It was suggested by Herdmother that we work cows this evening. I told Herdmother that that wouldn't be a problem, so long as she talked it over with the cows first. You see, the cows have their schedule. In the mornings, they're usually down by the corral checking out the fishermen on the lake. By mid-morning, they've mosied on back to the hollar next to the old barn built with wood pegs that is lucky to still be standing. By afternoon they're in the back 40 splashing in the mud pit they've meticulously created and lounging in their hammocks in the shade. And up until this point in the day, they pretty much all stick together. But after they've taken their stroll from the front of the property all the way to back of the property they divide and conquer. By conquer I mean spread themselves out from here to yonder so that herding them is completely not feasible. But so long as they're hungry, they'll usually come running from all corners when they hear the diesel truck. But if they're not hungry, good luck cowgirl.
So I decided that the best thing to do was to alter my running schedule and run this evening so that we could work cows tomorrow morning in accordance with their normal schedule, just in case the girls weren't hungry this evening. Fridays are usually off days for me. And after the very hard week of training I had this week, I Really needed that rest day today. But alas, for the sake of cows and my beloved UT football, I convinced myself that I could do my long run this evening and then I'd have two days of rest. Remember, Monday I did that horrid Jillian Michaels workout, Tuesday I ran 7 miles, Wednesday I ran a fast 5 miles and Thursday I ran an even faster 5 miles. I needed to run 8 today.
My legs were tired. I knew this before I started running. I got to the 4 mile turn-around and was hanging in there. I knew the way back was going to be hard, but so far, so good. You know that saying "curiosity killed the cat"? Yeah. I was really curious what was around the next corner of the trail because I have never ran that far on this trail before. So I kept going and convinced myself that I could do 9 miles today. On very.tired.legs.
Wa-la! This is what was around the next corner.
A very lovely little trail-side store.
And ohhh how the way back was very difficult. I did okay but was really feeling it at mile 6. I kept pushing. Around mile 7 my body just temporarily shut down. Out of nowhere I just stopped. Just seconds before I was telling myself, "just keep pushing, just 2 more miles." And then I just stopped. I think I saw the guy running in front of me stop and walk and subconsciously, without consulting my committed mind, my body just stopped. I was *SOOoooooo* disappointed! I didn't WaNt to walk! I wanted to run all 9 without stopping, regardless of how fast. I walked for about 100 yards, saying not nice things under my breath and then finished my run in 1 hour and 35 minutes.
Complete failure. Or was it? I ran 9 miles less 100 yards. When I ran that full marathon a million years ago, my coach told us all the time that if we had to walk it was fine. What really mattered was getting the miles on our feet, even if some of it was walking. Just go the distance and worry about the pace later. I reminded myself today that I must stop beating myself up over little things. There are a gazillion little things in life and in running that aren't always going to go just right. I'm typically one of those people that wants Everything *just*right*. Well guess what sister? It ain't always going to go just right but the run goes on. You pick back up and you finish and you don't dwell on the 100 yards that went wrong. Remember sis, you're supposed to enjoy this too. Don't beat yourself up. It was a hard week of training but you finished it.
I know that if I would have rested today, my legs would have gotten me through 9 miles tomorrow without stopping. But sometimes, we just have to adjust and go on. I'll be running many more painful miles in the next two months and I just ought to get used to it.
Then I crawled into my car after begging the sweet girls at Ellis's Soda Shop for two bags of ice to ice my burning quads, which they graciously gave me and wished me well. I called our Herdsman (that'd be Daddy) and he said, "I'm over here getting the cows up." Oh geeez. Isn't that why I adjusted my training schedule to begin with? Why, yes it was. And so I adjusted again, stopped at the farmhouse for my boots and worked cattle. I shall rest well tonight loved ones.
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