Training has continued as planned so far. I have changed things up a bit by adding another run day to the schedule and taking out my extra rest day. So far so good. I made the change because in March I am running the Seabrook Marathon's Pelican Challenge which is back to back Halfs. The training intent is to learn how to run on already tired legs. As of today I am 47.12 miles into the month.
Over the Veteran's day weekend I ran the Clear Lake City Half. Here's how that went. Left the hotel at 5, picked up my chip, went for a warm up run and BANG hit the start! New course meant this race was out and back instead of looped which I used to my advantage. I took off easy letting my body naturally increase it's pace. As I neared the water stop between miles 4 and 5 the lead runners were already coming back so I started cheering them on as I headed towards the turn around. My pace increased, the distraction kept me moving without thinking about what my feet were doing. I even ran into one of the moms in the MRTT group, there were 3 of us out there but I had never meet either of them so it was good to have a "friendly" on the course; only after the pics of the race were posted did I find out who the other mother was and I wish I had know it was her when I past her since it looked like she was struggling and maybe a little extra "woop woop" could have helped her, next time. By the time I got to the turn around I was running well under the 12m/m I had planned so I decided to slow down and try to conserve my energy before I completely bonked. I kept up with the cheering until I past the last person on their way to the turn around and focused on passing the runners ahead of me. I started picking rabbits, running to them, passing and picking another one, giving them a little "You're doing great" or "Great Job" I even stopped to chat with one runner about the LaPorte half next weekend. Man I want to run it, next year. Anyways I finally "ran" the half marathon that was in my head my first time out. I stuck to my 9:1 intervals, kept to my nutrition plan (which I am now adjusting) and when I hit the 13th mile I was able to pick up my feet even more and cross the finish in... 2:36:44... 4:42 under my time from the Houston Half and just under what my goal was for the entire season. It was a good day for me in Clear Lake. And now the real work begins. New goal setting for one. WTF do I work towards now? I don't want to go out and kill it next month at the BCS Half but I kind of feel like I have to now. I am thinking I may set my goal for an even 2:35 or maybe not.
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| Medals for the Clear Lake City Half, Macho Man for running CL and AHCHM, CL in center and the "I Rocked 39.3" guitar for finishing CL, AHCHM and the Sugar & Spice Half |
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