HALFWAY THERE! Week 8 Complete=Total 28 Miles

Our 8th week completed, we are halfway done. I can't believe we have been consistently training for our marathon for almost 2 months! Time sure has flown by...only 8 more weeks until M-Day! We had quite an interesting run this weekend. We ran from Stateline to the Valley YMCA on the Centennial Trail alongside the Spokane River.

Spokane River around Mile 9 of our route

We had pretty much every type of weather imaginable...not surprising since unpredictable weather is notorious in the Inland Northwest.

Lots of snow, apparent by my hat

In theory we had the perfect plan...we would begin in Stateline, ID, run "7 miles" to the Valley YMCA where we had another car parked, make a quick stop for water and nutrition, then turn around and head back to equal a perfect 14. So, with hats, gloves, and our best attempt to don waterproof gear on, we began what we thought would be an easy 7 miler first half.

Bethany and Ashley braving the snow

Andrea and I led the group and we were about 1/4 mile ahead of Bethany and Ashley. After running almost an hour, I checked my Garmin GPS watch and worriedly said to Andrea "We're hitting mile 6 and we haven't passed the Valley Mall...do you think our mileage is off?" We decided to keep running because first of all we had no other choice, and secondly it was freezing temperatures and we needed to keep moving! 

Around 7.5 miles we saw a man walking his dog. We decided to ask him how far the Valley YMCA was.  He responded with "it's down the trail further...about 2-3 miles..." Our hearts sank...here we were running in big snow flakes, wet, and we had opted not to wear our water running belts since we figured we would be refueling after an hour. What were we going to do?! I'm sure I shouted a few profanities, but Andrea, the optimistic mama said, "the farther our first leg is, the shorter our second leg will be...we can do this." She encouraged me to keep going and we kept thinking of all the postive things about the run, which to be honest was really, really difficult...but hey, it was still better than the Dreadmill, right?...right?...right?

So we just kept on running...and running...and running, as I drove myself crazy checking my darn watch...7.8 miles...8.4 miles...9.2 miles...until we finally saw the YMCA in the distance...HALLELUJAH we were going to survive! Okay maybe I'm being a bit dramatic but I was so relieved to see the car! We picked up our speed and ran to the car, which intended up being mile 10! Bethany and Ashley later told us that they were feeling pretty discouraged because the whole time they thought it was taking them over an hour and half to do 7-8 miles so pacing at only 13-14 minute miles...were they relieved to know that we had already hit 10 miles by the time they reached the car. Did I mention that during this time we ran through snow, rain, wind, and cool temperatures so we had pretty much hit every weather element possible except for sun?!

Ashley and Bethany excited to see the car near the Y

We all quickly grabbed some water and GU/nutrition and this time decided to wear our running belts for the second half. Rather than running back to the beginning, which would have made it 20 miles, Andrea, again the brilliant mama she is, quickly modified our route by having us go 2 miles further on the trail and back to the YMCA to finish up our 14 miler. I was too cold and exhausted to think so I'm glad she was quick to re-route our course. We took a slight detour off the Trail, along some random streets, over train tracks, through some neighborhoods, until we found the Trail again.  When we hit 13.1 miles, we cheered and clapped our hands...it was a monumental moment because it was the farthest ANY of us had EVER run! With the last ounce of energy that we could muster, we finished up our 14 miles. WE DID IT!!! 
 
And wouldn't you know it, the sun finally came out after we were finished? Yes, it's always an adventure with the Spokane Marathon Mamas!

I found the quote below and I felt that it truly captured our weekend run..

The only way to define your limits is by going beyond them." - Anonymous

So I think we misunderstood the "14 mile loop"...we figured it was probably 14 miles ONE WAY from Post Falls, ID to the Valley YMCA, but since I'm so directionally-challenged, who knows? But it doesn't really matter because we had a great time anyway...so bring it, Winderemere Marathon!

Mirna, Andrea, Ashley, and Bethany after 14 miles

-Posted by Mirna