First half marathon distance!

Today I decided to see how long I could run at 8 mph (7:30 mile). So I started running on the treadmill. And to steal from the great philosopher, Forest Gump, I just kept on running - though not as far as he did.

I completed a half marathon, 13.1 miles, in 1:38:14!!!! This is 6:46 under my goal time! Looks like I need a new goal... Maybe not, running without the treadmill in my first half marathon race on February 26 will be a big enough challenge!

For now I will enjoy accomplishing my first of two running goals for this year, next the full marathon 26.2 miles! But I have until July for that...

Updated 2012 Season

I have made some changes to my racing calendar, currently it looks like i'm going to run in about 13 events this year (plus any fun runs I pick up during the year). Below is the list with links to events - sign up and run with me!

February

• 2/26: Tricities Half Marathon - http://www.tricitieshalf.com/

March

• 3/24: Ephrata Canal Caper 10K - http://www.active.com/running/ephrata-wa/ephrata-canal-caper-2012

April

• 4/21: Wenatchee Half Marathon - http://www.wenatcheemarathon.com/

May

• 5/6: Bloomsday 12K - http://www.bloomsdayrun.org/
• 5/12: Grand Coulee Over the Dam Run Half Marathon - http://trifreaks.com/OverTheDamRun.aspx
• 5/20: Rock and Roll Portland Half Marathon - http://runrocknroll.competitor.com/portland
• 5/26: Moses Lake Spring Fest 10K - http://www.buduracing.com/events_detail.php?e=749

June

• 6/9: Moses Lake Run For Your Life 10K - http://www.buduracing.com/events_detail.php?e=813
• 6/16: Pendleton Eastern Oregon River Run 15K - http://www.eosportstraining.com/eoriverrun.html

July

• 7/4: Foot Traffic Flat Marathon in Portland at Suave Island - http://www.foottraffic.us/flat/

August

• 8/25: Pendleton Highway to Well Half Marathon - http://www.eosportstraining.com/highwaytowell.html

September

• 9/21-22: Hells Canyon Relay from Baker City to LaGrande - http://www.hellscanyonrelay.com/

October

• A marathon to end the season, one of...
• 10/6 Leavenworth October Fest Marathon - http://www.leavenworthmarathon.com/ or
• 10/27 Columbia River Marathon in Umatilla - http://www.columbiarivermarathon.com/ or
• 10/28 Tricities Marathon - http://tricitiesmarathon.com/

That will make a relay, three 10K, a 12K, a 15K, five half marathons and two marathons. And possibly any 5K fun runs that come up along the way! Run with me!

So I cheated...

Today's workout was 95 minutes of hard sprints followed by jogs... I started yesterday and about 32 minutes in felt sick, stopped for a break and broke out in hives... I don't think I had enough water. So today I tried again, but instead of starting at the beginning, I just picked up where I left off and did the last 63 minutes... That's probably cheating... But I felt much better on today's run and I finished :-D

200 miles!!!!

Today I hit 200 miles (exactly!) of marathon training! I have run a total time of 28:21:26 or an 8:30 average mile.

However, the second hundred miles was in 13:17:40 over just 2 weeks! That gives the second hundred an average mile of 7:59, one second ahead of my half marathon goal!

I also have signed up for my first run I the year - the Tricities Half Marathon on February 24. I'm ready for the season to begin!

10 miles down, 3.1 to go!

Today's long run was 10 miles. I'm getting closer each week to my first half marathon distance of 13.1. My time was 1:20:00, which is an 8:00 mile, also my half marathon goal pace. If I can run the last 3.1 miles in 24:48 I'll hit my goal!

Finally!

The workout was simple - 3 mile sprint followed by 4 mile jog, all in 50 min (average of 7:08 mile). After taking five days off for Christmas, this was the hardest workout by far I've done yet! It took me three tries to successfully complete it, but I finally did it! Now I'm beat, but I did it!

I heard a runner once say "it hurts so much and feels so good, only a runner can understand" it is so true!

Glad tomorrow is a short 4 mile jog!