Countdown to the 1/2 Marathon!

The Virginia Beach Rock n Roll half marathon is this Sunday. I’m really excited to participate in this great race again. It’s been two years since the first time I did it and missed it last year to be in a friend’s wedding. It really is a fun race that is challenging without being totally overwhelming. I’m also eager to go out of town again, we haven’t gone anywhere since the cruise in April. Actually, September kicks off a month of traveling as we are doing the 1/2 marathon, then two weeks later doing a weekend away for our one year anniversary, then a couple weeks later taking off to do the Baltimore Marathon!! So I’m gearing up for a lot of travel and running. It’s going to be a great late summer/early fall!!

13 and Tennis

Saturday was a 13 mile day. Funny that 13 miles used to be the ultimate goal when training for a half marathon. Now it’s only halfway!! Yikes!! I got through it though and have to keep telling myself that the first half is the biggest chunk to get through. If worse comes to worse, I only have to add a few more miles in training for the full marathon.

Yesterday Philip and I joined another couple in playing some tennis. It was wonderful. Even though it was hot and we were playing right in the middle of the day, we had a great time and I was actually playing decent. I really think I could have been a tennis star in another life, haha. It felt especially good to get out and do some physical activity other than running and I actually got to use my arms.

I asked an experienced marathon runner friend of ours about what to do about training for the next couple of weeks since the 1/2 marathon is in two weeks. I’ve been torn between increasing my mileage and taking it a little easy before that race. He recommended taking it easy for the next two weeks and then going back at it again after the race. My training calendar actually allows some decrease this next week as well, so I guess I got my question answered. 8 miles tomorrow though, whew!

12 miles and then The Devil

On Saturday Philip and I went out to do 12 miles. The training at this point is so predictable…add a mile to the long runs each week and run more than you ever have in your life on the days in between. *Sigh* When we pulled up to the church we usually park at along Callaway road, there was quite a shindig going down. There were tents up and people milling about – at 7:00 in the morning on Saturday! The sign said they were hosting a World Hunger Auction. I have to laugh because that’s typical of this area. The younger generations go to Roanoke to see a movie, eat out, and shop, and the older SW Virginians go to the church auction, antique car shows, and yard sales.  I love it.