Momma said these shoes would take me anywhere!

I don't celebrate birthdays anymore, at least not officially. All gifts are still greatly appreciated and definitely when I say I don't celebrate birthdays, gifts ARE different than birthdays (need my address?). I've really only stopped the aging part. Even though I'm not aging, I'm continuing to get healthier and even though I want to punch every person in the face who says this phrase, "I'm in the best shape of my life", I'm saying it.

Last year, I had never ran a 5K. I'm not even sure I could even do a mile. Fast forward and a mile is hardly a warm up. For not aging this whole year, I've made amazing progress! To celebrate my feats, I was curious how fast I could run a mile. Training for this Marathon, it's been all about distance and nothing about speed. I know I've gotten faster, time to see. Put on the newly purchased gift to myself, my New Balance 870's, and I came out with a mile in 6 minutes 19 seconds.

Thought for sure I could pull a sub six mile, but maybe next year!

Week 20 - Redemption, Kind Of

Fresh off the set backs from the previous week, I was nervous heading into this week. Doing 20 miles for week 20 seemed fitting though. My partner was back in commission and the course for this week's run is almost the exact course the Marathon will be. I was excited about that.

CT had high hopes of doing 22 this week. Going from 16 to 22 seemed like too big of a jump for me. She has the ability to talk me into doing crazy things, but with how last week ended for me, I was hoping to only do 20. Don't tell her, but I pretended I was all about going 22, meanwhile hoping she'd get tired and throw in the towel at 20. I wanted to stick with nine minute miles and keep the run easy.

It was a good run, though at mile 18 I remember trying to use the Jedi mind trick to will the last water station. There was a long stretch on a wooden bridge and I remember it feeling like end of the bridge kept moving away from me.

CT did seem happy calling it a day at 20 miles. I acted disappointed, but secretly I was jumping up and down. We waited in the gym for our Superstar teammates to get back. Ultimately, I was very happy with the run. We were spot on for nine minute miles, I didn't have any aches or pains and my calves weren't on fire like last week. CT was happy with herself for being able to make a big jump in her mileage. Our success was short lived as two of our Superstar friend came in gleaming if that's possible. If it was possible, you could see the neon sign above their heads saying we did 22 miles.

Superstar #2 asks us "So, how far did you guys go?"

CT responds with "20".

Superstar #2 comes back with "You guys ONLY did 20"

I honestly don't know if the punctuation on that quote should be a question mark or a exclamation! My my, aren't we full of ourselves? Superstar #2 certainly didn't mean it the way, but it cracked us all up and has been the topic of many conversations this week.

Week 19 - Shaky Ground

Confidence is a very interesting animal. Untamed, it can turn into a monster. Unused, in the animal world, probably means life expectancy isn't good. Success builds it and failure takes it away. I like to think I try to keep a level head and keep my confidence in check, but starting this journey it seems like I've only had positives. My distances keep increasing, I'm getting faster, not to mention I look awesome, you name it. This is where Big-Headitus happens (didn't go to med school, but I know this is a real condition). I'd say week 19 I hit my peak and something had to give.

The run this week took me back to my good friend the KalHaven Trail. Fresh off my success during the KalHaven Relay Race, familiar territory, of course this Superstar was going to have a great run. Started off like I normally do, a little slow to let people get ahead of me and give me something to chase, then sped up and began chasing people down. Some days you feel it and some days you don't (don't ask me to define "it"...because I have no clue). I caught the group of faster runners, got them in sight, but at that point I couldn't pull the trigger to pass them and because I didn't feel "it", decided I was content to keep pace with them. This week's run was 18 miles. Got to the turn around point, then the 13.1 mile mark. I wasn't on a record pace for myself, but it was still probably my third fastest half marathon time. Not great, but not bad either.

At about mile 15 something changed. I wouldn't say it had been easy up until this point, but suddenly it felt downright difficult. Pain started, joints ached, feet got sore, my knees felt suddenly like it was bone on bone grinding, it was awful. For the final three miles, I had to will myself to finish. I happened to go out slightly further than I had to, so I knew I'd be over 18 miles if I went all the way back to where I started. Every part of me wanted to quit because I hurt so bad, but I made myself promise I'd get to 18 miles before I stopped. True to my word, but not a foot further, once my watch read 18 miles I stopped and walked the rest of the way back.

By the time I was walking, my calves felt like they were on fire! My legs were tired anyway, but this was horrible. I thought walking it out would help, nope. Normally after the run, I take advantage of the free food waiting for us, the only thought on my mind was fear that I wouldn't be able to drive if I didn't leave then and there. I got home, the only thing that sounded good was a hot shower. As I waited for the shower to warm up, I looked at my legs and they were spasming uncontrollably.

Calves on fire, thighs looked like Jello in an earthquake, confidence down the drain! Had the marathon been today, there was no chance I could have even finished. All those successes, out the window and just like that, now there is serious doubt.