I was so scared when I was lining up. I missed talking to my husband on the way to the race cuz he usually is very re-assuring. But he injured his calf last Thursday and decided to stay home with the kids and bring them later on. I started out well and got into a nice group of people. I was able to get my mind into my "happy place". At mile 3, I looked at my watch and saw 24:42 which was ahead of anticipated pace. This freaked me out, but my RPE felt like Zone 2, so I went with it. Had to stop at 32 minutes cuz my shoe untied. Lost my nice little group and was too scared to chase back into it. At mile 6, I looked at my watch and saw 54:36, again ahead of anticipated pace. I was entering Furman University at this point and still felt good. The terrain had been kind with just some gentle rolling hills. Mile 9 was kind of a blur cuz I was heading toward Paris Mtn and the pavement had turned upward. My legs were starting to fatigue. I was struggling up a hill at mile 11 that wasn't all that steep, but seemed never-ending. I decided to walk until I reached the top, or mile 12, whichever came first. I crested the hill and saw the 12 mile sign in the not-too-far distance. So I started running again. Went conservative until the entrance to the Y and then houled butt up the steep incline that was the finish. Saw 2:06 on the clock and was pleased.

I ran this race just like I trained. Now I'm second-guessing my training. I wonder if I could have put out more effort. I'm trying to learn how to use a Polar 625x HR monitor so it can answer those questions for me. I always feel the "what-ifs" after running. I ran 13.1 miles faster than I ran 12 in training so I'm not gonna beat myself up. Running is by far my weakest discipline. I know I can do the HIM in the fall, but I've got my work cut out for me.

Stretching and walking


No speed work and no hill work.


I'm glad I did it. I may be a wuss about pacing, but I wasn't a wuss about following through and completing it. My cycling partner got 3rd in his AG. Way to go, Reuben! As for me, I'm just glad I finished.