Gulf Coast Half Marathon Training Week 7!

Currently training for:
Gulf Coast Half Marathon SAVE 15% with the code RRGIRL
Senior Bowl Charity Run 10K
Battleship 12K SAVE 15% with the code RRGIRL
Big Beach Half Marathon
Rock 'n' Roll New Orleans Half Marathon SAVE $15 with the code ROADRUNNERGIRL16

This was my last long run before the Gulf Coast Half! And it was a taper run! 

I had 6-8 miles on the schedule! The weather was pretty great! The temperature was in the 60's when I started running! 

I got to see the sun rise as I ran! I always love that on long runs! 

Around mile 2, I turned into the first neighborhood and was greeted with an even prettier sight from the sun! 

I was feeling great on this run! I had a hill to conquer but it wasn't too bad. 

I love that I have the option to run in the country not far from my house. It's always so peaceful! 

Before I knew it I had reached mile 4 and the time to turn around and head home! The first half of the run had flown by! 

I reached another neighborhood where I had some fun with some running selfies! These are a lot harder than they look y'all lol! 

And then I was on the 4 lane highway. I always pray right here for my safety as well as for the all clear when I need to cross the road. My prayers worked because I didn't have to slow down at all when I needed to run across the road! No traffic!

I reached my last road...the one that would take me straight home!

I was having such a good run that I ran 8.5 miles instead of the required 8! ;-)

Slowing down some during this training has really helped. I'm not sure what that will mean come race day but I'm not racing for a PR. I'm just looking forward to the journey!

Be sure to follow me on Instagram for all my race fun this weekend!

QOTD: What is your next race? 

Gulf Coast Half Marathon Training Week 6!

Currently training for:
Gulf Coast Half Marathon SAVE 15% with the code RRGIRL
Senior Bowl Charity Run 10K
Battleship 12K SAVE 15% with the code RRGIRL
Big Beach Half Marathon
Rock 'n' Roll New Orleans Half Marathon SAVE $15 with the code ROADRUNNERGIRL16

So technically this was week 7 but since I skipped my long run the weekend we were in Disney I decided it was really week 6! ;-)

I was pretty excited because this would be my last really long run before the race. 12 miles was on the schedule! 

I was also looking forward to this run because it was supposed to be cooler weather that morning!!! 

But first...Friday night happened. I was on a walk with the hubby and Archie and it was really dark where we were walking. That really creeped me out. Then my hubby said, "Watch out!" The first thought that came to my mind was snake! So I screamed and did a little dance....and then saw a roach. Well...I'm scared of those too y'all! But I ended up landing weird and felt a twinge in the top of my left foot. We finished the walk and I never thought about it again....until I woke up the next morning. My foot was pretty sore. I was worried because I had 12 miles to run! I decided to at least get my run in for my run streak and to keep going if I felt like the foot was ok. 

First of all...the weather was perfect! It was 57 degrees outside! 

I started running and even though I could feel the soreness the foot seemed like it would be ok. 

The sun was just starting to rise when I started the run. 

I had decided to run the same route I've been running for most of my long runs. It's perfect because I can drop water on my friend Donna's front porch and use it as a double water stop. Plus the route is pretty!

Before I knew it I was at mile 2 and in the first neighborhood on the route. 

I did the loop in there then headed back out. I only had a few feet to go and then I turned into Donna's neighborhood and stopped for water (at about mile 3.25). When I got to her porch my water had been put in a cooler of ice! (Thanks so much Donna and Gary!!!) 

And when I opened the cooler not only was my water in there....but there was also coconut water in there! Thanks again y'all!!! I'm so blessed with such great friends!!!

I finished my water and then headed back onto the road. I was turning the curve in the neighborhood and there was a huge German Shephard dog in one of the driveways. He saw me and started barking. He wasn't growling but definitely was defending his territory with the bark. As I got closer he started to run towards me. I slowed down and pointed at him and yelled in a firm voice, "No! Go home!" He immediately stopped. I kept running. I glanced back and he started running towards me again. But I pointed my finger at him and he stopped. Then he started sniffing the ground. Whew! He didn't come after me again. 

I turned onto the road that I don't like very much because it's long and seems never ending. But I had a few miles to run on it so I tried to enjoy it! I do love the scenery on the road! There's fields and cow pastures. And the sunrise was pretty!

I also passed by the cutest little house that I haven't noticed before! I snapped a quick picture as I ran by!

Not too much longer after that it was time to turn into another neighborhood. This was my friend Lora's neighborhood and she was doing a yard sale that morning so I had a feeling I would see her. I came close to her house and there she was with two of her kids! Her son noticed me first and waved and then got his mom. She was surprised to see me! I didn't stop though since I had miles to go! She asked me if I needed anything as I ran by and I told her I was good. 

I finished the loop in the neighborhood and turned back onto the long road to head home. I was halfway done! My foot was hurting some but it was bearable and didn't seem to be getting worse. So I kept going. I was having such a great run other than the foot! 

There were tons of birds in this field! I'm not sure what they were after but there were so many of them! It's hard to see them but they are there. And they were loud lol! 

I snapped this picture while running because it really is a beautiful road to run on!

At this point I had to pee so bad! I guess the water was going through me! But there was no where to go. I knew if I could make it to mile 11 there were bathrooms there since it was in the ball park. So I kept going and tried to forget about my bladder lol!

Around mile 7.5 I took a quick running selfie! ;-) And it was a ploy to get my mind off needing to use the bathroom lol! 

Then I headed back into Donna's neighborhood. I was praying the dog wasn't there anymore and luckily he wasn't! His owners must have brought him inside. Whew! 

I stopped for my last water stop. When I got there Donna's husband Gary had refilled my water bottle (I'd only drank half of it the first time so I would have some left for this stop) AND he left a note that the door was unlocked in case I needed a bathroom break! So sweet!!! 

Yes I know I said I needed to use the bathroom so bad but I didn't want to go into Donna's nice and clean house dripping with sweat. I only had 3 miles (4 left in the run) before I would be at the bathrooms in the ball park. I could make it! 

So I drank some water and then started my run again! But y'all! I made a mistake! I pressed the WRONG BUTTON on my Garmin and instead of continuing my run it saved it instead!!! Ugh!!!!!! 

So I had to start another run. I was so mad! I really wanted to see that number 12 on my Garmin!!!!! 

There was nothing I could do though so I just kept running. Now instead of the number 12 I would be looking for number 4. 

I was so close to being there when I took this picture. I had about 2 miles left. 

Finally I made it to the ball park...and it was super busy with lots of traffic. Apparently there was a soccer tournament and I got there around the same time as the players needed to be there. But I kept running and just paid attention to the cars that were looking for parking spots. Luckily they were going really slow so it wasn't too bad.

I got close to the bathrooms and realized I didn't really have to go anymore! What??!! So weird! So I kept running and finished my run! 12 miles was DONE!!!!! The best part....I felt GREAT the entire run (except for my foot)!!!

Still so mad that I didn't hit the correct button on my Garmin! 

Run stats:

Miles: 12.15

Time: 1:46:46

Average pace: 8:47

I was really happy with those stats!!!! 

After my run my foot was hurting pretty bad. I was so thankful I was able to run my 12 miles. But the rest of the day my foot hurt. I iced it and took Aleve but I was really worried. I stayed off of it. It basically ruined our Saturday because I knew I needed to rest it and not go anywhere. 

Thank goodness though...the next day I woke up and my foot felt so much better! It was still a little sore but nothing like it was the day before. And it didn't hurt at all during my short run that day! Praise God!!!

And now...the foot is back to normal! Yay!!! 

I was so thankful for a great last long run! Now it's taper time! I can't believe my half marathon is in less than 2 weeks!!!! 

QOTD: Have you ever hurt something on your body and worried you had seriously injured yourself?

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Gulf Coast Half Marathon Training Week 5!

Currently training for:
Gulf Coast Half Marathon SAVE 15% with the code RRGIRL
Senior Bowl Charity Run 10K
Battleship 12K SAVE 15% with the code RRGIRL
Double Bridge Run 15K

This week 11 miles was on the schedule! I was looking forward to this run! I even decided to continue the same route I had been doing. I just needed to add in one more neighborhood to get in the extra mile I needed. It was also so convenient using my friend's house as a double water stop so I planned for that again.

The only thing...on Friday afternoon I started getting a scratchy throat. That made me not feel too good. It didn't surprise me because everyone in my family has had it but me. So I guess it was my turn. That made me a little worried about the next day's run. But I knew I would still get it done regardless.

I woke up with the same scratchy throat. But it wasn't going to stop me. I didn't have any fever...just the sore throat. So I headed out for my run. I woke up early so it was pretty dark when I started running.

The first 2 miles were in the total dark so I couldn't take any pictures. But once I hit my first neighborhood I tried!

Before I knew it I had made it to my second neighborhood which was mile 3...and my first water stop. I drank half my bottle of water and then continued running. 

The next part of the run was down the road I hate to run on. It's so long and seems never ending. But it was a must to get in the mileage I needed. 

Around mile 4 the sun was trying to peek through. But it was pretty cloudy. Rain was predicted for the day. 

I made it to the new part of the route...the additional neighborhood. Then it was time to turn around and run back. I was feeling pretty good despite my throat hurting. My legs felt great. And I was focused. It had also started to rain some. It was just a light sprinkle but it felt great! 

Mile 8 was my second stop for water. Then I was headed home!  

Before I knew it I had made it 11 miles! I had done it...even with a sore throat! And in the rain! Yay!!!

I was so glad to get this run done! This next weekend will be a complete long run rest weekend for me since we will be in Disney (don't worry I will still get in my short runs for my streak). So I needed this run to go well! 

QOTD: What is the longest mileage you train for before a half marathon? I've done training plans that only went to 10 miles and some that went to 12. 

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Gulf Coast Half Marathon Training Week 4!

Currently training for:
Gulf Coast Half Marathon
Senior Bowl Charity Run 10K
Battleship 12K
Double Bridge Run 15K

Week 4 of training called for 10 miles!!! I was actually pretty excited about this run! It has been a long time since I've run double digits and I was ready! Especially since I've been slowing down on my long runs and that's made the runs more enjoyable.

I had to do some planning for this long run though. I needed to drop water somewhere along my route because I knew I was going to need it for 10 miles.

I decided on a route that would go by my friend Donna's house twice. I texted her and asked if I could leave a water bottle on her front porch the night before. I knew she wouldn't mind and she said of course I could! I was going to use it as a double water stop. So I dropped my water the night before and I was all set!

It was hot and humid Saturday morning but that's just the way it is here on the Gulf Coast right now. So I didn't expect anything different.

I woke up at 5:00 am because my hubby and Hayden were camping with the boys scouts and that meant I would have to walk Archie before my run (Andy normally does that on Saturday mornings so I can get started on my long run). So Archie and I walked for a mile. Then I dropped him off at home and started my run.

The sun was just starting to rise although the clouds were hiding most of it.

My plan was to run the same route as the week before but to add in that extra mile in the middle. So I had to run on the 4 lane highway again. Luckily on Saturday mornings the traffic isn't terrible. 

I made it safely to the first neighborhood I would be running in. 

The run was going great! I was feeling good! And then I entered the second neighborhood and the first stop for water. 

Let me tell you how sweet my friends are! When I got to Donna's porch her and her husband had put my water bottle in a cooler! I was so ok with drinking it at room temperature! But they had it cool for me! They also had a towel sitting on top of the cooler for me to wipe my sweat off AND a little dish of water for Archie in case he was with me! Soo sweet!!!

But that's not it! When I opened the cooler not only was my water bottle in there but there was also a Gatorade AND Donna's husband Gary had left me a note attached to some coconut water telling me to try it if I hadn't already! Y'all! This kindness just made my day!!!!!

I drank a little of my water and then I headed back on the road. This was the part of the route that I knew may be a little tough. First...there was a hill I would encounter. 

Then...I would be running a road that I hate running because it is just so long and boring. Luckily I wouldn't be running the entire road....I just had to make it to 5 and then I could turn around. 

I tried to take my mind off it and enjoy my surroundings. The clouds were so pretty! 

And I just love this field with the water tower in the background! So pretty! 

I was running along around mile 4 and I look up and see someone running towards me. Then she yells out, "Hey!" I got a little closer and it was my friend Jenny! She was running 17 miles that day for her first marathon training and was at mile 12. She turned around and started running with me! We talked and talked and then it was time for me to turn around. She said she would turn with me and she ran with me all the way back to Donna's for my next water stop! It was great seeing her and catching up! It has been a while since we've seen each other. 

We said goodbye since we needed to run in opposite directions to make it home. But it was nice having someone to talk to while the miles passed! 

At this point I had 3 miles left. I was reversing my route so I ran in the same neighborhoods again. 

 

The sun was shining at this point but there were still clouds in the sky. Before I knew it I was back on the road that leads to my neighborhood. I only had about 1.5 miles to go...and it started sprinkling! Yes...this same thing happened last weekend on my long run too! But it was so welcome and refreshing! 

Before I knew it...I had made it! I had run 10 miles!!!! And it was a great run! Yay!!!

I'm so very thankful for another wonderful long run! I'm so grateful that this training is going so well! I'm getting so excited for race day!

QOTD: Do you like running in rain?

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