You Don't Scare Me, 9 Miles!

I freaking DID IT!  I ran 9 miles today.  By myself.  In the rain.  And there were hills.  Three of them, actually.  And I felt absolutely amazing, a new pair of shoes that actually fit makes a world of difference apparently.  Every run I can remember - since April - has felt like slogging through mud for the first two miles.  Usually I have a couple miles after that where my calves/achilles would loosen up, but then around mile 4 my feet would be swelling up (as is normal) and my outer three toes on both feet would sort of curl under my foot, forcing me to hobble like a ballerina.  How do I know all of this?  Because it didn't happen today.  Talk about being clueless!  I finished 9 miles today and I actually felt strong enough to do more - I think I'm going to actually make it!  I'm really going to run a half-marathon in less than two months.



This is a little map of the route I took.  I'd like to point out the hill on 212th between Burnside and Division.  It's the biggest hill I've ever seen, and I actually ran up most of it today.  I've seen it while driving before and have always considered it the "monster of all hills."  I'll have to take a picture of it and post it here so you can appreciate how scary it looks.  The hill happened to be in mile 8 and I almost talked myself out of it, but decided I was going to just try it.  My first thought was that I'd just not look at the hill while I was running up to it, but then decided it would probably be a good idea to just stare it down and take it all in.  Confront the fear and then tackle it.  So I did!  I made it over halfway up the hill, and then started feeling dizzy.  So I walked up to the stoplight and then kept on going.  It is now my personal goal to run all the way up that hill.  I'll keep you posted!

Look out hill... I'm coming for you!

(Not actual hill... lol)