I'm no longer a "teen"

I remember my 20th birthday like it was yesterday. I was attending the University of Texas at Austin (Hook 'em,) Sandee and I took the bus to the Denny's on Burnett. They were having a promotion, eat free on your birthday. I had a grilled cheese sandwich and fries. Some things never change.

Today I had another 20 milestone, I ran 20 miles. In a row! And my good buddy Michelle was back from the Bahamas to cross that finish line with me. Oh, how I missed running with her! I started out strong and finished feeling like I was going to explode. More on that later. Some lunatic put a bunch of killer HILLS in around mile 10. Now, who would do such a thing? Did I walk some? Yes. Was it hilly, crazy humid and about a thousand degrees? Yes! We had 9 water stops, so that slowed us down a bit too. The heat was intense today. (it IS Texas after all) I was trying my best to stay as hydrated as I could, but that made my tummy all swimmy. Too full of Powerade, blech. I thought I was going to hurl the entire last half mile. Not because I felt sick, but because of all that liquid churning in my gut! But we made it. Whew! And I'm so freakin' proud of us! 20 miles baby!!! Do you know what I learned today?

Endurance running is hard.

No duh.

Here's the thing, it really hasn't been hard up to this point. Okay, well, sorta, sometimes. But 20 in the heat really beat me up. And it really gave me a new appreciation for the marathon distance. A full marathon is waaaaay harder than a half. Beyond twice as hard. I am respecting the distance.

I am beyond thrilled to have passed the threshold of the teens and joined the 20 club. It feels great! Okay, to be honest, it feels a little achy right now, but you know what I mean.

Speaking of aches. Good golly Pete. My knees are tender, per ush, who wouldn't be after 4+ hours of any repetitive motion? My ankles however, feel like they are going to snap off every time I bear any weight. I actually thought I might get stuck on the potty. Ha! My poor toes are bruised and blistered (I used tons of Body Glide, but still.) Even my arms are tired from swangin' all that time. Again, I am respecting the distance.

But it feels GREAT! Great in a, "wow, I can't believe I really just did that" kind of way. Great in a, "I just ran twenty freakin' miles and I didn't die even ONCE" kind of way.

I'll never run 20 miles for the first time ever again. I'm not sure I'll ever even run 30 miles at once. I just don't see me becoming an ultramarathoner. (but who knows, I surely never thought I'd be ANY kind of runner!) This is a BIG DAY.

My ventilated hat is off to those of you who came before me, my fist is in the air for those of you who also crossed 20 this weekend and for those of you for whom 20 still looms, YOU CAN DO IT!!!

This is what 20 miles looks like. Sweaty, gritty and overly excited. Good thing a photo doesn't capture smell though! Phewee!

Don't forget to comment for my giveaway! I'm expanding the rules: if you'll post a link to my contest on YOUR blog, (and tell me about it) I'll put you in TWICE. Shazam!