You know you're becoming a more serious runner when

[Guest guest]

You know you're becoming a more serious runner when you say to yourself at one point, " Yay!  Only 80 more blocks to go! " For

those of you familiar with Portland, Oregon, I ran from 80th and Stark to Division, down Division til 6th, took 6th to Hawthorne, turned right on Hawthorne to 20th, then I went north to Burnside, and lastly, east on

Burnside back to 80th.  10 miles:  a personal best for me.  And it wasn't much harder than doing 8.5 miles either.  I hope when it's time to do 13.1 miles at the Helvetia Half that I will feel the same way!  Mercifully it didn't rain though it keeps looking like it will.  It's not especially warm out so I wore my 2010 long sleeved Jingle Bell run tee.  As you all know, I have deep sentimental attachment to all my race shirts and may end up on an episode of Hoarders one day because of it.  The Jingle Bell 5K Run was the first race of the season for me and it was just... happy.  Wonderful energy and the logo on it is darling, it has elves safety pinning your bib on and adorning it with Christmas lights.Anyway I fueled appropriately, I had a half cup of oatmeal with one scoop protein powder

and a packet of sports beans before my jaunt,  Armed with 2 bottles of Cytomax electrolyte drink bottles and 2 water bottles in my hydration belt, I set off for my first

10 mile run.There's not really much to say, it went without a hitch!  I did have to make an unexpected pit stop at the Goodwill near 6th and Clay and I was grateful that that was available to me.  It was then that I thought, " I'm on the home stretch!! "   In reality I still had

probably over an hour to go but I found my second wind at the Goodwill.

I was so happy to be able to do this and I thanked Life and my body for allowing it to happen.  When I got home I was greeted by , my affectionate Creamsicle cat, and I did some stretches on the foam roller and others with a yoga strap.  Post race ritual of epsom salt bath and arnica cream for the lower legs also took place, as usual.  I

ate some shrimp and later, baked sweet potato sprayed lightly with Trader Joes fat free olive oil spray and sea salt that I cut up in the shape of half moons to eat as healthy french fries.  Yum!  I feel good.  Tomorrow I hope to go on a longer walk in my Vibrams if the weather holds up, that and restorative yoga.