This was one busy week for me at work, but I made running a priority despite the craziness! At my library we do a program called Enchanted Library, which is a bunch of skits performed by the middle school students. They take place in different locations around the library and on Friday night we dim the lights and have “tour guides” walk families through the skits. It’s an awesome event, the kids are so talented, and this year I was in charge of it! The performance was this past Friday which meant this whole week was prepping for it – setting up costumes, props, printing programs, dress rehearsals with the kids.
I absolutely loved doing this program, and the kids are so talented. But when I wasn’t running around the library getting ready this week, I was attempting to run around town for my marathon training!
On Tuesday I stopped in Valley Forge park after work for a 30 minute run. I never know how I feel about running in Valley Forge. My pace always seems to be better here, but the hills are killer. Go figure. I think it’s because I make up for it by going fast downhill on the way back, but it definitely always gives my muscles a workout, even when it’s just a shorter run. I won’t be able to run here in the winter though because it will be dark by the time I get out of work and the park is closed.
On Thursday I went into work a little later since I would be there until about 8:30pm for dress rehearsal. So I got my other 30 minute run in during the morning. I admit, this was a hard one to convince myself to do. I have so many other things that needed to get done, and Thursday morning would have been a good time to do it, but I managed to put the run first.
By Saturday Enchanted Library was over (it went really well). I was so exhausted I ended up sleeping for 10 hours Friday night. Oops! But I guess it had me well energized for the long run. 20 miles. I was very fortunate to have pretty much perfect weather – sunny, and about 58 degrees. I felt really great for the first 9. By the time I hit 12 I was feeling it. And by 18 I wanted to cry, and lie down in the grass and never get up again.
But I kept trucking, thanks in large part to my facebook friends who left me comments all afternoon encouraging me. I posted photo updates every few miles to keep myself entertained, and read the responses during my walk breaks to distract me from the pain. I finished the 20 miles in 4 hours and 15 minutes, and with a 12:43 min/mile pace. I’m aiming for between a 13-14 pace for the marathon (depending on if I want to stop for characters) so this is pretty much right on track. I don’t plan to move for much of the rest of this weekend.
How did you spend this lovely weekend?
Sounds like a great and very productive week!
It was, but now I’m exhausted!
You’re gonna kill at the marathon, no question! ^_^