July 11, 2011

I can't believe how fast time is going! Training has been amazing. I ended up doing two 9.5 and a 13 that week in my last post. All of those runs went much better than the 11.3 the Saturday before! I averaged 8:31 per mile on the 13. I was pretty happy with that! This last week I did two 6's and a 16. I was planning doing more during the week but since Andy had to work early all week I could only get in 6 before he left for work. I have also found that I feel great only running 3 times a week. I know that most training's will have you at least run 4 but I feel like if I can run 3 and feel good then I am going to keep that up. I know the training I am doing wants you to run about every day, but I just don't think that will happen for me. On Saturday, when I did my 16. I was pretty nervous. I think I almost made myself sick worrying about it. Friday I even started to have a sore throat and I was thinking seriously this run has to be good tomorrow. I woke up and it still was a tiny bit sore but I popped in some gum and started. I had to hit a bathroom break at 3 and 9 miles. I wish I really could cut those out but oh well. I was so thankful to get a text from a friend at mile 8 saying she was going to join me! I seriously had just been thinking I wanted to text her and tell her I really needed her but knew I couldn't :(. It was honestly an answer to my prayers. She even brought me ice cold water! I had Powerade and water waiting for me at mile 9 and 14. That was a welcome treat as well :). About mile 12ish, I was getting tired but still plugging away. I ended in 2 hours 18 min and some odd seconds. It was great. That averages out to be 8:38 per mile. I was so happy with that. I kind of set goals before I go out and I am really hoping to average under 9 until at least mile 20 so I have a little room to play when I actually run the marathon. My goal for the marathon is under 4 hours. I honestly don't care if it is 3:59:59 :). I also want to run the whole way. This weeks training is a little easier thank goodness. I will probably only get two runs in because we are headed on vacation. I did a 6 this morning and was a little slower than normal but I think I am still recovering from the 16. I am shotting for 11 on Wednesday!