Huuuuuuuuge.

And you should totally celebrate you.

not just because you ran 10 miles. Because you’re you.

And that’s pretty friggin’ awesome.

The first time my hubs and I ran 6 miles (yes, SIX) we talked about how awesome we were for days. That continued every time we reached a new milestone… 7, 8, 9, 10, and finally 11 miles before our first half marathon.

Another valuable tip is to surround yourself with people who will also celebrate you. I am part of some AMAZING running groups with some truly AMAZING women. There was an occasion when about 15-20 of us ran the same 10-mile race, in various small groups and at very varying speeds. I was cheered on VERY loudly as I approached the finish line by many of these women, who hugged and congratulated me after I crossed the finish. They were so incredibly enthusiastic about ME and what I had done that I momentarily forgot that they had all finished the same race — far enough ahead of me that they had all cooled down, gotten food, and meandered back over to the finish area to wait for the rest of us! They had already celebrated themselves and were ready to help each of us celebrate herself, too.