End of Week 16 Half Marathon training

It is the end of Week 16 in my training and I'm feeling more confident with each passing week.  The mileage keeps increasing and I keep attacking it with a strength I've never seen in myself before.  Let's take a look at the training for this week.

Tuesday: 30 minute run/walk
Thursday: 30 minute run/walk
Saturday: 11 mile long run

Tuesdays run didn't happen.  I just started taking a pilates class that I go to on Monday and Wednesdays and I'm LOVING the classes.  They are really working my core and legs, I have that good sore feeling after every class and I'm loving it.  Though this past Mondays class really worked my legs and they were kinda useless on Tuesday.  I have also been in meetings until late in the evening almost everyday, essentially killing any opportunity I have to run after work.

Thursdays run didn't happen either.  I spent the evening hanging out with my sister, a tradition we haven't been able to do in about a month.  I was intending on going on my run during lunch, but then those damn work meetings were stacked up so I only had 30 minutes inbetween, barely enough time to have lunch, let alone run!  

So with my week day runs being a bust this week, I was really looking forward to my weekend run.  Saturday was going to hold 11 miles for me and I was nervous.  I knew how much I hurt after 10 miles and I knew I needed encouragement.  So I was glad that I was able to get my friend Danielle to come out and run the second half of my 11 miles with me.

So Saturday morning I started out on my own.  It was a foggy morning (again) and really cold, like 33 degrees cold.  Brrr...

I was off and running on my own for a while.  It was quiet with TONS of runners around that morning.  So it was good to have so many people around!  The first 5 miles of my run were FANTASTIC!  I felt good, strong and fast!  I was able to get into a good rhythm and before I knew it I was running around 11 mi/min.  Which is really fast for me.  It was nice feeling so good that when my walk breaks came, I felt like I didn't need them, that I could run straight through them and be fine.  I did take my breaks, but I felt so good.

Right before I met up with Danielle (and our friend Erica came out for a short 4 miles) to finish my last 6 miles, I took some fuel and was feeling good.  I met up with the ladies and we all headed out on the trail again.  The further and further we went along, the worse and worse I was feeling.  Sluggish and achy.  My right hip was starting to really give me issues.  Not sure what it was, but it is still pretty stiff.  

Erica left us at 4 miles and Danielle and I continued for the last two miles.  I'm so glad that Danielle was there, those last two miles were tough, with the last one of course being brutal.  The distance seemed to tick off SO SLOWLY!  I felt like I was running in slow motion, it was painful.  Then, it was over.

 

I was done and 11 miles had been stomped.  I couldn't believe it.  Looking at this picture even now, I still can't believe it.  11 miles done.  By me and me alone.  No one did it for me.  I had company along the way, but I was the one who did the work and ran those miles.  I'm in awe of what my body has been able to accomplish, at how focused mentally I have become on these runs and how much confidence I have gained from all of this.  

It is more than just the miles, it is the knowledge and proof that you are able to make something so seemingly difficult to accomplish, attainable.  It really is a head game at times, the battle of wills mentally on what you can and won't do.  Your body is an amazing thing and can accomplish amazing feats, if only your mind will get out of its way!

To say I'm nervous about 12 miles on Saturday is an understatement.  Though I have come so far now, I don't want to stop.  It's in me now and I can't let go of it.  I've taken down 11, I'm going after 12 with a vengeance.