Two Weeks to My First Half

Hey guys!  Still getting caught up with my training to this point.  Gonna try to knock it out this week.  If you have read any of my previous posts you know that I am training for the three Spartan races for 2015, better known as the, "trifecta" as well as the Marine Corps Marathon.  I've been running close to four months now and felt like it was a good time to see where I stand as far as capability.  I've done six miles several times and two eight milers in the same week, without feeling too bad.  Seemed like a good time to run a half.  I am still not confident enough to run a real one but wanted to go for the distance to see if I could do it and how I felt afterwards.

I should note one important thing that I have discovered up to this point.  Trails!!!  Running trails are awesome, I cannot begin to explain the pure enjoyment I receive from trail running.  You are so focused  on foot placement, trying to avoid stepping on a rock or root the wrong way.  This probably sounds a little juvenile and maybe I should keep it to myself but I want to keep this as honest as possible... I feel like an absolute bad ass doing it.  If you haven't given it a shot, find some trails and go run.  I think it's okay to feel like a bad ass, I'm not talking about beating someone up but a feeling I have never duplicated when exercising.  If your lucky like me, you will have some mountain trails you can run up and be rewarded with a beautiful view.  There are some nice websites dedicated to helping you find trails.  I can't recommend it enough, trail running has changed the way I feel about running.  Wanna see some true bad asses look no further, you can't go too far before you start reading about ultra-marathon runners like Scott Jurek.  These guys are truly amazing.  As Joey would say, "WOOW"!

I threw that in because I decided my first half-marathon distance would be done on trails and not your typical road warrior fashion.  I have only done six miles twice on trails and have never attempted thirteen miles, so I went into this with a lot of anxiety.  I wanted this bad, I mean I am getting ready to learn a lot about myself, real soon.  If I can do this, then a marathon has to be a true possibility; if I can't, then who knows what happens.  

Set my date two weeks out to start psyching myself up for the big event.  My first week leading up to it was when I did my two eight mile runs and one shorter run mixed with yoga and lifting.  The week leading up to my big run was scary.  My ankle was hurting from the first eight mile run and hurt on all three runs following it.  I did four short runs the week prior to my half and on my last two I decided I would try tapping my ankle to see if it helped with the pain.   I was starting to doubt myself and began to question whether I should do the run at all.  Luck would have it, the taping not only helped but I actually was walking around pain free the day I ran my half.

One last thing before my run.  I went out and bought a hydration pack and a gel pack just in case.  Didn't have any clue if I would need them but I didn't want to take any chances.  My time was here and I refused to fail now.  Look for my review on the hydration pack.  I found one that I liked and spent under a $100 on it.