10:08, 9:44, 10:09, 10:08, 9:48, 9:53, 9:35, 10:06, 10:01, 9:34, 11:05, 8:45
Splits, the time it takes me to cover a certain amount of distance. This past Saturday as part of building up for the half marathon it was decided to attempt to run 12 miles. The goal was to do it in under two hours, and to feel good about it afterwards. One part of the equation is objective, with a chronograph on my watch to keep track of my mile splits and total time. The other part of the equation is purely subjective and can change with the passage of time. After a few weeks of not being able to run the longer distances with my usual running partner or partners, I needed to be able to see how long it would take me to cover this distance. A plan was set in motion a couple of weeks ago when May 21 was going to be the first, and last, opportunity to get a long run with others in before the half. I was a little worried about my endurance. The week before I was only able to get in a couple of runs, the longest being six miles. Doing it on my own and in under an hour was good news, but six is only half of twelve!
7 AM on a Saturday is early but somehow I was able to drag my butt out to Inside Track to meet up with others for the run. Had to wake up much earlier so I can get something in me so I can have the energy to make it to twelve. The latest thing that seems to work for me is a bagel with peanut butter. It worked last week when that was what I had for breakfast all three days of a skiing weekend. Downhill skiing isn't running but it still takes a bit out of me. So I tried it on Saturday before my long run day. Any ways off we went at 7:05. We started off with a fair sized group but thought that it would go down to three right away; Brandy, Daisy and me. It turned out that Daisy hadn't run in a while herself and would go slower than Brandy and me. So the two of us went and we were able to keep a good pace. Every mile we checked to see what our splits were and they looked good. We were able to also keep a good conversation going throughout the run. Topics from the supposed rapture to my Jewish background to the types of birds flying in the sky.
I mentioned that I thought that pelicans were pretty cool birds, especially in the way they glide just over the water. The conversation and the relatively cool and overcast day helped us get to the six mile mark. We took a little break for refueling before starting back to Inside Track. Heading back had new challenges for me since I had never made it to the 6 mile mark. It meant that I had to run almost a mile before I started the climb up the bridge. It was a challenge but the little break helped give me enough energy back to do it with relative ease. Ohm just before the bridge we saw Daisy about a half mile behind us and about a quarter mile behind her was Linda. Daisy we knew could run at the same pace as us but Linda has made huge strides the past few weeks. She was doing about twelve minute miles and now she seems to be at a 10:40 mile pace. Hope she isn't pushing too hard so she doesn't hurt herself.
Our pace was keeping steady, or at least we think it's steady enough. I know that others may say that a steady pace should be within ten seconds of each other. Here we are with 30-40 second swings. The one part of the usual Saturday long run course is the sand portion where the bikeway is being redone. The sand is very loose in parts and after running a few miles it really takes a lot out of me but I must continue, especially when I am running with someone. Don't want to be the one to slow the group down. After ten miles Brandy had to make another stop but she told me to continue. I continued but only walked it so she can catch up to me sooner. I either walk fast or she took a little longer than expected as I was able to cover over a third of a mile walking before she caught up with me. Regardless I was able to cover mile 11 in 11:05 walking a third, running two thirds. When she had caught up with me she told me not to slow down and run with her. I was to run on my own from this point on. Having saved a little more energy I was able to get back to Seaward and Pierpont and run the last mile in 8:45!
My overall time 1:58:56!! Goal #1 was met. Brandy was able to finish about 20-25 seconds behind me, which means she did her last mile in a little over 9 minutes. So she too was able to finish in under two hours. Now for how we felt after the run. I can honestly say that we are both happy with this run, and even now a couple of days later, I am still very happy with my run. We completed most of the run having a conversation going. We didn't have the excitement of many other racers around us to get the old adrenaline pumping even more. So we did the 12 miles averaging just under 10 minutes per mile. The window of 2:00 to 2:05 is very possible. I am still holding out hope that I may break 2 hours myself but will not be disappointed if I don't. I need to remember that I want to finish the race upright, and maybe with a kick at the end. I need to prepare better to refuel during the race. Gummy bears or something like that may just be the thing for me. As of today there are thirteen days until the race. I don't see another double digit distance run before then. Maybe an eight miler this Saturday? We'll have to see. Stand by for the results.
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