the lonely road.

I just did 11.5 miles! All by my lonesome too! Running by myself is more of an accomplishment than doing my longest run ever. I am in Athens this week and so I had to miss our group run on Saturday morning. So sad, cause I definitely missed all my running partners. I was going to hook up with the Huntsville Team In Training and try and get in my long run with them, but I was on the road on Thursday and Friday, so I figured it would be best to wait til Sunday to run. I also had to get a fuel belt, which is essential for long runs. So I got that on Saturday and a few energy supplements to get me through my run. Not sure how you can survive on a run without those things! They always say put your money in your shoes, but I think the fuel belt and supplements are almost as important!

I had to map out my run last night in order to make sure I got in the mileage without having to do a million loops. I decided that I was the most comfortable with running over in Decatur out at Point Mallard, so I got onto MapMyRun.com and plotted out my course. It took me from the ice skating center all the way through some neighborhoods, to the golf course and back to my starting point. Of course my goal was to hit 12 miles, but I only made 11.5 and will explain that in a minute. Here's the course I took. It looks like I ran all over Decatur when you look at the map!

I printed out this map and took it with me, cause there was no way I would remember all the roads. Also just in case I do end up lost, I will have at least something to help me get back. I called my map The Treasure Map to Accomplishment! 

So you ask, what in the world do you think about while you are out there? Well, I am going to tell you. And since I was by myself, you would have thought I had a lot of deep thoughts going through my brain, but no. Here's to the best of my memory what all I thought about.

mile .5 - Don't start out too fast, cause you have 12 miles to run! Alright, just slow down a bit cause you can always pick it up later.

mile .75 - I feel pretty dang good. Even though it is humid as everything, at least the sun isn't blaring down on me.

mile 2 - At 30 minutes I need to start thinking about replenishing my fuel so I don't crash too soon. I should be about there. Crap - I've only gone 2 miles!

mile 3 - Look at that cute puppy. Wait, is that a statue? Why hasn't he looked at me yet? It's a dog, right? That's one well behaved dog. He hasn't even looked at me, that's not like dogs. Oh well... I guess better to sit there than chase me down.

mile 4 - I'm feeling the humidity. I need some water and I think I will try this Powerade Gel Pack. I sure hope it doesn't make me sick. I'll just start out with half the pack. Hey - not bad. Tastes like bananas when it's really green apple, but who cares at this point. Give me energy!

mile 4.5 - Woo hoo! Those gel packs really do make a difference. I need water though, but not too much, cause I have to ration out the water so I don't run out.

mile 5 - only 5 miles!! No way. I think this Nike iPod thingy is broken. I feel like I've been running forever... Awe, look at that beautiful boxer. He's just going to stand there and look at me, isn't he. No, stay! He's coming to the end of the drive way. Surely he'll stay there. Okay, he's following me. Stay! Thank goodness he isn't running after me, but I do have my back towards him... Wait, he needs to get out of the middle of the road. Oh well, not my fault, at least he's not following me now.

mile 6 - I really want to walk. I need some water. Good excuse to walk. Ah walking. Okay just walk to that mail box.

mile 6.1 - Feel so much better after that brief walk. They say to walk whenever you want instead of when you need to. So I should be good by the end of this run.

mile 6.5 - More gel please! These things really aren't that bad.

mile 7 - Umm... I think I am getting into the projects. I don't like this. Wait I'm suppose to turn right before that street. There is no right. What happened to my road? Let me turn around before I get into a neighborhood I'm not comfortable in. I'll just go back the way I came, it'll end up being close to the same mileage anyway. Do I really have to go back the way I came?? Okay, just do it, it's better that way.

mile 8 - Alright this is the home stretch. All I have to do is get around this golf course and I will be good. You've made it this far, this is a piece of cake now. Hey - I think I'm due for a short walk break. I need to replenish fuel anyway. Here we go! I'm feeling good. No real aches or pains. Just mentally bored. At least I can watch the golfers. I am soaking wet and my shorts are getting there. I don't think my shorts have ever been this wet!

mile 9 - This part of the run isn't bad. Maybe I should have stopped at that water cooler on the golf course. I'm starting to run out of water. Maybe I can make it last. I'll just take a sip and save the rest for that last mile. Yeah, I should have stopped. Oh well, maybe there will be another one up here a little ways.

mile 9.2 - So much for the water - that's the end of the course. Think about what you are going to do. I'll stop by my car before I make that last little loop and I'll grab my gatorade.

mile 10 - This looks familiar! I'm almost there! Well, almost to my car, then I have to make a loop. Lada di, lada da. I don't have a dry spot on me, and these shorts are not helping me. They keep riding up or sagging cause they are so wet.

mile 11 - I'm already at 11.2 miles! Maybe I won't have to run that loop. There's my car, should I stop. No if I stop, I won't start again. Just get 11.5 miles and you'll be fine. Just run to that parking lot and back and that'll be enough. Everyone else just did 8 miles yesterday. You'll be fine with just 11.5.

mile 11.5 - I am soaking wet. Whew - I am glad that is over with. I'm quite proud of myself. That really wasn't that bad. I kinda enjoyed it. Did I seriously just run over 2 hours by myself? I did! I did!

On the way home, I think my brain was just a big ball of mush. I could feel how loose my muscles were and how achy my knees were. Although I didn't quite get to my 12 mile goal, I am still quite happy with how I did. I felt healthy and my energy level was good. So in all it was a very successful run!