The people in my neighborhood felt it would be a good way to celebrate our nation’s independence by drinking beer and setting off fireworks all night long. Logically you would think that sooner or later they would run out of one of those items, but they sure kept it going for a long time. Because of their noise, I didn’t get as much sleep as I would have liked before having to wake up to get to our 5:45 AM group run.
We met at a place about 30 minutes from my house, so I have to wake up in time to get ready (covering every bit of exposed skin in SPF 55 takes time!), try to consume a little bit of food and then make the drive. I was a little over-tired this morning, so I ended up running a little behind.
Naturally, this would be the first morning the Team training actually started on time. When I pulled into the parking lot the group was already starting their warm-up walk to the start of the running trail. I hustled to get my water bottle strapped on my waist, get signed in with our coaches and try to catch the group.
At the trail I started my watch timer and got moving.
And passed the walkers.
And passed some runners.
And more runners.
And the rest of the Team.
I was the first to arrive at all the water stops and the first to finish by a long shot. How on earth did that happen? I’m not super fast, I did the 6 miles* in about exactly 1 hour. Our coaches were surprised to see me run into the parking lot at the end of the run. They looked up and said, “Where did you come from? You were the last one to show up this morning!”
I think that everyone else just partied too much on the 4th. I’m not really THAT awesome. But I felt pretty great today, like a real athlete!
*It was a fall back week this week, that’s why we only did 6 miles. We increase mileage each week for 3 weeks, then fall back some 1 week. Helps in the recovery process!
Hundred Push-up Challenge:
Week 3, Day 3 – 20, 15, 15, 12, 16 = 78
Jill Will Run 
Congrats on being the first to finish! It feels good doesn’t it? Our practice started at 5 am and was over an hour from my house this morning. Seeing that I got home at midnight and would have gotten 3 hours to sleep, it didn’t happen.
Oh I have a great tip for you to save time on the sunblock thing…. continuous spray!!! I just discovered it and it rocks! It takes less then a minute to do my whole body and its not even sticky (I use the nutragena “dry touch” stuff). I even sprayed my face! Its the best!
Alissa: It’s nice to know that somebody else knows the ‘pain’ of extremely early runs to beat the heat. It’s especially rough when you live in a big city and have to drive a ways to get to them! We start our group runs at 5:15 next week, they were going to bump them up this week but due to the holiday kept the start time at 5:45 this week.
I’ll have to try that sunblock, that would be awesome to take care of the sunblock issue that quickly! And being a fair gal (something you know too) it’s an absolute essential!
You are a real athelete. 😉
WTG!! You did great!
Great Job Jill! I wish I could have been there! Instead I was in Seattle running alone! : ( Keep up the great work and I will see you on Saturday! I love your blog too!