May 2020 Monthly Running Challenge

katharmonic wrote: »

12 out of 12 runs done, 48 out of 48 miles.

Running thoughts:
Run 1, 9 am - Good morning! Lovely day on the trails, a little muddy, I better do roads from here on. I can totally do this. I'm in!
Run 2, 1 pm - OK, we're good, it's a good temp, I still got a few things done today between runs, feeling fine. This is easier than a long run. I can do this.
Run 3, 5 pm - All right, it's still fine, but it's gotten a little chillier and is starting to mist and I'm not super into this. Drove to a new location so the change is good. The misty rain is starting to get a little more intense. OK, now I'm soaked and this is less fun, but I'm done. I hope I can do this.

Run 4, 9 pm - I'm not sure I've ever run at 9 pm before. It's no longer raining, thank goodness. It's a little chilly but I over-layered. Trying to mix up the route a little. Quite a few Christmas lights up! Why am I not at 2 miles yet, good lord. I just want to go to bed, thank goodness it's finally over. This is going to be tough.
Run 5, 1 am - Oh, I am tired. My fellow challenge runners are texting how amazing this is and I can't relate. It's a little foggy out and hard to see with the headlamp reflecting on the droplets in the air. It's very quiet out here at this time. Staying close to home, just looping back and forth through the neighborhood. Just two miles out and then double back. I've only seen one car and no people. Not necessarily worse than the 9 pm run. Oh wow - a fox! And I'm home, ready to fall back into bed. Gah, 5 am is coming soon.
Run 6, 5 am - Can't comprehend how it is time to run again. My fellow challengers begin to worry that I'm not up, so they call me. Grr, I'm awake, leave me alone. It's down to upper 40s and I'm cold. This one is rough. Starting to see cars out. I feel like I'm moving at a snail's pace. The sky is getting light and that gives me some hope. 4 miles is too much. This challenge sucks. Ah, there's the sunrise. Ugh, I cut the loop too short and can't go home yet. Wonder if my neighbors have seen me out here multiple times. Thank god. Done. Back to bed. Half way done with this challenge. Is that freaking all?
Run 7, 9 am - Ok that was not enough sleep but the sun is out and it feels like a civilized thing to get out of bed. It's actually a gorgeous day. I need to change up the route, so driving to the canal. Parking lot is nearly full and it's starting to get crowded along the path but at least it's wide. The distraction of people and spotting some wildlife (turtles, ducks, snake) is helping but 4 miles is still long. Try to remember that at least it's not a long run and stopping at 4 is a lot less than I'd normally do at this time on a Saturday. We won't mention total miles in the last 24 hours. If I can just get through these daytime runs ok, then survive the night, it's over. 5 more runs.

Run 8, 1 pm - Tried to stretch more and do a little yoga before this, not sure how much it helped. I'll just try to run out 2 miles on the main street and then run back. Too mentally challenging to think of routes. Listening to Wait Wait Don't Tell Me is a decent distraction. My feet hurt. I forgot this long hill. I'm walking the worst part. OK, now just bring it home. I almost calculated the distance correctly this time, only a tiny bit past my driveway. I don't really want to do this again.
Run 9, 5 pm - A friend to the rescue, she is chatting to me from 6 ft away and getting me through this run. Usually she is slower than me but I'm dragging and she seems full of energy. She is awesome and her constant dialogue keeps me from totally focusing on how tired I am. She coaches me through the hills (why do I live in such a hilly town, may need to move) until we are at the peak of the last one. Then it's coasting back to the car. I am practically in tears with being grateful for the company and so tired of doing this. She tells me to order food and be sure to eat and drink, so that's what I do. Just 3 more. It's going to suck but I can do it. I'm feeling like it's mile 20 of the marathon. I want to be done so badly, there's still too much left but comparatively it's getting close.

Run 10, 9 pm - I really needed that huge burger and fries, feeling so much better. It's raining again, but it's light and it's still 55 degrees. I attempt a hill out of my neighborhood and the legs give it a "nope" so I turn around and loop the flat and less-steep parts of the neighborhood for this one. Listen to another podcast (Ask Me Another) and time goes surprisingly quickly. OK, this is ALMOST DONE.
Run 11, 1 am - That was a short stretch of sleep. Everything in me wants to stay in bed, but I am ALMOST DONE. Short panic when one of my fellow challengers is not responding but he's up and ready. It stopped raining and feels pretty good out. Crap! I stepped in a pothole in the dark and rolled my ankle a little. It's only mile one. I gingerly run for a little bit and it seems to hold up. Mentally I'm so done it's hard to keep going. I go out a tiny bit further than 2 miles and head back. The ankle is ok. I'm done. Just one more and I can stop running and I can get more than 2 hours of sleep in a stretch. That sounds heavenly.
Run 12, 5 am - Wake up confused by the alarm for a second. But getting excited that this is so close to being over. Just 4 miles. It's dark but the sky is dark blue instead of black, the light is coming. Running to my friend's house so she can help me finish (same friend that rescued me yesterday). I see her outside her house and I'm already 1.5 miles in. She tells me I look strong and takes over the route planning and conversational support. My ankle is fine, I do feel strong, although slightly delirious. Our route is mainly flat or downhill back to my house. 2 miles, then 2.5, then 3 go by quickly. The sun is up. Home stretch! The very last part is a nice downhill and I'm almost giddy. The watch beeps for 4 miles and I am DONE! I am so relieved and amazed. We air high-five. I'm overwhelmed with exhaustion but feel so good.

I can barely process, but this was a completely insane and incredible challenge. I'm now going to sleep as long as I can. Thank you all so much for your support and cheering me on! I thought of you all during those last couple of runs!!

Selfie story of the challenge:

Mountainlove wrote: »

OMG! You guys are seriously serious runners!