The Beauty Of Running At The Jersey Shore

So I finally got the chance to run in my new running sneaks. I was eager to run because I needed to figure out if my hip issue was due to my run down sneaks.   Although I’m having fun doing CrossFit, I still miss my running.  Sniff!  Sniff!  Today would determine if I needed an X-Ray or MRI.

You know what?  It was the sneakers!!!

Shame on me for not keeping up with my mileage! I know better.

The great thing about today’s run?  I know that I can run the Atlantic City Marathon!!!!   I am going to run the half-marathon (13.1 miles).   While I haven’t been training for the Half-Marathon; I am well conditioned and have time to prepare, so I am flying high!

Today’s weather was ideal for runners.  Seriously!  The sun was out; not too hot, but perfect enough to break out into a good sweat.

Oh– there was another reason I was eager to run…  My first time running the Ocean City bridge…. alone!

Although two weeks ago, I walked the bridge with two beautiful women, Nicole and Tara, I needed to run it the first time alone.  I still got nervous as I approached  the bridge.

But I stayed to the left of the walkway, carefully avoiding the right side railing…  It is still scary to me. Eventually I settled in to take in the beauty of the day around me.

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The bridge was steep, but breath-taking. My hamstrings and quads burned like someone lit a match to them, but was worth every step.

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After my run, I walked under the bridge to my car. This was the breath-taking view. I quietly stood, taking in the calm waters, the beautiful bridge, the clear sky, and the fact that I just ran the bridge with an abundance of gratitude in my heart.

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Boaters and jet skiers enjoyed the day as well.

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Another shot from under the bridge. So peaceful as the waters softly crashed against the rocks.


The Longest 1.6 Ever!

“Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t quit.” ~ Conrad Hilton


TODAY’S STATS
:

Distance:     10:01 miles
Duration:     1:49:40
Pace:             10:57 min/miles
Calories:       1398

“Come on girl!  You’ve never been a quitter!  Don’t quit now!  Come on… get your a** in gear!!!”  Someone around 8.4 miles, my hamstrings and quadriceps felt weighted.  Those muscles felt like five pounds of weights were strapped to my thighs with heavy electrical tape.  The goal for today was 10 miles.  Typically 10 miles is cake for me, but I think running in the unexpected heat took a toll on my body. While I was well hydrated, the last time I ran in 85+ temps was probably Fall 2012.  I don’t know about other runners, but my body has to become conditioned and acclimated to the summer temps. In Jersey, we’ve gone from 70ish spring like weather to a four-day 90 degree heat wave.

I had to talk.. more like yell at myself to keep going.  I swear there’s a beastly coach residing within me. She appears only when I am on the verge of quitting.  Her harsh and demonic like voice forces me to push myself beyond, what I think is my breaking point, to keep moving.  I stopped briefly only to take swags of water from my bottle or to douse my body with ice-cold water from neighbors sparsely running sprinklers.  Still the remaining 1.6 seemed like another eight miles down the road.  Mistakenly I listed to my MapMyRun voice update every .3 miles, which made the remaining distance feel even longer.   That was not smart.  Finally I did a quick body check:

Do my knees hurt?  No.  Cramps?  No.  Feel dizzy?  No.  Chest pains?  No.  Do I feel pain…anywhere?  No.  Then keep moving and stop looking for an excuse to stop!

The desire to quit is internal.  If we are not careful, external forces such as negative energy from those around us can trick us into giving up.  Just as Conrad Hilton affirms , Successful people keep moving.  They make mistakes, but they don’t quit. So there you have it…

Keep it movin and have a great weekend!


Anticipation!

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Good morning! I am in the car (hubby is driving) on my way to Atlantic City to run the Half-Marathon.

I am filled with anticipation. Lol! I know it was just last week that i ran a little further, but running it with fellow athletes makes the run more enjoyable.

I am fueled up and rested and eager to get started. Wish me luck.!