A Day on the Beach...

I find it a little unusual that now having run a 27-32k run every weekend for the past five...including Around the Bay...that a) my injuries are almost non-existent (shhh, touch wood...), and b) that, although the distances have increased each weekend, I don't seem to feel the same level of soreness and ache the following day...could it be that I'm becoming a 'runner?'

I've come to finally be able to not only embrace the distance of the long run, endured and shared with friends week after week, but also seemingly, am better able to manage it physically afterwards.  As usual, we met at the Boathouse parking lot just outside of downtown...from there, we have measured loops for our runs, ranging from 5km around the corner from Janine's house, to 7km at the edge of Riverside Park, to a full 12k loop lapping around Exhibition Park, always returning back to the Boathouse for our precious water, Gatorade, and nutrition before embarking on yet another loop.

This week, it was the four of us, ready to help each other as we each needed running along.  Janine came to the Boathouse, Lisa slipped in at the last minute with John, and Laurie popped over the bridge, just minutes from home as well -- we were missing Melinda, as she is on a much needed vacation with her husband this week. 

As runners poured in from all over the city, hours before most people even fathom getting out of bed on a Sunday, we had a few moments to discuss each other's weekly routines, challenges, good news...and bad, and encourage each other on the journey of distance we were about to go on.  A few runners peeled off after 10-15km due to other commitments and Sunday plans, and Laurie and I continued on.  We had fully hoped (and expected?) to complete a 34km route...loops, over and over, but the weather was not terribly cooperative yesterday.  Admittedly, yes, we all conversed on Facebook only moments before leaving our homes, and yes, we did actually type that we considered returning to bed upon rising and seeing dark clouds and rain, but yes, we also bit the bullet, pulled on our capris, and headed out to the Boathouse, so as not to disappoint each other, but also, to be accountable to our goals.  Darn right we all wanted to slip back under warm covers with our loved ones curled up next to us...but we didn't, because as wonderful as it is to 'sleep in,' it is a much greater feeling to come home at noon knowing you accomplished (mostly) what you had wanted to...

The wind was angry on this day, my friend...by the time Laurie and I looped ourselves silly around Guelph, as announced by Lisa early that morning, the winds were gusting at 40km/hr!  This is how I felt running down Wellington Street on our final 2km back to the Boathouse....and likely looked no better!

Hips achy, feet sore, hamstrings singing "I need a shower," we were ready to finish for the day -- with winding trails mixed in with road, Laurie and I finished up 32.4km - yes, I unabashedly add the extra 0.4km as at this point, every little bit counts. Although fitness-wise, it is, at times, still a challenge for me to talk while running (I know Coach Blair, 'if you can't talk, you're running too fast'), Laurie is a great listener -- thank you for 'what happens on the long run, stays on the long run,' although admittedly, all of  us have heard each others stories, and helped encourage the other in our day-to-day challenges.
In prepping for Mississauga Marathon, I think we have been continually asking ourselves, "Can we do this?"  Could we have run another 10km yesterday, and finished a marathon distance of 42.2km?  Seemingly hard to admit, but I think yes.  With four weeks to go (27 days actually, not that I'm counting...), I think I could have.  We are not looking to break any records, and as it's our first time, all of us, our goal is to finish (somewhat) gracefully.  Sure, we likely all each have an internal time goal, unspeakable to the others, but we will run together, and we will finish together. 


The only thing we four still can't fathom, is how Melinda managed to get up, let alone finish her long run while here.....we hope you're having a wonderful time Mel, you two have earned it!!