P365 - 2016 - Day 283 - LBI 18 mile

P365 - 2016 - Day 283 - LBI 18 mile

This was my fourth year of running the LBI 18 mile race.  I woke up in the morning to the sound of rain and wind and congested head.  Not ideal circumstances, to say the least.  But, the thing I have embraced about running in the past year is the unpredictable.  I have spent the past year pushing myself outside of my comfort zone (with a little help from my friends...).  I trained through the winter, in wind and rain, and in the dark of night and before the sun.  I have learned to just run, regardless.  Circumstances and conditions are not always going to be ideal (in running and in life) but I have worked on not letting that stop me from accomplishing my goal.  This day was no different....and luckily, at the last minute I ended up with a little help from my friends.  A couple of friends that were not planning to run, had a change of plans and heart and joined me in the rain and wind to run this island.  My goal had been to set a PR for this run.  I wanted to break 3 hours, unfortunately the weather had a different plan.  I am not going to lie.... this run was HARD this year.  Physically and mentally.   I was fighting a cold and with 30 plus mph winds and driving rain, my back was not happy.... but mostly, I was having a hard time getting out of my way and out of my own head.  Everything was great at the halfway mark and it looked like we were going to finish under 3 hours....  Then the wind picked up, the rain got harder, and I felt like I was running against a brick wall.  I am so thankful that my friend stayed by my side through all of my head games with myself.  She talked some sense into me and when I realized that I was not going to break 3 hours....I was ok.  Given the conditions, the fact that I finished in 3 hours 9 minutes is something that I am really proud of.  In the end, it was hard...but with that challenge comes the satisfaction of knowing I did it and I accept those bragging rights.