11 miles .... check!

So yesterday came and went .... and I can now say that I've completed an 11 mile run! We did a 6 mile loop followed by a 5 mile loop through Decatur, and it was a perfect morning! It was cool, but sunny and just beautiful!

The first 6 miles were good, and we took a quick pit stop at the Big Peach to use restrooms and get some fuel. The final 5 miles were .... challenging. My run/walk group that I was with decided to run the route backwards. We run this route pretty often, so we thought we'd mix it up a bit. Bad idea, because going backwards means running UP all of the hills. I think we were all struggling, but we finished, and I actually felt pretty good. It's a nice accomplishment to know that I can run 11 miles without completely dying!

Our coaches and mentors have been telling us to practice routines now before race day gets here. That means drinking fluids, eating breakfast, and getting fuel during the race. Well, I'm all for doing the "right thing" with this running stuff, so I decided to buy some Gu energy gel to try out during training. It's what they have during the race, and my sister-in-law uses it all the time during her long runs (she, by the way, finished her 2nd full marathon yesterday .... amazing! WTG Beth!) so I figured it was the cool thing to do. Wrong answer ... that stuff is nasty. I'm such a color/texture person when it comes to food, and I realize that may be some of my issue here, but that Gu stuff is like a thick, bad-tasting jelly. And I don't even like jelly. I guess I thought it'd be more like pudding, and less like a sticky-thick-goopy mess. I was not amused. Guess I'll be trying out other things or just going without. Ugh.

After my run yesterday I came home and slept, which is my favorite thing to do. I really didn't feel too sore, just tired, and feel pretty good this morning too! Knock on wood I'll feel good after Vegas too ... because I sure want to go OUT after the race on Sunday night! :)

3 weeks ... the countdown is on!