(almost) 13.1.

the mapped route - 12.9 miles

...my training plan called for an 11 mile run today, but last week, I got a reminder email about a "course run". and convinced katie to join me. as late as yesterday, neither of us thought we'd run the full course. but then, in the crazy dark early hours pre-start, we kind of both said "maybe". and when we got there - and got caught up in the excitement and energy - and I found a 2:00 pace group and encouraged katie to find something faster... she did and we decided. to go for it. (let me mention here - it was 36 degrees and snow flurries were forecast for the morning. it was cold, but we'd run together in colder).

I started out with my earbuds in, listening to my iphone and an encouraging playlist I'd made a few springs ago... remembering all the advice to stick with the pace and resist the urge to break through to less crowded track. about a mile in I felt my right shoe come loose...and a mile later my left as well (ugh. shoe laces??) so when we hit the first stop light I tore off my gloves, set down my phone and tied those laces tight. in the process of getting back up and getting those gloves back on my ten fingers, my phone flew out of my pocket, the earbuds jerked from my ears...and I decided to just run. and that's when the real fun began.

Why not strike up a conversation? yep, I started chatting with the folks in my pace group. turns out one was a woman I'd worked with about seven years ago. she's done marathons all over the world and today's run was regular training for her (after our 13 miles, she had another four to go - she's running a marathon in big sur in april). we chatted about all sorts of things and I have a feeling I held her back a few times, but she made me feel like a real runner and those (almost) 13 miles went by pretty fast. ellen, if you ever read this - you have a special place in my heart for keeping me company on those miles I ran today, especially 10+ when I realized "hey, this is the farthest I've run. ever" and you said "see?!".

We finished in two hours and now that I've mapped the course, I know we were a bit shy of the actual 13.1. but who cares. I'm confident now that I can run that full distance. and I even think I can do it in two hours. I've got friends in that pace group and I know they'll cheer me on. along with a whole lot of other people!

Post-race (in just two short weeks!) our plans are a warm shower and Pure. today, katie and I hit lululemon at perimeter. I bought a long-sleeved shirt to layer over a (lulelemon) tank and running pants I bought on sale last summer (and this afternoon I've been looking at garmin watches). I figure it's time I start dressing the part...and planning my next half!