Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Ask me how I am!!!

Go on - ask me!!!! Cause right now I will tell you I feel AMAZING, tired but amazing. I am pleased to say I conquered my first long run of 1 hour and I managed to run 10.28kms. How cool is that!!!!!!!

When I set out this morning at 0650hrs or there about's - I had no idea of what lay ahead, other than just getting it done.
Pre run
And to be quite honest I was slightly anxious for a couple of reasons. Firstly the last time I ran 10km was in May last year and no sooner did I finish that run I was injured. Secondly, I had set a bit of a bench mark for myself and ran that 10km in 59mins and couldn't imagine running it this time any slower with the training I have been putting in - I would be supremely annoyed if that happened.

So as I set out with IPod in tow - with 100 pumping songs - I was ready to make this run. I kept saying to myself - "it's not about the distance Barb, just make the time", but to my surprise when I got to the 30min mark I felt surprisingly good. My average pace was about a 5:50 mark, so nothing lightening fast (not that I ever am) - but I felt like I could keep going. I think the rain was helping in keeping me feeling refreshed. It was initially a fine drizzle but halfway in and I was absolutely soaked. The stares I kept getting from motorists was priceless.
As I made my way home all I kept thinking was - "that wasn't as hard as I remembered it". The only thing that really bothered me for pretty much the whole run were the blisters on my feet from the club race. I had heavy duty Bandaids and tape over that and the blisters still rubbed - PAIN. But by the time I finished I think the excitement made me forget it all. I had done my first long run - beat my previous runs distance - and felt really good to boot at the end of it. What could be better.
Post run
Then this morning when I was on FaceBook my thoughts turned from my inner self to all of those poor people suffering in Queensland with the most devasting floods ever. The last time people had seen anything of the sort was over 30yrs ago. These flood waters are engulfing towns like nothing I have ever seen - lives have been lost and lives turned upside down. Please keep them all in your prayers and pray that this ends without further tragedy.

Your hard work will be rewarded.

"The path to a dream is paved with sacrifices and lined with determination. And though it has many stumbling blocks along the way, and may go in more than one direction, it is travelled by belief and courage and conquered with a willingness to face challenges and take chances" Barbara Cage