Saturday, J and I drove down to Eugene for Rama-Llama-Dolstice, the Llama Christmas party. Beforehand, I'd agreed to accompany Rachel on Sunday's 8:30AM distance run, but only for half of the ten mile course. Five miles was already a good half mile or so farther than the farthest distance I'd ever run. It worked out that I'd get a ride back at the turnaround point and wait for her to finish. But... I didn't stop. I ran the whole thing. TEN MILES! And I felt pretty good for most of it!
Somewhere around the seven mile mark, the growing tension in my glutes, quads, and IT band gave way to a solid stiff discomfort. Around eight miles, I started feeling like an arthritic grandma. As others had complained of some soreness when I was trying to decide to stop at five miles, I decided I could push through. I didn't have any trouble with breath or heart rate... I just felt unusually drained. And it's obvious why-- my body was *seriously* confused about what was going on.
At nine miles, it started to hail, then sleet. By the time we rounded a corner and ascended the short hill to the final stretch, the ground was slick with ice. The parking lot before the finish line was treacherous. I guess a few runners fell but weren't hurt. We were pretty lucky, given that I had little muscular control at that point. Ten minute miles for ten miles and now I feel like... A GIMP! It hurts when I sit, it hurts when I stand, and don't ASK me to descend stairs! Well, I exaggerate; it isn't *that* bad, but it certainly is a different kind of post-workout pain than the aches I usually cherish. I'm sure in a few days I'll be fine. ^_^
The weather we experienced caused eight fatality accidents in Eugene alone, closed several miles of freeway, and fucked traffic from mid-state to Portland. By the end of the day, we decided to stay overnight, which was all well and good because I hadn't relished the thought of sitting five hours in the car after running an hour and forty minutes. (I can imagine how stiff I'd be today.) Instead, we drank copious amounts of wine (as usual) and soaked in a hot tub. MMMMM....
Pictures from the Llama-rrific party will be posted shortly, after I finish with my Holiday Cards.
Posted on December 19, 2005 @ 9:26 PM | 4 comments
Comments:
Round here, they never close ANYTHING, regardless of weather.
Go off the road? You're expected to have food in the car.
Encounter snow drifts on the interstate? You're expected to be driving a huge 4wd truck.
Which explains how I had to have the optometrist and two opticians push my car out of their snow-loaded parking lot last week.
I know what you mean about the running. Except for me, I feel that way after running like half a mile. I can walk for hours... at a 12% incline. But decide to crank it up a notch, and all I can do is stagger around and demand for people to bring me booze.
By 
Adrienne, at
4:36 AM, December 20, 2005
That is quite a distance! Congratulations, Kat!
By inkandpen, at
6:50 AM, December 20, 2005
Oh, that is just lovely... copious amounts, always a great thing.
By , at
8:41 AM, December 20, 2005
Yay for running... now find a training group in Seattle already so that we can run marathons together!
By Rachel, at
9:57 AM, December 20, 2005
