Black Friday , 11 miles and Many Thanks!!

So like I mentioned in my last blog I have been running 20 miles a week.  I had read in Runner's World that it's a great idea to run a slow, long run the day after Thanksgiving since it's a great carb-loaded meal.  What a great idea!  Why didn't I think to do this before?  Then I soon realized that the day after Thanksgiving is Black Friday.  I always go shopping on Black Friday and this year I set out at 10:30 pm and didn't arrive back home until 8:30 am.  Obviously with such little rest, it would've been a bad idea to run a long run.  Therefore, instead of running I slept until 1:30, went to parents for left overs and slept for another 2 hours.  I awoke to find this picture, taken by my lovely sister, posted on facebook!  I guess you could say I was tired.  So I planned on running Saturday.

Well I had only run 9 miles by Saturday so I was due for an 11 mile run if I planned on reaching 20 miles for the week.  I set out nice and slow planning to run 5 miles then stop back at my house for some sport jelly beans (from Leaha - thanks!) and water.  After that I planned to run my normal 6 mile loop, thinking if I had to I could always call Brent for a ride home if it proved to be too much.  I didn't have to call him and I ran as planned.  As usual, I felt better than I expected.  I probably felt my best around mile 7, which is amazing!  I ended my run 11 miles later in 1:46:21 and I wasn't even sore the next day.  I should mention here though, that my 4 mile run on Monday was pretty tough.  This makes me realize that running really is a mental sport.  If I am setting out to run 4 I will only run 4, but as you can read if I set out to run 11 I can run 11.  It never ceases to amaze me what my body is capable of doing! 

In case you were wondering, Black Friday wasn't even worth it.  I will never go at midnight again.  In previous years I always went in the morning and I made out much better.  I did get a new laptop for $300 and Brent's gift for half the price, but other those I have nothing to show for all that time and loss of sleep.  

As you can imagine running 11 miles gives me plenty of time to do some thinking.  I spent this run thinking about the many things I have to be thankful.  I must have thanked God 20 times for healing me and giving me the ability to run again.  I also thanked him for blessing me with an amazing, loving husband, a caring, supportive family, and thoughtful, encouraging friends.  I even thanked him for the blue skies, balmy weather, and the wind at my back - all perfect running conditions.  I thanked him for a happy, healthy, fulfilling life and for being an amazing, loyal God who loves me through and through.