Trying to Get Back to Respectable

1:03.51.  This was a very speedy run.  It was rainy and it was cool which allowed me to get through this quick and strong.  I hope that all the training I am doing for the marathon pays off for the half marathon.  I think that all the training will in fact be more helpful for the half then the full.  Again, the goal is to finish the full in under 4 hours which might be a stretch after seeing last year's winning time.  I think that there are lots of hills, obstacles and on a trail which will slow down the time some.  I just hope to do well and that will make me happy.  I want to focus on time when it comes to the half.  I am hoping to beat my best time of 1:34.  

 While my time today was good, I have a bit to go to bring it down to a 1:34.  Let's focus on the marathon first then go after that half.  

 Good day, cannot complain about this run.  Let's just hope everything stays together.

Was supposed to be an 18 miler.  Was not an 18 miler.  P!ssed off?  Yes I am.  Absolutely ridiculous that I barely could get half the run done.  I felt like garbage today, started the run late, it was hot, cramping up, tight muscles.  You name it, I had it today.  Boy does something like this shake your confidence.  How could I ever finish 26.2 miles when I cannot even finish 18.  Now my confidence is off and I need to hit this this time.  The only benefit of this is that I did not hurt myself.  

 Part of the issue today had to be all the hills, I am normally used to running in flat Bloomsburg but today I was in Kunkletown with tons of hills.  Still should have gotten a lot closer to the end then I already did.

 So irritated today wish this run did not happen like it did.  UGH!!!

Nice 5 mile tempo run today.  Felt pretty good considering my shoulder has been hurting for over a week now.  But this felt right.  I am starting to get some fear creep going on in my brain.  This week's long run is a 20 miler and I am dreading running it.  I start getting my doubts when I get to lengths like these.  

 I am pretty sure that I can finish this 20 miler and then it is a few simple workouts before the marathon.  I know that I will get major fear creep once I am thinking about the marathon.  The mind is a powerful tool and it can really mess with you if you let it and it always does with me come marathon time.  (Not to mention all of the injuries I have faced over the last few years)

So this was supposed to be a 20 miler and it ended up being a 19 miler.  I met up with an old work buddy at mile 10 and he said he had 8 to go.  Then we proceeded to run together for the majority of my run.  However, he took me up some killer hills and while I felt good until mile 15-16, it all went down hill from there.  I ended up needing to run up another hill to get home and struggled.  I ened up walking and jogging the last 2-3 miles.  I think that with proper hydration and some gels I should be able knock this thing out in a few weeks.  I had some concern about only getting 19 miles but the guy I ran with said he only ran 18 before his first marathon. 

Confidence is back up but I am still a little scared.  Good thing I have 2 weeks of cutting back and that should make things nice.  Nothing is stopping me know, I am going to nail this and be done with it.  The other plus is the guy from work is going to run this marathon and do it at a much slower pace so if I start to die, he can motivate me to keep going.  Good news all around.