I went, I ran, I conquered...kind of

I never got around to that third post last Friday. Oops. Sorry about that. It was smoked cheese and I was out of here. I just actually finished the lunch I mentioned making. It is so good. This week I used a Sesame Ginger dressing. Yum time. 

I would also like to report that I ran my seven mile trail run and finished on Saturday morning. It felt great completing it, but I was under the impression (until four hours after the race) that I had finished after my time from last year, even with my "serious" training. I say "serious" because although I was running the distance, I was not running on trails, which makes a huge difference. I thought it would be a lot easier this year, but it was still hard. I can't stress how different trail running is vs. road running. It is not the same. 

I started strong and felt great on the uphills. I had remembered the first two miles being uphill from last year's race, but I was mistaken. The first three miles are uphill and there are more hills after that. For some reason I thought after the first few miles were done there were no more hills - as they say, tricked again. I must have been delirious and floating during the end of last year's race because I seriously thought the later portion was all flat and downhill - not even close. I will also say that downhill is not fun for me. I like up much better than down. I also like running with no one around me. This year, I was always around someone and although I thought I would like it better, nope. I like really pushing myself on uphills and taking it easy on the downhills, which makes it hard when you want to pass someone on an uphill, but you know there are more downhills coming and you know he/she will most likely pass you on them. I felt like I slowed myself a few times on the uphills when I wanted to push harder because of what was up ahead. I still managed to finish seven minutes before my time last year, but for how hard I trained I thought I would be a little quicker. I made it though, and although it hurts walking down stairs I am happy and healthy and ready to keep running. I actually like it. I don't think I will continue the super long distance runs, but I am going to keep running two to four miles at least three times a week. As for the race, this may have been my last year. It is challenging, which I love, but unless I can train two or more times on that exact course next year, I don't think I am going to do it. Thinking more seriously about a 10K road race. The options are endless though and my goal is to just keep moving, even when it gets cold out.