endurance.

ENDURANCE [en-door-uhns, -dyoor-]

The ability to withstand hardship or adversity.
The ability to sustain a prolonged and stressful effort or activity.
To undergo without giving in.
To regard with acceptance and tolerance.
To continue in the same state.
To remain firm without yielding.
To last.

This morning I tackled my first double digit distance since early December.  I was so excited to run 11 miles!  I enjoy the long distance runs, so much that I get anxious and excited the night before. You know that feeling when you've got something fun planned the next day and it's hard to fall asleep?  That's how I get before long distance runs and races.  Is that weird?

We started nice and early, just before sunrise at 7:25 am.  As painful as early morning runs can be, my body is at its best that early.  Maybe because it hasn't had time to realize what I'm going to do ;)  Actually, my body knows exactly what I'm about to do.  I would compare it to a dog getting ready for a walk, WHAT?!  I know, who compares themselves to a dog?!  

Seriously, every morning when I start getting my running gear ready, it's like my body knows what is about to happen.  Like a dog seeing its owner get the leash, when I start putting my running gear on, my body starts preparing and getting excited... we're going for run!  Silly, but it's true!

Chad and I set out early this morning and tackled a pretty difficult route.  A lot of different hills, all different variety and difficultly but a beautiful scenic route.  I was very excited and a little nervous, it was my first double digit run in a while.  How would I do?  

When it comes to distances my difficult distance is 8 miles and my favorite distances are miles 10-13.  
8 because it's not necessarily a short or long run, it's just annoying.  And I'm pretty sure you think I'm insane saying my favorite distances are those between 10-13 miles, but it's where I am really comfortable, it's around mile 2 or 3 where things click (breathing & stride) and I switch over to autopilot.  I can just soak it all in.  

Chad, as I have mentioned before, is great to run with because he is better than me.  His pace is a few minutes quicker so he's able to slow down to run with me but push me to have conversation and keep pace.  Today I wasn't sure what our pace was, I just wanted to complete the hills and do well.

When I trained for Chicago, it was just about endurance.  Every milestone was a first, it was about completion.  The marathon was almost completely flat with minimal hills.  Training for The Flying Pig is a bit different.  Because of its hills, it is extremely difficult.  All of the hills are in the beginning of the marathon and it becomes about leg strength and mental battle.  So this time around, training is not just about endurance but leg strength.  

This mornings route was challenging but mile 8 was the hill I was dreading, a full mile of a steady incline.  Just when I started to doubt, the perfect song came on my ipod, don't you love that?!   "Beneath the waters/I will Rise" by Hillsong United is what started playing as I was climbing up this hill... as I approached the top of the hill it went into:

No power can stand against You
No curse assault Your throne
No one can steal Your glory
For it is Yours alone
I stand to sing Your praises
I stand to testify
For I was dead in my sin

But now I rise...

I just love how the Lord blesses and encourages me on long runs... 

Chad and I finished great!  9:09 minute pace - my body felt great, muscles nice and warm, legs and abs burning.  I love a good long distance run.