Strawberry Plains 1/2

Enjoying the run at mile 7!

I've been looking forward to this race for weeks.  Ever since the Haunted Half, I've been itching to race a half marathon.  I've learned over the years that my running plans rarely work out out the way I want them to however...I managed to end up with a nasty cough over the last week or two that I wasn't able to get rid of in time for this race.  I debated going at all, as I really really wanted to run it, but also really didn't want to risk making my cough any worse.  The temperature was forecasted to be in the low 40s, which is much better for my lungs than the 20s and lower we've had for the last week or so, so I decided to go for it and hope for the best.  I had to abandon my hope of racing, and just run it as a faster long run.  I started in the middle of the pack to help keep myself slow for the first mile, and then tried to gradually pick up the pace until holding a pace that felt the fastest I could maintain without putting a strain on my lungs.

My legs were a bit heavy and tired feeling after the hill workout I put them through on Monday, but they were able to maintain the pace that felt ok for my lungs.  The course was nice and rolling, just how I like them...just enough hill without having too much.  I was able to enjoy the run, and I was happy with my time.  It was actually over a minute faster than my time at the Haunted Half in October (which I only just now realized when I looked up that time...I was thinking for sure I would have been faster at Haunted).  That means I can run faster while sick now, then I could while healthy in October... I'm excited to see what I can do in a half marathon when I am healthy and in race-shape, but I will have to wait awhile to find out!  I'm hoping to be smart about my recovery from Boston so that I can pick training back up over the summer and see what I can do at the half marathon distance in the fall.

Coby snapped this photo of me on my way to the finish line.  

Apparently my braid fell out at some point...I had no idea until after the race when I took my hat off. 

1:36:26

81/420 runners

17th female

5th in age group 30-34

For now, first up on the agenda is getting rid of this stupid cough.  Second on the agenda is getting a long run of 22+ miles ( long run so far is 18).  The countdown to Boston is on and as long as I can get rid of this cough, training is going super well!