July 4

Well, I've been sort of looking forward to today's walk of 10 miles and sort of feeling apprehensive of it. I was on my own (no team walk today because it's the 4th) so I created a new and different route, starting off at the Y and going south and east...then heading north. I passed a crane at a pond along the way along with many rabbits. Leo, Sara, and friend, Jon (from Canada) went to the Farmer's Market and about half way through my walk I gave them a call to tell them where I was. Within 15 minutes they passed by in their car, waving and honking. Then as I was going under Sheridan Blvd on the trail I looked up on the bridge and there they were...waving and yelling "Go, Grandma, go!" That made me smile and as I kept walking and went under the bridge, I picked up the pace a bit. Then when I got to the Shopko store area, there they were again yelling "Go, Momma!". Again, I laughed and as I went past, I picked up the pace again. I had about 2 1/2 miles to go and I was getting tired. I realized that 10 miles was a long way! When I got to Essex St. the gang was there...this time shouting a Canadian cheer: "Go - eh!" Well, that really made me laugh. I continued on, again, feeling my feet go just a bit quicker. I was keeping up the rhythm of 5 minutes of walking and 45 seconds of running...with my sports watch alarm going off to cue me. I continued on to just short of Old Cheney and there they were AGAIN ...this time (in "honor"...or NOT... of the fact that Larry the Cable guy was in town tonight) and so their cheer was "Git 'er done!" And so I continued on, picking up the pace as best as I could... considering. As I neared the end of the 10 miles there they were yelling and cheering for me to make it to the end. Leo was there to give me a big hug and kiss. It was great having them cheer me on for the last half of my run!! Sara knew all the stops from her riding the same trail on her bike...so she knew just where to drive to and wait for me each time...it was great!! I did the 10 miles in 2 hrs and 42 minutes without stoppping once! That's 16.2 min/mile...not bad!! And my total miles this week are 25.3!! I came home and Leo had gone to the store to buy me a bag of ice. I took my ice bath and was pretty tired the rest of the day...but I felt very accomplished.