Mississippi Blues Marathon - RunMarathon

I really got a good start on this. Eased into my pace, but didn't let myself take too long to get there. Wig didn't bother me (except for one stretch where the wind kept it in my face), and I felt like the miles were clicking off easily. Coming into mile 17 was a very long, tough hill, and that's where I started to feel wiped out. I had, at that point, dropped just under my goal pace, but that hill put the hurt on, and I slowed up into mile 18. This is where I knew it could get tricky. I had run 18 miles twice in training. Once at my pace, so in just over 3 hours. Once at the 12 min/mile group training pace, so just over 3:30. I didn't know what would get me...the distance or the time. My friend, Casey, met me just before the 18-mile mark. It was great, and gave me a bit of a lift initially to get that pace back down under 10 min/mile. In the end, it wasn't the distance that got me, it was the time. Right around 3:30 in, I was really slowing down and getting tired. But, except for one extra walk break, I managed to keep running, other than walking through the aid stations. Luckily, with Casey, even though I had slowed so much, the last miles "flew" by. I was glad for that finish line, glad that it was under 4:30, and glad that the medal didn't weigh anymore (biggest medal I've ever seen and heavy).

Get those 20+ mile/4-hour runs in. And not take a 3-week hiatus in the middle of training.

Walking around and waiting for the rest of the Fleet Feet group to finish.


18-mile runs are good...longer runs are better.


I want to make this an annual event since it's right outside my door and so well done. Not sure I want to train for January marathons, anymore, though. They never seem to go well. Maybe just the half or a relay. Or maybe train for a December marathon and then decide whether to do full or half on this one. Anyway, great event and great for Jackson, MS.