fear.

Today's scheduled long run was 6 miles.



I had been super excited all week to get to Saturday.

Reaching the milestones are beyond exciting.
Crossing those first time distances off the list has been some of the more euphoric and proud moments.

That being said, all the excitement came to a screeching halt as I sat down to put on my running shoes. 

and I burst into tears.

The anticipated 6 miles was suddenly terrifying. 

But do you wanna know what I did?

I put on my shoes anyway.

I stood up.
I went outside, and I ran six miles.
I shoved that fear in the face.

Fear is OK, I've decided. Being fear's bitch is not OK.

Side note:: I'm hearing a lot lately from people who say that it's great that I'm doing this and they've always wanted to run distances but they could never do it.
Here's the deal, no, you really will never do it when you say "I could never do it".
But just try it!!
You remember my lazy butt.
You remember my sedentary, couch loving butt.
But then I stood up.
And I just decided.
Just decide!
And then stand up!

Today's record distance also journeyed into new territory: nutrition.
I hadn't even carried water with me yet.  But now it was time to carry water and electrolyte supplements.
I was given these to try and was so excited to be a big time runner with the energy chews.

But....what the heck do I do with 'em??

Good ol' ChrissyD told me she schedules her intake - every 45 minutes, pop a chew.
After being baffled by a simple running app and not being able to combine minute and distance alerts, I decided to take this idea but schedule my intake by distance. 
I decided to pop a chew at 3 miles and again at 5 miles.

What a genius plan. 
.....until my GPS played games with my head.
I got about 3/4 mile from my house and looked at the tracker and realized it hadn't restarted after stopping at the stoplight.

FUUUUUUUUUUUdge.
(only I didn't say fudge.)

I started to panic.
MY SCHEDULE!
MY SCHEDULE FOR CHEWS!
It took about 20 seconds for me to calm down and just start the distance from then.

The first chew came right at one of my favorite songs on the ipod.
I'm not sure how long it's supposed to take to work, but the chew combined with the song, I felt like I could go forever.  And I felt that way for about a half mile.
Looking back at the split times of my half miles on my running tracker, I can see exactly where I popped those chews. My pace quickened just a hair.  However, looking back at the split times, I also discovered that today was one of the more evenly paced runs I've ever had.  I don't know what that means, but I like it.

Since my GPS messed with my head, it also had me end my 6 miles a little ways from the house.  So I walked the rest of the way home.  I was self-conscious about people thinking I had quit and had given up running. 

Not true, people on the street!!

I JUST RAN 6.15 MILES!!!!
(cross it off the list)