The First (Slightly) Long Run

This morning I had to run 7 miles. I know that most marathoners sneeze at running a "mere" 7 miles, but I consider anything over five miles significant. Actually, scratch that. I think ALL runs are significant...even the three mile "recovery" runs.

The problem about running today was/is that there is currently a "crippling" heat wave and a heat advisory in effect. According to weather.com, at 3pm it will be 98 degrees (hey! That's the name of a great musical group!) and will feel like it's 111. That's crazy! In order for me to complete my run before it hit 90 degrees, I needed to begin at 5am. If you know only one thing about me, it is that I AM NOT A MORNING PERSON.

Thankfully, the good lord woke me up at 4am in the form of a full bladder. (I had been aggressively hydrating in order to NOT DIE...please do not think that I have bladder control issues at the age of 29. ACK! Why are we talking about bladder control issues?!) Anyway, I just knew that if I went back to sleep, I might not get out of bed until 9 or 10 despite the three alarms I set. So I decided to just stay awake and PLAY WITH THE CORGIS until 5!



As you can see, the Corgis were only too eager to wake up and hang out!



I blasted some Black Eyed Peas "I Gotta Feeling" and danced with Kiki in the basement. She thought I was a little bit crazy, but as you are about to see, she is crazy too!



I thought I would do a little stretching on the kitchen floor, and Kiki started biting my hair!

The run itself actually went really well. I mean, yes, I am slow as molasses, but I am always slow as molasses. Sometimes I improve to being as slow as fast-moving molasses, but that's okay. I always say, "I can't run fast, but I can run forever." [As long as "forever" is defined as 26.2 miles.] I have LOTS of slow twitch fibers, but I don't think I have a single fast twitch fiber in my entire body!

Part of the reason that the run went well is because of my GREAT PSYCHOLOGICAL PLAN. When I start training for event (and the runs are short), I do not let myself listen to my iPod. Then when it comes time for the first longer run, I allow myself access to my iPod. Running is so much easier and more fun when you've got some great songs to jam out to!

Here's what I looked like around 6:15. Sexy, I know. Hahaha. Whatever.



It was VERY hot even at 5am.

Love,
Allison