Monday, October 27, 2008

Post #1

This weekend I finished my first half marathon, a trail run in Napa Valley that really kicked my ass.  I'm not much of a runner.  I've been at it for about a year and a half, and am slow and undisciplined, but somehow I managed to get hooked despite myself, and here I am.  I have no real intentions for this blog, and see it mostly as something I will probably keep up only to keep track of my "training" ups and downs.  I can't imagine that anyone would really want to read this and if you are, well, I hope you find it interesting.

My time on Saturday was 2:54.  Slow.  I had great fun, though, and 10 minutes after the race I already made up my mind I would do another.  In defense of my slow time, it was a very tricky route, mostly single track with 2000' of elevation gain and 2000' of elevation lost . . . not an easy race for my first foray.  I am stoked that I was able to finish.

The only thing I have done as far as training so far is just getting used to running at all.  I tried to do a little speed work in preparation for this race, but all it did was make me bonk and bonk hard.  However, I was working on building distance at the same time, and what little I know about training states don't work on both.  So.  I've been averaging just under 20 miles a week for the past few months, and have gotten quite comfortable with that.  In the 6 weeks leading up to my next half (Death Valley Borax Half Marathon) I have added some very gentle speed work, and think I can handle it.  I'm already mostly content with the distances I'm able to do.  We'll see.

So that's it, my first post.