well...it is confirmed now...I am registered for the Half Marathon. I waited until today to see how my 10-mile race went and gauge if this was a real goal. After the race I do think at the pace I was running I could have did just 3 more miles, lol.

Last night #2

I usually go run in the mornings on tuesdays, but I was kinda tired from day #1, so I waited until the evening again. The plan called for a hilly workout, which is no problem to find where I live. I got done week my weekly golf league (9-holes) and changed and started. It started out ok, alittle better than day one. Again, like Monday, close to the finish, broke down and walked some and then picked it back up and finished out running back to the house. Logged my milage, and I thought I want over 4 and close to 5 miles, but it said just under 4. Just over a 10 minute pace, so it was disappointing in that i could have/thought I was doing better. On the positive side of it, I did go futher than Monday and it was back-to-back days of running in still warm and pretty high humidty weather. Mind set is even if I have been running at the most 3-times at week since the first of the year, seems like I am still along ways from being able to mentally complete a half.

Day #4, sunday morning, the temp was nice, but the humidty was up there. The schedule said that this was supposed to be a long run. Well I started running down the highway and turned to the golf course and ran the golf cart path and then right when I was about to finish the course, I walked. I turned down the road going away from the house, I knew that I had some milage, but nowhere near what I needed yet. Going along these little hills and inclines and turned to make my way to the square and then back up the big hill and home. I broke down couple of times and needed to walk some, but picked it back up and ran again. Walked as I was approaching the big hill, then sucked it up and started to run again. I got up half-way, before the hill won. Then, again once at the top, run back home. I felt like I good workout, then I stopped my time (52 mins., not a good sign). I mapped the run, just over 5 miles, at least 3 miles short, over a 10min pace. I was disappointed in not going futher and for the amount of milage I did cover, had to walk more than I usually do.

day #6, 5miles (techinally 4.91), most of the time under a 10 min. pace (total time 49:30), this was due to having a great running partner/mentor. We graduated high school together and the first time I saw him again was on my first day showing up to the running group this last fall. Even then, he made sure to run right beside me, as I am breathing heavy, I listen to him carry on with a conservation. He is such a fast runner, 2 weekends ago, he ran a 5k in 20 something, came in top 10 overall, while pushing a stroller. On our way back, I did break down and walk alittle bit twice, and he ran ahead alittle bit, but circled back and not only not wanting to quit with him running beside me and he making sure that I complete what I "need" to complete, I started back up quick. When we turned down our last street, we picked it up alittle more. It was good to be worked alittle harder, without really knowing that you were. He has seen so much improvement in me from when I started. I am the only "newbie" to last on these Thursday runs that we do. The area, no matter which direction, you will be dealing with hills. I always tell him, it is ok to push me, as in run at or under my race pace, instead of a tempo or normal workout (the plan said to run 5 miles at 45-90 sec slower that your goal pace), it is ok to have me chase you, this is practice and I need the practice for sure. I would really not know what to do or how I could re-pay him if I ran a half under a 10 min pace.

Day #9, the day before I received an email from my running partner stating "have your running shoes on, we are going on a run." and that was it. I did not know how to react to the email, because it is normal for us to have our running shoes on and go run on thursday mornings at 5am. So I text another member of our group and ask should I be scared, and he replied yes, yes I should be. I replied back to the email asking what time to show up, normal or early (if "we" were going to go longer than normal) and got a message back stating that he might show up early to get in 3 miles in before 5. I was thinking about showing up early, but I was still tired and got a few more minutes of sleep. He did show up early and did 3 miles before the rest of us started. They took me on a 5 mile loop, with a few hills on the back in of the run. The only time I stopped was to loosen my right foot shoe. He made sure he ran beside me going up the big hill before we turned to head back to the park. Today was the first day of the training plan and first time at a distance of more than 3 miles that I did not walk at all. He noticed that and made comments that there was no walking at all today. When we turned on the road leading back to the park, we picked it up some. Then when we got to the enterence to the park, he said to burn it out, sprint to the parking lot (it is an up-hill driveway). I did, we started picking it up more and he was staying beside me and rounded the curve and I kicked it up some more and acted the same as I usually do in a race and left him. Not sure if he just shut it down or what, but it felt good to go that fast. We covered 5 miles and had a time of 51 mins., he was talking about taking me out on the same loop that we did last thursday and see if we can cut our pace to under 10min. 

day #11--wednesday morning, I got up and took the dogs out to the backyard, was not motived to run at all, but knew since I did not run on my normal tuesday that I needed to get one in. The pavement was wet, what is that I thought, actual rain and it felt cool, there was still clouds in the sky. I cannot pass this up, and the mind went from I need to I have to. Stetched out and put the shoes on and started. The humidy was still high, but it was ok. Started running down the highway up and down the hills, going pretty good. Got to the 1st mile and almost got hit by a car, had to do the NFL running back cut to miss the front bumper. The driver was turning right onto the highway and only looked left for on-coming traffic before pressing the gas. I kept running and looked back and saw that he "said" sorry with his hands, I did not make any comment. Past mile 2, I did not know who was driving the little pick-up truck, but he was gonig the same direction I was and saw that he held his arm outside the window and put the thumbs up sign. That was nice that someone noticed me running. Not sure if they knew me or just a fellow runner or someone saying "hey, nice to see someone getting after it." Got to the interstate for my turn around and took a break and started back. Then the rain came, it was a good shower, I could really do nothing about it I was 3 miles from home. I was not going to complain what so ever though, as you have been reading before all the humidy and heat I have had to go through. Started back and a SUV came upon me and notice that the passenger was motioning me to more over more, as me running on the right side of the whiteline on the highway with no shoulder and them moving to the right was too much for them. Got to the 4 mile marker and turned down a dead-end street and walked some under a big tree. To catch my breath and let the rain dripp off for a bit. Started back and was past the 5 mile marker and broke down right after I got up the last real hill and walked some. Then regrouped and run back to the house, completely soaked (rain/sweat), but felt good, felt like still improving some.

Day #14 monday morning, another humid beginning of the day, I ran same road as last week and had a better time. It felt good, still felt like alot of hard work to get through it

Day #15 tuesday morning, I know that I did not just fall asleep last night, I was thinking about some possible good news later this week. Then once I got to my running road, I was already sweating in the car, before 5am. I knew this was not a good sign at all. Since I have just two months now, I have to keep going, keep getting out there and working my body and legs. I got out there and started and it felt bad, my legs felt tired today, as if they did just run 24-hours earlier. The time showed that I was alittle slower, but I got it done, that is all i can say about it today.