Half-marathon countdown...

 I just looked at my calendar and realized that I'm running the Raleigh City of Oaks Half-Marathon 

 

IN 3 WEEKS!

(Check out the course map HERE)

Time flies doesn't it? Thankfully, my foot has completely recovered because I was getting nervous. 

This will be my 2nd half-marathon. 

I ran my first in Spain of last year in 1 hour and 36 minutes. 

However, I don't want to run a PR for this race.

I signed up for the half marathon as further preparation for the full marathon in February. If I was only running the half I would attempt to run a PR. 

This time around I'll be happy to just run it in the same amount of time.

This Sunday I plan to run another 12 miles. Yesterday I ran 90 minutes. That's usually how long it takes me to run 12 miles at my long run pace. But I didn't actually "measure" the distance. 

I've been using this strategy to run since my foot has been giving me trouble. Meaning, I've been running based on time rather than distance.

Since it's all healed I'll run my 12 miles on Sunday. The following week I will run 10 miles and then on November 6th the half-marathon.

I won't make the same mistake I did last year and not recover properly. 

That's what caused my IT band injury. 

This time around I plan to continue do my weight training but not run.  To substitute I'll do classes at the gym or the static bike. 

The following Sunday (November 13th) I will run 8 miles.

Hopefully, this will give my body ample time to recover because I want to aim for 14 miles on November 20th. 

If my body feels up to it I will also re-incorporate speed training (Fartlek) the second half of November. Or the beginning of December at the latest.

I'll post some race preparation once it gets closer to the day and of course the race recap!

Overall, I'm excited about the race and I hope I finish without getting injured!