October 7, 2011 TEN!

While running my farthest ever last week, I promised myself, "This is it. Nothing longer other than the half! Promise! No more of this craziness. This is far enough for training. Okay? Promise? Deal? Yeah, if I can get through this 8 miles, that's enough!"

That was a week ago. During the day yesterday, I went to the RunningAhead.com site that my buddy John Catania showed me. It's where I can plot and measure different distances. It's great. So, I got a little crazy. I thought, "8 miles is good. But what does 10 miles look like? How far east in Westerville must I go to add enough distance to make it 10?" So, I calculated a route and decided to break my promise from a week earlier.

Yesterday was unseasonably warm. Like, summer warm. When I ventured out after work it was 77! Still, I headed out. It was okay. Take it slow. Take it slow. I had my bottle filled with Gatorade and brought a GU packet. The run was long. Still, I took it slow. Main to Schrock. Schrock to Spring. Then, Spring all the way up to Maxtown. Keep pushing. Keep pushing. Take it slow. Don't stop. Drink when waiting at traffic lights. Keep pushing. The sun is setting. Getting cooler. Nice. Keep pushing. Aches. That's okay.

Keep pushing.

And then, I was done. I ran 10+ miles!

Okay, only shorter runs until the half ... which is in just 9 days! Still, I had run 10 miles!

10 miles!

October 4, 2011 8.26!

I need to run farther. (Or is it further?) I found a half-training schedule on the Columbus Marathon web site that said that I should have reached 10 miles by the beginning of August. Oooof. I'm not even close. Of course, I rationalize, that schedule is for people who really want to place in their time category. I just want to finish, I tell myself. And that sounds just fine.

After all, this is my first half.

Still, I want to break 8 miles. So, on Thursday of last week, September 29 (I'm almost caught up with this blog), I head out. Down to Schrock. Across State to Otterbein Avenue and all the way up to McCorkle. I take a GU packet before heading out and, this time, have my new hand-held water bottle filled with Gatorade. The Gatorage helps. I can feel it removing the aches every time I take a swig. Very cool, the body. I finish the route just as the rain starts. 8.26 miles ... a new outside record! And when I stop I am NOT winded. A far cry from February.

I am now satisfied at where I'm at, feeling that I can run almost 2/3 of the half. "Race day" will have Gatorade stops, sections that I may walk, and enough adrenaline to fuel my fire.

I am ready! God keep me from injuries!