Last Sunday I ran the ING Atlanta Half Marathon my first road race. Going into the race the only thing that really bothered me was the strong possibility of rain that the forecast called for, but in the end the weather during the race ended up being perfect (post race it was freezing.) The first ten miles of the race my right knee was all "clicky" and in pain and really had me frustrated. Around mile 8 or 9 I reached a point where people who weren't suppose to passed me was passing me and that really ticked me off. I know i'm not a great runner but yeah I do have some pride. Going in to the race my goal was to run the entire race and come in under 2:05. At mile 10 I couldn't take the pain anymore and decided it would probably be more beneficial for me to stop and stretch than to keep struggling along. So, at the million dollar bathroom in Piedmont park, where we start some of our weekend long runs, I stopped and tried my best to stretch and it actually work. Coming out of the park on 10th street I felt like a completely different person and decided I would push that last 3.1 as hard as I could. I finished the last 3.1 in 27 minutes (a minute off of my best timed 5k) not winded feeling like I had a few more miles in me which is encouraging, though I wish I would have felt better a little earlier 2:05 was definitely a attainable goal. I actually think I could have went sub 2 hours but talking to others my time of 2:13 isn't bad for my first road race ever. So i'm encouraged looking forward.
The encouragement given by my clubmates has been awesome. Not to mention the impressive times they put up in this race. There is a general consensus that I should race more often to raise my confidence in my running ability. Which after hearing a few times I agree with. This whole endurance thing is still relatively new to me. When the idea of not being able to do something creeps in during a run, i'm pretty much doomed. Racing more often would definitely teach me to manage those thoughts.
Since the race my training has looked like this:
- Sunday - ING 13.1 @2:13:36
- Monday- Yoga on Lunch, Swim 2000m
- Tuesday- Pilates on lunch, TNR 4.8 @:43
- Wednesday- Morning Swim 1300m, Afternoon Swim 1400m, Hour Spin
- Thursday- Pilates
And the weekend will be a complete drunken good time. Just so happen this is the weekend of my annual 21st Birthday. Starting monday I intend on following the training schedule as best I can, actually spending some quality time on my bike so I don't DNF at Gulf Coast Triathlon but it's party time this weekend. I dipped my feet into the waters last night going to a salsa set to see friends I never get to see. It really has me excited for the weekend now. Here's to a DUI free, nobody going to jail good time weekend.
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