Breaking Dougle Digits

Make my Morning Link Up!

I did it!  I ran more than 10 miles yesterday.  I planned on it (sort of.  I WANTED to do it, but wasn't sure I could, so I planned my route in a way that would give me a couple chances to head home early.)  My training plan called for 8 miles...but last week my long run was over 8 miles, and I know that I could have done the 9 from this week, but 9.3 is the longest I've ever run, the Boilermaker.  I had my best recovery this year from the race.  I was back out and running the same week, which was a first since I ran my first one three years ago.  I have been scared though that that was it.  That was as far as I could go.  I knew once I broke ten miles in a training run, it would seem so much more likely that I could actually make it to 13.1, and the weather was relatively cool and humidity was low-ish (not low like I hope it will be on race day, but I could breathe), so I set my RunKeeper to a 5 minute warm up, five 2 mile segments and a cool down.  I did pretty much the same out and back I usually do, but tacked on an out and back side road I usually just turn around at, I ran the whole road (well, I did walk on of the hills.  Funny how big they are when you are running and I never notice them when driving it!).  I have RunKeeper turned to announce my time, but not my mileage, as I found that kind of makes me feel tired to think about how much I've already done, or to think about how far I have to go.  Boilermaker time has always been around 1:45, so I figured I would be running at least 2 hours, so I checked the display as I got closer to the time, and to my surprise, when I finally checked I was more than a mile away from home but had less than a mile to run!  I ran all the way to the driveway and hit stop.  Final total:  10.3  Awesome!  I really, honestly feel like I can do the half now.  This morning I feel fine...a little stiff in my knees and hips, but no head aches yesterday and I even went grocery shopping and to dinner at my in laws house.  I did sleep in my compression socks last night, and I think it helped with those lower leg/calf cramps I get sometimes after a long run once I'm sleeping, since I don't think I woke up at all last night.  I'm so relieved!

I also recorded the distance as my final marathon run on Run With Jess's track meet.  It was so much fun to do something I knew other runners were doing during the Olympics, and also it added variety to my work outs, and in Friday's case, got me on the treadmill because I thought I needed the mileage (after yesterday though, I didn't).  I won't be increasing my long run this week.  I'm running a 10K this Friday night.  I've heard it's pretty hilly, and I'm sure it will not be cool weather, but I'm excited to see if I can break an hour. 

Sunday: 10.3
Week: 10.3
August 32.3 (look at that total shoot up!)