Beginning Week 4

Hard to believe I am already 4 weeks into training for the half.  I am following a 12 week plan, so this means the half is just 8 weeks away now.  I first decided I might want to run the half back in March when I began training for my first 5K.  I feel I have come quite far in a short amount of time.  I have completed three 5K runs and one 10K run.  I started out not being able to run a full mile, and now I have run 11 miles without stopping to rest or walk.  I went from a pace of 12-13+ minutes per miles on 1-3 mile runs to running 10-10:30 min. per mile on short runs and 10:50-11:30 min. per mile on longer runs.  I still have my off days when I am a little slow, but overall I feel like I have made a lot of progress in just 6 months of running.  I was never a runner before March.  I still don't really feel like I can call myself a "runner", but I'm definitely on my way.

Monday morning I got up at 5:00 so I would have some time to wake up before I ran.  I think I got out the door around 5:30.  I felt good on my run.  It was still dark outside when I started, but the sun came up during my run.  It is nice a cool out (comparatively speaking) that early. 

You would be surprised how many other people are out that early.  I see several dog walkers, walkers, runners and a biker out with me.  Luckily our subdivision has some street lights and good sidewalks.  As much as I sometimes wish I could stay in bed a little longer on my running days, I have a good feeling all day knowing that I completed my run and did something good for myself to start my day.  I also feel like I am less stressed on the days that I have completed a morning run. 

This Monday I ran 3.5 miles.  I averaged a 10:18 pace.  I have pushed my goal pace a little, and I would like to try to keep my pace below 10:20 on my shorter runs.  I'm trying to ultimately get my pace to 10 or better.  Then I'm trying to get my long runs better than 11 ultimately.  I'm really not overly concerned about pace, I tend to just do what feels good on any given day...but I know that I would love to complete my half in at least 2 hours and 30 minutes....even better would be 2 hours and 15 minutes.  We shall see what happens as my training continues.  I am still running without music.  I like the quiet.  I don't have many moments of quiet in my day.