Nothing sweet about this 16

Sixteen miles. I have to run 16 miles today.

There are two races that LilZ and I signed up for today called Winter Winds. He is running a 2-mile race at 2pm and I’m running a 4-mile race at 2:30pm. I tried to find a good route that would get me to the starting point of my 4-mile race after having run 12 miles so that I could run the last 4 on the race and call it the day.

Unfortunately – it’s a lot easier said than done.

The best route I found (avoiding major intersections and making use of sidewalks) goes 14 miles to the starting point. So, my alternative plan is to do that and run the 2-mile race with LilZ.

Here the thing though: I’ve not been really disciplined with my long runs because it has been so DAMN COLD lately. I “only” ran 10 miles last weekend, even though I was supposed to run 16 then. I called MrZ around mile 8 and said, “I’m dying. Meet me at Starbucks, I’m only running 10 today.” Where I’m amazed that me, the girl who couldn’t even make it to the end of the block 10 months ago, can use the phrase “only 10 miles” and not be joking – it was still shorter than I was supposed to run.

So, I need to make use of the races as motivation today. I am now considering running a 10-mile route and running the 2-mile race with LilZ and the 4-mile race I’m signed up for. That would bring me to a total of 16 miles and if I time it right, the only “down” time I’ll have is a few minutes between races, and maybe not even but just 1 or 2, at which point I can just jog in place for a little while.

But seriously – running 10 miles to the starting point of a 2-mile race, and then going straight from that 2-mile race to a 4-mile race to finish off my 16 miles? HOW COMPLICATED IS THAT?

The only crappy part about that plan (besides the complicatedness of it) is that there is a killer hill I have nightmares about having to run up. I’ve heard the Nashville Marathon is pretty hilly, so I need to train on hills, but this one? Is so steep I’m afraid I’ll tumble down backwards trying to run up. (For you Huntsvillians, it’s going UP Airport Rd into Jones Valley. DO YOU SEE WHAT I MEAN?) But – the perk of having two races to run to pull me through the last 6 miles might be worth it. When you’re running with other people it’s very motivating, so I kinda want to take advantage of that.

Eh. I don’t know. I have a couple of hours to decide since (THANK GOD) the race doesn’t start until later in the day, when the temperatures are a wee bit further from MY KIDNEYS ARE FROZEN Celcius.

I’ll try to come back and let you know if I made it. If I can walk.

UPDATE

Well, I mistimed/misplanned my route so by the time LilZ’s race started (the 2-miler) I had run over 12 miles already. I ran his race relatively easily bringing me to 14+ miles. My race started five minutes later (the 4-miler) and I was hurting from the time it started. I got to the 2-mile mark, bringing my total to 16miles, which is what my goal for the day was. So, I started walking. My back was killing me, I was tired, and I just wanted to find a shortcut HOME. The longer I walked, the more I hurt. I got within half-of-a-mile from the finish (3rd from last, by the way) and decided to run the last half mile. When I started running, my back stopped hurting and my legs felt better. WHAT IS UP WITH THAT? I crossed the finish line of my 4-mile race barely under an hour. Go Me! The entire time, as people passed me, I really want to yell, “This is my 15th mile! Not my 1st!” Oh well.

So, all total: 18+ miles. I think I walked about 2 bringing my grand total run to 16+ miles. I can’t believe it, really.

I also can’t walk. We came home after the race, showered, and went to my in-laws for Sunday dinner. I’ve barely moved. I think MrZ is going to carry me to my office tomorrow.

G’night. I deserve a good night’s sleep. I’m damn proud of myself.