Something magical happened on my latest long run. No, I didn’t summon a broomstick or cast a spell (although that would have been very on-theme). I did, however, run my first 8 miles, and it felt… gasp… easy?! Like, what?

Let’s back up. As part of my half marathon training, I signed up for the Hocus Pocus 10k through I Run 4 Movement, which is a virtual race you can run anywhere. This means you get to run in your neighborhood, park, or, in my case, while questioning if I looked like a loon running around with a race bib without any context. Either way, I slapped on my spooky race bib and set out to run 6.2 miles with a “just two extra miles” mentality. You know, no big deal.

Somewhere around mile 2, something clicked. Instead of the usual thoughts like, “How much longer?” or “Why am I doing this?” I was having fun. My legs were moving, the weather was perfect, and I wasn’t dying of thirst or feeling like my lungs were staging a protest. I actually felt good. It was weird. I did try some new gels on this run and now I’m wondering if I’ve been depriving myself of all this “fueling” people keep going on about.

As I powered through the 10k portion of my run, I started thinking, Wait, is this what people mean when they say running is fun? I mean, no hallucinations or delusions, just the pure joy of moving forward, feeling strong, and actually enjoying it. Then, I realized: I was well past the 6.2 miles of the Hocus Pocus race, and I could totally keep going. So, I did. Because why stop at a 10k when you’re being powered by the Sanderson Sisters.

That’s when it hit me – maybe this whole half marathon thing is actually possible? If I can breeze through 8 miles, surely I can handle a couple more on race day, right? I mean, my body didn’t fall apart, my brain didn’t revolt, and I wasn’t praying for the sweet release of a finish line. I just…kept running.

Of course, once I hit mile 8, it was time to celebrate! Not only had I completed my longest run to date, but I also got to proudly display my pretty sick Hocus Pocus 10k medal, which made the whole experience even sweeter.

So here I am, feeling like I’ve unlocked some next-level running achievement. I can run 8 miles without feeling like a zombie, I’ve got a medal to prove it, and for the first time, the idea of a half marathon doesn’t sound impossible.

Maybe I am becoming a real runner after all? I’ll get back to you on that.