8 on 8-8-8 in 88 Race Report

My running buddy is out with a severely blistered foot...and the weather forecast was not favorable at all, big storms and high winds being predicted. But nothing was going to stop me from participating in Nancy's latest virtural race today:



Determined to get it done today, on the big day that the Olympics are starting, I thought about it this morning when I woke up, and knew that without my running partner and the possibility of bad weather, the best solution for me was going to be the treadmill at the gym, which didn't sound too bad, as I haven't been there since school got out. But then I grabbed my calculator to figure out just how much 8 miles is in kilometers: 12.8! Ouch! How to break that up? First I was thinking 2 5K's and then a final 2.8? Then I thought, four 2.5 km segments, then the 2.8? No, how about an even four segments of 3.2? I like things to be even, so that's what I decided to go with.

Phase 1: there's a decorating show on the TV in front of me as I get going. I do my first 3.2 kilometers in 22:43 minutes, get off the treadmill, take a pee break.

Phase 2: now it's a cooking show. The Australian chef is making a lentil salad that looks good. I remember that I forgot to bring sports drink with me (duh!) but our gym has free coffee and soft drinks so I promise myself I can have some coke after this segment. I finish the second 3.2 km in 22:55, got off and have some coke, hoping it won't make me burp too much. Glad I am halfway done.

Phase 3: now it's a hospital show. The coke is making me burp. I finish in 22:13 and decide I want to finish the last segment in less than 22 minutes, beacause I know I can do that.

Phase 4: another decorating show on the TV. As I return from the restroom and get back on the treadmill, the lady who has been on the bike in front of me turns around to ask me if I am going to run even more! I tell her I've got one more segment to do. She gives me the thumbs up. I've stopped burping and I am almost done. It feels hard towards the end but I keep the treadmill at 9.2 km/hr the whole time, knowing I can keep doing it. Inspiring songs on my Mp3 keep me going and I finish the last 3.2 km in 21:02!

So my total time for the whole 8 miles was: 88:53 (isn't that an apprpropriate number?)

I am sweaty and stinky (why do running clothes smell so bad?) but I feel great that I did it and I head home to my boys and husband, where they all give me high fives - what more recongnition could anyone want?

Good luck to everyone who is still to run in "8 on 8-8-8"! And thanks to Nancy for organizing another motivational reason to get out there and go, go, go!

And now it's time to go and watch the Olympics and root for all the athletes!