1 down, 2 more to go!

I owned my 16-miler yesterday. OWNED it! Skipping that 8 this week was probably the best thing I ever did for myself. The first half of the run was -- and I'm hesitant to use this word because it will come back to bite me -- effortless. Since I was doing 2 out-and-backs, I wasn't really thinking about miles to go, I was thinking of each segment. When I got to the turn around after the first 4 miles I thought, "Wow. Really?" And since coming back is pretty much all downhill I hardly felt the next 4. It is hard to make the mid-run car stop to refuel though. Stopping really kills my momentum, mentally if not physically. It didn't matter how good I was feeling when I stopped at my car I wished I was already done and could go home. I felt a mid-run slump, which happens just about every time with me no matter what the mileage is, but I picked it up at the end and the last 2 miles were solid.

I can now count on two fingers the number of miserably long training runs I have left. TWO! Suddenly this sounds doable! This coming week is 12, the next week is 18, then back to 12, then 20, then the 2-week taper.

I'm determined to make this a great week. Knowing I get to cut back on my long run is a huge mental boost. As far as the mid-week 8 that tripped me up last week, I'm going to bring my running stuff to work and do it down there at 5 instead of going home first and then driving another 15 minutes to where I park. I can be done by 6:20 instead of just starting. I can't remember if the other 2 runs are 4 or 5 miles but I can squeeze those in. I did 4 today and I know 4 should feel like nothing but it doesn't on the heels of a 16-miler. Plus I did the hill route from hell instead of taking it easy on the treadmill. It's just so gorgeous out and I (*gasp*) really wanted to get some hillwork in today. I know! What a far cry from my whining a few days ago.

I fully expect my energy levels and emotions to fluctuate daily from this point on but, for today, I feel like I'm back, baby!

BTW, when I looked for this song on youtube I found a too-bizarre-to-be-true clip of him doing this while Pamela Anderson pole danced. I kid you not. It had to be a Superbowl thing. It was just that cheesetastic.