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Bloody, Sweaty, Snowy 16 Miler

Bloody, Sweaty, Snowy 16 Miler

by Nicole on January 30, 2010

I was a little worried about the weather for our 16 miler planned for this morning, but it really didn’t end up being that bad.  I think the windchill was only at 17 degrees.  Hey, it could have been way worse!  I didn’t get much sleep last night because I was so nervous for this run!  I have no idea why.  Maybe, it was because I’d never run past 14 miles before?  Luckily, I had 5 people coming to my house at 8am so I really couldn’t bail. DSC05602

Renee and I were the only ones who ran 16 miles today.  This is us very happy before!DSC05604

Getting ready to go!DSC05605

We did not plan on wearing only red and black.  It just ended up being that way.  haha The roads were icy and quite scary at first!DSC05609

Then, after the first .25 mile, we headed onto a trail that had ankle to mid shin deep snow.  The first two people dropped out at a mile and a half of that.  It was like running in sand.  My legs were burning at mile 1!!  I thought to myself, “How am I going to run 16 miles in this?”  My breathing was heavy!DSC05612

Obviously, we weren’t really dressed for this deep snow!DSC05614

The snow continued to be like this for the next 6 miles.  It sucked!  I kept rolling my ankle.  Not safe at all!DSC05615

It was beautiful though.  We finally hit some more ice and less snow.  I really don’t know which one was worse, honestly.  I ran the risk of slipping on the ice, but I kept rolling my ankle in the deep snow.  At mile 9, the next two people were done, and it was just Renee and I for the final 7.  Eventually, we just got sick of running on the trails and decided to hit the plowed roads with the cars.  Much better only the cars weren’t really moving for us, even though they had enough room!

Once we got back on the roads, my energy came back, and I stuck to my pacing.  I wasn’t that tired while running (although I’m exhausted now!), and I’m really excited for my 18 miler next weekend!DSC05616

When I got home, I noticed this when I took off my shoe!DSC05619

I guess I had rubbed the skin off the back of my ankle, and hadn’t even felt it because I was either in the zone or my ankles were just numb.  It was probably a combination of both!DSC05623

Sixteen miles, of course, is a distance record for me, and I couldn’t be more excited!  If you would have told me 5 years ago that I would be training for a marathon, I would have thought you were crazy.  It is amazing what can happen when you start thinking positively!

As soon as I got home, I had just enough time to shower, answer a couple of emails, and throw something together for the first official Ramstein tri party of the season!  It was actually just a meeting that had food at it.  We talked about where our fitness levels and triathlon experience is, and upcoming races so that we could start planning a schedule.  I might have found a new swimming training partner at the meeting!  I need some extra motivation there for sure!

Well, it is almost 7pm over here, and I’m already for bed.  I really don’t think I have the energy to make dinner, but I’m so happy.  It was an awesome day. ;)

What are you up to this weekend?  Any good training?

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