Day 7: Counting Cul-De-Sacs

I’m training for my first mini-marathon. Today was a seven mile run – the longest run so far of the beginner training schedule I’m following to prepare for the 13.1 miles on April 25.

I’ve ran 7.5 miles before, but that’s my longest distance, which means next Saturday’s 8 miler will be a new record for me.

All my life I’ve loved walking – not whimsical, strolling, lollygagging walking, but intentional, raise your heart-beat, pump your arms walking. I’ve power walked my way to the finish line of many mini-marathons and a few fulls.

More than 10 years ago, I did 60 miles in three days through Atlanta. I’ve hiked 30 kilometers, half of it up the side of a mountain in North Carolina, in pouring down rain. But, running? No.

And then last October, while on one of my daily five-mile walks, my body wanted to run – I could feel it, in my legs, my chest, my core. There was something pushing me forward, so I went with it.

I still love to walk and do at least once a week. A friend asked me the other night, “You’ll keep running after the race, though, right? I mean, you obviously are enjoying it.”

I told her I think I enjoy having ran a whole lot more than the actual running.

It’s still a mind game for me, negotiating with myself which hills to knock-out at the beginning and which to save for the end. I count cul-de-sacs, knowing I’m past my halfway point by the fourth one.

Today, on the very last hill, which is a bitch of climb and within the last 2 miles of home, Abba’s song Waterloo began playing on my Nano, and I thought, I’m not sure which one of us is Napolean here – me or this freakin’ hill.

I’ve run up this hill before, but not after doing five miles. Now, thinking back to those lyrics, I like believing the hill was singing to me versus me cursing it.

Waterloo by Abba, 1974

My, my, at Waterloo Napoleon did surrender
Oh yeah, and I have met my destiny in quite a similar way
The history book on the shelf
Is always repeating itself

Waterloo – I was defeated, you won the war
Waterloo – Promise to love you for ever more
Waterloo – Couldn’t escape if I wanted to
Waterloo – Knowing my fate is to be with you
Waterloo – Finally facing my Waterloo

My, my, I tried to hold you back but you were stronger
Oh yeah, and now it seems my only chance is giving up the fight
And how could I ever refuse
I feel like I win when I lose

Waterloo – I was defeated, you won the war
Waterloo – Promise to love you for ever more
Waterloo – Couldn’t escape if I wanted to
Waterloo – Knowing my fate is to be with you
Waterloo – Finally facing my Waterloo

So how could I ever refuse
I feel like I win when I lose –

Waterloo – Couldn’t escape if I wanted to
Waterloo – Knowing my fate is to be with you
Waterloo – Finally facing my Waterloo