18 miles - AP:8:48
I was so so so so lucky to have Kelli with me today. Without her, there would have been NO STINKIN' WAY that I could have finished 18 miles. In fact, during the run I had my fingers crossed that she would say something like, "Hey, let's just do 10 or 12 miles today." But nope -- she is far too diehard for that!!! The plan was to take it nice and easy, but sadly, it never felt easy to me, it was comfortably hard the whole 18 miles. Does that make sense?
Okay this is what I learned about Kelli on the run -- actually I already knew these things but they are now more fully tatooed in my mind:
1. Kelli truly is the HILL QUEEN. Try as I might, I just could not keep up with her on Puke Hill which we ran at our 16 mile mark. That girl runs hills like no other. Amazing!!!!
2. Kelli really really really does NOT drink ANYTHING on an 18 miler!!! WHAT IN THE WORLD???? Seriously, how is that possible??? Here I am with my four fuel bottles filled to the max, and she would not take one single sip. Physiologically -- is that possible???? I guess so ... I just don't know how!
3. Like me, when the last handful of miles shows up on a long run Kelli just wants to get them over. It was so funny! We had been chatting away the whole time until the end. Then we just wanted to be done. Our last 9 miles were much faster than our first 9 miles.
Anyway ... THANK YOU KELLI!!!! I needed you badly today. You amaze me!!!
** On a side note, it was fun to run into Mark (huans32) on the trail. :)
Happy Saturday!!! Where's my food???? :) |