I had a Fun Fact Friday post all ready to go for this morning, but instead I just have to share something else!
That would be the result of an impromptu 16 mile run decision. Sixteen miles on a Thursday afternoon? Definitely not my ideal, but I got it in and done.
You see, we have had to deal with a bit of craziness in our schedules lately. When planning out my workouts for the week, I knew that I couldn’t do my long run on Saturday morning like normal, so I shifted it to Friday morning and my mom offered to watch Braedon for me while Makenzie was at school.
Then, yesterday afternoon I got a call from my mom very apologetically saying she couldn’t watch Braedon. I assured her not to feel bad and that I would figure something out. Wow. I’m getting so mature. That would have previously sent me into freak-out-meltdown-nothing-ever-works-why-me mode.
I knew I needed to get in my long run this week, since I don’t have weeks to spare or shuffle after losing two weeks to my injury. So, I laid out the options.
Take Braedon to a flexible child care? That place where he gets sick so easily? In fact, he ended up with a bad enough cough the last time that his airways have been inflamed and he has needed a steroid and nebulizer treatments this past week. Yea. Not going back there. Ever.
Friday afternoon, then? Nope. I have special plans with some Mother Runners so I won’t have time.
Saturday morning? Peter had some pretty important stuff he needed to do and was counting on me getting my run in on Friday too. Plus, I have the ZOOMA 5K on Sunday and know I need a full recovery day post long-run right now. Not the best choice. Hmmmmm….
So at 3:30, it hit me that my best shot was to go that afternoon. I tossed on my running clothes, laced up my shoes, grabbed some PBJ toast for a pre-run snack, loaded up my Gu and water bottle, and strapped on my Spibelt. I met Peter at the trail so he could grab the kids and I could get an earlier start…and I did my 16 miles.
I made it happen. I had been caring for my body with proper hydration all day and eating wholesome foods all week. I had approached my workouts with balance and stayed focused on stretching, so I didn’t have any soreness or pain getting in the way.
Taking care of myself made it possible to say “Okay, let’s do this”.
The commitment to my goals then made it possible to say “Yay, I did it!”.
And this really old blog, recycled photo pretty much sums up how I felt afterwards.
And my dorkiness. It sums that up too.
So, how did it go? I very comfortably maintained an average 9:43 pace over the run without any issues.The afternoon was perfect – slightly overcast, slightly breezy, with the beautiful sights of spring on a running trail. No pain to note besides the general leg achiness towards the end of the run. I even still feel okay today. I have my peak week of training next week (with my first and only 20 miler to tackle!), but I’m remaining cautiously hopeful that all’s well that end’s well and I’ll be crossing that marathon finish line exactly one month from today.
I say that deserves the fist pump, don’t you? Happy Friday and Happy Training!
What’s the last thing that made you feel empowered?
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Mother. Wife. Personal Trainer. Exercise lover. Blogger. Woman of faith. Striving for fitness inside and out. 
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{ 62 comments… read them below or add one }
You go girl!!
Look at you go!!!! Nice job!
way to get it DONE! that is definitely deserving of a fist pump! I’m so glad it was pain-free!
Great work, lady!
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again — you’re inspiring!
Good work on that run, and your comeback is so strong.
I felt pretty empowered yesterday. I decided to go out for dessert with my friends and realized that I DESERVE that, regardless of whether my pants are tight or I worked out or not. I had one of those OMG why am I telling myself I “shouldn’t” moments and blogged my little heart out about it because I think a lot of us tell ourselves we don’t “deserve” things or other lies that stop us from being as happy and awesome as we should be! And I’m done rambling, but anyways, deciding to be happy right now with my body exactly as it is and seeing what happens is pretty empowering…I’m kind of on a high!
16 miles is AMAZING. I hope to some day make 13.1!
Awesome job! I am so happy to hear the foot is holding up. You will be just fine for the marathon! I always say mothers who run have the BEST schedule planning skills.
Congrats! Sometimes the days I don’t feel like running, I get the best distance — but not 16 miles, that’s awesome!
Awesome job! Way to get it done (and not freak out when your schedule abruptly changed)! Sometimes the BEST things in life are spontaneous and unplanned (but you’re a mom so you know that!) Sounds like you’re well on your way to an awesome marathon
What a great run! Congrats!
Girl – you’re freaking awesome. Long runs always take me some prepping and mental preparedness LOL. To “just” go out for 16 miles blows my mind. Nicely done!
Awesome!!! I had a similar situation and had to get in my 11 mile run after work yesterday! Whoohoo for impromptu Thursday afternoon long runs!
So, so awesome. Way to do it!
Good for you! An impromptu 16 miles DEFINITELY deserves a fist pump!
Tina that is awesome and DEFINITELY worth a substantial amount of pride! It’s got to feel good going into the weekend with your long run already tackled. Have an awesome Friday!
WOW TINA!!!! WAY TO GO! I am proud of you and this is SO inspiring!!!! You are amazing!
Happy Friday to you as well! I have when my plans get switched on me, especially when I’m trying to fit a workout in because I usually have eaten to close to the time where I can get out on a run, and I feel rushed to get it over with, leaving me not so happy during. One of the best feelings is when you first head out and you’re feeling strong, like you know you could run for hours. But one of the most terrible feelings is starting out and in that first minute you know you’re going to struggle throughout. I applaud you for fitting in your long run to train for Sunday, even with plans switching around on you! Fitness always has to be a priority if you want to stay healthy
Tina — good job! I know how hard it is to get in a run that long in the after noon. Props to you! I sometimes wonder how I will manage my fitness life when I’m a Mom but you set a great example and provide inspiration for people like me. Thanks!
Congrats Tina! I loved seeing your flexibility regarding your schedule. It helps remind me that sometimes the best decisions in life are unplanned
GOOOOOO TINA! You’ve got this one!
Britta
YEAH!!!! I love the impromptu 16 miles and how you killed all 16 of them!! I love how you honor your body all week, every week regardless of what’s going on fitness-wise. This 16-miler is proof of how well you treat your body so you didn’t need all sorts of crazy prep work before heading into this long run. Your body was already prepped nicely for you! Love it!
TOTALLY deserves a fist pump
. Awesome job getting in your workout and completing 16 miles! Hope you have a great weekend Tina <3
Congrats! It’s so awesome that you made it work when you could have easily used excuses to get out of it! That is commitment.
I’m fist pumping from behind my keyboard! Woo hoo – that’s fantastic!
That is AWESOME Tina! I am really happy for you!
Congratulations, Tina! You definitely deserved that fist pump!! I feel empowered this week because of my morning workouts – it really starts the day right. Happy Friday!
wooo! way to go! *fist bump*
There was a time in my life that I could totally go for an impromptu 16 mile run if I had to … not anymore.
The last thing that made me feel empowered? Goooooood question. It’s been a while. Running 7 miles cold. I hadn’t run much all winter and in January I just decided to go out and do it — we had a weird winter and it was 60 degrees. So I ran and didn’t pay attention to the distance. Got home and it was 7 miles. The next week I ran 8. Then 9. Then I kind of fell out of it again. :/
I have felt empowered since starting and following the Best Body Boot Camp Program! Doing exercises I did not think I can do, or did not know how to do has really been empowering.
Yay!!!! And you have been doing great.
woohoo!!! strong work tina!! i’m sure that all of the rest you had to take wasn’t easy, but it’s obvious that it paid off!! way to go.
Congrats!!!! Great job!
Way to go, Tina!! That is some serious motivation right there! Proud of you!
Woohoo congrats! That’s a great pace – you’re going to rock come marathon day!
Very proud … I have never run beyond 13.1 and I must admit at 10 I am already feeling it. Amazing!
Kudos to you for going for it!!! I am such a planner and I get anxiety when things get thrown off like that, but actually training schedules have taught me how to work around life activities and make things happen, without freaking out! Glad you had a good run!
Way to go!!!
I can’t imagine doing a long run at 3:30 in the afternoon! You’re amazing! Way to get it done!!
I think the only thing that helped me do it was not having the chance to overthink it. Otherwise my motivation would have for sure slacked. Haha!
Wow, nicely done, tina. when I saw your tweet about your impromptu 16 miles, I was so impressed already! That you decided to just go for it on a whim, thinking ahead, knowing you weren’t going to fit it in otherwise!! Nicely done, you are rocking these runs!!!
Good job! Running makes me feel empowered!
Well done! Such an achievement, you must be so proud.
Last thing that made me empowered? I recently finished climbing a route that is very tough (both physically and mentally). I believed I could finish it and I did in the end.
Fabulous!! That was some awesome rescheduling on short notice, so impressed!! I was proud yesterday that I gave myself two options for my trail run and I chose the longer option – welcome back running mojo!
that’s awesome! i saw on facebook that you were going and couldn’t wait to hear how it all ended up
You did great! Congrats on that run, especially after the set back!!
YAAAYYYY for you, Tina! I’m so excited for you!! aaand can’t wait to see your face in two weeks.
i think we should make it national fist pump day just for that!
you are just so stinking cool! i love you!
GIRL! A+ to you! Congratulations on 16! That’s seriously so awesome.
I ran six for the first time two Saturdays ago, and I felt like I could conquer the world after that. There’s just something about PDR-ing, you know? Especially since this time last year, I thought a 5K sounded slightly unrealistic for me to undertake. Telling myself that I am fully capable of running six miles and then going out and doing it is amazing. I have seven on deck for tomorrow, and I’m so stoked (hopefully) PDR again tomorrow!
Major fist pump to you! Are you still doing the Zooma half this weekend?
i dropped to the 5k since it didn’t fit as well with my training after the injury. plus i knew 13 hilly miles wouldn’t be the smartest and we both know zooma likes the hills
Get it girl!!! I envy your determination!!!
That is so great! So true about making thing happens. So glad that you had a good run and no pain! Love the fist pump picture.
Congrats, that’s amazing! Not only is sixteen miles an incredibly impressive physical feat, but sixteen miles when you aren’t mentally prepared is extra-difficult. Good luck during your last month of marathon training, I’m sure you’ll do great and rock the race
Look at you being awesome. Congrats Tina!
You are killing your runs! Great job!!
Sometimes the impromptu runs turn out to be the best! Way to rock 16 miles!
yeah girl!!!! get it! oh wait… you already got it!!
Way to think on your toes and get your mileage in! I’m not sure I could change my long run plans that quickly… or, I guess, I would always try to convince myself that I can’t change my plans. Mind over matter, right?!
Great job!!! It can be so hard to squeeze a long run in sometimes – but it’s definitely always worth it.
I hope you can find an alternative childcare to watch B. Being sick all the time is NOT COOL. Have you checked out in-home daycares? The one I took Livie (before she started preschool) to did part time care (not sure how it works in GA).
Thank the good Lord I actually worked out a deal with my sister in law who lives in my neighborhood even. Before it was always difficult bec they traveled a lot but their schedules are changing and we can help each other out. Prayers = answered! We’re starting this week and oh boy do I need that morning time since I have loads of plans to do work on as bootcamp ends and people sign up for additional training. Love how God works it all out.
Fist pump….a la Regular Show by any chance? Great job on the run!
Sweet!!! You made it happen!!