running: the dawn

Sunday KT and I embarked on a 17 mile adventure.  We would be entering new distance territory for her and unexplored running paths for us both.  The weather was predicted to be super sunny but cold.  The day started out a little overcast and windy.  We were afraid that it would ruin the day for us.  Soon, the clouds started to break up and the sun came out to play.

Added to the bright and beautiful sun, we got to enjoy a variety of wildlife:

I’m not sure if you can tell, but somewhere in this picture is a heron in flight.  I guess it just looks like a field, but I promise that it’s there!  This was about two miles in, we finally turned a corner to run with the wind and started to warm up.

Once again, you have to REALLY want to see it, but there are several deer in mid-flight.

What a cute little cow!  Just hanging out watching us run by.

We found a beautiful dirt road around a peaceful lake.  I can’t wait to run more here as the foliage continues to fill in.

I’m not going to lie, being out in the woods and surrounded by the forests just makes me itch to go backpacking.  Last summer Mr. Dawn and I started camping mid-March.  This summer I know that we won’t get out there as much and it makes me sad.

The run itself was pretty decent.  We stopped at mile nine to do some stretching.  KT started having some knee pain and could feel blisters forming.  She’s hardcore though and kept pushing onward.  I’m starting to learn that my 20 oz. handheld is just not enough hydration for me on the longer runs.  Especially as it continues to warm up.  Not sure what I”m going to do to combat this problem…maybe I’ll stash water out on the route, or bribe Mr. Dawn into driving out to bring us water…

The return miles were pretty painful for KT.  I felt so bad for her!  I was wishing that there was something I could do…But we made it.  Her first 17 mile run!  Yay KT!!!!  Now, just a little 20-miler this next weekend, followed by a taper and then she’ll be running her first marathon.  I can’t wait to be there with her when she crosses that finish line.

After all the overwhelming excitement surrounding the Boston Marathon yesterday, I found a clip of Ryan Hall’s press conference after the race.  I was really impressed with how low-key and happy with himself he was.  In the weeks leading up to the race he’s been open with his goal to win at Boston.  He didn’t reach that goal, but he was still happy with his race, smiling and cracking jokes.  I suppose that it does help that he ran that course faster than any other American has.

It was really great for me to listen to what he had to say about running his own race.  I have such a hard time setting goals and saying them outloud for fear that I will disappoint myself and/or others.  In Ryan’s case, he said that everything went exactly as he planned.  His training was right on target and he felt good throughout the race.  Yet he came up short of his goals and wasn’t defeated.  These will be words that I focus on as I’m running in June.  Yes, I’ve set goals.  Yes that means that I might not achieve them.  But I don’t have to be defeated.

If you have a second, I encourage you to go check out the clip on at Runners World.  It was fabulous!