Practice makes perfect

I feel like I’m floating. I’m still excited about last weekends Gasparilla run. Is that normal?

Today I went to run w/ the Suncoast Striders at a local (to them) running trail. It’s about a 40 minute drive for me but it’s totally worth the 40 minute drive to get to run with such great people. My long run today was 13 miles and I thought I wanted to stay at a 9:15 pace.

I ran the first 4 miles with Bob, and when we first started out I told him I wanted to hang out at 9:15. I thought this was a safe pace. I knew I could maintain that pace for 13 miles. Obviously I have a quicker pace planned for my actual half, but that’s race day and my pace tends to be faster on race day.

Bob turned around at 4 miles and I was on my own for the remaining 2.5 out.  I saw Christine coming back in right around mile 6 so I went to 6 and turned around and met up with her. We talked for a few minutes and I asked her what pace she was hanging out at… 8:20.

Oh.. I’ll be back here @ 8:40. I trailed behind her for a ways then I stopped to get some water and she was gone. I was okay though, I had my music and I was feeling strong.

I started getting water at every water stop at mile 4. I love this trail we run on because it has water coolers every mile or something like that.

I could not believe how great I was feeling. The miles were seriously rolling by, it was bizarre. My right toes did start to hurt around mile 9. It was not unbearable, but it was annoying. I had some sport beans with me so I ate some of those starting at mile 6 and a few other times on the run back in.

At mile 10 I told myself just a 5k to go then I’m done. I wasn’t tired, but I was ready to be done. My legs were still feeling strong. I’ve never been so excited about a long run. What a weirdo.

I stopped my watch at 13.1 miles, 1:55:29, 8:48 pace. HOLLA!

Stupid lap 15, I hit the button. I should just turn my watch off immediately after I’m done running.

This run was what I needed to give me the confidence I need for my half-marathon in 2 weeks. Oh man, I’m actually really,really excited. 

I normally find it hard to get excited about running a half marathon. Maybe I was excited about my first half, but I was definitely not excited about my 2nd half. Of course, I was severely undertrained for that half, but still.

When I got home I dumped two bags of ice in some cold water and jumped slowly got into a very icy bath.

Oh man.

I stayed in until all the ice was melted. I think I was in for about 17 minutes or so. Long enough, I know that. whew. I read an old Runner’s World while I sat in my icey bath of torture. The only way I can get through that is knowing that I won’t be sore tomorrow.

 

Now I’m sitting on the couch and I don’t plan on moving for a while. I’m trying not to eat everything in the house, it’s difficult. 

Tomorrow will be a rest day. Maybe some yoga to stretch out, we’ll see what I have time for. We are going to Clermont to see my family (yay!!).

 

Happy Weekend, Y’all!!