Is a 10-miler "cheating?"

I cheated today.  Well, not REALLY, but I feel like I did.

I have been running like crazy this summer, prepping for my first big 26.2 on September 22nd.  August has been brutal with three long runs of 15, 17 and 18 miles on three consecutive weekends.  This weekend, I "only" had 10 miles on the agenda, and those 10 miles (almost) felt like nothing compared to the previous long runs.

Marathon training really can mess with your head, at least that is my experience with it.  I am doing a fairly low-maintenance training schedule (running no more than 4 days each week) and I"m not killing myself with a lot of speed work.  As I have said in previous posts, I am not super fast.  I average an 8:30-8:45 pace on a good day, which is still pretty respectable given the fact that I am not blessed with many natural athletic abilities (I am tall, klutzy and have big feet that are very easy to trip over).


All of the experienced marathoners and training plans I  researched have cautioned that your marathon pace will be slower than your shorter-distance pace.  So far, I have been averaging a pretty consistent 10-minute pace on my long runs.  I have run several half marathons/20K's, and my pace for those is usually between 9:00-9:30, so I seem to be on track with my pacing.  Although, I'd much prefer to have my long runs be a little faster-paced, it is to my advantage to keep them where they are and not try to be a hero (or a show-off).

So, how did my first "short" long run (in several weeks) go today?  In a word,
Great!  It was a bit warm and humid, but there was a nice breeze.  I ran the 10 miles in 1:36:23 (around a 9:30 pace), and ran it with a negative split (which is my goal in every run, no matter the distance).  I have had so many runs recently with a 10-minute pace, it was reassuring that I still can pull off a 9:30 pace for a substantial distance.


I tried using moleskin for the first time today.  I have heard it is good for blisters and/or callouses.  I haven't had many issues with blisters, but I do have a callous on the ball of my right foot.  It's been there forever, and never really gives me problems but it feels a little funky after a long run.  Today, I put a piece of moleskin on that to give it some cushioning and protection, and I think it helped!  I also wear wool socks for my long runs (anything over 5-6 miles).  They wick the moisture away from the skin, which is probably why I don't have many problems with blisters.








 My training is winding down, yippee!!!!  I have a 20-miler next weekend, a half marathon the following week, and then tapering for the remaining two weeks leading up to my first-ever marathon.  It's hard to believe it is almost here.  Just a few months ago, I never would have imagined I'd be experiencing this once-in-a-lifetime event.  I saw somewhere that less than 1% of the human population will ever do a marathon in their lifetime, and I will be part of that 1% in 29 days.

Winning isn't everything...unless it's a GrAnD GiVeAwAy!!

We have a winner!!!

(drum roll......)

Kimberly Dafoe Smick, you are the GrAnD GiVeAwAy winner!!  You have until 10PM CST Friday, August 16th to claim your GrAnD prize(s).  Please send me a message via Facebook or an email to runningonthefly@gmail.com.  Once I have your contact information, I will get the goods in the mail ASAP. ;-)  CoNgRaTs!!!

26.2...I'm geting there one run at a time

My big day is approaching, in 6 weeks.  Surprisingly, I don't feel nervous or worried...yet.

I was a little panic-stricken four weeks ago, though, following a tumble on a trail run.  The mishap left me with several messed up ribs and lots of discomfort for the first couple weeks.  I wasn't able to do my daily push-ups or planks, and rolling over in bed almost made me scream.  And sneezing or blowing my nose was absolutely worse than the labor pains of child birth.  Seriously, it was THAT bad.

Thankfully, though, I was able to run and continue to train for my marathon.  Despite the ongoing pain in my rib cage, my lung capacity did not seem affected.  There has been some discomfort when I pump my arms while running, and I think it may have slowed my pace slightly, but I have been able to stay on schedule with my long runs.

So, what have I been doing?

I found a program online, Senior Marathon Training Program by Hall Higdon.  No, not (necessarily) for senior citizens, but for advanced runners....runners who have been running for several years (therefore, having a solid  "established" running base) and also for those who have done half marathons (have trained for previous long distance events).  Perfect fit.  It was a 16-week training plan, but I modified it to make it more of an 18/19-week plan to allow for some flexibility.

This program is a great fit for me. It incorporates 3 or 4 days of running each week, and encourages rest days and cross-training on the non-running days.  I have never been a daily runner, so there is no way I could handle 16 weeks of constant running.  Basically, Tuesday has a 4-mile run, Thursday has a 6-mile run and Saturday (or Sunday) is the long run day.  I also have periodically done Fartleks (intervals of speed work) on some of the Mondays, and  I do strength work and/or yoga on most of the non-running days.  Some training plans have 5 or 6 days of running, also incorporating speed work and tempo runs.  Since this is my first full marathon, I do not have lofty goals of finishing with a super fast time.  Also, I am not a super fast runner...although I'd probably benefit from extra speed training , it would be foolish to think it would make a difference from "just finishing" and qualifying for Boston.  I want my first marathon to be all about the experience of being there, not stressing over a specific finish time.  Maybe I'll regret that decision on September 22nd, or maybe I'll be too proud of myself (for simply finishing the race) to care....I won't have that answer for another 6 weeks.  (Stay tuned)

I am happy with how things have worked out so far with my training.  I have been blessed with great weather, so most of my runs have been able to happen as scheduled.  Our family took a couple of weekend trips (on two consecutive weekends, none the less), so those long runs had to be tweaked a bit.  I managed to do a 10-mile run on the Friday morning (before work) prior to the first outing, and that went well.  Hoping for the good luck to continue, I attempted a 15-mile run on the following Thursday afternoon...and that did NOT go as I'd hoped.  The weather was hot, the cloud cover vanished at mile 4, and my body hit the proverbial "wall" at mile 10 (due to an inadequate lunch)...UGH!! I managed 2 more miles (with a lot of walking) before I waved the surrender flag.

Not all training runs (or races) will be great.  I have learned to take that in stride (no pun intended).  The bad runs keep us humble, and there is always something to learn from them.  Ten days later, I did my 15-mile run, and it went great.  That was the farthest I'd ever run, and I truly felt like I could have run farther.  A week later, I set out to conquer 17 miles, but was prepared to stop after 16 if I felt fatigued.  Again, the adrenaline kicked in and the endorphins carried me through the 17th mile.  Just a year ago, I ran a 20K (12.4 miles) and then did a half marathon a week later...and majorly bonked.  I was able to finish the half, but had to walk several times because I was still not completely recovered from the other race.  It is amazing to see how much my body has adapted in a couple months to the increased distance I'm pushing it to run.

The town where I live is pretty good-sized for Iowa, but very small compared to a metropolitan setting.  I have a great deal of envy for fellow marathoners-in-training who have an abundance of options for parks, trails and routes.  I have several routes (in various distances) that I am constantly mixing up (running a given route clock-wise one day, then running it in reverse the next time, etc.).  Or, I may elect to run the 7-mile loop first, then do the short 3-mile out and back before finishing with the mini-2-mile loop (sometimes in reverse, often  times not). It does get a little mundane seeing the same sights over and over, but this is where I live and this is what I have  to work with.

All of my training runs have been solo, too.  There are not too many local people willing (or crazy enough?) to accompany me on my long runs.  Yes, I have really gotten to know myself well from all the conversations in my head as I stride along.  I usually have music with me, though, so my witty (or not) sense of humor isn't always the main entertainment while I'm in my running shoes. 

It works best for me to do my long runs on Saturday mornings, though occasionally I've done them at other times (as mentioned above).  Typically, I get up before 5:00AM and have some oatmeal and a chai latte' (my caffeine fix).  I spend a little time on the computer waiting for the food to digest, munch on some energy chews and have a little more water.  Ideally, I'm out the door by 6:00AM, though on occasion I may get distracted by something on the computer and my start time gets delayed (my bad).

I have tried carrying water with me, and it just is not my thing.  The constant "ka-ching, ka-ching" of the water sloshing in the bottle is very annoying.  I even tried a bottle with a collapsible liner, and that didn't help the problem.  Also, I don't like the "asymmetry" of having something in one hand and nothing in the other...it leaves me feeling out of balance or something.  Yeah, I'm a high-maintenance runner.  Since there are no porta-pots along the streets of my town, I usually run for 6-7 miles and loop back to my house anyways.  This gives me a chance for a pitstop (if needed) and a chance to grab a quick gulp of water and more energy chews or gel.

A lot of marathoners (probably most) would not endorse my running without water. Most of my long runs are early in the morning, though, so the summer heat has not been much of a problem.  Since I'm looping back to my house periodically, I have plenty of opportunity to hydrate and refuel.  Also, I know on race day there will be ample water stations along the route, so that detail is one I choose to not worry about.  When I do races, I have a mini fuel belt stocked with gels and chews so I have those on hand to use as needed.  This is what works for me, and has worked well over the years for the numerous half marathons I have successfully completed..

I have several pairs of shoes I rotate through for my training runs.  I have "older" shoes that I use for the shorter runs, they are broken in and SO comfortable I can't bring myself to part with them.  They are great for short runs, but I know I'd regret going any farther than 5-6 miles in them.  I have 2 other pairs of shoes I use for my longer runs.  One is a pair I've had for a year and have seen me through several races of  various distances, the other is a new pair I just acquired recently.  By using several pairs of old and new shoes, I get more life out of each pair.  If you wear the same pair of shoes for every run, they will break down a lot faster. Shoes need recovery time in between runs just like runners do.

So, six weeks to go.  It's exciting and (surprisingly) not too scary.  In less than 2 months I will be a marathoner.  It will be strange to go back to my "normal" way of life...running a few times a week and probably not going farther than 6 miles at a time.  I have three half marathons coming up this fall as well, one in a few weeks and the other two are after the full marathon.  I can't decide (or maybe my body will make that decision for me) if I'm going to go all out at these half marathons and try for a PR or just take it easy and enjoy the run.  I don't think every run should be a race.....we need to enjoy the experience and be thankful for being able to do so. 

Wish me luck!

The GrAnD GiVeAwAY !!

My Facebook page, Running on the Fly has been such a fun adventure, and recently we reached the "1,000 likes" milestone.....and this calls for a grand celebration and a giveaway!

So, here it is, RuNnEr FrIeNdS...... (drum roll)......




These are the items available to the winner, and I LOVE all of them.  It's a bummer I can't win my own giveaway.  But my followers have made Running on the Fly the success that it is, so it's only proper to give these prizes to one of them ;-)

First, we have these adorable head bands from Heads Up Bands (www.headsupbands.com).  These are the best running/fitness/fashion accessory a gal could have.  I have a couple of these headbands, and I absolutely love them.  Not only do they stay in place (even after 13+ miles), but they do NOT pinch or cause headaches.  And, they are available in two sizes and in many colors and patterns.  The winner of the GrAnD GiVeAwAy will receive these two headbands...one is a pink/coral band with a paisley pattern, the other band is grey with a black, white and grey geometric pattern.




Next, we have a tech fabric running hat, from RunJunkEes (www.RunJunkEes.com).  I typically prefer visors, but this is a hat I would definitely wear.  It's navy blue, has the RunJunkEes logo on the front and a velcro strap across the back.  It's very light weight, so it would be great for hot weather.  Also, they sent me a key chain with a bottle opener with their logo on it...and, who doesn't need a bottle opener?  They even included two decals...one in a lilme green color and the other is royal blue.

 

The final "big" item is this adorable sterling silver necklace from Inspired Endurance (www.inspiredendurance.com).  This is a real beauty!  The pictures don't do it justice.  This an 18" bar necklace, which includes a Run charm, a wing pendant and a potato pearl charm.  Total sweetness!

There may be more items added ...so stay tuned!  Also, I will be throwing in a few extra swag items.  Total retail value is approximately $150.00 .

 

Here's how to enter the GrAnD GiVeAwAy:
!--"Like" Running on the Fly on Facebook (if you haven't already)
2--Pay each of these generous donators a visit on Facebook, and give them a "like" as well
3--After "liking" all the pages mentioned above, leave a comment either here on my blog OR on the GrAnD GiVeAwAy link post on Facebook using your personal name (Facebook page names don't always show up, so I may not see it or get notified)
4--If you have a Facebook page, "share" the GrAnD GiVeAwAy link for an extra chance to win (and let me know when you have done so)
5--Winner will be drawn after 10PM CST on Wednesday, August 14th and posted shortly thereafter.  Winner will have until 10PM CST on Friday, August 16th to claim prize, or another winner will be drawn

Good Luck!!

Do the numbers 26.2 mean anything to YOU?

I heard somewhere that a marathon doesn't just change you at the finish line, but also at the start line.  Hmmmmm.  I would argue that it changed me the moment those numbers, 26.2, started dancing in my mind.

Granted, the first several times those numbers appeared in my thoughts, I quickly ran from them (no pun intended).  I have been running half marathons for 5 years now, and have been QUITE content doing them.  Then, I decided to start a page on Facebook, Running On The Fly.




Suddenly, I found myself immersed among LOTS of runners.  Runners from all over the world, not just from my hometown.  Runners who also love to run outside year-round. Runners who didn't run when they were kids. Runners who took on the challenge of running farther than a 5K.  And, before I knew it, I had become friends with runners who had either run marathons, or were training for their first one. (gulp)

Quickly, I laughed those numbers out of my head (again).  I'm a 13.1-mile runner after all, I should just be content with that. Right?



Well, the more runners I became acquainted with, the bigger those numbers grew (and more frequently they kept reappearing) in my head.  Finally, I realized that there will never be a "perfect" time to do a marathon. Why wait until I run a sub-1:45 half?  The thrill of crossing the finish line won't be any more euphoric if I wait until the last kid goes off to college than it would be if I conquered the 26.2 miles in a few months......why not just do it this year?  Why not just do it in September?



Truthfully, as much as I love the 13.1 distance, it really isn't much of a challenge for me anymore.  I continue to work on my speed and pacing to finish each race faster...but, that is something I can continue to do for the rest of my life.  The thought of doubling that distance, well... quite honestly, is a little scary.  Actually, it's VERY scary.  But, there was a time when running 3.1 miles was a challenge...and I can now run that (plus an extra 10 miles) non-stop.

So, I made the commitment and officially registered for the Quad Cities Marathon, scheduled for September 22nd. This week is the point in my training schedule where I will run the farthest distance of my life, going past the 13.1 miles that I have grown so comfortable (and secure) with.  I know I won't run it fast, but I know I will be able to complete it.

What have I learned so far?  Doing the long runs each weekend makes me feel like I'm constantly racing, but without the expense of registration fees.  I have to charge my Ipod weekly, continually be drinking water to stay hydrated and my favorite pair of wool running socks are spending more time in the laundry room than on my feet.  One of the perks, though, is that my recovery time gets faster every week.  The first time I ran a half marathon (5 years ago), I had a difficult time walking (without resembling Frankenstein) for several days...now, I can simply jump in the shower, do a few stretches and start the whole hydration process all over again for the following week's long run.  Progress, I'll take it!

Another Trail Run.....'Down' for the Count

I really think I could grow to love trail runs.  Maybe not as much as half marathons, but I definitely can see more of them in my future. Just not any time in the next few days or weeks.

The Grimes Farm Trail Run took place on Saturday, July 13th, and I was an eager participant.  The Grimes Family Farm is located just west of Marshalltown, in central Iowa.  Every year, the Grimes family hosts a series of race events: 5K, 8K, 1.6 mile, and kids' races. All races take place on the trails on the land owned by the conservatory.  

Along with the race bib, participants received a tech shirt, draw-string sport bag and a pin oak seedling (as well as numerous refreshments following the races).  I brought along the camera, but forgot it in the car.  And that is a big regret.  The trails were beautiful and very well-maintained.


I ran the 8K trail run with my friend, Linda.  Her daughter, Dani, also came along.  Dani was a very well-decorated high school runner in track and cross country (State of Iowa champion, none-the-less).  It's great fun to watch her go, but I am thankful she's in a much younger age group so I don't have to "compete" with her.


The 5K and 8K share the majority of the same trail, except for a one mile out and back leg (for the two additional miles on the 8K course).  As I mentioned, the trails were beautiful.  There was one major hill, shortly after the start, that was very long and challenging.  About 2/3 of the way up the hill, there is a lookout tower, with a volunteer waiting at the top to mark the hands of runners who take on this "bonus" climb (they get a special reward for doing so).  The tower has three sets of stairs that lead to the top, similar to climbing three stories of a building.  I love stair-climbing, so I decided to take on this extra quest as well.

I made my way to the top of the tower and back down in a couple of minutes.  I realized this would alter my actual finish time, but the challenge was there and I knew I would regret not doing it.  All or nothing!



After descending the tower and finishing the remainder of the big hill, the rest of the trail was pretty flat and not too threatening.  I did notice some initial stiffness from my old friend, the piriformis.  Whenever I do races with hills (especially if the hills are right at the start of a race), I almost always have some issues with piriformis stiffness.  I stretch before the event, but none-the-less, this is just an ongoing thing for me.  It is getting better, but it still exists (probably to keep me humble).

I did slow down and walk a few times, to give my legs a break.  There were some water stations, so it all worked out.  I can barely walk and chew gum.....trying to run and drink is like taking a shower in public for me, so I usually have to walk through the water stations anyways.

I felt like I was running the first half a little slow, but with the big hill and stair climb I knew my pace would be a little off.  Not to worry.  I usually can pull off a negative split in most events, so I don't let myself get in a panic.

Eventually, I reached the turnoff for the 8K runners.  This part of the course was well maintained, but we were warned it would be a little rougher that the other trail.....and they were correct!  There also were a lot of twists and turns, which made for a very scenic journey.  I was probably halfway to the turnaround when I started to see the lead runners coming back.  I love cheering on fellow runners, so I always clap or tell them "Good job!" or "Looking great!"

I had just cheered for a returning runner, and the very next moment I was flat on the ground.  And I went down hard.  Even with the grass on the trail, the ground was very dry and compact...and unforgiving.  I didn't just fall and scrape my left knee, I also did a (very ungraceful) roll.  As soon as I pulled myself back up (Mr.Returning Runner chose to leave me in his dust), I could tell something wasn't right.  I could feel some pain near my rib cage.  I had heard that if you break a bone, you will KNOW you've broken a bone. I didn't feel anything too outrageous, so I pressed onward.

But my rib cage hurt.  It continued to hurt for the remaining 2 miles or so that I had left.  It didn't hurt to breathe, so I was certain my lungs weren't injured.  But every time I twisted  or leaned into a curve, I could feel something in my rib cage area.  Despite this discomfort, I was actually doing great with my pace.

I made my way to the turnaround, and back out to the main trail for the final 3/4 mile of the race. I had gone through so many turns and curves, I had lost my bearings.  So, I was pleasantly surprised to see the finish line so soon.  I was able to up my pace, and finished the 8K in 51:40. 

Running trails is very different than running on pavement.  The grass and uneven terrain require a slightly slower pace as you navigate the course.  There are numerous times when you think you have solid footing, only to hit a patch of gravel or dirt and then need to shift your balance to remain vertical.  I am kind of a klutz by nature, so I probably look like a comedy act as I attempt to keep my composure when my feet are slipping and sliding in opposite directions. I read somewhere that your trail pace may be 1-2 minutes slower (per minute), depending on the variables (slope of terrain, thickness of grass, obstacles, etc.), so my finish time is decent for me.  Given the fact that I "detoured "on the tower climb, walked a few times and then tumbled .....I am happy and satisfied with my effort. 


They were very generous with their awards.  All the kids received medals for completing their races.  They had awards for not only runners (in the various age divisions), but for the walkers as well.  Dani was the fastest overall female in the 5K, so she received a cash prize and medal, and also a first place medal for her age division. Linda and myself both placed in our age division (in the 8K), receiving 2nd and 3rd medals respectively.  For those who did the bonus tower climb, they had a big selection of t-shirts from past years and first-aid kits to choose from.  I already have too many shirts from races, so I opted for a first-aid kit.  I thought that was a nice touch!

I thought this race was a great event.  We were blessed with optimal weather (70-degree temps, low humidity and plenty of cloud cover).  Numerous volunteers were there to make sure all the details were covered. Plenty of awards for the participants.  The trails were beautiful...another reminder that I need to vary my running and not always be on the pavement for my training.

 

My rib cage is sore, but manageable.  I suspect I may have bruised or cracked a rib (or two) on my fall.  I did a quick search on the computer upon returning home, and discovered there isn't much that can be done for injured ribs other than rest.  My breathing is fine, just some overall discomfort if I bend over or twist or turn too quickly.  I didn't feel my discomfort required a trip to the ER, so I will wait  it out a few days and stay out of my running shoes in the mean time.  Will that keep me from ever trail running again?  Absolutely not!

Virtually, it was a fun 13.1 miles

 
Ever done a virtual race?  I've done a few....some 5K's, a couple 10K's, and now I have officially completed two virtual half marathons.

Challenging?  Oh, yes!
 

A year ago, I did the Moms RUN This Town summer virtual event, the Hot Momma.  It was a half marathon distance, but we were given the entire month of July to complete it.  We also had the option to run it in increments, or all in one shot.  Having done several halfs, I elected to do the "all in one shot."  I was very proud of myself, getting up early on a hot summer morning, and venturing out for 13.1 miles...all on my own.

Fast-forward to Saturday morning (July 6th), and I did another virtual half marathon, also sponsored by Moms RUN This Town.  This year the theme was Running Mad, based off of the Disney classic story of Alice in Wonderland.  And, this year we had the option of running a 5K, 10K or a half marathon.  Of course, I elected to do the half.....I know I can run the distance, why not do it for some hardware (the registration fee includes a finisher's medal)?  Besides, since I know I can do a half marathon, I would feel guilty getting a medal for running anything shorter if I had the half marathon as an option.

I'm currently in training for my first-ever full marathon, so this distance fit nicely in my training schedule.  My most recent long run was 10 miles, a week prior.  Technically, I was scheduled for 11-12 miles this weekend, but I have more than two months until my marathon, so I have some flexibility.  Running the 13.1 miles  was a jump in distance, but that is what happens when I train for a half anyways (I train up to 10 miles, recover and  run the race a week later).  I will just scale back next weekend, allow some recovery time, and resume the mile increases after that.  Nothing to worry about.

I headed out around 6:30 in the morning to tackle the run.  What makes a virtual race neat is that it's a race you run on your own schedule.  You don't have to travel to a special location, or run it on any specific date.  You do have to complete it, though, on your own.  That can be difficult if you rely on the crowd support and energy amongst the fellow runners to get you excited for the run. Most virtuals (if you've paid a registration fee) will have you report your finish time, making you eligible for prizes.

I was eager to do this run.  I had been looking forward to it all week.  I was hoping to maybe set a new PR, but I also knew I just needed to focus on the run itself and not be all consumed with my finish time and/or speed.  After all, the LSD's (long slow distance runs) are about endurance, not speed.

It was a struggle for the first 5 miles or so.  I didn't have any pain, but did have some stiffness in my piriformis area.  UGH!  It has improved, but is still bothersome at times.  I had some great tunes pop up on the Ipod, though, so I was able to keep a smile on my face and press on through the minimal discomfort.

Our town hosts a half marathon race, and the course goes right by my house.  It's a double loop course, so I ran one loop and stopped back at my house for a brief water gulp and energy gel fix.  As soon as I headed back out to tackle the remaining loop, I felt instantly better.  I could already tell my pace was a little faster.  I did the first loop in 1:06, not an ideal split for me (almost 10 minutes slower than normal), so I could tell something had not been right.  I felt like I was almost running in slow motion for the first loop, I was thankful this second loop was going better.

I felt really good until around mile 10.  It was then that I started feeling a little light headed, nothing major or scary, but it was there and I was aware of it.  I also was feeling thirsty and a little fatigued.  I knew the final couple miles were going to be a good test of my determination, but they had to be finished so I pressed on.

I ran the first loop of the course "clock-wise," and ran the second loop in reverse to make it more interesting.  I also varied some of the streets, trying to be careful to keep the distance accurate in doing so (I do not like doing the same thing all the time...I crave variety!).  In switching up some of the streets, I think my light-headed state may have misjudged the distance...it's quite possible I may have ran a little extra distance by accident.  No big deal. I'd rather run too far and know I did go at least 13.1 miles, than run it too short.

So, the last couple miles kept me challenged.  Nothing painful, but a little frustrating.  I did slow down and walk a few times, but was able to finish strong.  When I reached the 13.1 distance, and stopped my watch and walked a few blocks to cool down...I walked very slowly. By this time, it was after 8:30 and the sun had climbed high enough in the sky to make the temps a little uncomfortable.

I was able to run the second loop 2 minutes faster, even with the walk breaks, for a finish time of 2::10:19 (just under a 10-minute pace).  Even though I am capable of finishing a half marathon a good 10-15 minutes faster, that is still a decent time.  All is good, I am satisfied.  I refuse to dwell on the "what-if's" and feel bad about it.  I ran 13.1 miles, and I am thankful for having the ability to do so.  Not every run has to be a "race."



So, what did this teach me?  Well, it reaffirmed my love for the 13.1 distance.  I think I may have had a carb-crash, probably from not eating enough prior to running (I had some oatmeal, but maybe should have had something else with it).  I didn't take any water with me, so I was probably a little dehydrated.  Normally, I have a chai latte' each morning...and I didn't have any before running, so  there was a caffeine deficit situation going on, too.  I have a little runner girl necklace I wear for all my events and long training runs, and somehow forgot to wear it, maybe that's also a factor (LOL).  All of these are things that I can fix. This was a training run, after all, and that's why runners do them...to figure out what works and what needs tweaking.
 
Also, there were no blisters this time!  I typically don't get blisters on training runs, but often notice them when I do the long races themselves.  This virtual half served as kind of a milestone (no pun intended) for my marathon training.  Most of my long runs from here on will be longer than the half marathon distance, so there may be some blisters (and lost toe nails) in my future....but those are part of the package.  I will be running 26.2 miles in a couple months...if that didn't come with a few challenges (or blood, sweat or tears), it wouldn't be a significant accomplishment.