Yeah.
26.2 miles but divided among 3 of us. To be specific, team Two Cougars and a Cub. Granted that's not how we're listed on the results, but you know what? When creativity strikes you got to go with it...even if it was past the deadline. Oh well, we're going to use it officially one of these days.
At any rate, with ibuprofen in the body and the other pair of running shoes on my feet I met up with the rest of the LPN runners and headed down to Naples. We got our numbers, snapped a few pictures and then I was off...not very fast and no idea where I was going but as this was an Italian race two things were certain:
1. The pack would soon move past me.
2. The old men that have been running for years and now limp because of it would continue to encourage me to run with them when they saw me walking.
Seriously. I feel like my new slogan is "when you see the old limping men, that's where I'll be on the race course."
I'd like to say that it really isn't that bad but it is. But through it I'm slowly coming to terms with the fact that I'm out there to improve my endurance and times, not to compete with other. My times. Not others. I'm pretty sure this transition is the only way I'll be able to continue to sign up for these events.
But enough about me, because like normal, it wasn't all about me this race. The fact that I had two others waiting for me to return to the starting point kept me moving. Well, apart from the killer tunnel up hill that really has got to be over 1/2 a mile long. Of course that's where I was encouraged by two older men to run with them piano piano and they wanted to talk. Try running uphill, super sore, and conversing in a language you still really don't get. Worse part? While running side by side you really can't use the hand motions that typically get you through conversation.
Like I said- I'm running in Italy now.
The loops around Naples were lovely and the weather was fabulous for running. The sun peaking out from behind the clouds provided a great backlight for the boats sailing in the bay as I ran along the harbor areas. The loops continued and continued through a place I'd never been before (but will eventually figure out where it was). Running in the tunnel really wasn't that bad...on the way down and even the last battle up the hill back to Piazza Plebecito was worth it since I was beyond ready to tag off to Lori.
Lori rocked the middle section and got some practice running on the cobble stones as Alida and I waited for her return. And return she did, and even faster than I thought she would, which was a lot faster than she thought she would! Like I said, she did great. Off Alida ran to run the same course to bring our team in. Lori and I took this oppertunity to sit along the race course to stretch our achy legs as we people watched and enjoyed the warm sun. Before too long Alida came flying by, dodging said people, kids, dogs, and soccer balls indicating her first lap was done. After a huge motivational pep talk to my legs, we moved back over to the finish line to wait for this mayhem to be over.
And over it was- 4 hours 39 minutes & 41 seconds later.
Now I need to start figuring out just how I'm going to travel all that distance with my 2 feet come March.
Who had the crazy idea or running a marathon? Thank goodness it's still Janauary!
No comments:
Post a Comment