20 Miles Completed

I had my final 20 miler weighing on me all week.  I tried to stay smart and on schedule.  Unfortunately my 10 mile tempo run hadn't happened and it was Friday.  I opted for a Friday evening 10 miler.  I literally scheduled and paid a babysitter so I could run for nearly 2 hours.  In my opinion, it was justified.  I have already missed a few runs and I didn't want to add another, especially at this point in training.  I ran the first 5 on a well-lit street  and then my friend Tara (another mom) met me for the second half.  At that point, we were able to run on the boardwalk.  We chatted through the miles which made it over quickly.  So, here's the takeaway Moms.  If you have no time without the kids to run, get a sitter for an hour or two.  And if you have to run in the dark, there is strength in numbers.  Maybe see if you can get sitter who will watch a few kids.  You and your other mom runners can run together and split the sitter costs.

So, then I opted for a little late adult dinner.  Trader Joe's enchiladas and a hoegaarden.

Yup, I know.  I am an expert in food presentation.

I wanted to post earlier this weekend. However, life got in the way. Hubby was off yesterday, but working today so we had some time together. First, we visited my dad, grandma and my uncle who was visiting from out of town.  Then we spent the remainder of the day cleaning up our bedroom and I did about 100 loads of laundry. Seriously, it was more like 102! I also winterized my running/work out clothes drawer. I was happy to put away the running shorts after some major thigh chaffing I experienced recently.  Still I literally have more clothes for exercise than work. I'm okay with that. I prefer exercise. :)

I still want more. :)

Knowing that I had 20 on deck for today, I tried to rest my legs.  Although my washer and dryer are down 12 stairs so I wasn't so successful.  But with hubby hitting the sheet early for work today, we all went to bed pretty early.  We got through 2 innings of the Yankee game and we both rolled over.  Damnit Jeter!

I was awake at 6 this morning but not so quick to jump out of bed.  I logged onto Twitter for some inspiration.  Thanks for the replies fellow Twitter running bloggers!  I got the kids up and out and we headed to Brooklyn.  My sister and brother-in-law were nice enough to watch my kiddies, on top my nephew who is a one-year old handful.  So damn cute though. :)

My training partner, Nurys and I headed out the door at 8 a.m.  We dipped into Coney Island and then took Ocean Parkway from one end to the other.  Luckily it ends at Prospect Park, so we got some hills in.  We did just over 2 miles of the park loop and reversed for our out and back.  It was the same course back, but not nearly the same.  The second half included more traffic (stop and go) and much more sun.  By the time we hit 16, I was definitely feeling it.  I just kept moving., sometimes faster than I should have because I just wanted it to be over.  The last 2 miles were literally a deal I made with my legs to just go and I promise I won't do this to you again... for a few weeks.  There was even a point where I questioned my ability to do 6 more on 11/4.  Nurys just kept moving and therefore so did I.  The thing about a training partner is you might feel like they will hold you back, but the truth is that they are there when YOU need them.  Thanks to Nurys and my sheer stubbornness, 20 miles was completed.

We walked a bit back to my sister's house and took turns cold bathing (no ice but the water was damn cold). 

A punk ice-less bath

Then we picked up some Roll n' Roaster roast beef sandwiches, a Brooklyn favorite, to refuel.  There are no food photos, I was starving.  I lounged around my sister's for a while.  I was trying to get the energy to go home, plus she was entertaining the kids.  Plus it's always a treat when I get to see my nephew and the kids have "cousin time."

After a couple of errands, I'm now home with a glass of cabernet watching Tigger with mini-me and the boy.  Hopefully they are tired, because I should am.  All I can say is let the taper begin.

Sharing is Caring: Thoughts on the final long run (20, 22, etc.)  Did you feel great after it?  If you didn't, did you worry about the 26.2?  Should I?