December 21, 2010

My Almost 20 Mile Run

So, this past weekend, I decided I was going to try and do my 20 mile run.  Originally, I was going to do it Saturday  morning, but my husband and I had so many errands to run, that I decided to push it back to the afternoon.  The temperature outside was cold, in the low 30s, but there wasn't a lot of wind.  Now, I am a wuss in cold weather, but I needed to get my run in, and I thought that if I bundled up I would be o-kay.  Here is my outfit:
Look at all of that reflective material!
Let's see how many different brands I'm wearing.  Nike jacket, Sugoi long sleeve shirt, Saucony tights, Saucony gloves, and Under Armour hat.  Oh, and of course I wore my Brooks Racer ST 4s!!

And, I know it's all black, but these things are all perfect for cold weather running.  Plus, black is slimming...right?? :)


Before I get to my run, I just have to say that my Saucony gloves ROCKED!!  All of the features were AWESOME!  My Hammer gels may have been a little frozen, but my fingers never were!  The wind actually picked up while on my run and the wind mitts were a godsend!  I honestly cannot say enough good things about these gloves.  I have been looking for gloves like these for a long time, and I am so happy I found them!!  Seriously, if you are in need of some cold weather running gloves, run, don't walk, and buy these for yourself!  OR, if you know someone who needs some awesome gloves, these would make a great stocking stuffer!

Enough rambling!  So, I headed out around 1:45 and my legs felt great!  I saw a couple of other people on the trail, but I think the cold kept most people in their homes.  Around mile 5, my stomach started grumbling a little bit.  Thankfully, right around that time I came upon a parking lot with a port-a-potty.  Phew!  Thank god!  I did my business, hoped that was the last of that, and headed back out.  I was still feeling good and staying warm for the most part.  The wind had picked up a little bit and it started getting a little colder.  I really had to stop myself from picking up the pace just to be done sooner!

Around the 8 mile mark, my stomach started grumbling again.  UH OH!  I knew, from my last 20 mile run, that there was a port-a-potty around the 9 1/2 mile mark.  But, that was still 1 1/2 miles away!  I did some praying and kept on running.  The next 1 1/2 miles were not fun!!  Finally, I made it to the port-a-potty and did my thing once again.  This is probably too much information, but I was in there for a long time!!  I just did not feel good!  My stomach was really upset and all I could think about was how I still had 10 more miles to run.  Plus, the more I stayed in there, the colder I got.  By the time I was done, I was FREEZING!!

 I debated calling my husband to come and get me, but I knew it would take him at least 30 min. to get to where I was.  So, I started running again, hoping that I could make it back to my car.  I actually felt a little better, so I just kept going.

Source  Do you see that menacing look?? 
I started getting really tired around the 14 mile mark.  By this time it was getting close to 4pm and the sun was starting to go down.  I had forgotten when I ventured out at 1:45, that the sun goes down around 4:30 now.  And, when the sun goes down, the temperature drops soooo fast!  It started getting really cold and I just wanted to be done.  It also didn't help that I saw a big coyote cross the path and head into the trees.  It stopped and just stood there watching me.  Around the same time, I heard a shuffling sound behind me and in my mind I imagined a pack of coyotes chasing me.  There have been several accounts of coyotes attacking runners on this trail, and I got a little freaked out.  Just then, some guy and his dog passed me and I swear I jumped like 10 feet into the air.  The guy asked if I was alright and I told him, I had just seen a coyote and he just scared me.  It was kind of funny actually!

When I reached the 15 mile mark, I stopped and walked quickly while I ate my last gel.  I was done...mentally and physically.  This point in the trail is also the worst because you can look across a meadow and see the trail a mile or so ahead of you.  I looked out over to the other side of the trail and just felt completely defeated.  It seemed like it was so far!  But, I also  knew that I only had 4 more miles until I reached the car.  I knew I could do it, but it was so tough.  My face hurt because it was so cold and I just wanted to be warm.  I managed to HTFU just long enough to  make it to my car.  I made it 19 miles and was done.  I figured that was close enough to 20!

I called my husband and told him I was on my way home.  I cranked the heat as high as I could and drove home.  When I got home, I was still shivering uncontrollably and just could not warm up.  To my surprise, my husband had made me some hot chocolate with milk for a recovery drink and to help warm me up!  I took some sips then quickly got out of my running clothes.  I was surprised to find that they were drenched and my hair was soaked!  I sweat so much when I run, even in the cold.  No wonder I started freezing when the sun went down.  I took the longest hot shower, put on my recovery tights, my cozy sweatshirt, then wrapped up in some blankets to drink the rest of my hot chocolate!

This wasn't exactly how I wanted this run to go, but I guess considering I've been sick and haven't done a long run in several weeks, I should have known better.  I probably overdid it a little bit, but I think that if my stomach hadn't revolted and I hadn't have gotten so cold, it would have gone much better.  Hopefully next weekend's long run will be better!

I hope you are all having a great week!  I cannot believe Christmas is on Saturday!!  I'm not sure if I'll post again before Christmas, so I want to wish all of you and your families a very merry Holiday!!  :)

32 comments:

Big Daddy Diesel said...

With all that black, I would called it Ninja Running

Sorry to hear it didnt go your way, but you did it, and I would file this one under mental toughness more then anything

I hope you enjoy the Holidays

Unknown said...

Dehydration in the cold is worse than in the heat. I have a worse time in cold weather than hot. For me, losing your inners is the first sign that there is a problem.
It's seems odd that we actually have to force ourselves to drink in the winter; because we tend to forget, thinking that we don't need to, dehydration can be dangerous.
Hope you're feeling better.

Unknown said...

Rough run! I always seem to have that luck when I try to do a long run in the late afternoon.

You are mentally strong, that's for sure. I look at that pile of clothes you had to wear and it reminds me so much of Chicago. In San Diego now I just throw on shorts and a tank. I'm too spoiled now. It isn't making me mentally stronger, that's for sure!

Teamarcia said...

Love the ninja/stealth look! Kudos to you on a tough run physically but mostly mentally. It will pay off in spades.
All the best for a wonderful Christmas!

Jeff Vanis said...

Props on the run and getting it done! I am also an all black runner, figure it contrasts the snow well, at least when it is light out. It always takes a bit to get back into the swing of things in the winter! Keep it up and a speedy recovery! Merry Christmas early!

Barbie said...

I was cold just reading that. So glad you made it home safe and sound.

Unknown said...

Stomach issues while running are the worst!! I'm glad you had some "potty rockets" as Noah calls them!! I think one of the best things about a long cold run is that long hot shower and the blankets after! Nicely done!

Dawn said...

You are an inspiration! Good for you for hanging in there- I think I would have called for help;)

Love the outfit- want the gloves!

:)

Amber said...

Well at least there are porta potties. Your a bigger trooper than I would have been.

Jason said...

Way to hang in there for the 19 mile run. Great job.

You need to send that outfit to Stefan over at the Black Knight and get knighted or whatever it is they call it.

Merry Christmas to you and yours as well.

TRI714 said...

Damn. Gutt check in a couple of different ways. Awesome.

Unknown said...

19 mile is badass with stomach issues and cold, oh and coyotes! Rockstar!

Unknown said...

Great job Aimee!! I would have called it a day WAY before that!

I love all the gear... you just represent everyone equally! :)

Christina said...

You're officially awesome. I consider one bad poop or one scary animal a good excuse to throw in the towel- but two poops AND a coyote? Dang. That's worth an extra mile at least!

Emz said...

hot chocolate recovery drink . . .what a guy.

Sorry it wasn't as great as you had planned. but that was quite a list of crap [sorry] THINGS to overcome. YOU ROCK.

Merry Christmas!!

Sage said...

Black is slimming, but something tells me you don't need it after all the running you've been doing. You are putting me to shame. Great run even with the stomach issues! Have a great holiday!

RunToTheFinish said...

ADORABLE husband, mine is sweet but doesn't think of those things. Sorry the run itself didn't go so fantastically, but there has to be some mental benefit to knowing you can do it even on bad days!

Christi said...

Ditto on the Ninja runner comment from BDD, but I am totally with you on that one!

Congrats on finishing a hard run! You are doing awesome!

Merry Christmas!

Running and living said...

I am cold all days after a long run in the winter. Great run, Aimee. 19 is enough to build up your insurance. The run was hard also bc you have not done this length in a while. Next weekend it will get easier.

Unknown said...

I feel your pain with the sweating and shivering. I am a big time sweater myself whether hot or cold! I come in run upstairs and into a nice long warm shower!! It always makes it well worth the time spent

DRog said...

Great Secret Santa!!! totally awesome. was psyched to see your name on the package, the gels and shots and ornament were great BUT most of all it was special to get it from YOU with the note and your family holiday card. RnR AZ!
Merry Christmas
Derek

Julie said...

Way to HTFU!!! I bet the coyote did scare you! I saw a fox the other morning and that gave me (and the dog!) enough of a fright.

When I'm out running in the cold I always figure I'm doing double duty by icing while I run. :)

Beth said...

Great job on getting 19 miles in! What trail do you run on?

Heather said...

You had me at coyote. We have bobcats on our trail. Coyotes win.

Sorry it didn't go better, but at least it went.

Ironman By Thirty said...

Wow! Way to hammer out 19 despite the problems. I probably would have called it quits after the 2nd porta potty. :)

Anne-Marie said...

I think you did great considering the sickness you had and the cold weather! Way to stick it out for those last few miles. It is parts of training runs like this that help you to develop the mental toughness you need at mile 23 of a marathon! (or Ironman!)

That coyote is pretty scary looking. He seems to have an "I'm up to no good" look on his face... I think I'd be pretty freaked out too!

Alisa said...

Totally behind on blogs but 19 is totally close enough to 20! Sorry you were sick too. I finally got over the food poisoning and all the weird stomach stuff that came with it! UGH! I went for my first run today and it was tough but I made it through! Merry Christmas!

Kathy said...

Hey you rocked it!! So glad I came across your blog :) You are inspiring..you have no idea!!! Nice work!!!

Caratunk Girl said...

Hey you looked like a reflective ninja!! Very cool, I am jealous of your gloves!! 19, 20, whatever, great run, way to stick it out.

Merry Christmas Aimee!! I hope you and your family have an awesome one!

KC (my 140 point 6 mile journey) said...

Awesome job on the long run. And that black outfit rocks. I almost died when i saw the picture of that coyote b/c we had one on our lanai last Saturday and it freaked me out. I couldn't believe my eyes. Of course, it didn't help that i googled coyotes in florida right after and now i'm really scared of them. Have a wonderful not so white Christmas Aimee!

Tim Wilson said...

Great job with your 19 miler. That extra mile will never be missed. It is strange to think that we sweat so much when it is so cold out. I don't have gear from all the same company either, I am kinda like a misfit toy when i go running.


You look like you have a writing style kinda like me for my longer posts (which are most of them) It was kinda cool to read your post :)

My Life said...

This is my first winter in 10 years and I never expected it to be so hard to get out and run in 30*. It sounds like that was a rough run, but kudos for powering through! And cocoa with milk sounds like a fantastic recovery drink!