ear to ear

Last night I couldn't get to sleep, I was nervous and excited. Could I really complete the entire 12 miles? At about 4 am I finally got some sleep and by 7

I was wide awake.

So after a few minutes mapping my route on Map My Run and I headed out the door.

New years day is perfect for running, it was so quiet and wonderfully cold (I always run faster when it's cold). Usually, in about 10 minutes I'm warm enough to take off the jacket) Today I warmed up right away, and the gloves were off as well.

At about mile 2 it started to sprinkle a bit, and wouldn't you know it, I noticed a cramp in my right side. Just kept on running.

Suddenly I was at a crossroads that I wasn't expecting yet, a quick call home to check on directions (I changed the route a bit since the last time I ran)and mile 3 was behind me.

Turning onto a two lane scenic road was a breath of relief, I just love to run in nature.

The miles flew by and I was pleasantly surprised to see a coyote, four wild turkeys and a deer. The path along the lake was beautiful, so many birds, and so peaceful.

The miles ahead I knew would be difficult, LOTS of hills, I began to wonder, why did the 12 miles have to be these 12...what was I thinking?

A little advice about hills, avoid them..::only joking::..first thing I realised- lean into them, stay a bit on your toes, and when you feel like you can't take another step...take another step.

One step at a time I made it to the top and then the downhill challenge began. It can be tricky to run downhill, the speed can take over and then if you loose control of your legs, well.. you fall.

Luckily, I was in a rhythm and after what felt like miles of downhill running, I reached the bottom and had made it to mile 10. Glad to be running on a flat surface for a change, I turned the corner and looked up at you guessed it another hill. ::sigh:: Almost there, just keep running.

Just in the nick of time, honking and kids screaming out the windows, it's the family..and Yarno too :)

W..a..t..e..r is good, now just 2 more miles, and one last hill. One foot in front of the other, I could feel my pace was slowing, and my arches started to feel tight like a stretched rubber band. The final mile was downhill, I accepted it and just tried not to slam my toes into the front of my shoes.

I completed 12 miles in 2 hours and 35 minutes, a whole 25 minutes faster than I expected.

It feels so fantastic!

I did it :)

::the post 12 mile run stretch::