Running Update

So I am sure you are curious about my training. OK, maybe not, but I will tell you anyway. On July 4th in Napa, I ran 8.6 miles in about 85 minutes. About 10 minute miles. Which I was happy about. I started thinking that I could probably run the half-marathon (13.1 miles) in 2.5 hours. That would be about 11.5 minute miles. Then next week I ran in Huntington Beach, but it was hotter and hillier than Napa. I only ran about 8 miles in about 88 mintues. So I wasn't happy about that.

Since I only have 8 weeks before the half-marathon, I wanted to boost my long weekend run to 10 miles. So on Saturday I ran 10.5 miles! I ran from Sunset beach to the Huntington Pier and back. I started at a little after 5:30 a.m. and it wasn't too hot. I started out strong running from Sunset Beach to Golden West without slowing down to walk. However, on the way back I started worrying about the time and not just keeping a good pace. I needed to slow down and walk because my quads were tired. Then my left hamstring started cramping up, later my right quad cramped up, then my left quad cramped up. I remembered what my Pastor said once when he ran a race; he just tried to take one step at a time, and that the Christian life is a marathon. I alternated between walking and running, and I limped to the finish line by the grace of God. My left hamstring was acting up when I was crossing the line. I ran it in under 1 hour and 56 minutes. So I hit my goal of running it in under 2 hours (on pace for a 2.5 hour half-marathon), however, I am not to sure if I can do the half-marathon in under 2.5 hours.