As a runner, you know to appreciate any good run you can take during training season. It seems like a long time since I had a great long run, but yesterday – it was GLORIOUS! I don’t know what I did different to make yesterday’s run better than any other run I’ve had since I started ultramarathon training, but who cares!

I was actually pretty worried about yesterday’s run. I was in a rush to get out the door (big surprise) and my stomach seemed kinda iffy. For breakfast I had 3 scrambled eggs with a cup of coffee and lots of Gatorade. My eggs weren’t fully cooked since I was short on time but I ate them anyway. And since I drank the night before at a party, I was hoping the Gatorade would help re-hydrate me for the run. I popped in my Plow On Energy gum in the car and tried to psych myself up for the run. The weather was going to cooperate, so I was a little hopeful, but my crampy stomach was telling me that it was going to give me trouble.

The first mile or so were a little bit of a challenge. My stomach was still crampy and my bladder was full from the Gatorade. Finally, I couldn’t stand it any more. I tucked behind a tree while Kendra stood as a look out. Do you remember that scene from “Austin Powers” when he peed forever? Well, that was me. After that, I was actually feeling better! Kendra caught up with the group and we continued on.

As we kept going, I was noticing that I was keeping up with the group. I was still in the back of the pack, but only by 10 feet…just enough to allow for a fall without wiping someone out. The hills didn’t suck and for the most part, I was able to run most of them. It wasn’t easy, but it wasn’t that hard either! I was able to manage on the ice and snow and later the mud. I could feel the training effects kicking in. I was getting stronger! Of course, Mother Nature has a knack of serving you a piece of humble pie when you think you’re on top of the world by tripping you with a tree root, but it’s okay. I landed gracefully and uninjured. I’d like to say that if you were scoring my fall, it would be an 8.5 swan dive to the ground.

The scenery was beautiful as always. I know, I seem to say that a lot, but look at this…

and this…

and of course me and my partner in crime. I love how she indulges my crazy need to take a billion pictures.

And I have to give some love to Frank who took this fabulous picture of me and Kendra crossing a frozen stream.

Anyway, the run. The longer I ran the stronger I felt and at the end of the four hours I was still ready for more. I was BEAMING! I didn’t finish last and I felt great! I don’t take great runs for granted. I know the next time I go out there I could have a horrible run, but that just something that you learn to live with. If every run was fantastic, then none of them would be special and it would get boring. Each bad run leads to a great run and I guess it was just time to have a great run. THANK GOODNESS!