6.7 miles and I’m alive to tell about it.

Yesterday I ran the longest I’ve ever run. 6.7 miles. I definitely won’t be doing it again next weekend, or attempting that half marathon anytime soon, but I am glad I did it. And that I ran the whole thing without stopping. And that my time was about 54 minutes (real times will be posted today). That’s a little slower than average for me, but I also have to realize that I’ve never run that many miles before! And I’m not doing it to be 1st place. I’m doing it for the challenge and for the scenery and maybe even a little for the cause. I figure if I don’t have time to volunteer, at least I can give some money to Cancer Research by running my ass off in 85 degree weather.

Immediately after, I was feeling wobbly. I definitely needed some water because the tiny cups they give you along the run were used more for dumping on my head then entering my mouth. When I think about it, I don’t understand how anyone can drink out of a baby size Dixie cup while running. It’s like driving with your eyes closed, while talking on the phone and eating a pizza.

So I got some water and ate a banana. I needed that banana. The second it entered my mouth, it was gone. After a few minutes talking to Dominic and stretching, I wanted to walk around and collect my free shit! That’s right, races are the mecca for free things. I should’ve been doing this years ago.

I got fancy water galore, as many bananas I could shove in a bag, loads of bagels (I could’ve also taken pizza, but I didn’t want to eat anything but bananas at that point), trail mix from Trader Joe’s, Emergence Vitamin C packets, a free massage AND….

Dave’s Killer Bread.

Okay, that last free prize might not seem like much if you aren’t from Seattle or Portland. But if you are, then you know this is the biggest deal ever. In fact, you’ll be even more jealous because I got to meet Dave himself, in the flesh. And I got so excited that I recognized him, and he was so excited that I recognized him that he immediately gave me a shirt. The table set up he had was really just for tasting, but I told him how much of a fan I was (really, it’s great bread. His story is just great too. Read about it here.) and he looked under the counter, asking me which was my favorite. I told him Spelt, and suddenly he reappeared with a bag of Spelt bread, handing it over like it was my trophy for not winning the race.

I don’t know why that was so exciting. Maybe because I just saved my $5.70 on bread (I know it’s expensive, but I’m telling you man, this bread is worth it!) or maybe because I got to meet him in person, and he’s kind of a Seattle Bread Celebrity (Celebreadity?).

All I know is that I ran farther than I ever had before, all along the shores of Seattle, to get me some of the best bread in Seattle. And if that was always the prize, then I’d do it again. Just not next weekend.