First 18-Miler Completed, Yeah Baby!

Stunning, sunny morning today. Hot coffee in hand. Walked with the girls at 5a today then blasted through shower, hair, costume and makeup.  It's a work day.  Hungry!

Completed first 18 miler yesterday during the 9a to 1p slot. I don’t know my actual time but yes it may have taken me about that long. Left a bit of myself out on the course and had to recuperate sitting on a bench in Elin’s garage, sipping water with my head between my legs. No worries, 18 miles following a rocky no-workout week, and as the increment from our 14 last weekend: I feel good about it.

There was a minimal amount of walking and refreshment for about a block right around mile 16, “the wall”. Or is mile 18 the wall? Walked the last couple of blocks into the neighborhood. Next time I’ll be stronger, and faster.

What’s working for me: Planting water and “chocolate outrage” Gu every 5 miles. Carrying small vitamin water in hand. Not only is it a mental aid, it helps me switch off pacing legs, left to right. Over the last half mile of the run I was switching off every five houses.

But I made it.

The run itself if a beautiful one: up winding Hersey street past New England cottages to Main. East on main past the grand homes, the fire station, ball fields, an ancient cemetery, the library. Up Kilby, which is quiet, to Rockland where the views open up to marshes and the Hull windmill. Past Victoria’s Sandwich Shop and the Greek Orthodox Church in sand-colored stone, bells tolling. Past the swan pond and then, glorious in front, the Atlantic Ocean and Jerusalem Avenue with its coastal mansions, winding lanes, and winter dunes shifting across the roads. The sun is out and so is everyone: bikers, runners, walkers with dogs and baby carriages. See-ers of sights and boys in small packs. The run wraps up at Cohasset harbor and Yacht Club, sparkling, too early in the season for much activity but warm enough to get the sap and the summer dreams fired up.

Woo-hoo. We’ll do this one again.