The Half is Only One Week Away!

It is so hard to believe that the half is only one week away.  I started running at the end of February with the initial goal of running a 5K and a 10K.  After those first two runs, I was hooked and decided to try a few more 5K's.  I signed up for the Rock and Roll Half Marathon in June, and at that point the half was 4 months away.  I ran all summer to keep up my running and to be ready for the 12 week training plan for the half.  It is hard to believe that 8 months from run/walking that first mile, I am now just a week away from running my first official half marathon race.  If you had told me last October that I'd me running a half marathon in a year, I would have said you were crazy!  In fact, I believe when Dave started running I told him I really had no desire to ever run.  At this point, I'm not sure what I'm going to do with myself after the half.  Actually, I am already signed up for a 15K (9.3 miles) two weeks after the half, and a 5 mile run two weeks after that.  From there, we shall see.....I'm thinking about signing up for the GO!St. Louis Half Marathon for April so that I will have motivation to keep working out through the winter and not lose the progress I have made.  First, I need to get through this race.

This week I ran 4 miles on Monday and 4 miles on Wednesday.  Both runs included a lot of hills but I maintained a pace around 10:30.  On Saturday I ran 9 miles with my sister on Grant's Trail.  We actually ran together the first 2 miles, then separated into our own paces.  I completed the run with an average pace of 10:25.  The week ahead will include two short runs, maybe around 3 or 3.5 miles each.  Then I will take some walks and do a lot of stretching.  I probably won't be able to sleep much all week, but I need to try to be well rested.  Dave has planned several nights of pasta to get our carbs in throughout the week so we have the needed energy stores.  I feel excited and nervous.  On top of that, grades are due this week for report cards and parent-teacher conferences are next week.  Crazy/busy week ahead!  I'm looking forward to a couple of nights in the hotel downtown with Dave, after all the training and the stresses we have gone through with Dave's mom's illness and death we are ready for a couple of nights away...even if it includes a long run.  Wish us luck!