Today I woke up or I should say set my alarm for 4:30. I fell back asleep and got up at 5:00. At 5 I felt a little stressed because I was already out of routine, but I must have needed the sleep. I made my way downstairs, made some coffee, ate my usual egg muffin sandwich(Weight Watchers) and chilled for a while checking my blogs and doing some reading. Around 6:00 I got myself assembled in my gear, gathered my GU gelpacks, drank some last minute water and headed out. I planned on running with my waterbelt, but when I arrived I did not see too many people wearing one so I figured at that moment to try to run without it. I-74 was busy as my way across and by the time I parked and found my place to start the race it was 7:15. I was cold and at some brief moment before the race I realized that
1. I can do this race
2. I have prepared hard to get to this point and nothing is going to stop me
All my negative doubts that I had during the week erased from my memory and I was focused. The race too off and I felt good. Adrenaline was flowing like crazy and it took me a about 30 second to get to the starting line once the cannon went off. I ran the first mile in 8:12 and thought so far so good. The second mile I ran 8:05 pace and still felt great. I think it was this mile that I finally began to sweat. It was so cool to run over I-74, but I did not know that the bridge moved so much and I thought I was going to barf at one point. The third mile I still held a good pace running around 8:13 mile pace and then for the next few miles I really picked it up. I was running faster than I have ever ran before. I ran mile 4 7:50 pace, mile 5 at 7:58, mile 6 at 7:53, mile 7 at 7:55, mile 8 at 7:57. From this point on I quite marking my Garmin watch and just ran as I started to focus on the watch more than just enjoying the race. Additionally, my Garmin data after this point is messed up as I thought I stopped my watch when I finished, but actually did not hit the button and it kept recording my time for almost .8 of a mile as I walked around finding water and food.
When I look back to my blog post on May 30th, I entered the following goals
To achieve this goal I have created checkpoint goals
Goal #2: Spend the last week and the next two weeks to build a base of running where I am putting in 15 miles each week to establish a foundation
** I completed 13 miles this week and feel good making 15 this week**
Goal #3: Follow a half marathon 12 week workout when the timing presents itself. So, I will need to start this training in mid July when it is nice and cool. HA!
Goal #4: To stay motivated for the training for the half marathon I will run the Bix 7 and keep me focused up until mid July
These four goals all lead to my ultimate goal
Ultimate Goal: run the entire Chicago Urbanathlon without walking.
I have a good plan(at least I think I do) to get things going. That is always the first step. I have gone back to really trying to eat healthy. I think I will need to shed about 13-15 lbs in order for my joints to hold up. I have lost a few lbs just this week so headed in the right direction. I will keep you posted.
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