20 miles. Woot.

I am absofreakinloutely over the moon even though I am a bit achy. I managed 20 miles yesterday at the good ol' Manasquan Reservoir trail. I felt strong (enough) through this whole run. I only walked when it made sense: drinking, downing GU, a few steps right after stopping to stretch and when I approached and exited the porta john. (darn I wish I had my pStyle)I only briefly thought about ditching at mile 15- you can't blame me- this is a 5 mile loop course and approaching the car made it so tempting. I already had that temptation blocked since I told my husband he needed to make sure I did not quit even if it meant walking the entire final loop. He ran 6 miles with me and biked 23. He was my hydration source and my emotional support each time he intersected me on this course.

The 5 mile loop. (marked with 6 as this was taken from my husband's Runkeeper app and he doubled back at 5.5 to get his mileage in.)

At mile 16 I had to keep reminding myself that it is normal to feel weak and bored and... done. I kept promising myself opportunities to walk, but walking wasn't going to make me finish this 20 miles any faster and I didn't need to walk. If I was in pain or if I felt any of that wackiness I felt during my second marathon, I sure as shit would have walked. But I'm so glad that I could struggle through the last few miles while running.

2.5 miles to go. Yes. I can handle this.

Even after 20 miles I cannot say anything bad about this course. It is serene and beautiful. Places like this make me ever more grateful that I am a runner. I would never take the time (hours!) to enjoy such beautiful surroundings if I did not assign myself to training for a marathon.

Next week we run the Jersey Shore Relay Marathon and we damn well better take the costume category win home with us. I won't reveal our costumes yet, but I will say they involve a lot of tulle, bouquets, stockings, bow ties, and wigs. My sons will be simultaneously amused and mortified (ahhh... teenagers...) to be on this team. Coincidentally, this relay falls on my one year wedding anniversary. The very best anniversary gift that I could possibly be blessed with will happen on this day: my sons, husband and I will each run a portion of this 26.2 mile relay. The thought of this makes me forget that I lack anything in life at all. I know it sounds silly to many, but I'm sure that the mother runners out there get it. Passing on a love for running to your children is so exciting. Combine this with the fact that for the longest time, my husband has been a passionate supporter and spectator of every race I've run since we've been together, and now, he is running with me. Life is grand. I hope that my kids learn that the true "stuff" of life that makes living so wonderful has nothing to do with (material) stuff at all. It's people, experiences, joyous moments, memories.