Should I feel like crap?

So it has been awhile. I have been lazy during the week and getting in the bar min of running. Then some long runs on the weekend. This past Saturday I ran the longest distance I have ever run; 16 miles. Our group run was on Sunday but because I was doing some celebrating of a friends bday Sat night I wanted to get it in Sat morning. I found one other person (Kim) who was doing some celebrating of her own too and we ran it together. Kim came early and set up some water stops which were perfectly placed and well needed. I had stayed out a little late the night before and stayed at a friends place so did not bring all my proper gear; GU, Glide, compression shorts and at first I thought I did not bring enough layers. But it turned out be a beautiful morning to run other then a little too much sun. We started at Station Road at the towpath and ran north pretty much all the way to my house or Rockside road at least (6 miles) then back (6 miles). At our 12ish mile water stop I could feel my legs did nit really want to run any more but could not stop there, only had a little under 2 miles out and back to the cars. What is 4 mor mile when you just ran 12 right? We finished and called our TNT coach over joyed we got it done a day earlier and what turned out to be a much better weather day.

I really do not think I would have been able to get through it without Kim there. We chatted a lot which was great and made the time go by quicker. But our biggest question was toward the end; Should I feel like crap after every long run? After running 16 miles I felt very accomplished but also like I could never run it again! My legs hurt, my fee hurt, my arms are sore and my lower back aches. Mind you most of this hurt goes away within a day if not two and I did throw a pair a heels on that night that didn't help with recovery. But does this ever go a way? I am asking you more experienced runner I guess who run 16 miles on a semi regular basis. Do you still feel like crap after a long run?

Tomorrow going on a third date with a guy which is rare for me. He is nice and we are going to a Cavs game!! So excited but don't want to jinx it so I will leave it at that. Night all. Happy running! Oh and the countdown is 47 days til the Cleveland Marathon! Wowzer that is a small number.

Longest Long Run

I ran 14 miles today and I feel pretty good.  I did the end a little slower then the start because I like running with some one when we are with the group.  We ran out 7 miles and back at Bonnie park in Strongsville.  The weather was almost perfect and can not wait for this week cause it is only getting better. I have some pictures from my Half Last week in Youngstown.  I realize I do not take the best pictures when tired, wet and apparently cold. LOL But here is proof I ran my first and fastest half.    

Here is me running into the finish line.  The only decent pic of me. LOL

I was trying to "hamm" it up for the cam but he caught me mid thumbs up and eyes closed

These two are who I drove out with part of the TNT team.  You see me in the background.  We went directly to the car to get our dry clothes!

And Finally a group photo of everyone from our TNT team that came out for this crazy run.

That is all for now, sorry that I suck at formatting hopefully this post looks ok. Everyone in Cleveland enjoy the weather this week!

Mille Creek Half Marathon

My first ever half marathon race was this past Sunday. This was also the longest distance I have ever ran at once. Which means I PRed!! hehehe We set out very early in the morning after a time change which means I only got 4 hours of sleep. It was very foggy when we all met at Penera which was sadly not open yet. The weather did not seem like it was going to break for us and the ongoing the joke of the day was to look out the window and say "it's still raining." We got there sooner then we thought and hung out at McDonald's where I decided to indulge in a breakfast wrap which I thought I would end up paying for later but it was actually OK. The race started at 8:45 and like the sky promised it was pouring still. It continued raining for the first 3 miles and once it stopped it did not matter because it felt like I had jumped into a pool. Thank goodness it wasn't cold. The course was pretty much a big clover where you saw the same hills 3 times. And when I say hills I mean it. The entire race was nothing but hill constant up and down. Here is the course map and elevation

In the end I was impressed with how well I did. I finished in 2:15:08 which put me at 273rd place out of 337 which only 108 where female. We were indecisive on whether or not the rain helped or hindered us. We just wanted to be dry by the end but I was complimented on how well I kicked it in at the end of the race and that was mostly cause it was just a little hill. I was sooo happy to be done running because those hills were killer. I am hooked now though and want to run another one next weekend. Only 67 days til Cleveland Marathon!