NOW it's Official

I have said it aloud to a few people, but I don't feel like it is actually official until I put it in writing. So here it is....

I AM RUNNING A HALF MARATHON (13 MILES) ON APRIL 24TH

My friend talked me in to doing it with her. At first I thought she was crazy but I decided to start the training program anyway. After the first few miles (3-4) I still thought it was impossible to ever run a full 13 miles. But now that I've been running more than three miles 4 days a week it is getting easier and easier.

After almost 3 weeks of training I think of the 2 mile days as a complete breeze. Yesterday I had energy to spare after running 4 miles. I can see the light at the end of the tunnell and I think 13 miles might actually be possible.

Of course training during an Illinois winter isn't the greatest. In just three weeks time I have run through the rain once and the snow twice. I've splashed mud all over my pants and run in short sleeves because it was so warm (50). Its a roller coaster, that's for sure. I have learned a few things along the way.

#1: Running is 99% mental. If you think you can do it, and you train correctly. You CAN do it.

#2: Food is an essential part of running. When I run in the morning on an empty stomach I am dragging. I can barely make it. But if I run in the afternoon, about 3 or 4 hours after lunch, I have loads of energy. (Too bad the race is in the morning. Not sure what to do about that yet.)

#3: Running in a soft snow of big flakes is peaceful and fun. Running in a blowing snow of small sleet balls is not so great. My clothes were soaked and so was my hair. I was inhaling so much snow that I must have been super hydrated, but keeping it out of my eyes was another issue. I could barely see. I had to look straight down at my feet instead of up the road....oh well that kept me from seeing the "what an idiot" look on the faces of the drivers going by.

So this weekend I'll be running 5 miles. That will be the furthest I've ever run in my entire life and will bring my total miles for the week up to 12 miles. Amazingly I can't wait! I'm excited for the challenge, and I want to prove to myself that I really can do it.

I'll let you know how it goes.

If you are interested in training of any kind of race from a 5K to a Marathon you can find a training schedule if you Google "Hal Higdon Training Schedule".