Gu, Blisters, and Ice Baths: Does This Mean I'm Officially a Runner?

Sunday was a hard day. Emotionally, spiritually, and physically. I will save the emotional and spiritual traumas for my journal (isn't it lucky?) and cover just the physical, push-through-the-pain-type of day I had.

After church, I did the longest run of my life...wait for it...a whopping 9 miles. I know, I know...it's no ultra, but for all of you marathoners out there, just remember that you were once at this place too - maybe when you were eight, but still...

So I'm running, covered in my Under Armour compression-gear, North Face mittens, and REI skull cap, and I'm feeling good at the one mile mark - the place where the road comes to an open cornfield.

That's when I learned my first running lesson of the day:
1) A newbie checks the temperature. A runner checks the windchill.

Uh, can I get a face mask please?! And I'm not talking about the kind that gets you a 15-yard penalty. Thankfully, the 5° F windchill only lasted for a couple of miles. And so I pressed on...

At mile 4, I wondered if I was going to make the next five miles because the cold and wind were starting to get to me.

That's when lesson #2 arrived:
2) GU gel must be the nourishment of the gods.

Within five minutes of swallowing the gooey substance, my lungs and legs both felt powerfully unstoppable. Now if only GU would heal wounds like the ointment Haymitch had sent to Katniss. I sure could have used that, because..

ENTER: Blisters.

CUE: Emotional Breakdowns and Semi-Hyperventilation at Miles 5, 6, and 8.5.

Do not worry. I just had a few girl-moments on those barren country roads due to the fact that these blisters were Marathon Man-related. If you knew how I connected the two, you wouldn't think I was that weird. Bless my over-analytical, desiring-of-approval self.

After the sobs subsided, around mile 7, I learned my next lesson:
3) With freezing temperatures, blowing snow, and icy patches, a person can grow semi-accustomed to giant, unopened blisters forming on her foot.

Still, those anti-blister socks are looking pretty good.

After 9 miles, I walked into my house with sore calves and aching feet. I decided it was time to do what Marathon Man always did after his runs - take an ice bath. Well, before I fully committed to such a cool endeavor, I wanted to ease myself into it first. I tried just an ice-cold foot bath.

The final lesson of the day:
4) Ice baths are for hot-blooded men who like the thermostat set under 65 degrees.

Agh...so painful. We are talking Jack Bauer-kind-of torture here. I barely made it for 30 seconds in the soaking tub. Maybe when it's 90 degrees outside, I will try again.

So even though Sunday began as a horrible day, it ended much better. I survived 9 miles and could have kept going! One year ago, I never would have thought that possible - I was lucky to get in 5 miles. At this rate, the Mini is gonna be breeze. But before I get too delighted with my almost-double digit mileage, I still have a marathon to get to first.