I had to do it....

I had to run the 14 miles!! I couldn't help it. 11 wasn't going to do it for me. I was looking forward to it all week last week and then to get sick and not being able to run it on Saturday really bummed me out. Plus, I wanted to try out my new shoes.

(They felt AWESOME, by the way.)

So, I started out planning on doing 11. My plan was to do laps around the lake and each time I'd reach a certain spot I'd stop for a minute and get a drink and get some GU. Lap 1 was fine. I felt strong and had a great pace going on. I made it around, got a drink and went on for lap 2. Lap 2 was just like the first. There were a couple of guys that kinda weirded me out, but there were also a lot of couples with strollers and stuff walking around too so I felt safe. I stopped again, got some water and GU and went on. Lap 3 was good. I passed by a couple of guys for the second time and one of them said "Hi again!" I went around to get some water and some guy was sitting right where I was hiding my water. I grabbed my water and went down a little ways to drink it. I stashed it in a new place and went on. So...Lap 4, I started making my way around and my right thigh started aching. I pushed through and made it back around to where I stashed my water and SOMEONE STOLE IT! Someone stole my freakin' water bottle...it made me MAD. But, that was my decision point. When I made it around I had gone 11.5 miles and was going to decide whether or not I was going to continue, but since my water bottle was stolen...stinkin' water bottle thief...I thought I'd head home and finish the lap which would give me 14 miles. I didn't get a water break and my thighs were aching so my last 3 miles were  slow, but I did it!

I RAN 14 MILES!!

This is my "I ran 14 miles!" face. :)

After running 14 miles my legs felt sooo weird. It was like my brain was saying "Let's go!" and my legs were saying "Are you CRAZY!?" My legs were completely dead. It was such a weird feeling. Like they hurt, but it wasn't painful...it was annoying. (If that makes sense.) So, when I got home I "iced" my legs. Ooh, and I don't have any blisters and my feet feel good.

Frozen bags of chocolate chips are SOOO great  for icing your legs. Just make sure they aren't open that way you don't undo everything you just did. :) Not that I would eat 1900 calories worth of chocolate chips anyway... Butterscotch chips, now that's a different story!

Anyway. I'm SOO proud to say that I ran 14 miles! Next time I'll have a better hiding spot for my water or I'll use a camelbak or something and I'll take some more GU with me.

Tomorrow...I'm taking it off.

Oh, and the weather today was PERFECT for a 14 miler! It was about 50 out and not a cloud in the sky! I might need to invest in a hat for my next long run.