with 8wks of training under my belt I knew I wasn't capable of anything near my PR but I needed to get an idea of where I'm at with only 5wks to go til Eugene
My coach gave me the goal of 1:35. Considering I only ran 3 13 milers in the last year (which were all in the last 8wks), I was a tad unsure if I could run 7:15 pace for 13 miles.
I arrived at the race, met up with some Team Athena ladies, ran a quick 1.5mile warm up and headed to the start line.
First 2 miles were 7:27 and 7:24 and to tell you the truth I was feeling like THIS pace would be challenging to hang on to so the question in my mind was "how am I going to get down 15seconds faster than this?". I knew I wanted to try though so I cut my pace down as I headed into mile 3 and by mile 4 I was feeling it.
WHICH MEANT.....it's going to be a long 9 more miles...BUT I knew I could stay where I was at....I definitely couldn't go faster but I would hold where I was at as long as I could.....
Mile 3: 7:15
Mile 4: 7:10
The next few miles winded along the path along the river...no real strong wind which was nice...I could hear a girl behind me from mile 2 on that had somoene with her telling her to pass me up the hill (a little climb at mile 3) so I made sure to NOT let her pass me there. I didn't know how long I could hold her off though.
Mile 5: 7:11
Mile 6: 7:11
as we headed into mile 7 and 8 we had a good climb which really wiped my legs out and as I headed back on the turn around had my slowest mid race run...this was mile 9 when two girls from behind caught up with me.
Mile 7: 7:09
Mile 8: 7:12
(that's me below at about mile 7.5.....)
the 3 of us ran together in a pack for 2 miles...they were both trying to get in under 1;35 which sounded perfect to me but I didn't know how long I could keep up the pace....I was REALLY feeling it...my legs were TIRED!
Mile 10: 7:11
Mile 11: 7:18
At Mile 11.2 EXACTLY my legs just totally fizzled. I sort of expected this to happen b/c I didn't have the mileage under my belt OR the longer runs.....the girls took off and I just couldn't keep up. At this point, my instinct was to either throw in the towell and just slow down alot or keep as little a gap as possible between them and me.
I chose the latter.
Mile 12: 7:15
I can't tell you HOW HARD I had to work to keep this pace
Mile 13: 7:18
I could see the clock and that I was already at 1:35 so I pushed as hard as I could
last .15 was 6:28 pace
I finished in 1:35:25......7:17 pace. I got 7:15 on my watch b/c it showed I ran 13.15
I met the goal my coach gave me. I stayed positive. I kept steady pace. I fought hard at the end when I could have quit.
But more than anything....this race finally gave me my DRIVE back! I feel more determined now than ever to get back into REAL training!
I only have 5wks til Eugene and my coach and I both feel that a sub 1:30 is not realistic so I'm going ot try to PR on my 1:32 and then i'll run another about 6-8wks later and hopefully be able to run my A goal then:):)
* Oh...and sort of exciting and unexpected but I signed up my husband and I for a marathon on Sept.28.
NO goal time....just for me to get through ONE marathon HEALTHY. THAT is my goal. I just want to run 26miles with no pain and if I can do that...THEN I'll consider running another:)