::
3:10:50
::
Yes, we did run 18.46 miles (29.7km).
Yes, we did very nearly circle the city.
Yes, 3 hours and 10 minutes and 50 seconds is a long time.
Yes, Rainer did drop me off and go for another 3 miles/5km.
Yes, I’m proud and happy and a little stiff. It’s 20 minutes/2 miles farther than I have ever gone.
Yes, I’m training for a marathon. Next year, though. I know my body and going from a half-marathon training level to marathon level in one season would be too hard on me. This year I wanted to run a sort of bridge – working up to a mid-level distance now, to make it easier next year. It’s an interesting fact, that our bodies remember what we’ve done. Rainer assures me that each spring his body finds it easier to train for a marathon, and the biggest difference was between the first marathon and the second. At the moment, I’m acting on faith for that part.
While I’m happy and really proud (and I do mean really proud because it wasn’t that long ago that I thought I wasn’t athletic in the least) and excited and relieved, there’s a part of me that remembers that I’ve still got about 8 miles or an hour and a half to add to this distance next year.
But for the next 7 months at least, 3:10:50 is the highest peak I’ve ever climbed, and farther than I once believed possible.
Don’t limit your choices by how you define yourself. Just try the next step and see where it can take you.
Handmade Homeschool 
Yeesh, you with the quotes and always making me cry! I love those last few lines.
And a huge congrats on your run! I have been running more over the last year and while I don’t currently have the desire to run a race, I feel I can appreciate more the amount of work that goes into running one.
Crazy Crazy Crazy! Well done! I hope you’re relaxing and getting a little knitting time in now!
Congratulations! Isn’t it interesting how the lessons you learn while running are so applicable to other areas of your life? I find it to be one of the most Zen things I’ve ever done. And I meditate.
Wow, Sarah, that is excellent. I’ve thought of training for a mini-triathlon next year. It would give me some focus over the winter.
Inspirational!
My goodness, that is such an achievement! Thank you for the inspiration and motivation – I want to start running but it feels like a giant first step to take given my current very un-athletic state!