You are thinking what does number 11 and Mark Messier have to do with a half marathon. I know-it's 13 miles not 11 but 11 was a big and important step for me.
Every week I have to add a mile to my distance run and this week it was 11. We don't do these runs around Hollister, I can't do that many laps of my 2 1/2 mile loop and I won't go in the hills with the bulls, spiders, squirrels, and snakes-plus no one is out there. We go to Morgan Hill to the Coyote Creek trail which is amazing.
It goes for 18 miles -I've seen 5 1/2 ( I go out and back)-every week I discover another half mile of it. On Sunday mornings its a buzz of cyclists, strollers, dog walkers, walkers, and runners. Just the right amount of nature for a nature-phobe like me.
We started going at 7 miles, I don't even remember it, I remember 9 because it almost killed me, 10 was good but 11 was great.
The trail was quieter than usual and for the first 3 miles my legs were literally numb-but then something happened. I stopped -stretched-and said let's keep going.
The pain went away-my mind drifted. The more I ran the stronger I became. I started planning my birthday party, I started listening to the songs and saying 2 -5 1/2 mile runs this is nothing. I started going faster and faster and at the 5 mile mark I was singing along out loud with Jay Z and Heart of the City. (I don't rap I'm the chorus).
I started thinking of the number 11-I started thinking about 9/11, and 11/11 which was lucky and Mark Messier the most famous number 11-and how he ran the New York City marathon and he's a big guy! And he's older than me!
I started thinking about Eminem and 8 mile road and I was going a little further-all these things went through my head.
The last 2 miles of this course are the hardest weather you are going 6 or going 11 it's the way the course goes. At 2 1/2 I stopped-ate some goop, took a drink, cranked up the music and hit it. I finished and I felt great AND my pace was fastest ever on the course.
Although when I was younger I was a pretty good athlete, I've never pushed this hard. Every run I finish, no matter how short or the circumstances I always say-Thanks God for not letting me die or get hurt-Gratitude I think buys me some insurance.
So commoners this week is 12 and I don't mind-I want to see what's 1/2 mile past that golf course! I want to see that eagle again, dodge the dragonflies, see the horses and nail those hills. Plus every mile is 100 calories-do the math! It's a lot
I'm contemplating a marathon in the spring--When I asked a friend what he thought about running the marathon he said-can you run for 5 hours? You know-Sunday I could have.
but for now commoners the uncommon task of 13.1-I'll be so happy to finish it and look forward to the next challenge. But for now 1 more weekend run on my favorite path.
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