Uncharted Territory.

So this morning, per my marathon training plan, I was scheduled to run 14 miles.  I probably “ran” 14 miles last time I attempted marathon training but I can almost guarantee the last 3-4 miles were not pretty… and most likely involved feelings of dying and almost all walking.  So needless to say, I was a bit freaked out about running this morning.  It also did not help that the weather was a total creep yesterday and dumped some snow on us for no reason  Well, OK, fine, I guess it is Winter so I supposed I should not be quite to offended by a little snow… but still!  Not on Saturdays, PLEASE!!  Adding all these things together, I was REALLY nervous about starting this run this morning…

Before...

Well, 2:26 later, I had finished running 14 miles!!  I really can’t believe it!  And I also am kind of surprised that I never felt like I was not going to be able to finish.  I am not by any means implying this run was “easy” but rather no harder than I expected maybe?  I found that running in the snow was much harder than running on clean pavement though so my pace was a bit slower than normal but I still finished all 14 miles faster than my goal time today of 2:30!  I actually think running a slower pace than “normal” helped me avoid hitting that point in the run where you just want it to be over but yet realize there is so much left… the “wall” some may call it?

Anyways, here are my splits from this morning:

Mile 1: 10:14
Mile 2: 9:48
Mile 3: 10:05
Mile 4: 10:23
Mile 5: 10:39
Mile 6: 11:24 <- Chocolate Clif Shot!
Mile 7: 10:45
Mile 8: 10:12
Mile 9: 10:34
Mile 10: 9:55
Mile 11: 11:11 (Make a wish?) <- Mocha Clif Shot!
Mile 12: 9:49
Mile 13: 10:08
Mile 14: 11:02

Really not bad splits at all considering the snow and cold!

A few things I realized this morning…a) I should have brought twice as many Kleenex b) my water completely froze around mile 9/10 so I ended up getting a little side stich at mile 13 (I normally get these when I am dehydrated), c) while putting Aquaphor all over your face anything but attractive, it works really well at keeping your face and lips from getting cold! and d) I am finding a new appreciation for Mocha Clif shots.  The little caffeine boost seems to work well to power through the last few miles!

Soooo cold!

I know it is way too early to let this run predict anything about my ability to finish the marathon in May, but it has shown me that this year and this time around for training, things are different.  I know now that I am going to be able to complete most of my runs.  Yes, I realize some will not go as well as others but I now am confident in the fact that things are very different this time than they were in 2010 when I tried training for a marathon.  Because this morning, I ran 14 miles!  And in the snow and the cold!  And I never once wanted to give up! Hopefully the runs from here on out are at least a little bit warmer

Happy Saturday!

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