Runner on the Right!

My Longest Distance!
Today was our group long-run... my longest distance at 14 miles (I missed the group's 16 and 18 mile runs).

I'm going to use this blog to share some of the things I learned on this long-run Saturday. Fourteen things I learned since the time I woke up... one for each mile I ran/walked today:

1. It's dark at 4:35 a.m. when the alarm goes off.
2. It's still dark at 4:45 when the alarm goes off again.
3. Hitting the snooze button makes you late.
   
4. Instant coffee isn't half bad... when you're desperate.
5. Don't wash your running clothes the night before, chances are they won't be dry.
6. Plain Greek yogurt with ground flax seed is not a yummy breakfast.
7. Just because the running skirt looked awesome on the size 0 model, that does not mean it will look as good on a size 6 (or 8 depending on the time of month) real-shaped woman.
8. It's good to shuffle your feet when walking through a dark house in order to avoid stepping on the cat.
9. It's still dark at 5:15 a.m. Turn on the car's headlights.
   
10. Speeding, while illegal, is an effective way to make up for hitting the snooze button.
11. My running group needs to give out better driving directions.
12. Chula Vista is an ugly place ... even the area on the bay.
    
13. Someone in the running group made a poor decision when choosing this area to run 14 miles.
14. One bad thing about being late (due to getting lost) is having to walk/run alone in a scary, desolate, industrial area while trying to catch up.

Ugly Run
I'm not referring to myself this time! The area was ugly. I never had a positive view of Chula Vista, which is south of downtown San Diego. When I saw that our run would start at the Marina, I thought maybe I wasn't giving the place a chance and maybe it would be nice. It wasn't... although it did get a little better as the route lead into Coronado, along the Silver Strand.

Adding to the overall yuckiness was the overcast weather. I'm sure things would have looked better with a blue sky to steal the show. It wasn't all bad, though. The best part about the route was that most of it was on a bike path so vehicle traffic was not an issue.

To the right was what looked like a salt mining place.
I'm not sure what it was exactly.

This was on the way back, so the sun was starting to burn through the clouds.
Those power lines make very disconcerting crackling noises.

Forget the Scenery... How was the Run?
The run/walk itself, was OK. I walked much of the 14 miles, but did manage to put in a few miles of running. My leg/knee was hurting a little as I ran but not unbearably so. I started with the group that consists of mostly walkers. Some walk and run, like me. As I mentioned above, I started late (about 10 minutes behind). Because I ran a good bit of the distance, I was able to catch up and/or pass up many of my group by mile 7, which felt very good to me!

The next pace group started about 40 minutes after I headed out. The fastest runners of this group started to pass me at about mile 6. At the turn-around point (seventh mile), I started 5 minute walk/ 3 minute run intervals, which I kept up until about mile 12. This kept me ahead of most of my group. It also allowed me to keep up with the slower runners of the second pace group.

Who? Me?!
One funny thing occurred as I was running slowly along the bike path. A group of bike riders was coming up behind me and I heard a man shout out, "Runner on the right!" as an alert to the other riders. I had not noticed any other runners around me at that time, so the declaration surprised me. I looked around for the "runner". Then I realized the man was talking about ME! That made me feel so good!

I Made It!
I made it through the whole 14 miles. Am I sore now? Yes! Does my leg hurt? Yes! Along with my left heel, my right ankle, and my butt. I'm sure the heel, butt, and ankle pain will go away pretty quickly. I just hope my knee/leg pain doesn't feel worse tomorrow. We'll see.


Well, now that we all know it is highly unlikely the city of Chula Vista will ask me to be their tourism ambassador, I think it is time to turn in. I woke up way too early this morning. Good night, all!

Have a wonderful Sunday!