The confidence booster.

Today I had 11 miles on my original training plan but for the past 3-4 weeks I've been modifying the plan based on where I am now, compared with where I was when I started training. I felt the need, desire and ability to run another 13 miler so that's what I ran. And, I decided to stick in 4 miles at race pace in the middle and to try to finish with a fast last mile.

When I was getting ready to run, though, Mother Nature decided she was not going to go easy on me today. It was cool, very windy and there was something falling from the sky. Not quite snow, not really rain -- pellets of ice? Sleet? Hail? Whatever it was it was annoying and I didn't want to run in it.

But it stopped so I finished getting ready and after putting the baby down for a nap I headed out the door to start my 13 miles. And it started to sleet/hail again. For just the first five or so minutes of my run but still.

Anyway, I wasn't about to turn around (even though with the wind I was a little tempted) so I ran on. Here's a look at my 13 miles.

I ran the first 5 miles nice and easy, without looking at my Garmin, just running by feel:

Mile 1: 10:33
Mile 2: 9:29
Mile 3: 9:21
Mile 4: 9:18
Mile 5: 9:35

My plan was then to pick up the pace to run at my goal race pace of 8:30 for 4 miles:

Mile 6: 8:17
Mile 7: 8:28
Mile 8: 8:57
Mile 9: 8:27

Then I wanted to slow back down to an easy pace for the next 3 miles:

Mile 10: 9:23
Mile 11: 9:46
Mile 12: 9:27

And finish (somewhat) strong:

Mile 13: 8:50

Total: 1:59:22

I am super pleased with how this run went. I missed my goal race pace by 2 seconds (wanted 8:30, ran 8:32 overall pace) but I'll take it because this was a hard run. I don't know if my mile repeats from earlier in the week caught up to me or if it was the whipping wind that I faced during most of the run but, man, this was a tough one! It took a while for my legs to feel loose and once they did it was just about time to speed up.

Oddly, my race pace miles were the best miles of the whole run. I wanted to keep going but knew that I shouldn't. My plan was not to race this training run, just give myself a feel of the pace. A confidence-booster, if you will.

Now there are two weeks to race day. I feel so completely ready for this race! I'm going to be nervous on race day, for sure. But I know I can go the distance and I know I can push it. What remains to be seen is how hard.

I'm off to enjoy the rest of the weekend. Hope you all have a great one!

~ Felice