I. Ran. Ten. Miles!!!! Reaching that double digit milestone feels oh so good.

And the run itself didn’t feel half bad either!

I woke up while it was still pitch black dark outside and grumbled for not forcing myself to bed earlier last night. How time leaps so suddenly from 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm I will never know. It’s mighty hard waking up so early to eat even when you aren’t hungry. But fuel is most important for long runs, so chow down I will!

Don’t you love the high class Instagram-broken-muffin-smooshed-Larabar-on-a-napkin shot? You may sign up for photo lessons with me through my contact page.

Then, after chilling, digesting, and using Twitter to motivate me for an hour, I finally laced up, started my Garmin, strapped on the Spibelt, and took off.

And I survived!

No, really…I survived. Running ten miles was the easy part of this run, it seemed.

When I got to the running path, I opted to go a different direction than my normal route to have some different scenery. This part of the running pathway is a little older and mostly made up of “boardwalks”.

Boards + running = not safe for this klutzo. I tripped six times on my run. I’m thankful I didn’t sprain an ankle and only came out with my confidence bruised a bit.

Although the tripping wasn’t quite as embarrassing as what happened towards the end of my run. After 7.5 miles, things started to get a bit hotter and I went for a big gulp of my water. Note to self: only small sips work while I’m on the move.

The water ended up going down the wrong pipe and left me splurting and coughing with water gushing out of my nose. I should have taken a bow for the show I gave all the other runners passing by.

So, despite almost choking to death (dramatic much?) or almost taking a face plant numerous times, I survived the run and felt on top of the world as I walked back to my car.

See what my shirt says? It most definitely is.

• What time did you wake up this morning?
• Are you a klutz?

Blogger fail! I completely left you all hanging with how my painful booby run went yesterday. Oops. I guess all the talk of stuffing my bra and hair falling out distracted me. And you probably clicked out of your browser faster than I would have managed to tell you about it anyways. So allow me to do a little victory dance tell you about it now. Deal?

I came. I ran. I conquered!!!!

I love speed runs!

I think yesterday’s run went so well because I took the pressure off myself. I have been following a training plan from the Smart Coach application on Runner’s World. I love it and the variety it gives my training…but sometimes don’t want to worry about the specific “plan” or pacing it gives me for a run.

Yesterday I wanted to do speed work, but I didn’t want to think about tempo miles or laps on the track. So, I just went out and ran –keeping my pace up along the way. And holy smokes..I ran the fastest pace I ever have besides in races. Love no pressure workouts!!! No pressure workouts always end up being the best ones, don’t they?

Yesterday’s run did bring up another running etiquette question though. Passing Other Runners – a protocol?

I ran on my favorite running path yesterday so had the joy of bonding with plenty of other runners, walkers, and bikers out to get their days started. I love the camaraderie you find in others out getting their sweat on as well. Pretty much every person you pass gives a smile, nod, or “good morning”.

While running merrily on my way, I came up on the back of this one dude. I would have to slow down my pace if I stayed behind him, ride his heels, or speed up and pass him. I chose to speed up momentarily to pass him and got to what I felt a comfortable distance ahead of him before settling back to my regular pace. Not two minutes later here comes the same man passing me by and giving me the most evil stink-eye I have ever seen. Well, besides from Makenzie. She does a pretty good one.

It made me wonder…is there any sort of protocol for passing other runners on running paths? Or was I just dealing with Cranky McCrankerson? Rude people drive me batty, so I want to make sure I’m not one of them!

And in case you were wondering how the cabbage chest played out during the run…

I beat them into submission 😉 RT @afoodiestaysfit: @TinaFFF nice job! How did the bobbies take it? 😉

August 31, 2011 8:06 am via HootSuiteReplyRetweetFavorite

@TinaFFF

Tina Reale

My “bobbies” (just noticed that) and I are so ready for this whole process to be over!

• Thoughts on passing during runs?
• When is the last time you got the “stink-eye” from someone?

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