I did it!!!

I ran 20 miles yesterday. I'm still in shock my body allowed me to do this to it and that I survived to talk about it. It's just not natural. But I did it. And I don't hurt all that badly. Who'd have thought? Me? Me!

I set out at 6am complete with iPod, a fuel belt consisting of $2, 20 ounces of Gatorade, 1 energy bar and 1 pack of Gu Chomps, sun visor, two tendinitis knee bands, long sleeve jacket, 1 watch, 1 blinking red light and 1 Power Balance necklace. That's a lot of gear for a sport that requires minimal equipment! It was dark and chilly and within 2 miles I had stripped myself of the North Face jacket, tossed it to the side of who knows where. I realized once I hit the Monon Trail that I couldn't see anyone approach me until they were virtually right in front of me so I was immediately paranoid. Around mile 4 I was convinced there was a man chasing me (I don't turn on my music until it is VERY bright outside so I can hear said chaser). I sprinted over a half mile as the adrenaline that I was about to be attacked kicked into my running legs. Phew, he didn't attack. Mile 11 I stopped at a McDonald's to refill my fuel belt and sat down (bare-@ssed on a PUBLIC toilet - gasp!). Around mile 12 I ran into my sometimes running partner & fellow marathon trainer, Meggie, and fell into her arms crying. Meggie: You doing ok? You look great! How's it going? Me: (sobbing) I can't believe I'm doing this, my knees hurt, I miss you with me, Am I really doing this?, I took pain meds, I sat on a public toilet, someone was chasing me in the dark, I STILL HAVE 8 MILES TO GO! After another hug I was off. On my way home I FOUND previously mentioned North Face jacket and as soon as I got to my street I was in tears. Not so much out of pain, but out of disbelief. I did it. 20 miles. And in 3 short weeks I'll have to do 26.2. Holy. Moly.

Anyway, I've completed 15 weeks of marathon training and have 3 more to go. Three weeks of tapering. I'm probably going to go crazy, as this whole running thing is 99% mental and about 1% physical. But just knowing I ran 20 and have that behind me is a huge confidence builder. Huge. And I still can't believe I did it.