If this is runner's high......(September 7, 2009)

Monday, September 07, 2009 If this is runners high - I like it, I love it, I want some more of it!!!! My run yesterday was 6.5 miles. I was so nervous. Could I do it? Would I wimp out? Of course I did it. I was amazed at how well I did. I seemed to gain more energy at the end of the run. I did 1:1 ratio and a few times I did 2:1 but for the most part it was 1:1. I had someone to run with so we talked the whole time which normally I can't do that. I was surprised at how good I felt. When we finished I really felt like I could keep going but I did not. I didn't want to risk injuring myself. This was the longest run I had ever done and I truly LOVED IT! I can't explain how I felt towards the end. I was so surprised that I did not hurt anywhere! I did not feel tired either. I did exactly what Galloway says - I finished standing up, with a smile on my face and most certainly wanting to do it again. I wish all runs and/or races could feel this good. I am trying not to get nervous about my HM in December. I know I can do it but my "left brain" tries to tell me I will fail. But I won't listen to him. I have also been talking down to myself about my being so slow when I run. I am trying to stop that also. I keep telling myself it is not about speed, it is about endurance! I can work on speed later. We did MM last Sat and mine was 13:34. I suppose that is pretty good for a 52-year-old new onset adult athlete who is still overweight and a former smoker. My recommended training pace is 18:16 and my race pace is 16:16. When I signed up for the HM it asked me what time I thought I would finish in and I put 4 hours. I wanted to give myself some leeway. So I really should not worry too much. Even if I walk over the finish line I will still have finished a HM. But I bet when I see that finish line I will run like a cheetah! I hope so!