Yesterday I woke up to 8 inches of snow so I decided to postpone my last long run till today.

I had signed up for the HMRRC Winter Series 10k but I was debating whether or not I wanted to do it.

Yes:

• It’s free
• I know a lot of runners who are doing it
• I missed my last 10K
• I’ve never done a 10K (so it’ll be a PR)
• Snowless running route
• Free refreshments

No:

• I don’t know the course or its difficulty
• I’ll run faster than my long run pace (because I’m competitive)
• If I don’t run fast, my time will suck (& I’ll be bummed)
• I’ll have to run at 10am
• I’m supposed to do at least 8 miles today
• What if I get injured?

I got up and got dressed to run it but…

I checked my e-mail and my husband who is leaving for Florida tomorrow had a flight through Charlotte.  Charlotte is expecting a blizzard & it was recommended that passengers switch flights. Well, I spent over an hour on the phone with USAir and finally got him booked on a flight thru DC that leaves at 5:50 am.

Yup, I missed the race but instead I went out and did my LAST LONG RUN!!!

It was supposed to be 8 miles but I only ran 10 miles this week instead of 13 so I decided to stretch the run to 9.5 miles.

It’s not getting easier.  It was cold and it was very WINDY!!! Half of the route, I was running into the wind and felt like I was getting no where and it made me tired.  Another factor, I chose to go straight and wound up with a hILLY route. I walked up all the hills so that I could have the energy to run the rest.

I love my Garmin!  It tells me exactly what my pace is and what it is for each mile.  I have it set to beep when I’m running fast (under  9 min/mi) and also when I’m running slow (over 12 mi/min).  Of course, it beeped when I was running down the hills and when I was walking.  Whenever,my pace near the end of a  mile was slow, I just sped up.

My feet still hurt, but my legs and knees feel great. I finished the 9.5 miles in about 1 hr 45 min – I was very SLOW but my half marathon goal is to finish under 2 hr 45 min. So I think even if I walk a lot, I can do it. 

This week I taper – just two 3 mile runs.  I think I will use the treadmill since in Naples, it will be warm & humid (like the gym!).

Happy Running!