! It was a great thing to look forward after the first 12 miles of the run and then at the end. Dolly's main job was to be cute which she does with such ease.


Robi has been in Brazil these past few weeks and emailed to say she was successful in running 20 miles! She had this to say "I did it- I ran 20 miles! I ran for FIVE HOURS!!! Who the hell in their right mind RUNS for five hours??? I wasn´t counting on doing it here on the island, but I started to figure out that it is cooler here than in Rio AND there is shade. The places where there are nice, safe paths in Rio are always in the sun. Blech. So I ran through every alleyway imaginable -3 times- in this village, and down the path to the Black Beach about 6 times. Around the soccer field maybe another six...you get the idea. But ROCK ON!!!!!!!!!!! I did it!!! The constant drizzle was nice, too."

This week we have the option of 10 miles or 5k (just over 3 miles). Is there really a choice? Hmmmm....

Run Through the Park

Last week was smooth sailing with a brief 9 mile run! My foot still hurt after the run so I need to get fitted for new shoes but that will unfortunately have to wait until the end of the month when payday rolls around again! For the run this weekend I'm going to wear my old running shoes that have more room in the width. I wore them for the maintenance runs this week and my foot didn't bother me. I'll bring the other shoes in case the old shoes give me problems but hopefully I can accomplish this huge milestone.

This week is the 20 mile run. It seems so daunting to me especially since the last long run I was able to complete was the 14 miler. It will just be Tara and I out on the trail as Robi is in Brazil. I will have a little support group out there with me this weekend thought. Phillip and Dolly are going to hit the trail this weekend to be water volunteers. The most difficult part of running these distances is not the actual miles but the mental power need to overcome the body and push through the wall.

It will be a colorful run too. We are all wearing RED this week to show others on the trail why we are running-to help and support those living with HIV/AIDS. I'll be sure to bring the camera and take some photos to post.

Back on my feet

While in Hilton Head I was able to finally start running again! I had been keeping up my heart rate and endurance by doing other forms of cardio like the elliptical machine, walking, and the bike. On Sunday July 30 I convinced Phillip and my little sister, Julia to run with me. As an added bonus I parked the car at the local Bakery. Julia ran a mile out and back, Phillip and I ran a mile out and back, and then all three of us ran a mile out and back. The scheduled run was 8 miles and we did just shy of 7! After the run I treated them to some yummy baked breakfast goodies! My foot did hurt after the run but ice seemed to help me "cool my heals" quite quickly.

This past weekend was the 18 mile run. I guess in the running world most folks training for a marathon know that if they can conquer 18 then they can successfully finish the marathon. I felt great for about the first 10 miles but then my foot started to really hurt. With the advice of our coach I cooled it at the 12 mile mark, waited for my group to circle around and ran in for the last 2 miles. So I was able to complete 14 miles. I was very frustrated and saddened that I was unable to complete the training run. I really wanted to do 18 but I was in a lot of pain. My running mates were great and proud that I stopped instead of letting Pride get in the way and possibly doing more damage to my foot.

The good news in all of this is that I may just have ill fitting shoes and not Plantars Fascitis as originally thought. I'm going to go get re-fitted and buy new shoes. I hope that fixes the problem!

This week I'm back on schedule with training runs and an easy 9 miles this coming Sunday.

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