NOLA Week 5: Sleep is Good.

Distance: 16 miles
Time: 3hrs 6mins 10secs
Route: Base Trail - Museum to Shoppette and Back

Merry belated Christmas! :) We spent all day yesterday in our pajamas. After not sleeping well on Christmas Eve, I'm happy to say that I caught up in spades. I took a 2 1/2 hour nap in the morning and then another 1 hour nap in the afternoon. I fell asleep at 9:30pm and woke up raring to go at 5:30am. It's amazing how a little bit (or in this case, a lot) of sleep can do a body good. I wasn't looking forward to the weather this morning. Yes, I know it's cold in the winter...but that doesn't mean I have to like it. Because I knew it would be sub-freezing and there would be wind, I decided to add an extra layer on top. So, I ended up with a base long-sleeved layer, a lighter long-sleeve in the middle and my windbreaker on top. Beanie and mittens as well. I look like I was wearing battle gear, and it definitely felt like it at times, but hey...I can say that I was nice and warm.

I started from the museum at 6:15. It was pretty dark, but I noticed that there was a cloud layer, so at least there was a little atmospheric insulation (yes, I feel like a weather nerd now for that last statement). About 2 miles in, it felt like the tongue of my left shoe was all out of whack. It kept hitting the top of my foot at a weird angle. I stopped and re-tied my shoe, but it was still there. I decided to just keep going. I stopped two more times to try and fix it, but eventually, just gave up trying to fix it. I did my two loops at ALS and it was nice because there was no traffic and no one was out there. I hit Cullen Park and shot my Gu. I hit my turn around point from last week and breezed right on past it. I looked at the hill before the shoppette and charged right up that sucker. I probably could have walked it, but I decided to give it a go with the running. I ran to just past the Shoppette on the East Reservation, did a loop in the parking lot and headed back toward the museum.

I started to feel a little tired, but I kept reminding myself that it isn't supposed to be easy. It would be nice if all the runs felt like 3 milers, but where is the challenge in that? I started singing along with my iPod, and I'm sure the drivers passing by thought I was crazy. I started to run on the side of the trail in the dirt, as it helped alleviate some of the hard impact on my joints. I hit the fence line at ALS and decided to shoot another Gu. I was glad that I saved the caffeinated one for last. Definitely gave me some good energy and zing. :) I hit the flight line and was surprised that I still had a good bit of energy in me. I picked up the pace and kept on going. Before I knew it, I was at the static displays and then at the car. I saw Stephen's (my friend Kathy's husband) truck at the softball fields, but I didn't see him on the trail. That's the difference about running on base...I haven't seen anyone on the trail in the last two weeks.

For the first time in a long time, I felt really good after this run, physically. While my muscles were definitely fatigued, I felt like I could keep going. Definitely a step in the right direction. I was starting to get worried that I wouldn't be able to do as well in the marathon and that maybe I hadn't prepped well enough. After today, I think I can do this. I know it's going to hurt and I'm going to want to quit at some point, but like I said, this isn't supposed to be easy. It's not in my nature to quit, so I'll keep on keeping on. Week 5 is done. I have 7 weeks left, with 4 long runs remaining, 2 tapers and then the marathon itself.