i just felt like run-ning

after a 2-week break from running (an additional week to let my back heal and the next to avoid the hurricanes and subsequent flooding), i jumped back into it yesterday.  our regular path was closed due to the floods, so we went to the other path which is more open and heavily traveled by bikers.  i know because this is the path we ride our own bikes on.  we're not fans of this path for running since it does not have mile markers to tell us how far we've gone, and i for one do not like the sandy feel of the path itself.

now, my husband had still been running when i had not, so he had already finished the program and was running full 5Ks.  i hadn't finished out my 30-minute workouts week and the closer we got to where we decided to start our run, the more nervous i became.  i don't think i can do this, i said.  my husband assured me i could.

when we started out, i had to get used to the loose, gritty surface beneath my feet, not to mention all the leaves and sticks that had blown into the path.  but after awhile, it wasn't so bad.  i was enjoying it, and it felt good to run again.  about a mile or so into it (i'm guessing), i came across a giant puddle which covered the entire path -- ultimately unavoidable -- so i skirted around it as best i could, though unable to escape without soaking my shoes clean through.  soggy socks and shoes are not fun to run in.  but i kept going.

my husband has a system where he runs for half the time (in this case, 15 minutes), before turning around.  when i see him, it's my cue to turn around myself.  he then runs ahead and usually within the last few minutes turns back around to meet me where i am.  so i know by the time i catch sight of him on the way back, i'm almost done my workout.

so my husband passed me with 11 minutes left, and i told myself that if i could do 19 minutes, i could certainly finish it out.  on the way back i even splashed right through the puddles, not even caring to keep my feet dry.

as i was nearing what i thought to be the end (and the only way of telling was that i started feeling sluggish), i didn't see him.  so i kept on going.  turns out he had been waving to me but i had missed it.  according to him, i had run a total of 32:37 when i finally saw him flagging me down.  i stopped, red-faced and panting.  somehow i had run over my workout time, when i didn't even think i could make it for the full 30 minutes, period.

so if there's anything my body has gained from this training, it's stamina.  i'm sure of that now.