Last Long Run

Well, training for the Philadelphia Half Marathon is winding down.  Today was my last long run before the race.  Two weeks from Sunday I'll be at the starting line ready to rock. 

Today's long run was 12.5 miles.  And there were good things, there were bad things, and there were pictures.  I was going to get up early and head down to the Rail Trail so I didn't keep hubby waiting after his long run.  But, I didn't.  I'm not a morning person.  When I did get up, I realized I didn't download the music I planned on for the Nano.  I'm so tired of what's on there right now and wanted to add The Janedeer Girls and Lady Antebellum to the Nano, but didn't.  So, I decided to try this morning.  Good thing #1: bought, downloaded, and got both on Nano before leaving house.  Yea!

Good thing #2: Before heading out, I checked Weather.com and it said the temperature was 27*.  Not bad.  I prefer cold weather for running.  But, cold weather, which I am only just know remembering means Bad thing #1: my car has frost on the windows.

Ugh.  So, I clean off the windows and get going...Bad thing #2: until the tire light on my car turns on.  I didn't know that's what the symbol meant until I found it in my manual.  It basically said not to drive it fast or take curves sharply.  I had two choices: skip the run or change location.  I decided to change location and Good thing #3: headed to my normal short run neighborhood.  Which had me worried because how in the world was I going to get 12.5 miles in there???

I parked the car, stretched a bit, and got started.

Don't let this slight downhill fool you.  This course was anything but downhill.  I chose this direction to put the development I normally run in at the end.  I decided to run up the street, make a left, and head into the next town over Mt. Wolf.  The issue is that Mt. Wolf is very hilly.  Very hilly.

This is the main street into Mt. Wolf.  I ran up this street and then up and down every street with a street sign.  I started on the right side of the street, then switched to the left side to lessen the times I had to run across this main street.  Before heading out of Mt. Wolf, I got just over 7 miles.  Good thing #4: I was feeling good.  I was actually surprised at how well I was feeling.  I was overconfident.

Why?  Because I chose to do this

What you can't see from this photo is that around that curve it continues upwards.  Bad thing #3: It's an awful, awful hill that I should never have attempted.  I should have turned around and gone back the way I had come.  But no.  Overconfident in the 7 miles through Mt. Wolf made me think I could do this hill.  Nope.  Bad thing #4: It took me 16 minutes to go a 1/2 mile.  Yes, 16 minutes.  That's how hard this hill is. 

Sadly, Bad thing #5: it was the end of the good run.  I struggled from this hill onto mile 12.5.  But, I kept going.  Two of my friends were scheduled to run the inaugural Savannah Rock 'n' Roll Marathon this weekend.  Sadly, they are both injured and are unable to do so.  I dedicated today's run to them and there was NO WAY I wouldn't complete this run.  Even if I had to crawl to 12.5 I was going to get there!

Good thing #5: And I did.  Slowly.  Tiredly.  But I got there.

Not the time I anticipated.  Stupid hills.  But, I did get the miles in.  And now, I have a four night runs and one 5 mile run to go before the Philadelphia Half Marathon.  It's almost here.

The really negative part of my run happened afterwards.  I came home and Very bad thing #6: have been sick all day.  My stomach has felt sick for hours.  I have never had this happen before.  And I heartly hope it never happens again.  I've read a few things that could have caused it and I'm going to work on those for the coming week.  Instead of celebrating my 12.5 mile run and hubby's 20 mile run, I laid on the couch feeling sorry for myself and in pain.  Hopefully the half marathon doesn't end this way...