8 Freakin Miles!!

Wow... What can I say?! I did it! I RAN 8 MILES!!

Today I started off awake and refreshed at 6am. To tell you the truth I didn't think about the 8 miles in detail so I wasn't freaked or anything. I was excited to see my training group and get going!

7am we are all there ready to go. The coach talked to us briefly about the importance of hydration. Apparently too much or too little can be dangerous. No worries, me and my team were fine the whole way. Today's trail started in Griffith Park and eventually led us through Glendale and back. As we charged up a gorgeous street filled with trees that shaded our path and houses that looked like they each popped out of a fairy tale book the incline took its toll. 1.3 miles of incline today is the start of our training for running Diamond head in Hawaii. OMG we're going to run up Diamond Head! Half way up the hill it hit me... I will be running 26.2 miles! Can I really do this???? The fear and doubt got loud. KEEP GOING. STOP THINKING. So, I continued in conversation with my group and that loud annoying voice in my head quieted down. Thank goodness. At mile 5 someone's sprinklers were spraying their beautiful green grass so we all took advantage of it and ran through them. aaaahhhhh.... The coolness of the water and fresh air feel so nice! We finished 8 miles today in 1 hour and 48 minutes! That was with 2 bathroom breaks too! So, we are doing very well and keeping a steady pace. (yes we are still run/walking at at 3-1 pace that averages between 13 and 14 minutes per mile)When we finished, the training group had peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, cookies, pretzels and fruit ready for us. And boy was I hungry!!! We had our snack, took some pictures and then my group asked me if I would lead them into a stretch as I did last week. I felt so honored:) of course I will! So I lead them into some yoga stretches that felt OH SO GOOD after 8 miles:)Thank you to my yoga mentors, Kamila and Elinore. If it weren't for my yoga practice over the last 3 years this journey would be a lot more difficult and how would I ever lead my team into an awesome stretch?! Namaste.

Now its 9:30am and I have to get home, have a real breakfast, shower, get ready for work and say goodbye to Davy (he's going to Russia for a gig for 3 days). All this and get to work by noon!

By the time I got to work I felt like passing out. SOOOOOOO tired. For the rest of the day I pretty much felt like a babbling mess. But its all good. I made it and I feel great about my accomplishment today. This Sunday... 10 miles!