What Just Happened?

I'll tell you what happened....I just ran four miles.

I'm not sure how I managed to do that, given that the mile I've been running has been a struggle.

My friend Tish, who is a marathon, half marathon, triathlon - "veteran athlete" (and maybe just a little bit crazy), invites whoever would like to join her in a weekly run along Coyote Creek Trail in San Jose. It's a little bit of a drive for me, but I thought I would give it a try. I invited my sister in law Nikki to join. We're both signed up for the San Jose Rock & Roll half marathon in October (as is Tish and several other friends).

Given my month long running hiatus (thanks to a wedding, subsequent honeymoon, and a mild bout of whooping cough), I lost a little bit of my "pre-wedding" fitness and haven't felt very confident that I would be able to run a 5K, let alone a half marathon (which I am STILL not committing to running in it's entirety, by the way!). But after working my way back up to a (hellish) mile, I figured if would be fun to get out there with a group of like minded individuals and see what happens.

Before I get to the actual run,I have to tell you about the "magical coffee incident". The drive from Pleasanton to South San Jose is a little long. I needed coffee. My favorite local coffee shop doesn't open until 7:30 and I had to leave Pleasanton by 7, so I was a little bummed that I was going to have to go to the competitor across the street (Tully's - bitter coffee, un-inspired franchise decor). I parked on Main Street in front of my usual place (shout out to Cafe Main) and was about to cross the street to Tully's, but decided to try the door, just in case, it looked like the lights were on?! Lo and behold, the door opened. I heard the angels sing! My favorite coffee, "Majestic", was brewing. The barista said "We're not actually open yet, but I was early today and I've got your coffee ready!" If that isn't the Coffee Gods smiling down on me, I don't know what it is!

The drive was much shorter than I thought. Nikki and I were both a little early, which gave us time to "plot our strategy", which basically boiled down to "Well...let's just run for a while until we're done and then walk?" Sounds good!

Tish arrived soon after and off we went! With the talking and laughing and nice easy pace, we reached the mile marker quickly and I still felt great! Nikki concurred, so we kept going. Then at the two mile marker I was STOKED! We just ran two miles! Nikki ran a 5k in April but hasn't run more than a mile non-stop in a while (working on speed and interval training). We stopped to take a little stretch and then headed back. At first I said "Well, I'm walking back." Mostly because it just didn't register, as great as I felt, that I had more run in me. Nikki was game to do whatever. Tish went on ahead. But after about 20 seconds of walking, Nikki and I looked at each other, a little surprised that we felt so good, and said...let's GO!

We only intended to run another mile (making it a 5k), but we missed the mile marker and by the time we realized we passed it, we were already at the next one signalling that we only had a .50 mile to go! We were just too close to stop at this point, and still felt great! We didn't stop until we got to Tish, waiting for as at the four mile point. Whoo hooo!

Tish is getting back into her training groove, and an 8 miler or more is not a problem for her. It just worked out that she only had time for 4 on this day. Thank god!

For me (and maybe Nikki) the run was pretty epic. I think the wings are starting to unfurl!