"Update: Did my 10 mile run in 3:4:10. All I can say is OWWWWW! I started off doing well but by mile 7 my calves were in so much pain I had to walk the rest of the way. I ended up getting dangerously close to being dehydrated even though I had a bottle full of coconut water, 2 GU packs and had stopped into Dunkin Donuts for a large cup of water"
Yes indeed. I finally hit double digits with my long run. And I can honestly say, it was the worst run of my entire running career (as short as it may be). I started off doing pretty well, up into mile 6 I was feeling good. Then, the leg cramps began. And with them came some stomach trouble. My stomach would gurgle with hunger one minutes and then I'd be fighting back nausea the next. WTH? I downed my second GU pack at mile 7 (having had the first at mile 5) and drank the last of my coconut water, but it didn't seem to do much at all. My legs were still fighting me- and winning.
I think there were a few wrenches in my plan for this run. Firstly, I ran during the WRONG time of the day (11:30am... cause it's not hot around noontime, right?). Even though I loaded up my water bottle with coconut water to hydrate and replenish, it just wasn't enough for how fast I was sweating everything out. Also, my body was just too physically exhausted before I even started running (dancing and rehearsing for 4 hours a night and only getting 5-6hrs of sleep a night will do that to you). Seriously, I was up before 7:30 am every single day this past week, and as we all know, that is not like me at all. And considering I wasn't getting home from rehearsals until 11pm or a little later, I wasn't falling asleep until 12am or so. I was pretty tired.
Once again, I did see some interesting things on my run. During the first few miles, I ran past an empty pregnancy test box, which was lying next to an empty condom box. I guess it was negative so they decided to celebrate. Yay for protection, right? I also ran past, what looked like, a dog poop mine field. Seriously, it was every where, I couldn't even go around it. So, I played a very dangerous game of hopscotch for a couple of minutes, trying to not to get my shoes all mucked up, and decided to write the following letter to the owner.
"Dear Pet Owners of CT,
Please learn to curb your dogs and pick up after them. Bringing a small baggie with you when you walk your pet is not a difficult thing to do. And as much as I appreciate your attempt at fertilizing nature, having Vietnam War flashbacks because of your strategically placed dung mines is not something I intended on doing today. Please take responsibility of your pet, and their waste, and help make the roads a little bit cleaner for those of us who enjoy and participate in exercise outdoors.
Thanks in advance, Kristin."
But you know what? Even with all the issues I had; the hot weather, the leg cramps, the doggy doo, and this having been the Worst run EVER for me, I'm not at all discouraged. I'm actually more determined to make my next long run even better- once I can get my legs to function properly again.
Who is this crazy determined person inside of me?! I kind of like her :)
