This was a really good week - filled with a lot of running.  On Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, I stayed under 10:00 per mile.  I did the cross training as well - more of my circuit and weightlifting - I increased some of the weights on the machines and free weight exercises.

I was anxious all week for Saturday - the 18 mile run - what was (and is) the longest distance I have ever run.  The weather could not have been better - at 7:30 am, when I woke up, it was 42 degrees!  Very similar to the temperatures I will be experiencing in London in April.  I made the short drive to Flatwoods and started the run.  I felt shaky for mile 1 - this always happens, just my body getting into a rhythm.  The next few miles felt great - I ran the first half of the loop and sidetracked out to the Bruce B. Downs lot, then turned around to finish the first loop.  At mile 11 (the end of the first loop), I still felt good.  I had been drinking water every mile and had my first energy gel at mile 9 (when they give you the same thing in all the half marathons I've done).  It wasn't until mile 14 that I started to have to push myself mentally.  I had another energy gel at mile 13, but it was not filling me with anything extra.  I had enough in my tank to finish - it was just a mental challenge.  I kept telling myself not to look at my Garmin because I would look at it in disbelief that I was not farther along...i.e. I seemed to run 0.2 miles in like 12 minutes.

Regardless of my troubles, I finished.  I ran 18 miles in 3 hours, 9 minutes and 47 seconds (average of 10:33 per mile pace).  I also ran the half marathon in 2 hours, 15 minutes - a personal record!  Extrapolating from my time for 18 miles, my marathon time would be 4 hours, 35 minutes and 6 seconds.  However, my pace slowed the entire run (with the exception of a "surge" of speed at mile 11 and 12).  I'm aiming for under 5 hours as a tertiary goal.  Primarily, I want to finish.  Secondarily, have a blast.

Slightly less involved workouts next week.  :)

My parents and a cousin have been visiting this week.  I have been continuing to train, but have not been keeping up on my blogging.  Last Friday (7/19), I hashed again - this was a "live hare" one where the trail is laid 10 minutes before the group heads off to try to snare the hare.  It was pretty fun though I got lost for a small portion of the trail.  I am counting theme-parking (Busch Gardens) as my 30 minutes of cross training for the 20th.  And before we headed to Clearwater Beach on Sunday the 21st, I ran 4 miles - the there and back route.

It's been a busy week with my best friend in town - Adventure Island, Fort DeSoto State Park, MOSI - but I continued my training as prescribed.  On Friday night, I ran the course to the left - there and back, modified with four 30s sprints at the end of the main run, spaced a minute apart.  It was about 77 degrees, so I'm happy with just over 6 mph - 4.31 miles in 42:56. This Florida humidity is rough.  I feel like my shorts are going to come off due to the weight of the sweat...lol.  I worked out on the elliptical after work on Saturday for 30 minutes for my cross training.

Tonight was the week's endurance run, which is supposed to be run at an easier, relaxed pace.  I ran 6.2 miles in 61:36 - a pace similar to Friday's run.  It was hot and humid again tonight - about 80 degrees, at 10:30pm.  Ick.  I need to start getting up at sunrise to run...maybe next week.
I did end the night with a dip in my apartment's pool and jacuzzi and a big glass of Gatorade, which was a nice change - and good motivation to finish up quickly.

It's been raining a lot here lately, but that was good on Tuesday because it cooled the atmosphere down.  It was 75 degrees at 7pm, so I decided to take advantage of it.  I was "scheduled" to run for 40 minutes, so instead of doing my normal loop and doubling back, I just headed out and turned around at 22 minutes, running back the same way (i.e. "there and back").  Because I've been pushing it on the treadmill - up to 6.7 mph - I made a conscious effort to keep my pace up.  This effort turned out to be successful.  I ran 4.69 miles in 42:56 - with a little math, I figured out that was 9:13 per mile, which is about 6.6 mph.  Woot woot!  Much better than my normal road pace of 6 mph (10 min per mile).

And today I was on the elliptical for 40 minutes.  ;)