Training Log - October 15, 2007

Well, it’s hard to believe but it’s the week of the Half Marathon. Each time I think about it – I get a few butterflies in the stomach. Mostly from excitement but I have to admit that some of it is nerves. This is the biggest thing that I have attempted in quite some time. I have followed my training and have put in the miles (248 training miles!!!). So looking ahead to the race there is I have no doubt that I will be able to finish the 13.1 miles and will probably be able to finish in under 4 hours. I guess that everyone that stands at the starting line on Sunday will be nervous in some way so I will be in good company.

I will save my looking back and thinking about what I have learned for my post race posts. This week will be three 2 mile walks and then rest on Saturday. I have already begun a checklist of things that I need to do and to have ready for Sunday. If you know me, you will understand that is just the way I am. My loving wife, Janet, commented at lunch on Saturday that I probably have a list of times for each mile already planned out. I don’t have it written down but I do have a good idea what pace I want to hit for most of the race.

Now to the training report. I completed what will be my last training walk at Antrim Park yesterday. It was a beautiful day to be out. I did the 4 miles in 1:06:30 which is a pace of 16:38 min/mile. Felt good during the walk. Started to lose some steam in the third mile but didn’t bring any beans with me. Gutted it out for the last mile and had a pretty good time. Splits are as follows: (1) 16:53, (2) 16:25, (3) 16:58 and (4) 16:15.