By in a Flash

I can't believe this week is over already! We've been so busy at work getting ready for our convention in Oklahoma City next week. I've had this tab open in my browser all week, and just haven't had the time to write.

Saturday's run was AMAZING!!! I ran 16.5 miles, half a mile farther than I had to :) and I felt great. Very tired and my feet were very sore, but I felt so happy that I accomplished it! Andy (a.k.a. the best husband EVER!) met me at my halfway point, which was Occoquan Regional Park, with a sports drink because I wouldn't have had enough. Even so, I had to stop at CVS (about 2.5 miles from home) on my way back to get some water. But I did it!

I think that the key to my success is my Nike+iPod app—I am able to check my pace whenever I want, which helps me to know if I need to slow down or speed up. Usually I'm running too fast at the beginning and just walking too slowly all the time. Much easier to walk fast on a treadmill! This worked so well, I was running the same pace on my way back as I was on the way there. Awesome! I did skip a few running intervals during the last 5 miles or so, but I tried to keep running as much as possible. All in all, it was a big confidence-booster.

Then on Tuesday, I tried to run at the gym but my legs were sore. Not from the run on Saturday, but from wearing heels... guess the doctor was right. She said that I have to stop wearing heels because my Achilles tendon is shortened and it needs to learn to stretch back out again. So that's why I have problems with my lower legs sometimes. (There are other issues, but that's a big one.) I have to go shopping this weekend and find some comfortable—yet stylish—shoes for the convention next week. I don't think I'll ever be able to completely give up heels though!

I didn't run last night, and I'm not running tonight, so we'll see how the 10 miler goes tomorrow morning. It's a week "on your own" since some of the team is running in the Rock-n-Roll Half Marathon at Virginia Beach on Sunday. I'm starting to think that maybe I'm better on my own after all...

Next week is going to be interesting. We're working a LOT while we're in OKC, and I won't have a whole lot of time (or energy) to run. And I definitely will NOT have time to do 18 miles on Saturday. So, I'm not sure how that will play out, I might have to just run 18 miles the next week or something. If I do that, then I'll be running 18 miles one week and 20 miles the next, with no "lighter" week in between (the lighter week is 12 miles, does that really count as lighter anyway?) but I think it's better than skipping the 18 miles.

Maybe I'll run 12 miles tomorrow, and then 18 miles in 2 weeks and on with the 20 miles the next week.