Half Marathon Training Week 1 Day 3

Today my training schedule said I would run a "long and easy 5.3 mile run". Long it was, easy it wasn't. The schedule meant easy pace wise, not easy terrain or weather, etc. It wasn't the easiest run. I started out too late in the morning. The sun was out and happily beating down on me when I headed out. I chose to leave the neighborhood and run along a not-so-busy road. There was a lot of loose gravel I had to watch out for. There were SCORPIONS. Yes, scorpions. And other manner of bugs (I need to remind myself this is Texas!).

I didn't think it would be too hot this morning, but the humidity really weighs you down. It felt hotter than it is. So the start to my run wasn't ideal, I will need to wake up earlier on Saturdays to get started on my long runs before the sun beams down on me.

I learned recently that you should go a minute slower than your ideal race pace during most of your long runs. My anticipated half marathon pace is 11:22 min/mile. So during these long runs my Endomondo app has me running an average 12;52 min/mile. With the hot sun shining in my face it was hard to be patient and run slower but when I got half way and turned away from the sun I was glad that I still had a lot of energy and wasn't labored in my run.

We live sort of out in the country, at least it feels like it. The views during my run were beautiful. There was the wide blue sky above me and beautiful fields around me. I got back into the neighborhood at the beginning of mile 5. When I only had .3 miles left I saw a stray dog where I was headed and had to change my route, but overall it was good.

It's easy to psych yourself out when running, to focus on what you can't do well.  I tried to stay positive on this run even with the sun shining in my eyes. I thought of uplifting quotes and about my goals. The only time I walked was when I was drinking water, which I drank about 16 ounces during this run. It was a good run and I feel like I can run more! Looking forward to the next long run.