I did it. I have made it through my final long run before Vegas. But it did not come easy.
The Carolinas chapter of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation is based out of Charlotte. So the group out there has been training together for several weeks now. I’ve been training with some of the others here in Raleigh, but nothing formal. So yesterday, the Raleigh-group packed up and headed to Charlotte to join the rest of our team-mates for the last long run of training. It was great to have the opportunity to meet everyone that we’ll be running with in Vegas.
The plan was to do 11 miles. Now, I’ve done 11 miles before, so it didn’t seem like it should be too difficult. However, I didn’t take into account the fact that I’ve been training at a track, so it’s basically flat, and every mile or so we’d take a quick water break. It doesn’t work quite the same way when you’re running along a route. There were a lot of hills and no good option to stop. That would just prolong finishing.
I started off a little too hard for about the first 15 minutes. I knew I wasn’t going to be able to keep going at that pace, so I slowed down, figured out a good system for hydration and nutrition, and finished the 11 miles in about 2:16. That kept me at about a 12 mph pace, which is pretty good for me for now. It would put me at a half-marathon finish of around 2:40, which would be fine for me! (I’d be ecstatic if I could cut that down to under 2:30, but we’ll see things go on race day.)
For now, I’ve got a few shorter runs and workouts over the next 2 weeks to keep myself race-ready, but taking it a little easy. (And thank God for that! I cannot tell you how sore I am today. I literally had to lift my leg with my hands to get into my jeans this morning.) I think I’m physically prepared, so now it’s time to make sure I’m mentally prepared.
Less than 2 weeks to go. Vegas, here I come!