13.1 (friends, chafing, and community)

This past Saturday I had the pleasure of my first ever 13 mile run.

Note I said pleasure - not torture.

All did not start well. My lovely stupid alarm did not go off... I awoke with a start at 5:45 AM (the time our run was to start with the statement of "son of a (starts with 'b' ends with 'itch')." And I was off to the races.

Luckily I was able to reach someone in my running group (this was the first time in for-ev-ar that I would get to run with my half training group for the entire training run) and they offered to wait on me, YAY! In the total of 20 minutes I was dressed and in downtown Tulsa (land speed records may or may not have been set, shhhhhh).

It was a lovely run on a unfamiliar trail the air was brisk and we were moving at a very nice pace. Somewhere around mile 5 I started to feel a bit sluggish so I took a clif shot block and kept going. That helped a bit and I took another around 6 and 7. At mile 7 'Super Girl' busted out a goodie her hubby came back with from California it was a peanut butter cookie type bar and it was YUMMY (promise once I find out what it was I will link it) and I don't even like peanut butter!!!

Once we turned around I continued to have a shot block on every mile - really helped with the energy as well as the incentive to keep going. I am thinking for my up coming half I may run with 3 gummi bears on me (one for each of my last 3 miles - I do love gummi bears!)

It was great to run with the C6 (-2) again. I love running with my Couch to 5K group but running with the C6 is just hard to explain!

After the run I came home and hopped in the shower - only to be treated to (and yes I say this with full sarcasm) the euphoric feeling of raw skin and water meeting for the first time.... aaaaaahhhhhhhhhh burning.

Yes - in my rush I had neglected my body glide around the bra band and under the heart rate monitor. I am now nursing some gorgeous 'Marathon Tattoos' yay. and. they. feel. great.

Not.

Ladies, Gents - do not neglect your body glide. ( I say body glide because I have never tried another product) Until further notice I will be wearing nothing but soft clothing.

Today we had the TATUR Volunteer party and it was a smashing success and I love hanging out with my running buddies. If you are at all involved with running I highly suggest you get involved with the putting on / organizing / volunteering at races. It really makes you appreciate the smoothly running events more and the sense of community you develop cannot be beat.

There was much talk of the TATUR T-TOT's (Tulsa Training On Trails) that I plan to start after my half in November.  TZ has been trying to get me on trails and now that the snakes are going into hibernation it is time to make good on that. Meanwhile a few full Marathon leaders are trying to convince me to run the 26.2 in OKC in the spring. I currently plan to hold off till next fall for the full. But who knows, we'll see.