Just finished my 12 miles
Well… about an hour ago, but just got back and out of the shower. Ran the dozen in the sunny shade of Central Park with about half of that in short power walk pauses, then limped my way over to the Columbus Circle subway. Then into an A train. Then out and up and down into an L train. The out and up and the slow two avenues and 7 blocks home.
I was convinced that the toenail on my second toe of my left foot had finally fallen off. It was that painful. I had to rest on two separate park benches on my way to Columbus Circle and I most likely would’ve murdered someone if I didn’t get a seat in either train. My previous runs have left that particular nail fragile, bruised and lifted farther up the skin than any obedient little nail should be. I was convinced I would collapse at home, rip off my death shoes and two pairs of socks to reveal a bloody stump of a genius toe. Or at least a nailless one.
But the toe remains. Not the same. The dark cloud underneath it is in hurricane season. It might still fall off. Along with bloody nipples (if I was a dude), sporadically defecting nails is something I was prepared for when I began this… experiment.
And speaking of, my skin was relatively unchafed thanks to my stick! That was really the only positive thing about my run today, next to finishing it.
Each week I say it was the most difficult day of my life. And each week I’m right. Yes, it still gets done, but those two hours are so miserable. Especially today. Maybe I was extra senstive to the hills or even the (pretty mild) sun but I had a lot of trouble breathing. Even with my jet pack of vitamin water, I felt a little empty. I did begin my run at about 3:40 without a meal first, which is something I should change for next time. I had eaten a big bag of popcorn at about 3 am last night so I wishfully thought that might carry over, in lieu of going out and buying cereal this morning, eating it, then waiting the allotted time before physical activity is allowed.
Funny I can be so lazy right before 12 miles.
Having my little fanny pack compartment on my Batman utility belt did help today, mostly in the beginning. I wasn’t monitoring my time and distance so closely on my tucked away iPhone, and I ordered myself to think long and hard about trivial topics. Think of something to be for Halloween! I thought of something pretty quickly. Ok, now assign ideas to your friends! I wasn’t so into that exercise. I reached for things, anything to avoid that Quarter of the way there! thing every six seconds. The first 3 miles passed pretty quickly. But then the pain started, and I stopped caring about trivial bullshit or stuff that usually makes me happy. And I still detested every tourist, picnicker, biker and general person that wasn’t me, suffering on this pavement, that I passed. I’m a vicious long-distance runner. Because it hurts!
So, this has does nothing to assuage my fears. Next week, those 14 miles will be the most painful experience of my life. Physically, mentally, emotionally, second-toe-on-my-left-footy.
