Well...today was the day. 13 miles on the list. I have to say I am pretty proud of myself for pretty much writing my own training lately....not that there is much to it, but each week I've laid out my runs and I've stuck to it! I'm at 38 miles today and 2 more runs to go. I'm on track for a sweet 50 mile week and it feels SO good that I have motivated myself to do this.
I plan to build my mileage the next 3 mos, like I never have before. I want to get up to 60-65 mile weeks of JUST base and maybe a few light workouts. I have never run more than 59 miles in a week and that was one week during my marathon training.
Unlike most of the women around me, I have NOT been running for years. I have been running for ONE year (with 2.5 mos off for a stress fracture). before that I had 1.5yrs of running under my belt, but really NOTHING. if you can count 15miles a week INCONSISTENTLY sometimes with 3-4 mos off at at time...it's just NOT really a base at all. SO...my goal is to get a BASE! I have 10wks under my belt right now (and 7 mos of training before my stress fracture) of JUST base mileage and hope to keep on that for the next 3 mos before marathon training begins:)
So TODAY, was 13 miles!!! I was excited!
Stephanie planned to run with me and we actually convinced Amanda to come out with us! SO glad she did!
we met at Omsi at 2:30pm and took off. Plan was I would set the pace and we start off SLOW and cut down bit by bit to make it a great PROGRESSION RUN, hopefully ending in a 7:30 mile.
WE did really great!
we all helped each other stay on track at diff times.
My legs were tired by mile 6, but again, having 2 inspiring women with you keeps you going even when you don't want to:):)
WE stayed above 8 min miles until mile 8 and then slowly cut down.
With 1 mile to go, Amanda (ugh Amanda! lol) says "So (in her peppy little voice, lol), are we going to go for a sub 7min mile for this last mile?" to which I rolled my TIRED eyes and said " YOU CAN! I'm happy right here".....but as soon as the words escaped my mouth, I KNEW I am too competitive with MYSELF to let my friends take off and be a lazy pooh-head and then feel like the loser who didn't have the guts to push herself.
So, because of this, I was HOPING they wouldn't really do it...but sure enough...they both took off!!! grrrrr....
It took me a while to catch up, but I did.
I wanted to quit. I didn't WANT to push that hard. I wanted to be complacent!!!
BUT these 2 beautiful women and runners inspired me to push my limits and I'm so thankful!
Mile 13: 6:50. Bring it!
So tired...but I did it. And when I was driving home, all I could think was "if I was alone, I would have convinced myself that I "COULDN'T" run that last mile that fast. But I did, which means my mind would have been lying to me."
And it was a GREAT lesson for me that I will remember in my upcoming 5K and half marathon.
I can do hard things.
&
I can always give a little bit more!.
Mile splits:
mile 1 8:47
mile 2 8:45
mile 3 8:15
mile 4 8:45
mile 5 8:11
mile 6 8:10
mile 7 8:29
mile 8 7:51
mile 9 7:53
mile 10 7:50
mile 11 7:43
mile 12 7:42
mile 13 6:50
So....the answered prayers part of this post is THIS:
I have been Praying and searching for running partners who push me and inspire me and challenge me for a long time! I feel like they've finally been answered.
I wish every woman could feel and have what I have with these women. I feel like they love and support me unconditionally. I don't feel like we COMPETE with each other, but rather we COMPEL each other - to be OUR best and push our limits.
I continually learn from them. I have especially learned from Amanda to be humble and to not be afraid to face my weaknesses and put them out there. To be vulnerable.
I get so much more out of running than just running. I have learned so much from SO many of you!
There are few more of you who have really touched my life and I HOPE you know who you are.
To each of you, I say THANK YOU. Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for not judging me. Thank you for seeing the goodness in me and looking past the Goop!
2012, you better watch out, cause I'm on FIRE!