Tough Run

Today I joined a few of the guys for a morning run at Fort Snelling. It was actually warmer out than I thought so I was looking to place my gloves in the pockets of my running pants. However, I came to a realization that I had my running pants on backwards since I could not find my pockets! I announced to a few of the guys that I had my pants on backwards as if I was just wanted to get it out there before any snickering began. However, I should not have said anything, because they probably would not have even noticed. I attribute this lapse in judgment and putting my pants on backwards to losing a few brain cells at my Saturday morning run.

Yesterday I went for a run in the Eagan/Apple Valley area with a few other TU runners: Anne, Pam, Carly, Janelle and Amy. We were all there to help Anne with her last 20 mile run in prep for Boston. Most of us met at Jensen Lake since we were going to run 15 of the 20 mile course Anne had planned for the run. I was excited because since I live in Apple Valley, it was a short drive; however, I also knew that the run was not going to be an easy one. This wasn’t going to be the nice, leisurely run you find on the parkways in Minneapolis/St. Paul. This run was going to be one loaded with hills. Not just little bumps like the hill between Calhoun and Harriet. We had a few that were almost a mile long. I wish I would have counted the number of times we were running either up or down hill.

Anne picked up Janelle and met the rest of us at Jensen Lake and we proceeded on our journey for the next 15 miles. Right from the start, all I could think about was how I just did not feel right and that this was going be one of those runs I just couldn’t wait to get over with. I was trying really hard not to focus on how I felt and the hills that were ahead of us. What helped me through it was the fact that I was running with some great friends who like to tell stories!

As we continued on our up and down journey, I was still feeling like crap and was doing everything I could to not think about it, but I found myself fixating on getting to the to that first water stop. Anne told us it would be at 6 miles so I kind of knew about where it would be, but it wasn’t getting to us fast enough. I was starting to get a little cranky. I finally saw a little blue cooler ahead that Kirk put out earlier for us (Thanks Kirk!) and it was like I won the lottery! I was so happy to just be able to stop for a few minutes and slam down some refreshing Gatorade!

I was content to just stay there a bit longer, but we were soon on our way. Once again, my first thought was the next water stop at Anne’s house, which would be at about 10 miles for most of us, about 15 for Anne. However, to get to that point, I also had to think about the monstrous hills ahead! The mile long hill on Diffley was daunting! I tried not to look up, but I did and immedailry became crankier. All I could think about was getting up that darn hill! Of course, you get to the top, you have a short rest and then you had another hill to deal with. This was the course we ran! There was never a reprieve from the hills! Crankiness settled in and consumed me.

We arrived at Anne’s house and I found myself smiling! The crankiness subsided as I was gulping down my nice, cool glass of water from the coolest pink glass that Anne handed me! However, it was very short lived since we were immediately out the door for our final 5 miles.

The “crankies” were back and at this point, I just wanted to get done with the run. I was feeling weak and tired and I knew that we had to finish going up about another ¾ mile long hill. As much as I wanted to finish, I also wanted to avoid that hill at the end! I was hoping Anne would steer us a different direction, but then it dawned on me, there was no other way, unless we went through the trails and that wasn’t going to happen since the trails are not quite ready yet. I just found myself consumed with thinking about the hill at the end.

I felt the pace quickening since I believe we could all smell the finish, but that also meant that flippin’ hill was quickly approaching ahead. Once we turned on Pilot Knob, you could see the enormity of it! I could sense that it was going to be a dash at the end and I did everything I could to stay with the gazelles I was running with, but my worn out body could not keep up. I just resorted to getting to the top at a pace I knew would get me there still standing. Once I got to the top, I knew it was downhill to the finish so I just fired up everything I could and started running like a mad woman down the hill. I got up to Carly and then we both dashed downward in perfect rhythm! We finally reached Anne and Amy right at the finish and I was never happier to be done with a run. WE FINISHED!!! As we all gave each other the “high five” and were telling each other what a great run it was, as I turned towards Carly, she had that look of a baby who was about to burst out into a hysterical cry! Then all of a sudden Carly blurted out “I hated that run! I mean I know it’s good for me, but I still hated that run”! I could not help but burst out in laughter since I knew at that moment exactly what she meant. That will be a moment in time I do not believe I will ever forget. I’m still laughing about it now! Thanks Carly for being so brutally honest! It was a tough run for me too!

What I have learned through my years of running is that sometimes you have those runs you absolutely hate and wish you would have stayed home and read a good book instead. However, it is the friends you run with that help you through these tough runs. I could not have made that distance on that course alone. So I say with all sincerely to my friends: THANK YOU for helping me through a very tough run. I will end by saying that we started the day supporting Anne on her 20 and to me it appeared Anne could run the entire course again. So Anne – You are ready to face the hills at Boston. We all wish you the best!