Training does matter, a lot.

The past week was very busy. I took 3 days off from training to taper for the half marathon. Two of those days were spent traveling to and from Fargo. The girls really enjoyed touring NDSU and Nicki has pretty much decided thats where she is going. We drove up Thursday night and got to Fargo at 1:30 am Friday. Then up at 6 am to get ready and have breakfast. Then we drove back Friday afternoon. I got 6 hours of sleep Friday night. I don't function well with only 10 hours of sleep in a 48 hour period. Yes up at 5am Saturday to go to St. Cloud and run 13.1 miles. Oh joy! oh joy! What was I thinking? Lack of sleep and hours and hours of driving. This is the third year I have run this half marathon. In 2008 this was the first half marathon I ever ran.
Now my goal was to make sure I finished in under 3 hours. Last year I had done the marathon in 2:27, but I knew I was not up to running that fast.
I just realized a week went by and I did not finish this posting. I think I started it last Sunday or Monday. The end result was I could not keep up with Corrine and Jamie. Congratulations to them for an outstanding time! I believe it was 2:09. I couldn't even do the 5 and 1's. I actually dropped down to what I've been training at 3 and 1's. the results were not spectacular but better than I expected. I was 10 minutes slower than last year with way more walk breaks and two bathroom breaks. My time was 2:36.
Yesterday was sprint intervals with DS. I'm hoping to get my speed back up again. This morning my legs were certainly sore. I woke up at 5 and had to think really hard if I wanted to go run 10 miles. Yes I did. I was happy to join Roxie , Cheryl and Loren for a nice cold wet run through the park. The nice thing about out and back ...you have to go back so you have to finish.
At mile 8, my legs felt like lincoln logs. Good thing I had friends to keep running with!
I'm looking forward to strength training tomorrow, my legs usually feel better after I'm done.
Another busy week. My son Mike turns 20. Nicki has jewelry and maybe a clay project on display at Elk River High School Evening of the Arts. Minnetonka Half Marathon on Sunday.