Today, as part of our half-marathon training, we were scheduled to run the JFK 20k out of Georgetown on the C&O Canal. I really have come to hate the C&O canal path. Though the mileage was 12.4, we were only supposed to use this as a training run and just run 10 miles. Check out the route below. It was an up-and-back. We ran out to Bethesda and then turned around and headed back to DC. I had no idea going into the run that on the way out you run a consistent 3-4 grade incline. Who knew?
As I got to the 5 mile turnaround point marked for our training group, I decided to go a little further...and then a little further...and then this dude said the turnaround was just over this ridge. I decided to just go for it since I was so close. Unfortunately his idea of just over the ridge was MUCH different from mine. Let me tell you ---- there is a BIG difference between 10 miles and 12.4 miles. I ended up walking for a minute at the 10 mile mark and again at the 11 mile mark. I was tired and a bit lonely. Since so many folks used the race as a 10 mile training run and turned around early, I was in an area between the faster runners and the stragglers. Being by yourself really sucks and even more so if you don’t have an iPod.
I am glad that I was able to get my miles in and feel more confident going into the Miami half-marathon. I also was able to use my new Garmin and start to get used to using it efficiently. I loaded the data and started reviewing it this afternoon. It’s so cool to see your splits, the elevation and overlapping your heart rate on top of these figures. Fascinating.
Overall, I was not pleased by my time or endurance today, but I have to keep reminding myself that this was not a race. I didn’t run it as a race. There was no strategy. The goal was just to stress my feet and muscles to get used to the distance.
I’ll start tapering tomorrow as I get ready for the warmer weather and flat course in Miami. Here’s to hoping that I am able to improve my half-marathon time.
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