For my joke of a training plan for getting ready for my half marathon in 2 weeks, I decided to run about 9 miles this weekend and then 10.5-11 next weekend. Since I have been super dreading running lately, I decided to take all the pressure off myself and just run for 90 minutes instead. Sure this will probably equal more than or less than 9 miles but since 9 miles is not a distance I am not all too lucky completing, maybe this was a good plan?? I was hoping that making this run not focused AT ALL on tempo would help matters… Also, I thought it might be a nice practice run for running with a camera and taking pictures?? (Practice for Disney of course!) I think I need to get back to the place I was before this summer started where I am not so concerned with speed and just see what happens. I think my body does better “surprising” me with a good pace instead of me expecting it? Probably leads back to an issue I have with always having too high of expectations (read if I meet my expectations, they somehow get higher so I still miss them??) Anyways so I have no idea if this new theory will hold up at the Haunted Hustle or for Disney but better to have no expectations then to miss them right?? So anyways, back to the run…
I was surprised by the lack of fall foliage colors?!
Did I make it nine miles? No clue and I really don’t care!
Did I run for 90 minutes, yup, that I did!
Did I keep my normal pace? No clue! Probably was running way slower than normal but again, I don’t care!
Did my stomach behave completely. Um, no, not quite but it was much better than last week so I’ll take that as a good sign! It just had to get all like “remember me!” around the half way point which made me question my there and back route I had planned so I headed closer to home just in case 
Little pond 
Because of this little re-route, I honestly have no idea where I was even running… I ended up finding a cute little side trail off the main running trail that took me past a little pond and through a really neat neighborhood. In all, I think this run was much better than any of my recent runs so that has me feeling much better about my future and upcoming half marathons. Hopefully I can at least finish them and enjoy myself along the way
It was quite excellent running weather today!
Another new to me running item today was a Clif Shot – Chocolate flavor. I honestly thought this was going to totally gross me out around mile 4.5 but instead…it tasted way too good! Like liquid brownie batter. I really liked this as a change up from the Clif Bloks that I love so much because it was slightly less sweet and/or was gone faster so the sweetness was not as prolonged. I’ll be picking up a few more of these this week at the grocery store and will try them out next weekend again. I noticed they have these at one grocery store we frequent but I have been having a really hard time finding the Clif Bloks so it will probably be a good thing to have a back up plan!!
Hi, my name is Kinley and I'm a chocoholic...
Time to go shower and get ready for a fun trip to the pumpkin patch I <3 Fall!
Yep – your expectations for yourself have always been HIGH!! It’s not so bad to lighten up a little : ) Your pix are a fun addition to the running story!! Have a great weekend!
Yeah, I know. Not sure I will ever fully change that though ?? And yes, I liked taking the pictures but too bad I also ended up dropping the camera twice… oops
Have you tried GU? I tihnk it’s the best and vanilla flavor is the BOMB! (better than Clif shots).
Glad your run went well! Have fun at the patch!
No, I have not! I will have to look for those next. For some reason I thought these gooey things were going to gross me out but I ended up really not minding it at all! Thanks for the tip
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