Who's idea was this?

As I mentioned in my previous post, we have decided to do the Columbia Gorge Marathon on October 23rd. We needed to start ramping up our training. The last couple months we have been running, but nothing too long. 13 miles is the furthest we have gone. Yesterday, we made the jump to 18 miles. Gulp.

We got up at our usual time, had breakfast, relaxed with the dogs. Around 7:30 we hit the road. Trevor's pace was going to be about 9 minutes slower than me so I started on the route 9 minutes before him. We figured he would catch up to me around mile 12.

Right from the start, I wasn't really feeling it. I was having a hard time motivating myself. I was pushing my pace and our route was hilly. It was also pretty warm out, even that early. I was holding my pace and doing okay. I was having a hard time staying focused. I kept thinking of ways that I could cut the route short. Around mile 8, I was really not wanting to do the full 18. I was thinking that maybe we should just do the half marathon at the Gorge instead. My pace was right on track so I don't really know what the problem is.

Around mile 11, we had a water/bathroom stop. I stopped and waited for Trevor. I wanted to walk home. Actually, I wanted to lay down in the grass and fall asleep. After about five minutes, Trevor came running up. We walked for a minute and then kept running. It was then that I fell apart. My pace slowed quite a bit. I was glad that we kept moving.

The last two miles were really more than I could handle! There was one big hill around mile 17 and I said to Trevor "I'm walking that hill". We got to the top and ran the last half mile home. When we arrived home I said "why'd you make me run 18 miles" and Trevor reminded me that it was my idea to run the marathon. Damnit, why do I come up with ideas like that.

Oh well. Its over and we did it. There will be many more long runs like that over the next 8 weeks. They have to get easier....right?