So here is what happened

As you may know, I ran a 5k (3.2 miles) not too long ago and finished in less than 30 minutes, which is what I wanted to do.  Some time after that I was asked by one of my clients if I wanted to run in a marathon relay.  My first question was,"How long is the shortest leg?"  Six miles.  Well that is only twice as long as I have ever run in my life!  The obvious answer was, "Sure, I'll do it."  

Then I was talking to the one trainer at the gym who actually runs marathons and she suggested that I sign up for a 10k (6.2 miles) before the marathon relay so that I would know how the distance feels.  Good idea.  So I signed up.

In the meantime, the person who asked me if I wanted to run in the relay decided that she didn't want to do it anymore.  Well crap.  Fine, but I am still signed up for the 10k.  I already paid for it, you see.  Can't back out now even though the only reason to run it was to prepare for the relay that I will no longer be running.  And I still haven't run six miles all at once.  Looking back at my training log, the longest distance I have run is 4.5 miles.  The longest distance I have run outside is still 3.2 miles.

The race was this morning in Columbia.  I finished the race in 1 hour and two minutes.  I was shooting for less than 1 hour and 10 minutes because I had no idea what the course ws like and I haven't really been training.  There were hills.  Several hills.  In fact, it seemed as though there was more up than down in the course, but Bart assures me that this is not possible since the start and finsh lines were in the same place.  I am still suspicious, though.  One hill was about 800 meters long around mile 4.  I walked the last 150-200 meters because my hips were having none of it.  I think I walked a total of three times because my hips were not happy.  All that having been said, I finished in a respectable time and I seem to be less sore than after the 5k.  We'll see what tomorrow holds in the delayed onset muscle soreness arena.

I don't think I am ever going to do this again.  And no more saying yes when clients ask me if I want to run anywhere.  I am 0 for 2 at that game.

I must give a hearty thank you to jpenamelist and 

callmetc for allowing us the use of their guest bedroom, the entertainment and the chocolate.  Really, thank you.