Half Marathon/Training Run

Today's schedule called for 12 miles so it wasn't too much off the plan to run a half marathon this morning. I have been registered for a few months anyway so it's been on my schedule. I ran with 3 other friends and two of them were running their very first half marathon. It was exciting to witness and I'm so proud of all of us. Unfortunately around Mile 9 their hips started hurting (one had previous hip issues that were flaring) and the other was surprised by new pain. We all walked for awhile then would slowly incorporate some jogging just to try and keep the momentum going. There were tons of hills on the course so although we only ran maybe 10 or so miles the hills definitely provided a good workout. And, most importantly my friends finished and now have a Half Marathon added to their accomplishments!

Mile 1: 12:52
Mile 2: 12:30
Mile 3: 12:46
Mile 4: 12:29
Mile 5: 12:52
Mile 6: 12:50
Mile 7: 12:43
Mile 8: 12:52
Mile 9: 14:40
Mile 10: 14:48
Mile 11:16:18
Mile 12: 17:44
Mile 13: 18:06
Mile .23: 3:23

Total Distance: 13.23 Miles
Total Time: 3:06:51
Average Mile: 14:07

eat - work - run - sleep - repeat

I often wish I had more time and strength of mind to write my blog - I would love to have more of a richly detailed account of my training but frankly as the days go on I am just so tired that I have trouble formulating a thought let alone getting it down. So, needless to say the training is taking it's toll, not in a super negative way, I just feel anxious to get on with the marathon and back to normal life. I miss my freedom to run when I want to and for how far and I miss time with my husband. I also know that just as I say this in a blink of an eye it'll be time to run 26.2 miles. So, deep breath, and continue to enjoy the journey that will only happen once in my lifetime.

5 Miles Treadmill
Total Time: 57:18
Avg Mile: 11:39

Next up: Half Marathon on Saturday!

4 miles early morning

Although I planned to sleep in a little later my mind and body woke up @ 4am again so I got up and took my time getting ready for 4 miles on the treadmill. It was probably my best Wednesday morning run to date -- before today I've always felt they were heavy and labored despite the short distance.

4 Miles Treadmill:
Total Time: 47:37
Avg. Mile: 11:54

8 miles on treadmill!

I woke up at 4am to rain and acrons and branches falling outside so decided to run my 8 miles on the treadmill. I couldn't help being reminded of something I read recently: to be a distance runner you must have a high tolerance for boredom :) -- It wasn't so bad, and I did pretty well time wise considering I walked some.

Treadmill 8 Miles
1hr 38 min 47 sec
12:21 avg mile

16 miles!

It was a crisp 42 degrees this morning and a perfect chance to wear my new Under Armour compression shirt. (Thanks Mom for the Dicks Sporting Goods card that allowed me to get it!)

We had printer issues this morning so I didn't create a pace wrist band but had confidence I could do my best to keep the pace between 12-12:30. It was nice to have Wayne join me, he has been out 2 weeks nursing a pulled achilles tendon and some ankle issues.

Similar to last week the run was pretty smooth until mile 12 when my body started to feel the distance. The good news is the moments of "oh crap this is hard" seemed to pass just as quickly as they came on. I started feeling so good into mile 14 that I chanted an old 6th grade cheer: "We can do it, We can do it, if we put our minds to it, doesn't matter how we do it, do it, do it DO IT" to which Wayne replied, "shut the hell up" LOL!!! He was suffering with his feet after mile 10 so he wasn't in any mood other than pushing through and getting to the end, which I totally understand that feeling.

Overall I'm quite pleased with my run especially after having a rough week of feeling like I've hit a wall in my training. I'm hoping this will rejuvenate me and carry through the next 48 days! :)

Mile 1: 12:07
Mile 2: 12:07
Mile 3: 12:01
Mile 4: 11:55
Mile 5: 11:57
Mile 6: 11:45
Mile 7: 12:03
Mile 8: 12:28
Mile 9: 12:25
Mile 10: 12:26
Mile 11: 12:24
Mile 12: 13:11
Mile 13: 13:14
Mile 14: 12:52
Mile 15: 12:43
Mile 16: 12:39

Total Miles: 16
Total Time: 3:18:15
Avg. Mile: 12:24

thursday four

still feeling a bit in a training rut..struggled to get through 4 miles on the treadmill.

4 miles:
51:30

wednesday morning 4 miles

aghh this is getting hard! since last week I feel like I hit a wall in my training, and I'm just tired. What keeps me from getting depressed about it is knowing it's bound to pass and with plenty of time to finish my training with a little more spunk.

4 Miles Walk/Jog
58:13

two 4 milers

I was pleased to join two friends for a run tonight each at different times. I met one at 5:30 and the other at 6:30. The first run was fast but it was nice because it's been awhile since I worked on increased pace. The second 4 miler was slower because I wore myself out from the first 4 but it was an enjoyable run. It was especially nice to be with my friend Amanda who is running again after a couple weeks off .

4 miler #1: 43:57
Average Mile: 11:00

4 miler #2: 50:56
Average Mile: 12:45

going the distance

I had mixed feelings going into this mornings 15 miler. I was excited that I will be running further than ever before but nervous about what that would involve both physically and mentally. The plan was to take it easy and keep a 12-12:30 pace. I created a pace wristband which shows what each mile should be to average a 12:28 mile and finish in 3 hrs 7 minutes. (that just seems like a LONG time to be doing anything let alone running.)

I haven't been listening to music during my marathon training up to this point but since I was running this one alone I decided to load up the iPod with 3+ hrs of music. Thanks to several suggestions from friends I had a nice selection of songs to keep me company.

As for nutrition I usually put 2 scoops of powdered Gatorade Lemon Lime Endurance Pro in my 22 oz water bottle, but this morning I added an extra half scoop. I also packed my usual orange Sports Beans (little side note, I had an open pack of Sports Beans and then opened another pack and poured them on the kitchen table and counted them out before putting them in my pockets... there were 33. A little nod to the rescued miners.. if they can survive what they went thru I can run 15 measly miles.

The morning was a cool 53 degrees and slightly windy. I wore long sleeves and shorts, a good balance. I also wore sunglasses which was a nice wind blocker and shield from bugs. I was pleasantly surprised how nice the glasses felt on my eyes during and after so I think I'll continue to wear them during my long runs and marathon.

As for the actual run the music definitely helped... it was a mental exercise to accept the fact I'm going to be out here for the next 3 hours so I need to just find my groove and enjoy the journey, try not to rush it or think about 15 miles, take it in sections.

I ran a familiar route cutting some corners (skipped the BIG hill) and added mileage here and there and when I got to 8 miles (which was near my car) I headed toward the swamp rabbit trail (asphalt not dirt trail) and just told myself to run 3.5 out and then come back and I'll be done.

Around mile 12.5 I walked for about 2 minutes and had a rough time, I'm pretty sure it was the upcoming invisible barrier and being nervous about busting through the 13.1 zone. I sent my husband a text and said I was at 12.5 miles. He told me I CAN do it and he believed in me.  That was nice. I picked it up and started jogging and knew I was running in the right direction back to the car and I would get there eventually I just needed to keep moving. I wasn't concerned about pace so much anymore at this point knowing I had a little cushion but also I just wanted to finish. And, I confess for the first time I thought "What the F. am I doing? How on earth am I going to run 26.2!?".

But as I sit here in my warm house with a beagle on my lap I'm happy to have run 15 and am already thinking about and looking forward to my next run, 8 miles on Tuesday. I'll finish this darn marathon.

Mile 1: 12:11
Mile 2: 11:57
Mile 3: 12:11
Mile 4: 12:04
Mile 5: 12:20
Mile 6: 12:03
Mile 7: 12:21
Mile 8: 12:19
Mile 9: 13:01
Mile 10: 12:31
Mile 11: 12:33
Mile 12: 13:07
Mile 13: 13:38
Mile 14: 13:34
Mile 15: 12:27

Total Miles: 15
Total Time: 3:08:17
Avg. Mile: 12:33

taking it easy

met with a friend who is dealing with a foot issue and is easing back into running. we walked for .25 mile and ran for .25 mile for 3 miles.

7 mile run

it was a sad day, I had to go for a longish run all alone :( it was nearing dark so I went a little faster than I had planned, during mile 6 I noticed a 'give' in my left heel/achilles which spooked me since my marathon training partner is currently nursing a sore achilles. My heel has been bothering me a bit so I'm going to skip tomorrow's 3 mile and enjoy a 90 minute massage in the afternoon. Thursday will be 4 miles and hopefully things will be feeling fine as I gear up for 15 miles on Saturday!

7 mile run:
11:59 average

ice and rest paid off with a HALF PR!

I was a little hesitant about racing the half marathon this morning. I was worried my foot pain would flare up again. Thankfully I had no issues with it aside from a brief "good morning" from it to let me know not to get too crazy :) I ran with my marathon training partner Wayne and we stayed with the 2:30 pace group leader until about a .6 mile to go when I backed off and let them go on. I managed to just focus on my breath and candence and keep it going although I wanted to walk so badly. Once at the finish it was easy to pick it up hearing the encouragement from my friend Katie and Wayne and the pace leader Darlene. So nice to have that support! (which btw, it was nice to see another friend David there today who was running the 5k portion! way to go David!)


I ran this particular course before (last year) and didn't have the best experience or finish time (2:50:42). So today was the day to replace that experience with a good one and I succeeded! Granted it was really tough around mile 12 having maintained a faster than normal pace up to that point but overall I am quite please with this training run/half marathon!

Mile 1: 11:21
Mile 2: 11:14
Mile 3: 11:29
Mile 4: 11:25
Mile 5: 11:21
Mile 6: 11:11
Mile 7: 11:12
Mile 8: 11:36
Mile 9: 11:46
Mile 10: 11:35
Mile 11: 11:37
Mile 12: 12:24 (couldn't keep it in the 11's!)
Mile 13: 12:00
Mile .1: 01:06

Total Miles: 13.1
Total Time: 2:31:17
Avg. Mile: 11:33

A definite PR for the course and a PB for Half marathon distance!

purposely resting

on Saturday I'll be running a Half marathon which is 3.1 miles more than what is on the training schedule so I thought it wise to take a rest day from my 4 miles today and continue to take care of my feet.

treadmill 3

just a slow walk/jog while I deal with some foot discomfort that crept up on me during Sunday's long run and returned during my 7 mile run last night. I have been icing and massaging and taking Advil and it seems to help...

Treadmill 3 miles:
40:28

7 miles

went for a 7 mile run with 3 friends after work. it was a little tricky finding the right course to total 7 miles so it included roads, dirt trails, concrete walks and asphalt paths. overall it was a great run but from the start I felt an annoying pain in my right foot, underneath near my toes. It's not a major pain but just enough to get my attention and worry what it is. I'm currently icing and hoping for the best.

Mile 1: 12:11
Mile 2: 12:09
Mile 3: 12:04
Mile 4: 11:46
Mile 5: 12:13
Mile 6: 13:08
Mile 7: 12:39

Total Miles: 7
Total Time: 1:26:09
Avg. Mile: 12:19

13 miles plus .1

Had another strong long run today! My goal was to keep the mile average between a 12:15-12:28 pace,  but once again we started off a little fast with an 11:50 first mile. I'm not sure why it's so hard to keep a desired pace, and I'm starting to wonder if I'm trying to keep us too slow when really the comfort level is a little faster into the 11:45-12:15 range. It felt really strong and except for the end I never felt very winded. But, then again this is only half of a marathon so maybe once the distance increases into the 15 + mile range I'll have a better idea of how to adjust pace in the first half.

Mile 1: 11:49
Mile 2: 12:06
Mile 3: 11:45
Mile 4: 11:31
Mile 5: 11:43
Mile 6: 11:39
Mile 7: 11:46
Mile 8: 11:56
Mile 9: 11:57
Mile 10: 12:02
Mile 11: 12:09
Mile 12: 12:01
Mile 13: 11:30
Mile 13.1: 1:07

Total Miles: 13.1
Total Time: 2:35:02
Avg. Mile: 11:50