Over the last 2 weeks I’ve had no issues (knock on wood). My quad has been fine, no plantar fasciitis, and minimal skin abrasions. Last weekend Rita ran her first 20 miler, it was very inspiring as the last half mile she sprinted and left me in the dust.
So today was my turn, my first 20 mile run. I was so nervous I almost vomited 4 times this morning and I barely slept despite the 3 alarms I set the night before.
At 7am I started my run with Rita and her husband Ken who had 12 miles to complete today. It was our plan to do 10 miles then pick Katie up for my last 10 miles so I would never be alone.
Ken, Rita, and I had a wonderful run but went about a mile over so were a little late to Katie’s house. Katie and her husband Chris were in their driveway waiting for us like expectant parents waiting for a kid who broke curfew, it was so cute.
I soon discovered that Katie had awoke this morning sick to her stomach but here she was running with me anyway determined that my last 9 miles would not be done alone. We did a loop around her neighborhood which allowed her stomach to settle down and allowed Ken and Rita to hit their 12 mile goal.
When we returned Chris was still in the driveway “on deck” waiting to hear if he was needed to sub for Katie. Katie decided she felt better and told Chris he could go back inside. How amazingly thoughtful my running group is, all this so I wouldn’t have to run alone!!!
True to form Katie chose a route that put me about two-tenths away from my car and the instant my watch beeped “20 miles” I stopped with my signature hands in the air triumphant gesture. I did it! The most miles I had ever run! It took me 3 hours and 23 minutes but we did it.
Katie had another mile left to run so she let me walk to my car alone. About 10 minutes later she found me half in, half out of the driver’s side door. After asking if I was dead or stretching I responded “my glutes and hamstrings locked up and I can’t move.” After another 10 minutes of stretching I felt like I could get in my car so I texted my husband that I was on the way and crawled into the drivers seat.
I came home to find a very excited 2 year old and a very proud husband. During my final stretches on my living room floor my 2 year old said “surprise upstairs Mommy.” So I followed my husband up to the bedroom expecting the blueberry pancakes and turkey bacon I had ordered before I left that morning but nothing was on the bed. Hmmm .....
Then my husband led me into the bathroom where I came face to face with a tub filled with ice cubes, ice packs, and the frozen water bottles I used on my feet. My husband smiled an evil smile and said “Ice bath, get in and stay in for 10 minutes.” I can tell you the only person excited about this was Jenna who kept saying “In Mommy, In!”
As I eased myself into the frigid water the familiar hot knife pain gave me a jolt to the lower back. I shrieked and asked my husband to look at my back, and sure enough in the fuel belt zone a 2” x 3” section of my back had been rubbed raw by my fuel belt—great.
As I sat in the ice bath, with Jenna wading in (because it looked like too much fun for Mommy to have by herself) for what I believed to be 10 minutes I smelled my breakfast being made downstairs. Famished I hoisted Jenna out of the tub and told her to yell down to Daddy if Mommy can get out now and much to Jenna’s dismay Daddy said yes and I got out of the tub.
I have to admit with the exception of a tight spot on the ridge of my outer left foot and the fuel belt abrasion on my lower back I felt terrific the rest of the day. I had some mild muscle soreness but nothing major, I think I felt worse after the 17 mile run a few weeks ago. Perhaps that ice bath was the best thing for me.
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