It’s been one week since my 25 mile run and 100 mile bike and I just got done with my 30 mile run! Yeap, that’s right. I actually ran 30 miles today!!! Can you believe it?? I’m still in shock…or is that hunger???

I drove out to Lake Siskiyou after a false start on a river trail due to cougar prints right in the middle of the trail. I opted for the better traveled-no cougar zone, but was not as psyched about having to run around the Lake four times…Yeap, four times! 

The day was sunny and headed to the high 60′s with a bit of a wind.  I headed out for my run with my Nathan Hydration Pack  loaded with water a plenty of food. 

The trail circumnavigates Lake Siskiyou, winding it’s way through a camp ground and a nicely maintained dirt trail the whole way…except for the 2 miles that you have to run on the road. 

The first two laps were effortless. I mean that they just happened and I didn’t put  much thought into them.  I stopped at the car and loaded more water in my pack and headed out for the second 15 miles. 

I started out on my third lap and started to get really frustrated with my hydration pack.  You see, every time I went to drink I had to pull the valve so hard I almost pulled my teeth out…I’m not exaggerating!  I couldn’t pull the valve with my hand so had to use my teeth and I had visions of my teeth becoming loose and falling out someday.

By the time I reach the mouth of the South Fork River and began crossing I was soooo pissed at my pack, I wiped out my Blackberry and Googled “Nathan Hydration Packs”; got their phone number and proceeded to call them during the middle of my run!  So I called Nathan; told them I was having some serious problems with my bite valve and was in the middle of a 30 mile run and ready to throw my pack in the lake. 

The accommodating lady at customer service got all my info and said the would send me out a new valve that same day……Now that’s what I call service!  Unfortunately I still had to get through my current run with the valve I had…but there was hope for future runs (BTW-the new valve works great!)

Well, I continued to my way, passed my car for the third time and headed out for my fourth and final lap.  I felt good until about mile 25, then things began to start hurting.  My left leg, thigh, foot….my right foot, my this, my that…….I would just begin to focus on form and the pain would begin to go away.  I found pain would come when I started to run incorrectly….but if I stayed in correct form things didn’t hurt!! 

I made it through the last few miles, dreaming of the car and an ice bath.  Oh- and a steak dinner!  Luckily the last few miles are slightly down hill and I cruised back to the parking lot.  I had done it!!!!  I had run 30 miles for the second time in my life!!!!! 

One thing that really struck me from this run is….the difference between 20 and 25 miles is not that much.  I mean it’s not that much harder to run those 5 more miles….BUT- the difference between 25 and 30 miles…..well that is  noticeably harder! 

So, maybe if I begin running 30 miles more often then that 5 miles won’t seem as hard someday.  Either way- I’m proud of myself for running 30 miles today.  It was hard, challenging, I wanted to quit, I didn’t want to quit, I hurt, I didn’t hurt.  You know who really kept me going out there???  My DAD!  I thought  of him and remembered the promise of not quiting or cutting things short…because he can’t.  He has to stay the course, just like I did……My Dad gave me so much inspiration especially in those last 5 miles! 

Thank You Dad!