My first run in the double-digits

i am still exhausted even though my run was finished several hours ago.
pre-run food (also the only food i had eaten all day until the run):
-1 large banana
-3/4 of a protein bar (purchased at the gas station and consumed while driving to the run spot)
-some water and some gatorade.
i am so tired right now. heh. i don't even know what to say. i guess i should say i did it! sweet. i never thought it was physically possible to carry myself 10 miles. thanks for the encouragement everybody! woohoo!!

the running/walking paths were so packed. it was like an obstacle course. at first i really didn't mind weaving in and out, running on the grass, blah blah, but then it was sort of annoying. like can i just please run without dodging people? i am on a serious mission here! and i'm sure you all know about the groups of people that walk 4 wide across the whole path and stuff like that. how rude. oh well. when it warms up, it will be nice to go earlier in the mornings.

1. 10:10
2. 10:21
3. 10:39
4. 10:12
5. 10:15
6. 10:48
7. 9:45
8. 11:33
9. 10:57
10. 11:00
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-total time: 1 hour 46 minutes, which excludes about 4 minutes of stretching, and gulping down some gatorade and water at the 6.34 mile mark (at my car).
-average pace: 10:38 (ex. the water stop)
-average HR: 157.
-no kicks or speedy running, just steady plodding.

i only checked my pace twice the whole way. i did not want to look down and constantly be reminded about how much further i had to go. i checked ONCE after mile 1, and then get this, the next time i checked was exactly at mile 9. freaky. i was shocked when i read 9 miles. i expected my body to be broken down and ready to crumble and fall over in sheer agony. but no, it wasn't like that. i was tired yes but not broken. at mile 9, i was 2 miles away from my car so i ran another mile, and then walked the 11th mile in. the last mile of walking was pretty tough, i was sore and my feet kind of hurt and i just wanted to sit down for a while. all those freakin' hills. they were tough but my mid-week practice helped.

you will see my mile 7 pace was quicker than the rest--it was right after my gatorade power-up. i was feeling good. you can see in my HR graph where i stopped for drinks and stretching.

i also came away feeling that i can do this. i can do this!
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