Six in the morning sure comes early on a Saturday, but I guess that's the price I pay for being part of a running training team.  Small price, especially since this first-time-runner has no idea what she's doing and needs all the help she can get.  That's not to say I haven't overslept a time or two, but I'm looking forward to getting my Saturday mornings back.

 

So far, our women's team has trained on the Austin Bluffs Trail (I ran/walked 3 miles our first week) behind Boulder Running Company and at Monument Valley Park (I've been running up to 6 miles on a regular basis there).  On two previous Saturdays, we trained in Garden of the Gods and I ran 3 and 4 miles, respectively.  Last Saturday, I ran 5 miles at the Santa Fe Trail, and boy was it beautiful!  My furthest distance to date is 6.75 miles through my neighborhood off South Academy, and on two occasions, I ran around Prospect Lake 5 times, totalling 6.25 miles.  But running a flat trail is totally different than a hilly one, so whatever my furthest distance was for that week, I would drop it a mile when it came to the Garden to prevent injury.

 

Last weekend we met at the Trading Post to train on a new route, and I planned to do 6 miles.  The panoramic views, red sandstone in the early morning light, and brisk weather made it challenging.  I thought it was going to be warmer and had worn a skort--big mistake, as my legs were numb for about the first 4 miles, but I kept at it. "Slow and steady wins the race," so I maintained my pace and kept chuggin'. 

 

As I was nearing the end of my run, my RunKeeper app announced "Five point nine miles ...," and I was filled with joy!  I was going to make it!  I held my arms out and continued running down the hill, thinking, "I'm flying!" just like Rose in the movie "Titanic."  Glancing up at snow-covered Pikes Peak, wind in my face, "wings" flapping in the breeze, I was high as a kite! 

 

Then something unexpected happened:  a huge fountain of indescribable emotions came bubbling up from deep inside me.  I began sobbing uncontrollably, barely able to catch my breath, then began laughing hysterically.  Oh my goodness!  I really AM going to make it!  I can't believe I've run six miles through this intense park!  I kept repeating it all the way down.  I couldn't catch my breath, I was crying so hard.  I've never experienced anything like this before.  Wait ... I take that back.  I felt like this when I gave birth and on my wedding day, but could running really create such an intense reaction in someone?  Apparently, yes!

 

I gathered myself together as I neared the finish, especially since a group of men runners were standing in front of the Post and cars were passing by.  I didn't want them to think I was weird, you know, crying and all.  As I reached my group, I kept myself together long enough to run past and try to stop my app, but was having technical difficulties.  Finally, I was able to hit the "Stop" button, and it seemed to be the signal for the tears and laughter to come pouring out again.  A fellow team member (who thought I was having an asthma attack) asked if I was okay, and I laughed, "Yes!  But I wasn't expecting this to be such an emotional experience!"  "How far did you go?"  I glanced at my phone, "Six and a half miles!"  I was incredulous.  She gave me a hug, said it was perfectly normal, and congratulated me on my accomplishment.  Others followed suit.  I had someone take pictures to commemorate the event. 

 

As I drove out of the park, I thought, that must've been what runners refer to as the "runner's high."  But here in Colorado, it's not "just" a high, it's a Runner's Rocky Mountain High!  Whatever it's called, I'm so grateful to have experienced it, and I won't complain if it happens again, and again, and again! 

Incidentally, we ran the same route this past Saturday and I ran 7.16 miles!  I didn't have an emotional high (or breakdown, whatever you want to call it!) like the previous week, but that's not to say I wasn't just as proud!  We're only halfway through our training and I've conquered 70% of the course, so I'm pretty sure I'll finish the actual race with no problems, eh?