Week 13: Twelve and a half miles

30:45 sec run/walk ratio
3:23:05 hours
12.92 miles
15.7 min/mile

I thought about waiting until tomorrow (Sunday) to do my run this week, since the weather is supposed to be marginally warmer and clearer, but decided it wouldn't make that much difference and went ahead and ran today. I started at around 11 AM, when it was partly sunny and almost warm, around 46 F. I wore my base layer, heaviest leggings, long-sleeved tee-shirt, and running hoodie. Also wool socks and running hat. Didn't wear gloves, neck scarf, or beanie, but I brought them along just in case. Didn't need them at all at first -- in fact, I got warm enough that I took my hoodie off for a while. But after a couple of miles, I got cold again and put it back on.

The weather grew colder as the day went on, clouding over and even raining a little bit. Temperature was around 41 F by the time I finished. But by then I was pretty well warmed up and it didn't really bother me. I brought three GU and ate them all -- at 4, 8, and almost 12 miles. Also had a protein drink before I started out. I didn't feel like it lasted me as long as it usually does -- probably the cold sapping my energy. But I did feel strong the whole way and didn't think I slowed down much if any at all at the end.

I am a teeny bit disappointed in my pace, but my stomach's been wonky all day, and that probably slowed me down a little. It's not a bad pace, anyway. Still under 16-minute miles, and would get me across the finish line of the half marathon in about 3:25.

Still haven't been able to get my midweek runs in. This week, I was working on installing a new wall heater, since my furnace died, and was so tired from that that I had no energy left for running. Guess I got my exercise in, anyway.

Getting closer to the marathon! Couple more short 5-mile runs and one 14-mile run to get in before race day. So far, even though it's been cold, the weather hasn't been bad enough to actually stop me from getting my weekend runs in. Even if something made me miss my 14-mile run, at this point I could still run the half marathon, so I guess you could say I'm ready.