I Ran 22 Miles

22 miles is a long distance to run.

It's a really long distance if you're running it when you have a bad cold and can barely breathe despite ingesting copious amounts of garlic and DayQuil. And it's an especially long distance if your iPod is broken and you have to listen to the same podcast over and over for the duration of your run because nothing else will play on the darn thing.

I know. Some of you are running purists who are sputtering to yourselves about how listening to music while putting in the miles is the physical equivalent of playing with a Nintendo DS while on an African safari. The equivalent of listening to Muzak on headphones when you're front row at a Maxwell concert. Eating Cheetos instead of the meal prepared by a Five Star Chef.

But before you helpfully tell me how I was depriving myself of the opportunity to enjoy nature and listen to my body while running, let me unequivocally state that I did not want to do any such thing! All I wanted to do was lie down in the sand alongside the Venice Beach Boardwalk. Or else go drown myself in the Pacific.

Why did I want these things? Because I was having a bad run. Because I felt like crap. Because even though I was trying to smile and psyche myself up as I ran, my body kept saying, "You fool! You need to stop running."

So what kept me from stopping?

Well, although I've realized there's nothing rational or practical about running such distances, there was a part of my mind that kept saying practical things like, "Your car is parked in Santa Monica. If you stop running, you're gonna be stuck out here at mile 14 in the middle of Marina del Rey, so get moving!"

There's also my competitive nature and the fact that I keep my commitments. I am not a quitter at all. I was going to finish no matter what. Besides, I couldn't imagine telling people that I'd stopped at mile 19 because I thought I was going to die if I took one more step. Nope. I had to finish, not just for me, but for you too.

Afterwards, I soaked in my tub of ice and then went and laid down on the sofa. I barely moved for the rest of the afternoon. My body ached SO much. I took more cold medicine, ate a few more cloves of garlic, slathered Vicks Vapor Rub on myself and inhaled the moist air from the humidifier.

I'm proud that I kept at it, kept going and finished the 22 miles, but I'm still hobbling around like a granny. I'd like to think I'm hobbling like a hot, Tina Turner type of grandma, thank you very much.

As far as the iPod, it's still under warranty (thank goodness) so all I have to do is swap it at the iPod Store sometime tomorrow. I hope I can walk without feeling aches before then, but if not, that's OK because those aches and pains are well-earned.

Comments

David Sullivan said…
I don't know who's crazier you running 22 miles, sick, etc...or me going to see the Pats vs Arizona in a snowstorm, sick, etc...OK...you win.
Jen said…
Okay... you rock, Liz. Truly. Congrats, even if you're a crazy person.

And the hell with nature... music moves my world. Literally. I'd hate it without the iPod, too. I put on music for every, single physical task I have to do, whether it's cleaning or working out.
You're an inspiration.

Hope you feel better soon.
Mes Deux Cents said…
Hi Liz,

Wow, you ran 22 miles! And you were not feeling well. I imagine if you were feeling great you could have run 30! Go Liz!


Feel better. :)
April said…
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
1969 said…
WOW!!!! You are awesome Liz.
Shiona said…
Wow! You are superwoman. There's no way I would have run 1 mile never mind 22. Way to go!!
Liz Dwyer said…
David,
Nah, I think YOU win! I could see maybe sitting in a storm for the Bears, but Arizona vs Pats? No mas!

Jen,
Thank you for the congratulations!!! I am much better today and think that I must have been out of my freakin mind to run it while feeling so awful. You remind me that I need to brave the mall and go to the Apple store to get my replacement iPod. Thank goodness for warranties!

NYC/CR,
Now I'm totally thinking about that Chicago song, "You're the Inspiration"! Thank you though and I am feeling much better, which is a relief because I despise being sick.

Mes,
Well, it was a slow 22 miles. It took me a little over 4 1/2 hours to do it. I kept thinking, "Oprah ran a whole marathon in 4!" Hopefully by the time I run 24 miles in a couple of weeks I'll be feeling MUCH healthier!

April,
Thank you for the congratulations! Hugs! :)

1969,
Thanks! I'll REALLY feel awesome when I finish a marathon and can sit my behind down for a couple of weeks without worrying about whether or not I can finish a race!

Shiona,
Got that "S" on my chest! LOL! :)

I'll tell you, at mile 1, I was TOTALLY thinking, "You are a damn fool! And at mile 22, I was STILL thinking that but at least I finished it! Whoo hoo!
Anonymous said…
Los Angelista,
“Were YOU talkin’ ta ME?”
LOL, on the ‘listen to your body and the rhythm of running’.
OK, I’ll take the diss.
22 miles is a long way, especially the first time. Be sure to do a shorter ‘long run’ this weekend; let the body recover.
Congrats on the achievement.
Michele said…
LOL. I'm glad I'm not the only runner in the blogosphere who experiences this! I have yet to get over my standard 13.1 goal, but maybe in 2009...
Jameil said…
girly, this just goes to show i was right. running a marathon is not for me. and i thank you for keeping this record. you're crazy/amazing for doing it, but me? i'm going to have to pass on that one! ice baths don't make me think happy thoughts and neither does hobbling pain. if i ever think i want to run a marathon, i'll make sure to come back and read this.
Lisa Johnson said…
Congratulations! You are so disciplined! Oh and Happy Holidays! ; )
Anonymous said…
It's a fraking long distance under any circumstances. Congratualtions!
Miriam said…
You give me courage to pursue my own goals.
Liz Dwyer said…
Daniel,
LOL, nooo... one of the folks I run with is always saying to me as we run, "You'd do better if you stop listening to that music!" :)

I'm doing 11 miles on Saturday. Hopefully that'll be alright. I don't think I'll ever do a long run while sick again though.

Michele,
I'm so glad to find another runner! You will definitely get over your goal. After all my training, I really believe we can all do a marathon!

Jameil,
I think you should do one! You'd rock the house at it and probably wouldn't have as many issues as I do. I'm like an out-of-shape granny compared to you. Yep, the ice baths are definitely not an enjoyable thing, that's for sure. I only do it because I know it'll make me feel better in the end.

Anali,
Oh thank you SO much! And Happy Holidays to you too! :)

Citizen,
It is a long distance! Longer than the drive from my house to the beach and THAT takes me 20 minutes in the car when there's no traffic. Thanks for the congratulations! :)

Miriam,
Go for it! There's no time like the present!
Savs said…
Wow! Well done, Liz! I ran about 3 yesterday and was wheezing from the cold London air! I sure have some catching up to do...
Jessalyn said…
Wow!

That's all I can say - Wow!
Liz Dwyer said…
Savs,
Don't worry, you'll get back in the swing of things just fine. Goodness, I wish I was in London! :)

Jessalyn,
Aiming for 24 this coming weekend. EEK!

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