Running Saturdays

Since I started running last July, I've run loads of 5Ks and two half marathons.  My third half is on trails outside Sisters, so I thought it would be a good idea to join up with a training group, for support, accountability and just plain fun.  So I did - Footzone's Half Marathon Training Group.

Our first training run was on the First Street rapids trail in downtown Bend - I didn't even know the trail was there.  It was a five miler, out and back and just beautiful.  Someday I'll go back and get some pics.  I missed the second run for Sister and BIL #2's visit and pheasant hunt (read all about it here), and the third run was a 7 miler on trails at Shevlin Park, also in Bend, and also a trail I had never been on.  Once again, I didn't want to slow down to take pics, but our fearless leader got this one of my behind at some point on the trail:

Does this trail make my butt look big?

And I was so remarkably slow, I thought I'd pose like Usain Bolt does after he is remarkably fast.

 That trail was tough and I managed to get a little lost, but still, it was just beautiful.

The following week was 9 miles at Meadow Camp.  Now, I've run 9 miles before.  Several times.  While it was cool and drizzly, I was in no way doubting my ability to run 9 miles on a trail, out and back, along the beautiful Deschutes River.

See how confident I look on the far right?

Well.  That was the longest 9 miles of my life.  Up, and up, and up.  Then up some more.  I just wasn't feeling it, and I not only slowed down to take some pictures, I actually stopped more than once.

My mentor, Lisa, took this, probably while I was doubled over, gasping on the trail.

This one, too.  My glacial pace gave her plenty of photo ops.

 I'm not sure why that run felt so hard - it was the first time in a very long time that I just wanted to quit.  I even told Lisa to go ahead and leave me, that I was sure I had signed some kind of release that would get her and Footzone off the hook if I perished out there.  She went on ahead, but was never out of sight.  I really like her.

There's Lisa in the neon vest.

A little further up the trail. 

The upshot of that run was I think I ran my last half marathon (13.1 miles) fifteen minutes faster than I did this nine.  It was disgusting.

So today's run was supposed to be 11 miles from Farewell Bend park to Meadow Camp and back.  After last week's performance, I decided to go ahead and run the Run or Dye 5K which I had registered for months ago, and run the course 4 times to get in 12 miles.  It was out at the fairgrounds, so how hilly could it be, right?

Well, I was a little unprepared for the free for all that ensued.  Five Ks are supposed to be fun, and this was no exception.

Me before, nice and clean.

Headed to the start with 500 or so of my best buds.

I am always surprised in 5Ks at how few people actually run.
Not surprised about these two, tho - those suits would
make it a challenge.

Me and my new friend Beth, whom
I met at the starting line, after the "race".

Getting ready for the Dye Toss...

My favorite Brothers not named Widmer.

Me after.

 Needless to say, I didn't run the course four times.    I may or  may not go out this afternoon for 9 more miles, after I get my lifting in for the day, but I'm not going to stress about it.  When running stops being fun, I'll probably stop doing it so I don't want that to happen any time soon.  Even though my next half is only 4 weeks away, I'm not going to worry so much about my fitness level, because I know I can do it.  I mean when you think about it, I started training for my first half in March, and it's been an ongoing thing ever since - my year spent training!

And my legs STILL don't look like this.

So the Run or Dye was fun, but I shouldn't have counted on it as a real run, what with dodging the baby carriages, walkers in tutus, and spectators on the course.  Live and learn.  And while the folks pelting us with dye were generally pretty mild, the last zone, Yellow, got me good on the side of the head - I think I'll be pulling yellow dye out of my right ear for a few weeks!

What it felt like.

What it was.