8 miles today ... whoo-hoo! This is my 2nd week at the 8-mile distance and I'm glad to have conquered what is normally a big mental hurdle, not once but twice. We had an overcast, but humid morning and I was very thankful for the lack of sun ... especially on one stretch where the sun normally beats down and can make things very miserable.
I felt really good for the 1st four miles or so. We Gu'ed a little before 4 miles, then turned around to make our way back. I think it was around 7 miles or so when I felt a little tired and excuse me for what I need to say here, but I was having some stomach issues. To the point that I really thought about trying to figure out where a bathroom would be on the last mile. In the apartment complex by the pool? I knew I wasn't stealthy enough to find a tree on this route, but I was honestly a bit worried that I would have to run past everyone and jump in my car to speed away to a restroom.
Luckily for me (and for everyone else!), that feeling subsided and I was able to finish the run, get back to the car, drink some Gatorade and stretch. Whew! By the way, a blowout during the race is my #1 fear because I used to have a co-worker tease me about it AND one of my friends witnessed it happen at a marathon and the guy finished the race in poopy shorts. I am sorry to say, unless I could find a sink, soap, and a new pair of shorts on the race, I'm stopping and someone can bring my humiliated self to the finish.
Anyway, enough about my poop-paranoia ...
I felt good today. My knees were a little tender at around 6 miles or so, but overall it was a good run.
I heard some of the girls talking about goal times and while that is something that I am normally all about, I really haven't been thinking about it much. I have a time in my head that I would like to beat, but I really need to see if it's feasible with the pace I've been running. I hope that I can finish this race and really not walk with the exception of water stops, and most importantly, feel good while doing so. My husband has been talking to me about using pacing bracelets to stay on pace, but it scares me that it will just freak me out if I'm off pace. I don't know if I'm really at a point in my running to start really worrying about my time or if I should just stay in my "happy place" and just run to finish and not worry about it. Part of me feels like the whole point of running is to be faster, more efficient (thank you Liz for the buzz word), and a better runner. Not sure if I'm doing a lot to be a better, faster runner. But, most importantly ... I'm out there running a minimum of three times a week which is something that I haven't been able to say in a long time. Plus, I have to admit that I'm pretty impressed with myself to have two young children and do this too. I feel that most of us in our class are in the same boat as me to balance career, family, and all the other obligations and I think that we are all doing a stellar job.
Whew ... what ramblings are going on this morning. As I type, I just noticed that one of my twins has taken off her PJ pants and is swinging them around. Obviously, it's time to wrap this up!
DISTANCE / TIME: 8 miles, 1:31:40 / 11:27 pace
FUEL: 1 slice whole wheat bread, peanut butter, banana and water. 1 Gu on the run
WHAT I WORE: Brooks shorts, Moving Comfort top, new Brooks shoes, Nike hat.
HOW I FELT: See above
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