"Heeeeeeell Yeah - 15 miles, Baby!!!"

I still can't believe it... we ran 15 miles today!

This weekend I had been nervous to run 15. Last week's 14 was extremely difficult. While I pretty much did the same running during the week, the main difference this time is that I had been preparing for over 24 hours. You see, yesterday I spent every hour drinking something - water, propel, gatorade, iced tea, etc. I wanted to get my fluids up big time! I ate a lot of carbs, and went to bed right around 9:30.

Well, I was a bit nervous for the 15. I woke up at 2:30 and stared at the clock until 3. I think I "dozed" until my alarm went off at 4. Because of the major loss of electrolites I was expecting, I ate a breakfast bar on the drive to the lake. I also drank a bottle of Propel water, and sucked down a strawberry/banana packet of goo. Same song... met Chandra/Becky at White Rock at 5:30 AM. Becky said she, too, had woken up at 2:30 feeling nervous... and Chandra said she hadn't slept well.

We started off... remember, that early it's pitch black. We ran up until the first water fountain (3 miles) and grabbed a drink. Around 5.2, we were at the spillway and were at our next water fountain. I was drenched... I just can't stand this humidity. This morning it was 74% with a temp of about 81. The spillway water fountain was so freakin' hot, it was like drinking a cup of hot tea.

I decided to fire up the iPod... it lasted for about 2 minutes and then it died. I couldn't believe it. So now I knew it was me against the elements and no music... Come on ladies, let's get to gabbin! Ha!

So for a while I'd run with Chandra and talk with her, then run with Becky and we'd chat it up. At 7.5 we were at another (much colder!) water fountain. I took another goo and off we went. Made it to the truck at 9, and I changed wrist bands and headband. Dropped off the dead iPod, drank some gatorade, and off we went.

Now it's getting hot. Becky said she's gonna have to dig deep... I agreed. However, I was feeling 10 times better than I was at this point the previous week. Again, I think it was due to my preparedness and goo!

Well, we had 6 more miles to go. Do you realize how tough that is? You're leaving the parking lot where you know you have your car and plenty of cold water and you're heading out across the lake again where it's a blazing furnace!

It was brutal, but we pressed on! By now the lake is very busy, and there is a race going on. Becky and I talked it up as best we could... but we had so much going against us. The sun was really hot, the humidity was still there, we were sore, and we were running on the worst part of the lake (the pavement is broken).

Chandra's goal for the day was 13.1 miles... however, she pushed it to 14! That was awesome. I don't know how she did it, but I know I couldn't have jumped from 12 to 14 a few weeks ago! When Becky and I were heading back, we saw her driving out. We were pumped she exceeded her goal!

Anyway, we did it. We ran and ran... and ran some more! Just past the parking lot we hit 15. We both high-fived each other and now it was "Water Time!" After cooling down and putting some dry clothes on, I headed home. My routine is to immediately shower, eat breakfast, and then head to bed. I've done that the past several weeks, and it rocks! I slept for about 2 hours.

I'm stinkin' tired, but so satisfied... 15... 15... 15!!!