As I sat in school all day yesterday, I knew it was not raining, but that it was on its way. I headed home right after school in hopes that my carpet was all done being installed, but it was not. The guys did not leave until 4:00, which set me back nearly an hour. The weather was warm, 56 degrees, so I only put on a t-shirt and shorts. I also had a hat on because I always wear one, but it was going to rain and it protects my face. I did not grab my ipod because I knew it would get wet. I checked the radar and knew the rain was south of us, but I did not know when it was going to hit. I had to get in 12 miles in about 1:35:00, 7:49 pace. I was bummed that I did not get to start on time, but was enjoying the fact that I was getting to run in nice weather, regardless if it was going to rain. I set out on my regular route for my long runs. But wait, when did 12 miles become a 'short' day?? I took a water bottle and 7 honey stingers with me to get me through.
The weather was nice and I started sweating. I was feeling good. Not quite at pace, but lately it has been taking me about 3 mils to get into my run. At mile 3.5, the drops starting falling from the sky! No heavy, but enough that I was noticing it. It continued to pick up as I rounded Brickkilne Rd. and was a steady rain as I crossed the tracks and headed south on Loudoun St. Mr. Whipkey passed me in his drivers edu car, but they never stopped. I wanted to keep running anyway, but I am sure that the Davis twins were laughing at me. I then turned up Peyton St. and 522. When I hit mile 6, it was pouring. I had to jump in the grass becasue some guy was right on the curb driving and I stepped in a puddle. Great, now my foot is soaking wet. No sooner did that happen than I swear, a monsoon hit. I looked up and the sheets of rain were coming in my face. I was running north, directly into the wind and rain. The flags were straight out heading towards me. I put my head down and prayed that I would stay alive. I made it to Sheetz as a drowned rat. I filled my water bottle as people just stared at me. Not a single one of them offered me a ride home! I then headed back into town on Fox Dr, otherwise known as "A River Runs Through It." Fox Dr. is always cold and I started to shiver as I ran down it. There were parts where the water was up over my shoes. I knew that there were no pot holes, so I was okay to run through the streams. I was wearing a Brooks Night Life shirt, so I was still very visible by the drivers. When I got to the end of the road, I had warmed back up, but not any drier.
I turned left onto Amherst St, but I had to run on the sidewalk. I HATE sidewalk running, it makes my feet hurt so badly, but I did not have a choice. The water was flowing down the street. At one point, I thought to myself, what is moving faster, the water or me?? There was one point, near that big yellow house that as the cars went through the puddles, I had to cover my right ear so that when they splashed the water on me that it would not go into my ear! I thought of turning up Stewart to a friends to have them take me home, but what was the point now? I was starting to prune and only had 2 miles to go. Just keep running!! I ran past Runners Retreat, waved at Lorenzo and headed home.
The rain had let up, but never stopped. As I was running over 81, I saw lightening to the south, but had to keep running. I hit 12 miles, but why walk when there was rain and lightening, just get home. I stopped at 12.5 miles and 1:40:00. What a run!! As I as doing my foot drills, I could not wipe the smile off my face. Did I really just run in that weather? Wow, that was crazy! As soon as I got in the door, I stripped down naked. I had put 3 towels next to my door when I headed out, but had not even dreamed about what I went through. When I put the clothes in the washer, they were more wet going in than when they came out!!
I later found out that there were tornado warnings in Leesburg and Sterling. Not sure about Winchester, but I can tell you that it was pretty crazy out there!
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