Today was my last run with the Ann Arbor team before I go back to Tucson -- sadness. It was the longest run I've done (15 miles), and also the toughest by a large margin, though not because of the course or even the distance. (The course was mostly flat and the more-than-usual toughness started in about Mile 7.) No, my body just did not want to run today. My feet were hurting, there was no spring in my step, and every step was taking too much effort. The teammate I was running with, Mandy, was having a tough time too, and it seemed that others were also struggling, so maybe it was something about the weather. I'm sure it didn't help that I didn't sleep at all last night (Andrew's at a conference this weekend and it's the first time he's been gone since I've been here), nor that I hadn't run since Monday thanks to yet more automotive troubles. Around Mile 12, I actually thought I might not make it, and I probably wouldn't have if not for Mandy's encouragement. Thank goodness for awesome teammates! Also for the nice people at Panera (yes, the restaurant), who willingly gave us free cups of deliciously cold water in Mile 13 when we'd gone too long without hitting a water station.

I did make it, though with a tortoise-like pace of about 20 minutes for the last mile. The whole run took me 3 hours. I opted out of the ice bath afterward, deciding that I couldn't take any more intense suffering and that I would prefer my subsequent suffering to be diffuse instead. So, a few days of muscle stiffness it is. My feet are pretty sore, so I'm holding an ice pack between my arches right now, which feels good and seems to be helping.

For some reason, my mid-run craving this time around was for hard-boiled eggs instead of oatmeal. Weird. Anyway, I made some when I got home and am munching them as I type. (Is this a weird enough image for you yet? Amanda sitting at her computer, typing while eating eggs and icing her feet?)

I've had a really great time running with the Ann Arbor Team, and I'm sad to say goodbye. Coaches Ethan and Annamarie have been especially terrific, and the teammates have been supportive. I really appreciate the team's generosity in "fostering" me while I've been here. I know the Tucson team will be wonderful as well!

Moving ahead, here's what's on tap for the next couple of weeks. Unfortunately, I'm not going to be able to do any team runs. Next Saturday (and all weekend, actually) is reserved for "us time" with Andrew because it's my last weekend here, and the following Saturday I'll be flying back to Tucson. I should be able to do a good handful of 5-milers this week, because I'm taking the whole week off from work for my comprehensive exams and will need some breaks. I may try to do a long (albeit not 15...) solo run early next week, maybe an evening run after work. If that doesn't happen, then, well, I'll just build back up as I settle into the massive and terrifying climate change that the desert has in store for me. I think the Tucson Team's training schedule is a little behind Ann Arbor's, mileage-wise, so at least I won't be adding distance too quickly once I get back and have to adjust to the heat.