Yesterday I partipated in my first group run! Yayy! It was a great 6 mile run and I loved talking to people while running. Plus, everyone was so nice and made me feel welcome. This is something I am really looking foward to because I have a good feeling it will open up some doors for me that will lead to amazing running and non-running opportunities!

The title of this post refers to my grueling 23.5 mile HILLY run this morning! OHMY! When I started out it is just 7 degrees so I bundles up with a scarf, headband, hat and 2 sets of gloves! I was doing a 6 mile out and back route twice…and it was a new route too. I had driven it a few weeks ago and hills don’t look nearly as menacing when you drive versus running. I felt pretty confident but after 6 miles(where I took a quick breather) at the turn around point I knew this was going to be intense! I ran back to my apartment which equaled 12 and refueled & went to the bathroom.  I felt pretty good going back out but when I turned onto the backroad I started to fade. This backroad was hilly to the extreme; up and down up and down.  The only plus was that it was quiet, minimal cars and the mountain was breathtaking.  17.5 miles I decided to turn around a 1/4 mile sooner than planned. My hamstrings were getting really tight at this point, I think from the hills and cold.  Miles 17.5-23.5 were tough, I walked a few times and walked up a HUGE hill but I told myself I would give myself the hill to walk up if I ran the last 2 miles and I did! So overall I am quite pleased. I finished in 3 hours and 39 minutes.  I feel good too! Other than my sore/tight hamstrings, the rest of my body feel relaxed.  I am glad that I ran for so long in preparation for the marathon.

The cold is such a nuisance though! I know it affected my hamstrings and I couldn’t carry any water/food with me because it FREEZES! No lie. If I bring my waterbottle the water inside freezes. So, I think towards the end I was getting dehydrated and I was hungry too.  Spring can’t come soon enough!

wooo yoga tomorrow :)

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