New longest run...again!

It's fun reaching a new personal best. Every long run I do now, I hit a new longest run-fun! I was a bit worried that I may not be able to finish 14 miles, with the hip trouble, and replacing the weekday runs with bike riding. This weekend's schedule was 14 miles. I had planned to meet a new friend at the trails on Paris Mountain, but she bruised her ribs and just didn't feel up to it yet. Phil was out of town at a bike race Saturday morning, and I didn't want to go to the trails alone with him away. So I went grocery shopping instead, and worked on cleaning out/ organizing the garage.

That meant today I needed to get in my long run, absolutely today....so I told Phil that I would need to go this afternoon. I put a few new songs on my ipod, mixed up a big jug of gatorade, grabbed some sport beans and got going. I went to the gym to run treadmill, since it is a bit more forgiving than the road. I started out slowly, gently. My hip felt pretty good...I got to four miles and so far, so good. Five, six, seven- OK, I've made it halfway. Around 9 miles, my hip and left knee started to bug me. 10- ok, only 4 more miles. Hip sore, but OK. 11miles, pretty sore, but not limping. 12 miles- noticeably limping. I straighten up my back and hip is a little better. Miles 13 and fourteen were a constant switch between walk/run. It felt so great- I couldn't believe I made it to 14 miles! I got off the TM, noticeably stiff and limping, but I went and stretched for a good long while. I stopped at the grocery store- the cashier told me my hair looked good! I couldn't believe that.... got home, and climbed into an "ice bath". (I just turn the knob all the way to cold. I'm too chicken to put in ice!!)

I am feeling pretty psyched that I can manage 14 miles...I just have to keep this up!!