Long Runs are Like Childbirth

First, some random business
The RnR website had some additional pix from Saturday's long run to Wind and Sea Beach and back...

Santiago really needs to learn to smile for the camera. Doesn't he know the rules yet?

See...10 miles and still smiling... (really, only because the guy had a camera in my face).

Mik...also smiling...

No pix of Elsie...probably because she was already back at the point when these shots were being taken.

March Mileage
So, I've been adding up my March running stats... Waaaaaaay better than February when I logged only 38.32 miles. But I'm surprised that some how, some way, I logged more miles last Month than I did in January (61.7)!

• Miles run - Garmin = 51.89
• Miles run - Dreadmill = 20.5
• Total - 72.39 (is anyone checking my addition?)

How the heck did I do that?

Childbirth and Long Runs
This Saturday is the train run.

What's the train run you ask?

Basically, we take the Amtrak train from Solana Beach to Oceanside...and run back. 16 miles. Point to point.

Here's the map from last year, when I had no Garmin or Nike+, so I used A LOT of MapMyRun to check mileage on long runs.

It's a tough run. Even last year, when I was w/o injury, I suffered through the last four miles of this run. The streets of Leukadia are majorly pot-holed (there...I made up a new verb). There are TONS of Saturday morning cyclists racing past in their herds and they scare the begeezus out of me. Last year, I took a wrong turn at some point and missed the 4th aid station (at 12 miles).

Mostly, the run is a commitment. There's no turning around early. There are no excuses. I'd pretty much have to run the whole thing.

Soooooo I gotta ask myself, why do it?

I'm not training for a marathon, just a 1/2 mary at the end of the month. I don't need to run 16 miles. I REALLY don't want to hurt myself.

And after last Saturday's 13.5 mile run, the last mile and a half of which was pretty difficult, I howled to the moons about how there was NO WAY ON GOD'S GREEN EARTH I WAS RUNNING THE 16 MILE TRAIN RUN THIS SATURDAY. (That's an actual quote that I sent out in an email to the herd).

So, why am I considering running it now?

It's sorta like childbirth, where you forget the pain and only remember the good stuff.

I mean, look at me at 10 miles (above). I look happy. In fact at 10 miles I WAS happy.

I can read back over last year's blog about the train run, and only remember vaguely that it was painful. Mostly I remember the sense of accomplishment. The joy at finishing.

Childbirth, and for that matter, for me all of being pregnant was like that. The whole reason I was convinced I could have a 2nd child was because I'd forgotten how miserable I was during the first pregnancy. I just remember the absolute joy I felt when DramaGirl (and later Turbo) were born.

I'm not saying I'm pregnant or anything. Carly already spooked us today with that joke.

What I am saying, is that the pain from last Saturday's 13.5 miles and from last year's Train Run for that matter are becoming distant memories, and I'm likely to board the train again this Saturday for another go at it.

Of course, I am thinking I'll give the car keys to Mik, and if I decide to stop at 12 miles, she can pick me up at Honey's in Encintas. I'll be waiting at some breakfast place w/mimosa in hand.