Nature calls me loud and clear

Hello Hello to my family and friends. I am sorry I haven't blogged in so long! As you may remember last weekend I went to the lake and this week I was very busy training hard to prepare for my longest run yet. Last time we talked I completed 6 miles, oh how I wish I was at 6 miles again :) Training is going great and fundraising for the LLS is going just as good.
I have cut back from my over-zealous six day a week work-out, to four 30-45 minute runs and one endurance run (1.5-2hr). That seems to help my muscles relax and rebuild themselves.
This week I was very hesitant to stick my neck out there for the 8 mi run. I was quite certain in fact that I would be walking, at least, the last mile. Turns out I do not have enough faith in myself! I did very well, completing 8 miles in 1.5 hours. Miles 1-4 felt great; the 4 mi turn around point was at the top of a small hill with a lakeside water stop. It was a beautiful place to stop. I enjoyed my yummy Gu, Gatorade shot and water all while watching the choppy water of Lake Hefner. I know I know, it sounds cheesy! But you truly lose touch with reality when you run for that period of time with nothing to occupy your time but your own thoughts (most runners use an MP3 player or IPOD, I do not). The Gu that was like peanut butter last time, was more like...jello this time. I am learning tricks of the trade :) (A half a mile before my water stop I started squishing the pack in my hand to warm it up and change the texture-much easier to swallow!). Mile 5, was like I was high on crack cocaine :) LoL. The Gu gave me an instant boost making me feel like I would breeze through the next few miles (but it didn't last long)! At about 5.5 mi I felt the urgent call of nature. That is right my beloved family and friends, if that isn't TMI then I don't know what is! I was sure that if I didn't find a port-a-poddy in the next mile I would need to walk the rest of the way to ensure no accidents! And then, the most beautiful sight I have ever seen! Like being in the Sahara Desert with no water for days, a light from above shone down on a Port-a-Poddy at mile marker 6. You can imagine my excitement! So, with nature taken care of and Gu in my system I took off to complete my journey. I thought that miles 7 and 8 would have been horribly painful. They were surprisingly not. I can't even really describe it, except to say my movements were "robotic". I felt my feet hitting the ground, but everything from my breathing to my foot pattern was totally involuntary, it was just happening. I definitely felt the impact of every step in my knees, but otherwise I felt amazing! One of the coaches told me I had experienced "the zone" so many runners speak of, that point where you feel like you could run forever. How cool. I guess I am now a true runner :)
In synopsis, this week I learned that I am definitely going to need to use the Port-a-Poddies during the marathon! (Note to self: carry anti-bacterial gel in pocket). I also learned that Gu is not to be confused with it's close relative crack cocaine, and lastly, my friends and family ROCK! I couldn't have made it this far without you guys cheering me on. Thanks so much!