H3LL YES!

I did it.  I ran 10.48 miles on Sunday.  Oh YEAH!  Baby!  I'm a Long Distance Runner!  

And I owe it all to the kindness of this community of running bloggers. Isn't it amazing? We virtually run  into people (Ha!  Pun intended!) we've never met before and yet develop friendships. The support and encouragement from fellow running bloggers in incredible.

For instance, last week I was crushed by my first double digit run. I was crushed physically and mentally. My confidence in my ability to run at all was shot. I had a 3.4 mile run scheduled the following day and I seriously doubted if I could run it. (Gratefully, that run was fine and the 5.4 run two days later was even better.)

Fortunately for me, the you guys came through. The advice was terrific!

Laura from  the Jog for Joubert Syndrome blog

Ashley from the Adventures of Running Mom blog

Anne from the Asthma an the Gift of Running blog

Heidi from Henniemavis's Blog

That Pink Girl (haven't figured out a real name yet) 

Nicole from the Runner Nic blog

Tara from the Colorado Runner blog

Rick from Marathon Man Runs Again blog

Al  from You Run? No really, you run? blog

Amanda from the Run to the Finish blog

Melisa from the Irish Blue in a Running Shoe blog

Based on the encouragement and experience shared by these folks, I decided to try that long run again. Here's what I did diffrently:

1. I drank water before bed.
2. I drank water when I woke up.
3. Got dressed and lubed up.  Even my left arm pit.  (Body Glide does look like deodorant after all.  It was weird having one slick arm pit and one not.  At least I didn't brush my teeth with it.)
4. I ate peanut butter and jelly oatmeal for breakfast a la Ashley.
5. I planned to run a 5.24 mile route I was familiar with twice. This helped with the mental aspect. I knew the route, I knew the hills, I knew what to expect.
6. I bought Vanilla Bean GUs based on Ricks advice but at the last minute chickened out on eating them. Instead I made a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and cut it in four squares a la Two Gomers.  (One of the guys packs a meal when he does his long run. A sandwich, a banana, some cookies or something.  It's like he's having lunch on the run.)
7. I drank more water.
8. When I left the house it was 69 degrees and 97% humidity.
9. I put my water bottle and sandwich in my mailbox. Since I was running the loop twice I could stop at the mailbox and grab my stuff.
10. I ran the first loop and stopped for my snack. Guzzled 15 ounces of water and ate my sandwich in the 50 seconds it took me to walk back up my hellacious hill.
11. Started running the loop again.
12. Stopped for a drink at the water fountain at the park.
13. Made it back home. It was 78 degrees and 73% humidity.

I'm ordering an Ultimate direction water bottle online today from Zombie Ruunners. I decided to start with a handheld and move up to a fuel belt later. I'm not planning on running a marathon so the handheld should be fine. I like what I found a Dick's (thank's Al) but I wanted Pink. I know. I know. I just like pink and if I'm going to have to use it alot I want pink.  So there.  

And Rick, I think I can do the GU. I noticed that trying to eat bread with peanut butter on it is difficult when your mouth is dry and you are breathing hard. I was afraid I was going to inhale my sandwich, literally. The best part of my sandwich was the grape jelly. So I think the GU and I won't have a problem.

Seriously, runners rock!