Thankful to Harrison Hill

I did it!! Today, I ran 8.28 miles non stop! It was the first 6 miles of the Manchester Half Marathon course and then 2 miles off course to make it back. I did not need to stop to walk once! 

Last Tuesday, during the training group, we had a lower mileage day and instead did hill repeats. We ran about 1.65 miles to the hill, ran up and down the hill three times, and then headed back. This hill is both very long and incredibly steep. The first two times that I went up, I ended up needing to start walking about 3/4 of the way to the top. Even with walking, the last part of the hill was so steep that I was taking 3 steps to take me the distance that I normally take in one. The last trip up the hill, I had decided that I really wanted to make it the whole time running. And I did it!! I was so excited when I made it up to the top without stopping to walk - it felt like a huge accomplishment. 

My fabulous running coach really put it into perspective for me when we were talking about my struggle with hills.. None of the hills that we need to run are that bad. "Just keep telling yourself that it's not as bad as Harrison" - she said. Let me tell you, that definitely worked. When I got to each hill today, I just kept going and thinking about how the hill wasn't really that bad. It also helped that I've been listening to "Born to Run" on my iPhone while I've been running. My good friend, Dave, lent it to me a long time ago - longer than I'm embarrassed to admit because I feel bad I've kept it so long! I've been reading the book, but downloaded an audio form so that I could listen to on my long runs if I'm running alone. It has been a tremendous help - especially listening to that book while I'm actually running.. I love it! I'm almost done reading it and I will be sad for it to go.. I might just have to buy my own copy. 

The past few runs, I have left my Garmin at home. I wanted to focus less on pace and more on how my body feels, especially for these longer runs. I've still been keeping track of my pace via the Nike plus running app, but since that sits in my fuel belt, I only hear my pace every mile, and would be okay if it didn't even do that. I have found that my pace has definitely been getting slower, but my runs have felt great! I really want to get a little faster though, especially for race day, but my ultimate goal is to finish without walking.. I think I'm right on track for that.. I mean.. I ran 8.28 miles today non stop! This is my longest run without a walking break yet - and I felt great.. I felt like I could have done more! 

After the run, I met up with my mom & dad, my niece Eva and took Sully to walk a 3 mile Alzheimer's walk. My niece is only 4 years old and walked the entire thing. I'm so proud of her! There were a few times that she whined and wanted to be carried, but we talked her through it. She was really happy when we finished. She got to go in the bounce house and then we went for lunch and ice cream. 

I'm so excited for a relaxing evening tonight. I'm going to my friend, Savannah's, and we are having a good old fashioned slumber party. SO psyched! I haven't had a slumber party since who knows when.. Probably high school, when I slept over her house last. I think it will be a lot of fun!