Week 2: Seven miles

20:40 sec run/walk ratio
1:52 hours
7.41 miles
15.2 min/mile

And that was the last of the runs on my half marathon training app. Next week, I go back to the marathon training app and do the last half. I made a spreadsheet with various marathon training schedules (First Marathon and Timed from the app, and To Finish from Galloway's book, Marathon) so I could compare and see which one looked most appealing, and where I should jump in to get myself to Surf City, and I decided to use the app for First Marathon, starting with Week 15, and follow it from there. Actually, Week 15 is a 14-mile run, and I want to try to do 15 miles, but it doesn't really matter. I can use the app and just add another mile to the end of the run, or stop at 14 miles if I feel like it. Anyway, I will then follow the marathon app out to the end, except that it has three short runs -- 7 miles, 6 miles, and another 7 mile run -- following the 26-mile run before the marathon. I will just skip the last 7-mile run. Two short runs before the half marathon will be plenty. That has me doing all the 20+ mile runs in December and January, when the weather will be cool. I think that will work well. And if the weather interferes and I have to skip runs and don't quite reach 26 miles before the race, no big deal, since I'm only doing the half marathon, anyway.

Good run today. Kept up a good pace and felt fine the whole way. I went shopping this week for more running clothes to wear for cooler weather, and bought a jacket and two pairs of full-length leggings. (Actually, they're more than full length -- I could stand to hem them up a couple of inches.) Today I wore one of the pairs of leggings and a long-sleeved shirt. Didn't really need them, as the sun was out and I didn't get started until 9 AM, so it was already warmish. I could easily have worn the capri-length leggings and a short-sleeved shirt. I'll remember that for these fall days when it's not really that cold yet. I expect the longer leggings and long-sleeved shirts will come in handy later in the season when it's colder, but for now the days are still clear and in the 70s and it's not that cold unless I start much earlier in the morning. Even then, I could probably just wear my jacket for the first hour or so and then take it off for the rest of the run.

I brought several GUs with me but only ate one, near the end of the run. It was Salted Caramel flavor, and it was delicious! I loved the little bit of salt in it. I started out with my usual protein drink before the run, and it seemed to keep me going pretty much the whole way. But I do want to get in the habit of eating something on a regular schedule, once I figure out what works best.