I am beyond happy that we knocked out our long run this weekend.  An 18-miler was on the agenda and we managed to get 17.5 under our belts.  Not bad seeing as we have 2 more long runs to go before our taper.  While I would love to say that I had a great run, that we hit our time goal I can’t.  The first 8.8 miles were fine but boy did I struggle the remaining 8.8 miles.  I made a very big tactical error in planning the run.  I left the most challenging, hilliest and more difficult 7 mile block at the end of the run.

Having a slight competitive streak is a blessing and a curse, let me tell you.  I gutted out that last 8.8 miles of the run and made it back across the Golden Gate Bridge out of sheer will.  It was a  simple case of mind over matter.  I was sore and my legs were tightening up on me but I knew I wasn’t injured so there was no alternative but to keep going.  I mean, I have never just stopped running when I felt like it – it’s not in my nature.  The trick in these instances is to check in on yourself, adjust pace, cadence, relax your shoulders and maybe even take a walk break but keep going forward.  Even if it’s a shuffle, you gotta keep moving.

As crazy as it sounds, while I say this wasn’t a good run for me, this difficult run was a great training run in that these very challenging runs are the ones you need to draw upon when you are running a marathon.   I have the confidence that I can draw upon my inner strength, inner warrior, inner kick-ass runner and finish the task at hand.  And that, my friends, is worth it!

Now go run!

Keli 🙂