As if waking up at 4AM on a Saturday morning wasn’t hard enough, imagine needing to wake up at 4AM on Sunday too. Since my pace group manned the water station yesterday, we had our make-up run this morning.
Now, I know I didn’t have to come out today. I know I didn’t have to get up at 4AM and I didn’t have to run at all. I wanted to, but it was still a little difficult waking up at 4AM since I normally sleep in on Sunday, and “sleeping in on Sunday” for me just means waking up around 6AM.
Since I really didn’t feel like eating oatmeal, I made me some Cream of Wheat with a little soymilk. No sugar added. I ate this yesterday and since I’m still trying to get back to eating food normally again, I figured it would be easy on my stomach, and it was. Yeah, it was a little bland. Hah! Who am I kidding? It was very bland, but I just couldn’t tolerate any added sugar. I should’ve remembered this later in the morning, but I’ll get to that in a bit.
Surprisingly there were about two dozen people who showed up ready to run the 11 or 22 miles. Most people were running the 22, but a few of us were just doing the lower mileage. Besides, there was no way I was tackling 22 miles this morning even if I wanted to, but I didn’t want to, and it downright wouldn’t be smart of me to even think about attempting them.
All lined up to run.
Running early in Santa Monica with no other groups around was a little weird, and quiet. Along the running path, there weren’t even many other runners or walkers at all. I guess everybody else was sleeping in. But that’s okay, good for them. We got to have the running path to ourselves and enjoy the peacefulness of the ocean.
I’ve mentioned it before but the best part of running early and hitting the marina, is seeing the sunrise. Look how huge that sun is! I think it landed on El Segundo.
Good morning sun!
Once we got into Marina del Rey, we parted with the group that was conquering 22 miles. Since we technically didn’t have any water stations to support us, another mentor showed up with water, preztels, Goldfish, and other treats to help us out. That was very thoughtful of her and much appreciated. Mentors John (in yellow shirt below) and Rene (not shown) were leading the 22 milers!
Bye 22 milers!
And then it was just us 8 peeps who were running 11 miles. It was at that moment we turned around and left the 22’s when I overheard someone say something like, “It really bothers me when someone runs close to me.” Hello! Welcome to group running! To which the person she told that to responded, “Me too.” Oh snap. I think I almost saw daggers coming out of their eyes. Apparently someone got too close to this first person when we started to run again after our station break. Hello! Welcome to group running!
Because we were a much smaller group, and there were no other pace groups sweating it out today, it was actually easier to leave a little more running space in between you and another person. Or you could just do what I did and run in the back, where there was nobody in back of you, or on the side of you, and you could leave a lot more space between you and the person(s) in front of you.
Thumbs up for the back of the pack.
Normally it’s actually a little harder to run in the back. Apparently it takes a little more effort, but there were only 7 peeps in front of me so it really didn’t make a difference. But I stayed close to the people in front of me. I didn’t want to get lost.
Don’t leave me.
For some reason during this run, I decided to take a photo of my foot. Upon observation, I noticed something I’ve never noticed before. My foot is rolling out. Holy Toledo Batman! Am I supinating? It’s ever-so-slight but I’m wondering now if that’s why my little pinky toes get angry with me. Thankfully they didn’t on this run. Well, the next time I’m in the market for new running shoes, which may be soon, I’ve got to get my running gait looked at.
Mystery pinky toe issues solved?? TBD
This long run was a little test for me to see how I felt after my 3-Day juice cleanse this week. I must say, I didn’t feel entirely energetic. Of course, I only drank water and electrolyte water, and ate about 4 Sports Beans in Fruit Punch Flavor because I needed a little something to get me through since I can’t tolerate Gatorade or anything really sweet. Luckily, they didn’t bother me at all.
Once we got to mile 9, I was ready for this run to be over with. I still had 2 more miles to get through, but I got through them by chatting with this nice gentleman, Gary. I’ve seen Gary in the Leggers club for a while now, but I’ve never actually talked to him. I didn’t even know his name up until today. He’s very nice and funny and definitely made the last couple of miles much more bearable for me. Before I knew it, we were at the Santa Monica Pier. Yay!!!
However, when I came upon the last and only hill during the run, I just didn’t have it in me. I walked it. I speed walked it! And that speed walking probably was faster than had I ran up it.
I think I can. I think I can. Nope. I can’t.
The total distance for this morning’s run was 11.65 miles completed in 2:26:11 (according to my Garmin). Thanks Gloria for making us run an extra 0.65 miles!
So here it goes…my favorite post-run beverage was ready to be had. I made my way over to The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf and picked up an Iced vanilla soy latte. Ahhh! I was kinda excited to order it and by look on my face I appear to be in some sort of coffee trance.
I. Must. Have. Coffee.
It’s been a week since I’ve had one and it was seriously delicious. At least for a little bit. I couldn’t even finish it because it made my stomach nauseous. What?? Really?? First, it was yesterday’s vanilla cookie and then today’s…oh shit, maybe vanilla hates me!!
Prior to today’s run, I could down this drink a few minutes after running with no problems at all! None whatsoever. Well, the coffee portion is one thing, but the sugar portion is another. Today may have been a case of too much-too soon. Or it could be that my body just doesn’t want it anymore even if my taste buds do. I don’t know, but it definitely didn’t really make me want it again anytime soon…at least not until next Saturday. 🙂