Anyone seen the express route to the finish line?

   Things to get done: Make breakfast - check; Start laundry - check; Mow lawn - check; Run 18 miles in three hours - check and DOUBLE CHECK! That run has been conquered!
I was so excited about this run. Recently I have had some really fun runs. I've had the pleasure of having friends come and run with me, which is inspiring. The big day is getting ever closer, so the energy is building. But yesterday's run, starting at Cabrillo and running down into the beautiful city of San Diego, stood in a class of its own. It may have been because this run was my longest so far this training session. Taking on a new long run really helps the motivation. It feels so good to know that you can make it happen. Part of it was probably the confidence I had going in to it as well. Coming off of that very strong run on Wednesday had me feeling extra confident. I think the real reason however was that the course had a lot of meaning to me.
If you aren't familiar with San Diego, Cabrillo National Monument, casually called the Lighthouse, is where Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo landed 50 years after Columbus. This monument is dear to my heart because I started volunteering there when I was eleven years old. I spent three years working with the rangers doing all sorts of tasks - from grounds maintenance, to tours, even making an educational movie for the park. It is also one of my Gran's favorite places and the run I did is, in part, one that my Uncle used to do daily (he is an avid marathon runner). So as I said, this area holds some very personal weight. As well, the view is to die for. You start at the top of a hill looking down into the city across the bay. It's gorgeous. If I'm completely honest, it is very daunting too, because you are taking in this amazing view, then reality hits. . . Oh Goodness, I have to run all the way to there?! As well, it is a difficult thing to overcome the thought that you are going to be running for the next three hours, non-stop, if you make your pace. Sure, you could slow down. But then you are drawing it out more. Mixed emotions driving you there.
   When I started yesterday I was very ambitious. I was out of the house right on time and only had to run back in twice for things that I'd forgotten. Not bad for me. I was halfway into driving my route when I realized that I had gone back into the house for my mp3 player, but didn't grab the headphones. No bueno. Thank goodness for Mom, who was going to pick me up from the finish line to drop me off at the start. She bailed me out, as Mom's always do. I finally started my run at around 11 o'clock. It ended up being at least an hour later than hoped, but nothing was going to get me down, especially not the head wind I was now going to run into! (That's what I was telling myself) I realized quickly after I started that perhaps I was starting from the wrong side as the first 3 miles are rolling hills, but again, I was on such a high, it wasn't going to phase me. That positive energy, and the view paid off for me big time. The first six miles were a complete breeze. I had a decent head wind for much of it, but I hardly noticed. I was on a mission. The next six were exciting because I had never run that area efore. It was a side of San Diego I had grown up in and driven  through hundreds of times, but you look at things very differently through a runner's eyes.
   When I got to mile twelve, things changed for me a bit. My legs got tired fast. My stomach started growling too, which is no fun. Nervousness started to set in. "Wow. I didn't see this coming. All I want to do is slow down or stop. Dang. What am I going to do?" As I saw it, I had two options - Quit or continue. "Hmmm... If I quit, I still have to get to my car. I have no phone and no money, so that means I'm walking! Well dang, dang! OK Legs, suck it up! Quit talking to the brain and do what you know how to do." And that was that. I was at it again. Now I don't want to discount what just happened. It was all going through my head across the span of about a half mile and some intense emotion. This is a big moment in any exercise. I've mentioned it before - hit the wall or climb it. . . You always hear about the 20 mile wall marathoners hit. I think it is garbage. I'm no expert and I won't ever profess to be, but I am a believer that you make a mental choice every day to keep going and that determines if that wall is there or not. It happens in dieting, exercising, everyday living. It's up to you to decide that you are strong. So I did. At mile twelve, when I noticed there was a wall being built in front of me, I detoured and jumped on the moving sidewalk. From there to mile sixteen life was grand again. I had a renewed sense of energy.
   At mile fifteen I found another gear because I was now in very familiar territory, I was now on the Embarcadero. I could see the light at the end of the tunnel, the home stretch. That helped a lot. At mile sixteen, I had a horrible thought.  "I didn't put water out on this back stretch because there are water fountains." When I thought of that however, I didn't think about the fact that those water fountains are not exactly clean. I've seen people washing their hands, and laundring in them. I don't want to drink from them. Dang again. The back six and no water. . . "mind over matter, you can see the finish line." This became my mantra. That fence at the edge of the Hilton could not get there fast enough. And when it did. . . Glory!!
   The amazing thing, after all the pain and the desire to finish, all the thoughts about maybe just cutting a few corners here and there, is that the minute I had walked it off, I could not wait to do it all again! I had won! Neener neener 18 miles. You can't beat me!