I should have gotten a medal for this one....

I did it! 15 miles DONE! I started at about 6AM and finished in 2 hours 50 minutes.  It was grueling but satisfying.  http://runkeeper.com/user/Kikimole/activity/45757091

When I started, the humidity level was so high that I could see the fog hanging in the air in a layer about 8 feet above the ground. I think the strangest moment was when I climbed the first hill on the path and stepped into one of the clouds.  My lungs instantly filled with wet vapor, making it very difficult to breath. It turns out that there was a pollution advisory, that I wasn't aware of, advising people with asthma to stay indoors because the humidity levels are causing the pollution to just hang in the air (per my mother).  Whoops.  I'm glad I didn't know! =)

I had to stop and rest and re-hydrate a few times.  Boy, was I sweating! By the time I got home, my outdoor thermometer in the backyard was reading over 95 degrees! I am glad I took it slow. I knew it was hot already (by 9AM) but I didn't realize just how hot.

I had a slight knee twinge on the left side that started at mile 10ish, but its gone now.  My chest also felt very tight, but I'm sure that was due to the weather.  Other than that - it was great. No chafing or anything.

By the way: worst post-run moment is getting into the shower and finding your surprise chafing cuts via water and salt running into your open wounds.  Ouch! I digress...

I walked up to the house as my cool down and Phil was outside.  He also ran his furthest distance that morning: 4 miles!!!! I am so proud of him! I told me how proud of me he is to which I got emotional... a few tears came out (I was surprised I still had enough water in my body to produce tears) and through my quiet whimpers I responded, "will you hose me down?"

Boy! did that feel good!!!!  And the 9AM piece of leftover meatloaf was the best food I had ever eaten.

I feel confident! Looking forward to my "short" 11 miler this weekend, but I also am not dreading the upcoming 17, 18, 20 or.....26......well, let's not get ahead of ourselves here.