18 Miles in NSB...

Opening Statement: Thank you Running Gods. I needed that...

My 18 miler was quite possibly the best run I have had to date... the locale, the company, the pace but more importantly THE FINISH. This run marks the first time I have ever finished 100% strong. Not.one.walk.break.at.all!!! .25 from the finish I even opened it up and sprinted through til the end. I could have kept running. I have not felt this good before, during and after a run EVER!!!

2:30 am my alarm goes off and I'm out the door and on I-4 headed east by 3 am. Heading out to New Smyrna Beach I think about how many times I've made the trip out there to party it up with my NSB Boys; Tall Guy Surfing and Harold... back then I would have never guessed I'd ever be trucking out there to run an 18 miler... back then I would've laughed at you as I chugged another Coors Light if you had said that. My how times have changed...

I arrive a little too promptly (Read: Zero Traffic that early on the interstate) much to the surprise of TGS & Tucker the Toe Licker McF*cker (TGS's dog; who ALWAYS licks my toes...). After stretching out and gearing up we head out right about 4:30 am... our route starts on the mainland, crosses over the intercoastal to the beach and then an out, back and around an amazing boardwalk area repeat. I couldn't have asked for a better route, it was absolutely GORGEOUS!!! Mind you most of the run was in the dark... but towards the tail end of the run we got the most amazing sunrise... but I jump ahead...

Around the 6ish mile we hit a Sevy for our (my) first pee break... the Sevy holds a special place in our hearts because back in the day, at closing time when Flagler Tavern spewed us out onto Flagler Ave after an insane night of boozing it up and dancing like a bunch of idiots we'd head back to TGS's house, hit up the "closet o' fun" and masquerade up the street to the local Sevy where we'd buy the place out of Taquito's... dressed like this... (Don't ask...)

At the Sevy
Circa 2007

Running to the Sevy
Circa 2009

As I said, things have changed. The Sevy guy "Hammy" was in awe of our awesomeness and after he snapped this pic for us, said, and I quote; "Dude you guys are going to live til your 100!" Classic. LOL!

After this we hit the beach and it was glorious! The stars were beautiful, the breeze from the ocean was refreshing and I was feeling amazing! My knee was twinging a little the entire run but not so much as I noticed after awhile; in fact besides running a bit slower than norm out of apprehension of pushing the knee too hard, I have never felt so great As we got past the 10 mile mark he dug up our reserves... yup I said dug up...

He dug a hole the night before and buried our water/Gu's!!! LOL!

After that we hit the boardwalk that runs thru the dunes and TGS told me the history surrounding the area which was pretty cool. Then it was back to the beach in time to catch the sunrise...

As we headed back up Flagler Ave TGS started falling off; we had officially gone farther than he had ever gone and he was feeling it... so I started singing him chants and rooting him on, he had it in him, he just needed to find the MOTIVATION-MO-MO-TIVATION!!! I told him to "chase the pony tail" as Jamoosh might and this helped him get thru the remaining mile to the 15 mile mark. (TGS: I bet you're loving beating a guy running right now huh?)

After a final Gu I hit the road to finish up my remaining 3... but as I neared the boardwalk again I noticed a truck had turned around twice in the time I had been running, once beeping at me ,and as I got into the park he was now parked. Sometimes being a girl running just isn't all that it's cracked up to be... When I got to TGS waiting for me I asked him if he'd mind running with me thru the wooded part of the boardwalk because I was nervous. I felt bad asking, as I knew he was wore out from the 15 but SAFETY FIRST so we hit the walk and rounded out the final 1.5... What an amazing feeling to finish that strong and to feel like I could run further!!! Was it the peanut butter & banana toast I had*? Was it all the rest & pampering I did all week? Was it the inspirational run on the beach? Maybe I had channeled my very own BEARK run?!?

Feeling like we could conquer the world (cuz we had) we headed back to TGS's house were I promptly hit up the tub for an excruciatingly cold ice bath and a refreshing serving of Joint Juice...

(I'm wearing bikini bottoms you perv's!!!)

After a bit of recovery we got cleaned up and headed out to eat small children... I mean grab breakfast and then it was back to O-town for me...

THANKS TGS FOR AN AWESOME RUN & CONGRATS ON 16.5!!!

Closing Statement: Bring it Chicago... BRING IT!!! 3 MORE WEEKS!!!

*I never used to eat before my runs, lately I have incorporated a banana but that's it.

Jamoosh - I hope you don't mind I jacked your format for this post...