Past Week....9 mile run

For the longest, I didn't feel like blogging, but there are so many things I want to share with you guys.  As most of my posts are, this is going to be a little random...

My trail running:
Last Saturday morning my running partner and I decided I should do a 9 mile run.  We went out to the place, he knows the trail so well he decided we would run it in reverse as most of the tough hills are on that end.  Intending the hardest part to be first, then a smooth finish.  I did well, until about mile 7.  The interior of my left knee started hurting with each step.  (Not good)  I tried to walk it out, no help, then I decided it needed to be stretched, so I sprinted a few rounds.  During the sprints the pain went away, but as soon as I started stepping normal the pain came back.  Finally, I decided I was not walking in, so we ran the rest of the way.  When we got back to his truck, I leaned up against it and put my head down.  I had such high expectations/hopes for that run and it was far from how I had pictured it.  He told me rarely does a run go exactly as you hope, which gave me some comfort, but I was still aggravated with myself.  Even though it left me feeling bummed out, it was also my most memorable run of all so far.  Along the way I finally got to see the pair of bald eagles in flight....what a spectacular sight!  They perched in a tree not far from us and I could hear them "talking".  It is unlike any other sound ever, the only thing I can compare it to would be the whale song. 
I also wiped out for my first time.... About a mile and a half from the finish, I took a dive through some small tree saplings; jumped up and started running again.  (No injury)  I am still hooked, very much so.  I plan to go out 2 more times this weekend.  :)

GU:
This gets a category all of it's own.  My running partner texted me the day before our run asking me if I had gotten any gel....me being the non runner I am thought he was talking about inserts for my tennis shoes.  YEA....NO!  It is something you eat while running to give you energy.  OMG!!  It is my new "crack".  It is by far the best thing (food source) I have ever tasted and will be buying it by the case very soon.  :))

Personal motivation:
The last post I wrote was about the new and old people in my life that have motivated me in different ways.  I love to learn about other people's methods and such to see if they have something I can use to better me or play with. 
Here is one that will be my new excuse for everything, not exactly motivation, but a must have.

How many times does someone ask you to do "something" and instantly you think if it will conflict with your training schedule?  Yep, me, ALL THE TIME.  Don't mess with my gym time!

The best compliment I have received in a while was just last weekend, I was working out with a friend and another guy was watching me do dips.  When I got done with the set the guy watching was giving me a thumbs up.  I smiled, and he told me "that looked like something out of Flex magazine right there".  Hahaha freaking awesome.  I said "Thank you".   If you are a head's down, earbuds in kind of gal like I am in the gym, you know any attention like that is a little embarrassing, but feels awesome. 

Lovin' it!