The February 2016 Running Challenge

5BeautifulDays wrote: »

My half marathon story isn't anything exciting much, but I am really proud of what I accomplished. My goal going in was to finish with as little walking as possible, and be fit to spend the next couple days vacationing with my daughter (the trip was a belated birthday gift). My official time was 2:56:44, which isn't where I wanted it to be, but my gps said that I completed 13.5 in 2:49 (I stopped it for bathroom breaks--the lines were long). I was a little sore right after, but a nice hot shower and some stretching sorted me out and I probably walked an additional 8+ miles over the next two days without any stiffness or soreness.

I did not push my speed at all--just ran at a comfortable pace. I'd never run more than 12 miles before the event and I was quite concerned about running out of steam before the end. My goal going forward will be to slowly increase the speed of my long runs, I think, but I'll be dialing back the length of those runs for some time. I'd really like to get my 5 and 10 k speeds up before I contemplate running another half (I might go back and do the Disney one in November, but I'm fairly convinced that these races *can't* really be about speed for the non-elite runner--there are just too many people in the way, almost the entire way)

Things I'd do differently: Not carry water--there were plenty of water stops (I didn't use my fuel--might have wanted them if I was running faster, though)
Not stop to pee, even if I think I really, really need to. I didn't. I was just nervous. And the potties are disgusting.
Push myself to run faster in the wider spots, because the narrow spots jammed up so much that I couldn't really run at the pace I'd prefer.

Since the race, I've of course been at the hospital. My son is not capable of managing his diabetes independently due to his autism, so in my newly-acquired job as his pancreas, I expect I'll have far less training freedom for the near future, at least. I won't lie and say that it isn't bothering me--both the fear for his health and the loss of my own freedom. But I expect we will eventually fall into some sort of new normal. Today we started that, as he got home last night. I managed a short run at the gym and it felt delicious. So here we go...

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1/31 Rest
2/1 6.25 @ 12.00 on the treadmill
2/2 3.5 (3 @ 11:50 and .5 walking) and strength training
2/3 Rest day
2/4 10.25 @ 11:46 on the treadmill.
2/5 Planned rest day--taking my daughter on her first college visit!
2/6 5 @ 10:35 on the treadmill
(25/25 for the week)

2/7 Rest
2/8 5 @ 11:23 on the treadmill. Knees were giving me a little trouble at the beginning but warmed up ok.
2/9 3.25 @ 10:46 on the treadmill and strength training
2/10 11 @ 12:00 on the treadmill. Dear goodness golly that was awful.
2/11 Rest
2/12 6.25 @ 11:23 on the treadmill.
2/13 Rest
(25.5/25 for the week)

2/14 No race day-- -7windchill too cold for wimpy me
2/15 5 @ 12 ish on the treadmill-saurus in my basement since we're having another stinking snow day
2/16 5 @ 12 ish on the treadmill at home. My legs/ankles/whatever are not feeling great today
2/17 5 @ 11 on the treadmill at the gym and strength training.
2/18 5 @ 10:45 on the treadmill at the gym
2/19 Walked around the Magic Kingdom
2/20 Walked around Epcot
(20/20 for the week)

2/21 13.5 @ 12:32 Disney Princess Half Marathon. See notes above.
2/22-25 Sitting in a hospital with a very ill boy
2/26 3.25 @ 10:38 on the treadmill
2/27
(16.75/20 for the week)