Long Run

I had a run scheduled for the day- no route, distance or time planned- just a run. So I left my house about noon, with my dog and (fortunately) plenty of water. I ran down to Mile High and headed south on the Platte River trail. I had plans to be at my dad’s house at 3 to celebrate Ayshia’s birthday, and about two miles into my run I for some crazy reason thought it would be fun to run down to his house. He lives in Grant Ranch, Littleton. I had no clue how long it was, but thought 3 hours was more than enough time to get there, with time to stop and let Seranno swim along the way.

It was a very busy Sunday on the Platte, mainly with cyclists. Seranno was starting to irritate me at about mile 5. She wanted to run about a foot or so to my left and freaked out every time a bike came by, hunkering behind me. I am suprised I didn’t end up with a rash from her leash around my waist! It was nearly impossible to have her run close to my side, so this happened every few minutes at least. Next time she is staying home!

I was feeling good for probably the first 10 miles. Granted, my running is very slow- probably more like a jog, so it was getting to be almost 2pm. I was still quite a ways away from Bellview, and it wasn’t really until then that I started to think about the route I needed to take to get to my dad’s. And then it hit me that it was not that close to Bellview- probably at least another 4 or  5 miles. I knew that my house is almost exactly 12 miles to where the Platte goes under Bellview, and since I can survive 10 miles I thought adding another two wouldn’t hurt too bad. But adding 6-7?!? That was crazy.

By the time I finally passed under Bellview it was about 2:14.  My pace was definately slowing down, and so was Seranno’s. I felt like I was dragging her along, which didn’t help since I was already suffering enough on my own! Once I got closer to Bowles, which is where I would exit the trail, I really knew I wasn’t going to make it in time. So I slowed to a walk (which probably wasn’t much slower) and called my brother, Jeremiah, to see if he would pick me up on his way if he came across me.  When I went down to a walk I really started to feel my legs. My hips, knees, ankles and all the muscles connecting, started to seize up. It was painful, but I knew I had to keep moving.

 Fortunately my brother wasn’t too far, so he was going to come look for me. I decided to run again, just until he came to pick me up. I started up Bowles which, of course, was all uphill. I kept looking for Jeremiah, and kept running. And kept running, and running… Where was he?? It couldn’t be taking him this long to find me.  I was coming up on Grant Ranch, moving at a snails pace. I pulled my phone out and saw that my brother called. He thought I was on the other side of Bowles, and he was already at my dads. Figures. Since I was this close, and not everyone was there yet, I decided might as well suck it up and run the rest of the way. I am not sure it was the best idea ever, but neither was running the last 5 or so miles! I stumbled into my dads around 3:10. So almost exactly 3 hours. I must have looked pretty bad because as soon as I walked in my dad and Carol’s faces turned to looks of horror! They thought I was beyond crazy. Which I would have to agree.

So the total distance was about 16 or so miles. I am not exactly sure, but it is around there. Definately the longest run I have ever done. I don’t know how people can run marathons. I could not have imagined, or survived, another 10 miles! But it was a good feat for me. I am afraid to see how I feel tomorrow though! Now off to enjoy good food and cake!